Amazon’s $1 Item Black Friday Sale

While J.C. Penney (NYSE: JCP) and Walmart (NYSE: WMT) have run ads in newspapers and online around the country to get shoppers through their doors in a desperate attempt to take market share from one another during what has promises to be a mediocre holiday season, the executives at Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN) have posted their Thanksgiving and Black Friday specials online. The huge traffic to Amazon.com and emails to existing customers will be their path to holiday revenue. And, one of the most powerful inducements they have is items priced under $1.

Among these products are one Pack of “Shocking Gum, Funny Shock Gag (Random Color)” for $.97 which is much less than gum bought in a store. For people with nothing to read, for $.99 for Kindle owners, “1st Chance” by Elizabeth Nelson. How can Amazon sell used versions of 1-25 Dot-to-Dots (A Get Ready Book, Ages 4-6) for $.01. Shipping must be extra. Used versions of “Butterfly Notebook” by Sovak also cost only $.01.  Also for children, for free,  “4 Pics 1 Word Puzzle by Epic Pixel”.

Among the other less than $1 deals are those special for people who subscribe to the Amazon Prime service for $79 a year. Perhaps the best deal is for “Betas Season 1″ in HD which is free.

Some people cannot afford an Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) iPad, but Amazon has a deal for them anyway. For only $.99, “Hard Case Cover for iPod Touch 4″ by One Direction. Maybe next year some of these customers can afford the tablet itself.

Finally, for people who have a stereo but no wires, the “Hosa CMP159 Stereo Breakout, 3.5 mm TRS to Dual 1/4 in TS, 10-Feet” by Hosa.

Why waste gas and go out into the cold to brave thousand of people in malls where parking is scares, when at Amazon, many items are almost free.

 

 

Top Portfolio Products: New Arbitrage Fund from Touchstone Investments

New products and changes introduced over the last week include a new arbitrage fund from Touchstone Investments and a new program from Commonfund.

In addition, AllianceBernstein added a new share class and revamped the retirement section of its website.

Here are the latest developments of interest to advisors:

1) Touchstone Investments Launches Arbitrage Fund

Touchstone Investments recently announced the launch of the Touchstone Arbitrage Fund (TMACX), which is subadvised by Longfellow Investment Management Co. TMACX seeks to achieve positive returns regardless of market conditions over the long-term. It primarily invests in securities of companies that are involved in publicly announced mergers and other corporate reorganizations that have been defined and disclosed. Non-deal arbitrage and fixed-income complement the fund’s merger arbitrage investments. TMACX will be offered across several share classes.

The fund’s portfolio management team includes Barbara McKenna, who is managing principal and portfolio manager; Alexander Graham; David Stuehr; and John Villela. Collectively, the team brings more than four decades of arbitrage investing experience to Touchstone.

2) Commonfund Launches Multi-Asset Program, Announces New Appointments

On Thursday Commonfund formally announced its multi-asset program, which is designed to increase investment solutions and support for the company’s mid-sized (under $50 million in assets) non-profit clients. The firm also announced three new appointments.

Steven Snyder has been appointed to the position of managing director and head of the program. A 15-year veteran of the firm, he is currently managing director, head of client services.

Michael Strauss, current chief investment strategist and chief economist, will team with Snyder to communicate the firm’s points of view to investors in the program. He will also work with Snyder to construct new investment strategies.

Marc Bernhardt, currently a relationship officer serving program clients, has been appointed to the role of director, portfolio strategist. Reporting to Strauss, he will direct the investment team’s efforts in support of all clients of the program.

3) AllianceBernstein Launches Z Class of Retirement Shares, Enhances Website

AllianceBernstein L.P. announced Wednesday that it will now offer a new nonrevenue share class, Z shares, for a select group of mutual funds. Z shares will be the lowest-priced share class for the firm’s funds. They became available for purchase on Wednesday for the following funds: AllianceBernstein Core Opportunities Fund (ADGZX); AllianceBernstein Discovery Value Fund (ABSZX); AllianceBernstein Equity Income Fund (AUIZX); AllianceBernstein Global Bond Fund (ANAZX); AllianceBernstein Growth and Income Fund (CBBZX); and AllianceBernstein High Income Fund (AGDZX).

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Z shares are offered without 12b-1 fees or subtransfer agency fees and there is no minimum initial investment requirement. In addition, the firm will not make distribution services and educational support payments in respect of Class Z shares.

