The Only Stocks I'm Telling My Retired Friends to Buy Right Now
Companies / Investing 2011 Jan 23, 2011 - 08:37 AM GMTBy: DailyWealth
Dr. David Eifrig writes: "I'm worried, Dave... There's so much talk everywhere about collapse and the end of the world. What should I do?"
Like many retirees, my mom is bombarded all day long on TV and radio with talk of financial collapse and how bad off America is. Many of these commentators expect a hyperinflation that will wipe out bonds and the value of the dollar. Their top recommendations are to stock up on bottled water, canned food, and gold bullion.
It's enough to make investors want to run and hide. Don't do it...
One of the keys to great investing is ignoring the hype and focusing on facts. It's tempting to listen to a great story and put your money to work based on the story. The messages sound compelling. But it can lead to making decisions based on fear and emotion... which is a disaster for retirement portfolios.
So let's take a look at a few facts...
One number I watch is the "money multiplier" (also known as the "M1"). The M1 measures the flow of money through the economy. A reading above 1.0 indicates the economy is expanding.
As you can see from the chart below, money is still not moving through the economy swiftly or broadly among sectors. But things have improved over the past year. And until the M1 passes 1.0, we're in little danger of hyperinflation.
Another of my favorite ways to monitor what's happening in the global economy is to watch the number of people flying. Flying is dependent on both business travelers and folks spending money on vacations.
It turns out, from month to month, air traffic is increasing slightly over the year before. For example, in October 2010, air traffic was up 5.6% from a year ago. That's not rip-roaring growth. But there's no "doom and gloom" developing here.
Like passenger volume, I also use an anecdotal indicator I call the "cabbie index."
When I first wrote about the cabbie index in August 2009, there was a line of cabs just waiting for passengers outside New York City's Penn Station longer than I've ever seen. The cab drivers I talked to were worried about being able to feed their families. Today, it's still easy to get a cab. But the lines are shorter. And the cab drivers I've spoken to are optimistic the economy is stabilizing.
These indicators are just a few of the signs I'm seeing that things aren't going down the tubes just yet. In other words, you don't need to dump all your investments and head for the bomb shelter. But I'm always interested in owning investments that will prosper in case I'm wrong.
Fortunately, there are companies you can own right now that will make you money in both good times and bad. They are so dominant, and their products are so ingrained in everyday life, they'll keep on chugging along no matter what happens. I like companies that provide food, fuel, and health care right now.
People will eat, drive, take their pills, brush their teeth, and go to the doctor no matter what's happening around them. That means companies that provide proven products won't just survive, they'll boom during the next decade. This is where the bulk of a retiree's stock portfolio should be right now.
In my monthly newsletter, Retirement Millionaire, we've focused on companies in these industries. One pick – beverage giant Coca-Cola – has made my readers almost 13% in just six months... And it's paying us a solid and growing dividend.
Stick with global, blue-chip companies, and your portfolio will protect you from whatever the future holds.
Here's to our health, wealth, and a great retirement,
Doc Eifrig
Editor's note: Doc's amazing track record in his Retirement Millionaire advisory – 30 winners out of 35 recommendations – offers the perfect mix of safety and income. And he just recommended a health care behemoth that has paid a dividend for 84 years, with 38 years of consecutive increases. It will protect you no matter what happens in the economy. Click here to learn more about Retirement Millionaire.
The DailyWealth Investment Philosophy: In a nutshell, my investment philosophy is this: Buy things of extraordinary value at a time when nobody else wants them. Then sell when people are willing to pay any price. You see, at DailyWealth, we believe most investors take way too much risk. Our mission is to show you how to avoid risky investments, and how to avoid what the average investor is doing. I believe that you can make a lot of money – and do it safely – by simply doing the opposite of what is most popular.
Customer Service: 1-888-261-2693 – Copyright 2011 Stansberry & Associates Investment Research. All Rights Reserved. Protected by copyright laws of the United States and international treaties. This e-letter may only be used pursuant to the subscription agreement and any reproduction, copying, or redistribution (electronic or otherwise, including on the world wide web), in whole or in part, is strictly prohibited without the express written permission of Stansberry & Associates Investment Research, LLC. 1217 Saint Paul Street, Baltimore MD 21202
Disclaimer: The above is a matter of opinion provided for general information purposes only and is not intended as investment advice. Information and analysis above are derived from sources and utilising methods believed to be reliable, but we cannot accept responsibility for any losses you may incur as a result of this analysis. Individuals should consult with their personal financial advisors.
Daily Wealth Archive
|
© 2005-2022 http://www.MarketOracle.co.uk - The Market Oracle is a FREE Daily Financial Markets Analysis & Forecasting online publication.
