| Many people just want to own the best mutual | | | | estate became overvalued in a low-interest-rate, |
| funds they can find. They want the best stock | | | | low inflation environment. Over the long term the |
| fund and the best bond fund so they can relax | | | | real estate sector has traditionally been a steady |
| and everything will be all right. Just in case the | | | | performer. Don't overlook it when prices are low. |
| economy and markets get worse in the future, | | | | In the past energy and natural resources stocks |
| you might want to dig a little deeper. | | | | have benefited when inflation was a factor in a |
| The best bond fund for most people most of the | | | | sluggish economy. Stagflation could happen again |
| time is of the low-cost intermediate variety... not | | | | and send prices in this sector to the upside. |
| too risky with decent dividends. The best stock | | | | Basic materials and precious metals don't always |
| fund would also be low-cost, and of the general | | | | march to the same beat as the stock market in |
| diversified kind. If you just own one. | | | | general, even though they have in recent times. |
| When inflation and/or a sluggish economy become | | | | Inflation, uncertainty and a lack of other attractive |
| a major issue, even the best mutual funds in the | | | | investment options can send aluminum, copper, |
| above popular categories are vulnerable. So, let's | | | | gold and silver prices higher. Stock prices in this |
| look a little deeper into securities that could | | | | sector follow suite. |
| protect your assets and make you profits in bad | | | | Never overlook foreign securities. They have |
| times. The good news is that you don't need to | | | | become a major investment option for even the |
| dig too far into specifics and pick your own | | | | new investor. As they say, there's always an |
| individual securities like stocks or bonds. Just look | | | | investment opportunity somewhere... in some |
| for mutual funds that do that for you. | | | | country or some specialty stock sector. |
| Inflation-protected securities are debt obligations | | | | The best mutual funds when things get dicey are |
| or bonds, and are issued by the U.S. Treasury and | | | | often the ones that specialize in the above areas |
| government agencies. These securities | | | | many investors overlook. Tomorrow's best bond |
| automatically adjust their principal and interest | | | | fund could be one that specializes in |
| payments in response to changes in the rate of | | | | inflation-protected securities. The best stock fund |
| inflation. Conventional fixed-interest-rate bonds do | | | | could be one that specializes in real estate, |
| not; and inflation can erode the value of even the | | | | energy, basic materials, precious metals or foreign |
| best bond fund that invests in conventional bonds. | | | | securities. |
| On the equity side, most stocks are vulnerable to | | | | Broaden your horizons when uncertainty has |
| a slowing economy and/or higher inflation as well. | | | | others throwing in the towel in defeat. You will |
| Some stocks in special sectors can buck the | | | | never know for certain where the next |
| trend. These are the areas that are often | | | | opportunities lie, so diversify into the often |
| overlooked by the average investor. | | | | overlooked areas. In this way you can strengthen |
| Real estate and real estate stocks were on cruise | | | | your defense and your offense as well. If you |
| control heading into the recession of 2008. Then | | | | have other ideas, I'd like to here from you. I'm |
| they got crushed, at least in part because real | | | | always looking for the best investments, too. |