AllianceBernstein has also introduced a series of enhancements to the retirement section of its website. The newly revamped Retirement Leaders website provides tools and resources for retirement-focused advisors, including a personalized home screen with access to retirement practice-management resources, industry trends, interactive tools, recent legal and regulatory updates, tools to help build investment menus and other topics.

Read the Oct. 11 Portfolio Products Roundup at ThinkAdvisor.

Top 10 Warren Buffett Stocks To Buy For 2014

Warren Buffett's track record and the performance of his conglomerate�Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE: BRK-B  ) speaks for itself. No can question the high-quality businesses that he has�assembled under one umbrella. AIG (NYSE: AIG  ) , on the other hand, served as a prime example of a low-quality and poorly managed business during the financial crisis.

However, as AIG cleans itself up and looks toward the future, is its stock a more attractive long-term play than Buffett's giant? In this video, Motley Fool financials analysts David Hanson and Matt Koppenheffer debate which stock offers investors the most opportunity.�

Thanks to the savvy of investing legend Warren Buffett, Berkshire Hathaway's book value per share has grown a mind-blowing 586,817% over the past 48 years. But with Buffett aging and Berkshire rapidly evolving, is this insurance conglomerate still a buy today? In The Motley Fool's premium report on the company, Berkshire expert Joe Magyer provides investors with key reasons to buy as well as important risks to watch out for. Click here now for instant access to Joe's take on Berkshire!

Top 10 Warren Buffett Stocks To Buy For 2014: Independent Bank Corporation(IBCP)

Independent Bank Corporation operates as a holding company for the Independent Bank that provides various retail and commercial banking services in Michigan. The company offers various deposit products, including non-interest bearing demand deposits, time deposits, checking and savings accounts, and NOW accounts. It also provides commercial lending, direct and indirect consumer financing, mortgage lending, and safe deposit box services. The company, through its other subsidiaries, offers payment plans used by consumers to purchase vehicle service contracts and title insurance services, as well as provides investment and insurance services. As of May 2, 2011, it operated approximately 100 offices across Michigan?s Lower Peninsula. The company was founded in 1864 and is based in Ionia, Michigan.

Top 10 Warren Buffett Stocks To Buy For 2014: Comverge Inc.(COMV)

Comverge, Inc. provides intelligent energy management (IEM) solutions for utilities, commercial and industrial customers, and residential consumers. The company operates in two segments, Residential Business and Commercial and Industrial Business. The Residential Business segment offers IEM solutions for residential and small commercial end-use participants. Its solutions include IntelliSOURCE software that provides demand management functionality enabling control of various end-use devices and systems, integration into the utility customer?s back office operational systems, and inter-operability with advanced metering infrastructure, as well as offers a two-way real-time communication link to residential customers; a suite of intelligent hardware comprising one-way load control switches, smart thermostats, and in-home displays; and services, including installation, marketing, and program management. This segment also offers virtual peaking capacity (VPC) program that pro vides verifiable kilowatts of capacity by owning and operating the IEM network; and turnkey programs for utilities to the IEM network, and provides services and solutions. The Commercial and Industrial Business segment provides IEM solutions to utilities and independent system operators that manage programs or energy markets for large commercial and industrial consumers. This segment delivers its solutions through the management of megawatts for commercial and industrial consumers in VPC and open market programs, as well as through the completion of energy efficiency projects. It also offers energy efficiency program that provides permanent base load reduction through equipment upgrades, energy auditing and consulting, building automation, lighting retrofits, and other measures to reduce commercial and industrial consumers total energy consumption. The company was founded in 1974 and is headquartered in Norcross, Georgia.

Hot Financial Stocks To Own Right Now: Ameriana Bancorp(ASBI)

Ameriana Bancorp operates as the holding company for Ameriana Bank, a state-chartered commercial bank that provides a range of consumer and commercial banking services in Indiana. The company involves in accepting deposits from the general public and investing those funds in various types of loan products. Its deposit products include savings accounts, interest-bearing and noninterest-bearing checking accounts, money market accounts, fixed interest rate certificates, and negotiated rate jumbo certificates; and loan products comprise single-family and multi-family mortgage loans, construction loans, commercial real estate loans, commercial and industrial loans, small business loans, home improvement loans, and consumer loans. The company, through the subsidiaries of its bank, also offers insurance products and investment brokerage services. It operates through its main office in New Castle and 12 branch offices in New Castle, Middletown, Knightstown, Morristown, Greenfield, Anderson, Avon, McCordsville, Carmel, Fishers, Westfield, and New Palestine, Indiana, as well as a loan production office in Carmel, Indiana. The company was founded in 1890 and is headquartered in New Castle, Indiana.

