Many Americans are optimistic about achieving a comfortable retirement. They fund their 401(k) or IRA in hopes of accumulating a nest egg that has the potential of providing enough income for the rest of their lives. Unfortunately, too many Americans invest too conservatively to accomplish their goals. This is especially true for investors under the age of 40 — who face the prospects of a future much different than their parents and grandparents due primarily to Social Security’s bleak future. #-ad_banner-#This was confirmed in a study conducted by Wells Fargo that found 59% of Americans focus more on avoiding losses… Read More

Many Americans are optimistic about achieving a comfortable retirement. They fund their 401(k) or IRA in hopes of accumulating a nest egg that has the potential of providing enough income for the rest of their lives. Unfortunately, too many Americans invest too conservatively to accomplish their goals. This is especially true for investors under the age of 40 — who face the prospects of a future much different than their parents and grandparents due primarily to Social Security’s bleak future. #-ad_banner-#This was confirmed in a study conducted by Wells Fargo that found 59% of Americans focus more on avoiding losses than trying to maximize gains. And it’s not just young workers who invest too conservatively, either. The study showed that investors in every demographic group prefer minimizing losses to growing their balances. Now, this strategy is fine for older workers nearing retirement age, but it’s contraindicated for those with longer time horizons. Now, for the average investor, pursuing returns in a passive low-cost index fund is an acceptable way to invest for the long term. But that doesn’t mean that 100% of an investor’s funds should be invested this way. Investors should put a portion of their savings into more… Read More

I’m a T-Mobile (NASDAQ: TMUS) convert. After many years with AT&T and a short bout with Sprint, I finally took the plunge and never looked back. My reception in most metro areas is the same or better than it was with AT&T, and my unlimited plan (which even comes with a personal hot spot), costs me just a $75 flat fee each month — like it has for years. —Sponsored Link— My No. 1 Rule: Don’t Buy Options! Most options traders place high-risk trades, hoping for a big payout. But they lose… a LOT! That’s… Read More

I’m a T-Mobile (NASDAQ: TMUS) convert. After many years with AT&T and a short bout with Sprint, I finally took the plunge and never looked back. My reception in most metro areas is the same or better than it was with AT&T, and my unlimited plan (which even comes with a personal hot spot), costs me just a $75 flat fee each month — like it has for years. —Sponsored Link— My No. 1 Rule: Don’t Buy Options! Most options traders place high-risk trades, hoping for a big payout. But they lose… a LOT! That’s why Jim Fink flips options trading on its head, allowing him to make money more than 85% of the time. For a brief window, he’s offering his personal strategy guide to readers which could unlock $67,548 in extra income for you in the next 12 months. Get the full details here. I can’t tell you how many of my friends on other networks complain about their high cell phone bills and spotty service. Most can’t believe I pay so little for service and get certain perks included, like the aforementioned hot spot, as well as free… Read More

A Southwest flight was forced to make an emergency landing on April 17 when an engine suffered a mid-flight failure. Shrapnel from the engine failure penetrated the plane, causing the death of one passenger and seven others to be insured. Another Southwest flight was diverted and forced to land on May 2 due to a cracked window. #-ad_banner-#Surprisingly, shares fell just 2% after the first incident and were down only 1.5% on the day of the cracked window. That resilience in the face of what could have been a devastating day is little consolation for shareholders though against a 21%… Read More

A Southwest flight was forced to make an emergency landing on April 17 when an engine suffered a mid-flight failure. Shrapnel from the engine failure penetrated the plane, causing the death of one passenger and seven others to be insured. Another Southwest flight was diverted and forced to land on May 2 due to a cracked window. #-ad_banner-#Surprisingly, shares fell just 2% after the first incident and were down only 1.5% on the day of the cracked window. That resilience in the face of what could have been a devastating day is little consolation for shareholders though against a 21% plunge from a multi-year peak reached in January. In fact, the entire industry seems to have hit some major turbulence as of late with the U.S. Global Jets ETF (NYSE: JETS) off 8.8% since January. Airline Stocks Are Falling From The Sky As bad as two equipment problems in less than a month may seem, airline stocks are falling for a different reason. The biggest burden on airlines has been the jump in jet fuel prices. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) reports North American fuel prices have jumped 47% in the year through April,… Read More

You may have missed this headline amid the constant stream of news over the last few weeks, but I couldn’t help but raise my eyebrow when I saw this… Former House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio, a Republican, has joined the advisory board of a major cannabis company. —Sponsored Link— Motley Fool Issues Rare Triple-Buy Alert This three-time recommendation from the Motley Fool looks a lot like Berkshire in 1992. Click here to join. At one point, the speaker said he was “unalterably opposed” to weed. Now, after seeing how the… Read More

