Investor Insight

GUIDE TO INVESTING, BY TED ALLRICH

The Sky Is Falling! No, It's Not
There is a crisis of confidence about the U.S. economy right now, and that's leading to dire predictions and a fire-sale atmosphere. Smart investors are realizing we are not on the brink of disaster, though, and scouring battered industries for buying opportunities...

Higher Gas: More Changes
If you try to imagine what the world will look like in ten years from now, higher gas prices will have a profound influence on what you see. That has important implications for investors...

Another Real Estate Play: Newspapers
Newspaper stocks have been slammed by the real estate debacle and economic slump in general. For aggressive investors with a long-term view, there is some intriguing value here...

One Thriving Area of Real Estate: Apartments
While the words "real estate" and "disaster" seem destined to be used together forever, this segment of the real estate sector still deserves investors' attention. Apartment REITs are one way to play...

Financial Stocks: Now Is the Worst Over?
And if you were to follow them into the financials, where should you buy and how?

The Fed: Can't Do It Alone
The Fed's actions certainly help, but there are other solutions to help the economy get through this credit crisis, too...

Smart Money Is Buying: Should You?
And if you were to follow them into the financials, where should you buy and how?

Mutual Funds: Everyone Can Use Them
Even those who pick their own stocks can find mutual funds useful for certain investments, for example China...

The Banking Industry: It Has Been Much Worse
Let's go over what investing is and what it isn't, how to start and stay with an investment, and other essentials that help investors weather this storm...

Stocks: Can They Get Worse?
The answer is of course they can. But they can also get much better. Here's what to look for that should influence that decision by investors to step up and buy...

Safe Stocks: Are There Any?
By definition, no. Stocks carry risk. But certain stocks do have attributes that make them relatively, and I emphasize this word, relatively, safer investments than others.

Time to Review: The Basics
Let's go over what investing is and what it isn't, how to start and stay with an investment, and other essentials that help investors weather this storm...

Into the Gloom: Sparkles Of Light
It isn't all bad news out there. You just need to find those rays of hope that are doing well in spite of the tough times...

Bellwether Stocks: Watch These
These industry leaders are usually the biggest, though not always the best. Read on to see which companies to watch as bellwethers and how to read them...

Look At These: Stocks to Consider
With certain sectors of the market collapsed, many smart investors are starting to do more than homework. They're buying stocks in small amounts, building positions for when the economy recovers...

Sector Rotation: Sellling Some, Buying Others
You may not know the term "sector rotation". It's used by investors to get a read on the market. It's not hard to understand, just a new phrase for many investors to learn. Here's what it means...

Buying Stocks: A Better Strategy
Using limit orders can help you buy stocks at lower prices. It may require some patience, but in the end it's usually a better way to place your orders...

The R Word: Not As Big As The U Word
Recession isn't the big, scary monster frightening investors. Rather, it's the U word: uncertainty. Investors can deal with a recession since it's part of the business cycle...

Stock Bargains: Look for Relative Values
Smart investors are moaning along with the rest of us, but they're also doing research to find bargains they haven't seen in decades. All bargains look great when you buy them. How can you tell which will bounce back and which will keep dropping...

Buying Stocks: Look Forward, Not Back 
Resist the urge to look at the best stocks of '07. Instead, make some good assumptions about the future and search for stocks that will benefit from those assumptions...

Tis the Season: To Be Cautious
Wall Street is the place where it's always darkest just before it gets pitch black. Things aren't as bad as many believe, but investors don't need to try and time the bottom here. Give it time and proceed with caution...