Top 10 Warren Buffett Stocks To Buy For 2014: Hermes Financial Inc(HFI.V)

Hermes Financial Inc. engages in the exploration, development, and production of oil and gas properties in Canada. It holds interests in various oil and gas wells located in the Valhalla, Bellshill Lake, and Sullivan Lake areas of Alberta, Canada. The company was incorporated in 2006 and is based in Canmore, Canada.

Top 10 Warren Buffett Stocks To Buy For 2014: Marathon Oil Corporation(MRO)

Marathon Oil Corporation, through its subsidiaries, operates as an international energy company with operations in the United States, Canada, Africa, the Middle East, and Europe. It operates through three segments: Exploration and Production, Oil Sands Mining, and Integrated Gas. The Exploration and Production segment explores for, produces, and markets liquid hydrocarbons and natural gas. The Oil Sands Mining segment mines, extracts, and transports bitumen from oil sands deposits in Alberta, Canada; and upgrades the bitumen to produce and market synthetic crude oil and vacuum gas oil. The Integrated Gas segment markets and transports products manufactured from natural gas, such as liquified natural gas and methanol. The company was formerly known as USX Corporation and changed its name to Marathon Oil Corporation in July 2001. Marathon Oil Corporation was founded in 1887 and is based in Houston, Texas.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Joshua Bondy]

  The smaller players
  Marathon Oil (NYSE: MRO  ) recently spun off its downstream assets into Marathon Petroleum. Marathon Oil's development of the Bakken and Eagle Ford are the main changes boosting its production volumes. Year-over-year, its second quarter U.S. volumes increased 38%. The Eagle Ford alone averaged 80 Mboepd and the Bakken averaged 39 Mboepd.

• [By Claudia Assis]

  The refiner was spun off from Marathon Oil Corp. (MRO) �in 2011. Shares of Marathon Oil lost 1.1%.

Top 10 Warren Buffett Stocks To Buy For 2014: Pacific Continental Corporation(Ore)

Pacific Continental Corporation operates as the bank holding company for Pacific Continental Bank that provides commercial banking services primarily in Oregon and Washington. The company offers a range of banking and related services to community-based business, not-for-profits, professional service providers, business owners, and executives. It accepts a range of deposit products, including demand, checking, savings, money market, and time deposits. The company?s loan portfolio comprises secured and unsecured commercial loans for general operating purposes, acquisition of fixed assets, purchases of equipment and machinery, financing of inventory and accounts receivable, and other business purposes; small business administration loans; and permanent and construction loan finance products for commercial facilities and for pre-sold, custom, and speculative home construction. Its loan portfolio also comprises residential mortgage loans; and secured and unsecured loans to in dividuals for various purposes, such as purchases of automobiles, mobile homes, boats, and other recreational vehicles, as well as for home improvements, education, and personal investment. In addition, the company offers credit card services, merchant card payment services, and cash management products to its business customers; and online banking, safe deposit, debit and ATM cards, ACH transactions, savings bonds, cashier?s checks, travelers? checks, and notary services. As of March 30, 2010, it operated 14 banking offices in Oregon and Washington. The company was founded in 1972 and is headquartered in Eugene, Oregon.

Top 10 Warren Buffett Stocks To Buy For 2014: Generac Holdlings Inc. (GNRC)