You may have missed this headline amid the constant stream of news over the last few weeks, but I couldn’t help but raise my eyebrow when I saw this… Former House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio, a Republican, has joined the advisory board of a major cannabis company. —Sponsored Link— Motley Fool Issues Rare Triple-Buy Alert This three-time recommendation from the Motley Fool looks a lot like Berkshire in 1992. Click here to join. At one point, the speaker said he was “unalterably opposed” to weed. Now, after seeing how the happy little plant helped a friend suffering from back pain, he says his views have evolved. He now thinks cannabis is a potential solution for treating soldiers affected by post-traumatic stress disorder as well as the nation’s opioid epidemic. #-ad_banner-#The company, New York-based Acreage Holdings, has a national footprint, a long history (for the cannabis space) and is vertically integrated — it grows the plant, processes it and markets it in states that allow its sale for medicinal or adult (that is, “recreational”) use. The Changing Tide This is what folks in the business call a “big get.” His… Read More

I struggled to write this article since I love Tesla’s cars and genuinely want to believe in Elon’s vision.   I am an automobile fanatic, having owned multiple sports cars and other vehicles, so I am speaking from experience when I say I was blown away by the performance, handling, and ergonomics of the Model S. The jump from 0-100 MPH was breathtaking at under 5 seconds thanks to the silent explosive electric power.   #-ad_banner-#Investors have been crazy over the stock for the last five years.  I can’t say I blame them, with shares returning over 400% compared to… Read More

I struggled to write this article since I love Tesla’s cars and genuinely want to believe in Elon’s vision.   I am an automobile fanatic, having owned multiple sports cars and other vehicles, so I am speaking from experience when I say I was blown away by the performance, handling, and ergonomics of the Model S. The jump from 0-100 MPH was breathtaking at under 5 seconds thanks to the silent explosive electric power.   #-ad_banner-#Investors have been crazy over the stock for the last five years.  I can’t say I blame them, with shares returning over 400% compared to the S&P 500’s return of 66% during the same time frame. But no matter how much I want to embrace the stock, it no longer makes sense. Remaining objective is a crucial trait for successful investors, and after researching Tesla, the shares remain extremely overvalued. The stock is trading lower by around 8% this year, and I expect further downside over the next 18 months. Here are five reasons to short Tesla now: 1. The Fundamental Metrics Stocks are anticipatory mechanisms, meaning they are priced based on expected performance. In Tesla’s case, the current standard fundamental metrics are so… Read More

In the last issue of Fast-Track Millionaire, my readers and I learned a few basics about nanotechnology — the manipulation of matter on a molecular scale — an application that I think is going to yield some impressive, knock-the-cover-off-the-ball gains in the next decade. —Sponsored Link— Famous Economist Makes Terrifying Prediction An acclaimed economy researcher who’s predicted nearly every major economic trend over the past 30 years, including the 1991 recession, the 2001 tech crash, the bull market and housing boom of the last decade and, most recently Trump’s stunning election victory, just made his… Read More

In the last issue of Fast-Track Millionaire, my readers and I learned a few basics about nanotechnology — the manipulation of matter on a molecular scale — an application that I think is going to yield some impressive, knock-the-cover-off-the-ball gains in the next decade. —Sponsored Link— Famous Economist Makes Terrifying Prediction An acclaimed economy researcher who’s predicted nearly every major economic trend over the past 30 years, including the 1991 recession, the 2001 tech crash, the bull market and housing boom of the last decade and, most recently Trump’s stunning election victory, just made his boldest prediction to date. I think you’ll be surprised when you hear what he’s forecast for the coming months. The scary thing is it’s already starting to happen. Details are here… One of the areas that likely will lead this charge — if you’ll excuse the pun — is batteries. Small ones that can last a long time and provide the juice your device, be it an iPad or a pacemaker, needs to do its job. This is a MASSIVE market that’s just getting bigger and busier — everything that’s connected needs power, and everything is,… Read More

One of my many favorite Buffettisms is, “I don’t look to jump over 7-foot bars. I look around for 1-foot bars I can step over.” The Oracle did not get rich by accident. In keeping with that maxim, one criteria I’ve always used for stock selection is comparing the underlying company’s five-year average earnings per share growth rate to the five-year average annual growth rate of U.S. GDP. #-ad_banner-#I know. GDP growth has been anemic for almost a decade. But consider this: Over the last five years, the United States has enjoyed moderate economic expansion after the collapse of 2008… Read More

One of my many favorite Buffettisms is, “I don’t look to jump over 7-foot bars. I look around for 1-foot bars I can step over.” The Oracle did not get rich by accident. In keeping with that maxim, one criteria I’ve always used for stock selection is comparing the underlying company’s five-year average earnings per share growth rate to the five-year average annual growth rate of U.S. GDP. #-ad_banner-#I know. GDP growth has been anemic for almost a decade. But consider this: Over the last five years, the United States has enjoyed moderate economic expansion after the collapse of 2008 and the subsequent recession. According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, U.S. GDP has grown at an average annual rate of 2.36% over the last five years. Not great. But better than the plunge the economy experienced in 2008. The three stocks I’ve selected have grown EPS at nearly 6% annually over the last five years. U.S. economic growth would need to nearly triple to beat that rate. That would be like trying to turn an aircraft carrier in a bathtub. Even going back to 1960, U.S. GDP has grown in an average band of around 5%. The earnings growth… Read More