Generac Holdings Inc. designs, manufactures, and markets a range of generators and other engine powered products for the residential, light commercial, industrial, and construction markets in the United States and Canada. It offers generators and other products fueled by natural gas, liquid propane, gasoline, diesel, and Bi-Fuel under the Generac and Magnum brands. The company�s product line includes residential power products, commercial and industrial power products, and other products. Its residential power products comprise automatic residential standby generators that range in output from 6kW to 60kW; air-cooled residential standby generators, which range in outputs from 6kW to 20kW; and liquid-cooled generators that range in outputs from 20kW to 60kW. The residential power product line also includes portable generators consisting of GP series ranging from 1,850W to 17,500W for homeowners; the XG series ranging from 4,000W to 10,000W for the premium homeowner market; the XP series ranging from 4,000W to 8,000W for the professional contractor market; and the iX series ranging from 800W to 2,000W for the recreational market. The company�s industrial and commercial power products comprise light-commercial standby generators ranging from 22kW to 150kW for grocery stores, convenience stores, restaurants, gas stations, pharmacies, retail banks, and healthcare facilities; single-engine industrial generators, which range in output from 10kW to 600kW; and generator systems ranging from 20kW air-cooled generators to 3mW modular power system for the telecommunications market, as well as aftermarket service parts and RV generators. The company sells its generators through independent residential and industrial dealers, wholesalers, national accounts, private label arrangements, retailers, catalogs, e-commerce merchants, equipment rental companies and dealers, and construction companies. Generac Holdings Inc. was founded in 1959 and is headquartere d in Waukesha, Wisconsin.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Eric Volkman]

  Generac (NYSE: GNRC  ) has reached abroad for its latest asset buy. The company announced Thursday that it inked an agreement to acquire Tower Light, an Italy-based company that develops and sells mobile light towers.

• [By Rich Duprey]

  Generator maker Generac (NYSE: GNRC  ) announced this morning it had completed the refinancing of its senior secured�term loan credit facility and, as it previously promised, will use part of the proceeds to pay investors a special dividend of $5.00 per share,�payable on June 21�to stockholders of record on June 12.�

Top 10 Warren Buffett Stocks To Buy For 2014: lime energy co.(LIME)

Lime Energy Co. provides energy engineering, consulting, and implementation solutions to the commercial, industrial, utilities, governmental, and energy services markets in the United States. The company?s energy efficiency solutions enable its clients to reduce energy-related expenditures and the impact of their energy use on the environment. Its services include energy consulting, integrated energy engineering, and multi-measure project development and implementation; mechanical/electrical upgrade services; water conservation; weatherization; and renewables across a range of facilities, including office buildings, manufacturing plants, retail sites, mixed use complexes, and large government sites. The company?s energy consulting and technical services comprise utility program management and implementation, energy project development, energy engineering, consulting, and planning. Lime Energy Co. also provides energy asset development and management services comprising p roject feasibility and technology assessment; sourcing, qualifying, and structuring investment opportunities; project financing; design and construction process management; and asset management. Its customers include commercial and industrial businesses, property owners and managers, utilities, energy service companies, government entities, and educational institutions. The company was formerly known as Electric City Corp. and changed its name to Lime Energy Co. in September 2006. Lime Energy Co. was founded in 1980 and is headquartered in Huntersville, North Carolina.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By CRWE]

  Lime Energy Co. (NASDAQ:LIME) reported their addition to NSTAR�� Municipal Program, which incentivizes municipalities to implement energy efficiency measures. The pre-selection of energy efficiency contractors is intended to streamline the procurement process for the municipalities that NSTAR currently serves.

Top 10 Warren Buffett Stocks To Buy For 2014: Chemical Financial Corporation(CHFC)

Chemical Financial Corporation operates as the financial holding company for Chemical Bank that offers banking and fiduciary products and services in Michigan. Its products and services include business and personal checking accounts, savings and individual retirement accounts, time deposit instruments, electronically accessed banking products, residential and commercial real estate financing, commercial lending, consumer financing, debit cards, safe deposit box services, money transfer services, automated teller machines, access to insurance and investment products, corporate and personal wealth management services, and other banking services. The company also provides mutual funds, annuity products, and market securities to customers, as well as issues title insurance to buyers and sellers of residential and commercial mortgage properties, including properties subject to loan refinancing. As of January 26, 2012, Chemical Financial Corporation operated 142 banking offices in approximately 32 counties in the lower peninsula of Michigan. The company was founded in 1973 and is headquartered in Midland, Michigan.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Marc Bastow]

  Financial services holding company Chemical Financial (CHFC) raised its quarterly dividend 4.5% to 23 cents per share, payable on Dec. 20 to shareholders of record as of Dec. 6.
  CHFC Dividend Yield: 2.98%

Top 10 Warren Buffett Stocks To Buy For 2014: Medical Marijuana Inc (MJNA)

Medical Marijuana Inc. (MJNA), incorporated on May 23, 2005, is the publicly held company vested in the medical marijuana and industrial hemp markets. The Company is comprised of a diversified portfolio of products, services, technology and businesses solely focused on the cannabis and hemp industries. These products range from patented based cannabinoid products, to whole plant or isolated high value extracts specifically manufactured and formulated for the pharmaceutical, nutraceutical and cosmeceutical industries. In March 2013, it sold certain equipment and inventory, web domain names, phone numbers, and all existing and pending agreements with hemp production and processing facilities to CannaVEST Corp.

The Company�� services are varied, ranging from medical clinic management to the capitalization and development of existing industry business and product leaders. Services include development of cannabinoid based health and wellness products, and the development of medical grade compounds. MJNA provides over 50 and patented cannabinoid delivery methods that are more socially and medically acceptable than smoking.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By John Udovich]

  Although its summer, there has been a steady stream of good news about medical marijuana even though important small cap marijuana stocks�Medical Marijuana Inc (OTCMKTS: MJNA) and Cannabis Science Inc (OTCMKTS: CBIS) have been fairly quietly lately while Growlife Inc (OTCBB: PHOT), a more indirect play on the spread of legalized marijuana, has produced�some news for investors:

• [By Bryan Murphy]

  The difference between Growlife's leadership and, say that of competitors like Cannabis Science Inc. (OTCMKTS: CBIS) or Medical Marijuana Inc. (OTCMKTS: MJNA), has been relatively well documented here at the SmallCap Network site. I think the way I - well, someone else - put it back on June 25th says it best...."Growlife is sort of the demure girl in the corner who doesn't do shots off her navel in the bar." It may not have sizzle, but it does have substance.

IPO demand jumps as three more hit the market

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The Empire State Building may not be the world's tallest anymore, but it still helped set a new record Wednesday.

Following the initial public offerings of three companies, including the operator of the Empire State Building, the IPO market has officially shaken off the malaise of the financial crisis of 2007 and 2008.

Shares of retailer Burlington Stores, real estate firm ReMax and Empire State Realty Trust saw their initial public offerings start trading Wednesday, and they gained 47%, 23% and 1%, respectively, on their first days.

But more important, with the IPOs of these three companies, there have been 155 companies selling shares to the public for the first time this year. That's a noteworthy accomplishment in that it's the first sign of the moribund IPO market coming back to life since the financial crisis all but killed interest in deals.

And that's not even including the much-anticipated IPO of online message service Twitter, expected to file its prospectus with the public in weeks, if not days.

TWITTER IPO: Social media giant poised to make IPO filing public

At 155, the number of IPOs this year is up 52% from the same point last year, says Renaissance Capital.

There haven't been this many companies going public in a year since 2007, when there were 213, just before the financial crisis decimated the plans of companies to sell stock to the public.

The amount of money raised by companies this year so far, $33.3 billion, is down 6.2% from this point last year, Renaissance says. But that's actually a healthy sign, as the IPO market is reopening to smaller companies looking to grow and expand, the lifeblood of a vibrant IPO market. For years, investors shied away from smaller companies to focus on large, old and more established companies.

The Loophole In The New DOL Home Care Worker Rules

The Department of Labor extended minimum wage and overtime rules to most home care workers who aid the elderly in final rules this week—note the qualifier "most." Workers hired through an agency like Visiting Angels or Home Instead Senior Care are covered under the new rules, period. But if a caring son hires a home care worker directly to help out his aging mom (no agency involved), the caregiver may be exempt from the new protections, depending on the type of care provided. The danger for families going the private-pay route is figuring out when the new DOL rules could be triggered.

"If you're hiring a worker on your own, you need to know whether what you're hiring them to do counts under the exemption," says Catherine Ruckelshaus, legal co-director of the National Employment Law Project.

The current broad companionship care exemption to minimum wage and overtime (it dates to the 1970s) has been narrowed and clarified under the new rules, but there are still gray areas. "It's very difficult because most workers do a mix of activities," says Ruckelshaus. "If you're hiring a caregiver as a companion you don't have to worry about minimum wage and overtime, but if you're hiring them to really get through the day, you need to be aware of minimum wage and overtime," she says. Separately you need to be withholding for FICA and FUTA (Social Security and unemployment taxes).

The new rules, which go into effect Jan. 1, 2015, change how the companionship exemption to minimum wage and overtime under the Fair Labor Standards Act works. Basically, they've ratcheted down the types of services and care that a caregiver can provide and still be eligible for the companionship exemption.

Caregiver tasks are divided into companionship tasks and care-oriented tasks. Companionship tasks (further defined as fellowship and protection) include playing cards, going to church, and sharing meals. Care-oriented tasks include bathing, dressing, light housework and coordinating medical care. Care services used to be included in the companionship definition, but now they are not, and care services cannot be more than 20% of the caregiver's time or duties. If the caregiver does household work that a maid would do, like vacuuming or changing bed linens, then the minimum wage and overtime rules apply.

"A senior who first just needed help with transitions, for example, might decline to where they need help with grooming, bathing, and dressing, and once the duties creep and the 20% gets exceeded, the caregiver is no longer considered a companion under the law," warns Kathleen Webb, president of HomeWork Solutions in Sterling, Va., an outfit that helps families employing household help manage all the paperwork that goes along with doing so.

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"The duties should be agreed upon and tracked," says Ruckelshaus. That's what the DOL recommends in one of the fact sheets it put out translating the 358-page(!) final rule into readable guides for workers, individuals and families, and agencies and other employers available here. From the fact sheet on the expanded DOL recordkeeping requirements:

An individual, family, or household, who employs a domestic service worker who qualifies for the companionship services exemption, however, is not required to keep records under the FLSA. Individuals, families, and households employing a worker who qualifies for the companionship services exemption may wish to maintain such records as a matter of good business practice. Further, if there is ever a question whether the worker is entitled to minimum wage or overtime pay, such records may be useful.

What care tasks fit in which column—companionship or care–is tricky. On its frequently asked questions page, the DOL says that driving to medical appointments counts towards the 20% limit on care, but "an outing such as taking a scenic drive to see fall foliage or driving out to lunch together" would instead count as providing fellowship and protection (i.e. companionship).

The simple answer for families is to make sure they are paying minimum wage and overtime to the caregivers they hire independently. If they hire caregivers through an agency, it's the agency's problem.

Here's a handy chart, courtesy of HomeWork Solutions, showing what types of tasks count towards the companionship exemption. The chart classifies the task as either companionship care (√), incidental tasks permitted that cannot exceed 20% of the caregivers time (20%), and those that are excluded (EXCLUDED) and when required the caregiver cannot be classified as a companion.

Should You Be Buying Apple Stock?

NEW YORK (TheStreet) -- In one direction, Netflix (NFLX) provides the perfect illustration of the toxic disconnect between how Wall Street treats stocks and studies companies. Apple (AAPL) does in the other.

Reality means nothing to the big money. Concurrently, your loyalty to or love for a company should not influence your decision on its stock. Not at all.

After publishing Tuesday's The Media Is Lying to You About Apple, this is one of the first responses I received on Twitter:

Happy to be an AAPL investor! The Media Is Lying to You About Apple http://t.co/Qx18RClcSD via @TheStreet

� Jeannette Gessler (@JbombGessler) September 17, 2013

When that type of emotion accompanies an investment, or a trade for that matter, I worry.

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I guess if you bought AAPL at $100 or $200, you're still happy. But, no matter where you started with the stock, digging your heels in because you think it's the right thing to do or because you're fighting the good fight against a lying and lamebrain media and investor community could get you killed.

It might very well be the case that Apple is unjustifiably undervalued right now. That the cheap iPhone was a figment of the pundits' collective imagination. That Apple is getting beat up for not doing something it never said it would do in the first place. That Tim Cook can, contrary to popular belief, deserve to hold Steve Jobs' jockstrap. If this is reality, there's a better than zero chance it's one you'll never experience.

So the question becomes would you rather kick yourself for not following your conviction and missing out on AAPL's resurgence and subsequent run to $1,000? Or would you prefer to beat yourself up over losing a boatload of money or watching your unrealized profits on the stock decrease and/or evaporate? I'm of the psychological makeup to go with the former, even after getting burned.

There's not a stock I missed on more than Sirius XM (SIRI). The cats who believed in the thing, followed their conviction -- partially fueled by emotion -- and bought on every dip, drop or crash (often for just pennies) made out like bandits. But that doesn't happen every day of the week. Or maybe it happens -- lots of good things happen -- but it happens in limited supply, meaning it's unlikely to happen to you.

All I'm trying to say is this ... if you're reading my stuff on Apple these days and pumping your fist, it's all good. I appreciate it. You should chest bump me. There absolutely is a good fight to be fought. For as concerned -- even bearish -- as I am about Apple's long-term prospects under Tim Cook, the company's getting the raw end of the shaft in the near-term.

So don't take what I'm writing as an endorsement to load up on AAPL stock. It absolutely isn't. In fact, by pointing out the inaneness that reigns on Wall Street and in the financial and tech media, if I'm suggesting anything with respect to the stock it might just be the opposite of buy, buy, buy.

Follow @rocco_thestreet

--Written by Rocco Pendola in Santa Monica, Calif.

Ford Needs Global Growth to Keep It Rolling

DETROIT (TheStreet) -- Ford (F) today is a company on a roll in a growing industry, guided by a celebrity CEO likely to be viewed as one of the best in history.

Two big questions face Ford. One is how long past normal retirement age will Alan Mulally, who is 68, continue to work there. At this point, the question seems a bit tired since Ford and Mulally have said repeatedly that Mulally will work for Ford at least through 2014, while Microsoft (MSFT), often cited as a Mulally destination, needed to name a new CEO yesterday.

The bigger question is: What happens in the global economy? As Mark Fields, Ford's chief operating officer and Mulally's heir apparent, said on the automaker's third-quarter earnings call last month, after a reporter asked about Ford's projected rapid production growth, "Obviously there's a lot of factors that we control (and) there's a lot of factors that we don't control. I'd say we feel good about the factors we do control, and we'll manage through the business environment and continue to monitor it, keeping our goals in mind."

Ford forecasts it will boost wholesale global deliveries to 8 million over the next three years, from 6 million today. "We're quite focused on growth right now," Fields said. "Keep in mind, year to date we have grown our wholesales 13% in 2013, and that's on top of growth in 2012. So clearly that's going to have to be driven by products, and as you know, our product pipeline is very full." Much of the growth is in Asia, where Ford is rapidly increasing manufacturing capacity to 2.9 million units, up from about 1.5 million units in 2011. Europe's economy, by all accounts, is turning around or at least has bottomed out, and hopes for the U.S. remain high, although growth is expected to moderate. "The key leading indicators of U.S. auto demand are pointing to more moderate growth in 2013, after the unusually strong 11% growth since 2010," wrote UBS analyst Colin Langan in a report issued Tuesday. In 2009, U.S. light-vehicle sales reached a 27-year low of 10.3 million. This year, Langan expects sales of 15.5 million units, up 7% from 2012.

Looking ahead, Langan said he expects 2014 sales of 16 million units. He called the 2010-13 growth "an outlier" and said "our 3% (growth) 2014 forecast is consistent with expected 3% GDP growth."

Langan has buys on Ford and GM (GM). "Both are trading at low valuations and will benefit from year-end pension re-measurements," he wrote. "More importantly, 2014 profits are less dependent on U.S. sales growth as GM should benefit from the ramp-up of its full-size pickups, and Ford should benefit from positive US and Asia Pac earnings growth."

S&P Capital IQ analyst Efraim Levy also has a buy on Ford, with a target price of $19. The shares closed Thursday at $17.09, up 32% for the year. In a recent report, Levy wrote that "expected health U.S. and China growth (should outweigh) weakness in Europe and slower growth in some other regions"

Despite profit pressures in China due to capacity investments, continued losses in Europe and pressure on South America operations, Levy wrote that he "expects Ford to benefit from more rapid product introductions, improved volume, more efficient capacity utilization and cost-cutting efforts." Follow @tedreednc -- Written by Ted Reed in Charlotte, N.C. >To contact the writer of this article, click here: Ted Reed

On Turning Back Your Clock as Daylight Saving Time Ends

Top 10 Financial Stocks For 2014

NEW YORK (TheStreet) -- Most people like the extra hour of sleep. Others relish having an extra hour of life to do one thing or another.

Turning back the clock to end daylight saving time has intrigued me ever since I was a young boy growing up in the small western New York hamlet of Niagara Falls. (It's actually not a hamlet.)

As a 38-year-old, I'll be as fascinated by it this weekend as I have ever been.

When I was a youngster, unable to stay up until two in the morning, I always thought something mysterious took place at 2:00 a.m. I just couldn't wrap my head around the notion of the one-o-clock hour going off twice. I used to say to my mother exactly what I say to my wife 30 years later: So it's one in the morning, but right when it hits two, it becomes one again. At some point in my pre-teen life, I stayed up until two, eyes focused on the television screen, to see if it would do a funky dance or self-destruct. Now, I'm enamored by the on-screen guide merely repeating the one-o-clock hour, but with a fresh slate of programming or infomercials. A year out of high school, I worked as a DJ at Q102, the Best Hits Without the Hard Rock and Rap, where, to avoid the obvious clash, I went by "Rich Pendola." I did weekend overnights. One year, on the night we had to turn back the clock, my program director, Rob Lucas, let me pick the music for that extra hour. The playlist went out the window, an oddity for what was, even back in 1993 or thereabouts, an over-programmed adult-contemporary radio station. The year after that, I spent the night we turn the clocks back as an underage drinker in the Allentown section of Buffalo at a famous watering hole called "Mulligan's Brick Bar." The place still exists, complete with a huge poster of Springsteen's The River album cover hanging on the wall. When the clock strikes two in Buffalo on this night, things get wild. At the Brick Bar, shots of Mad Dog 20/20 flowed for an extra hour till last call at four, which, because of the time switch was really five. Now, in my relative old age, I don't care much about the extra hour of sleep. I just like that it gets lighter faster and earlier on in the fall. It's actually light out when I wake up in the morning. Maybe it's my West Coast smug (I live in Santa Monica, just west of Los Angeles), but I relish darkness in the early evening hours. On LA's Westside, much like in my previous stomping grounds of San Francisco, there's just this cozy, cool feel that promotes a festive holiday mood. Of course, if you live on the East Coast or another place that experiences traditional winter you might go so far as feeling depressed when it's time to fall back. You prefer springing ahead, a sure sign that warmer weather is on the way. To each his/her own. In any event, just like there's no excuse for being an hour late to work or school on the Monday morning after we spring ahead, you'll look just as bad if you show up an hour too soon. With that in mind, whether you like or not, be sure to turn your clock back Sunday morning at 2:00 a.m. Follow @rocco_thestreet --Written by Rocco Pendola in New York City

Don't Let Uncle Sam Do To You What It Did to Tony Soprano

We were all shocked by the sudden, untimely death of James Gandolfini. Gandolfini was an immensely gifted actor who changed the face of television entertainment in the role of Anthony "Tony" Soprano, a deeply troubled gangster-in-therapy, who had to balance obligations to his family... and his Family.

By all accounts, James Gandolfini was generous and kind to family and friends alike. It has been reported that he left a large legacy, in excess of $70 million, to be divided between them. His net worth is an estimate, and his asset inventory hasn't yet been disclosed, but he did alright for a middle class kid from North Jersey.

Sadly, however, his nearest and dearest won't see anywhere near the full amount he left behind.

It turns out that James Gandolfini was generous - to a fault. His wish was that his legacy, in the form of real estate and other assets in the United States and Italy, be distributed in large chunks, the largest in a trust for his 13-year old son, Michael and 8-month old daughter, Liliana. His widow, Deborah Lin, is set to receive 20% of his estate. The will stipulates that the shares to be doled out after taxes.

But tax attorney William Zabel called the will a "tax nightmare," and estimated that some 80% of the Gandolfini's estate is liable for the death tax of around 45%. The tax man cometh and right soon; the bill comes due in 9 months.

Where Did He Go Wrong?

It's these particularly large portions that leave Gandolfini's legacy vulnerable to the tax collectors. The tax man gains entry through the large portions given directly to fewer people.

Even worse, since Gandolfini probably didn't have $30 or $40 million in cash lying around, his family will have to hustle - at the worst possible time - to liquidate what's been left to them. In some cases, they'll have to settle for less than the full value of an asset as a fire-sale atmosphere takes hold.

Had the actor gone a more roundabout, but safer way, his heirs might get to hang on to more of his legacy. For instance, he might have left all of his estate to his surviving wife, making an end run around the inheritance tax. So long as the spouse is an American citizen, direct bequests to that spouse are tax deferred for as long as the spouse survives.

The Gift of Breathing Room

This would have given Gandolfini's wife time to sit down with the lawyers and establish a network of tax-advantaged trusts to divide the estate on her passing. A grantor-retained annuity trust, for instance, allows assets to be transferred into it for the life of the trust. The beneficiaries receive annual payments, and appreciation is tax-free for those beneficiaries.

Another way would have been to provide a life insurance policy payable for the entire amount of the estate's tax liability. While he was still with us, James Gandolfini might have calculated the entire value of his estate, worked out the tax on it, and then taken out a life insurance policy that would cover the tax bill.

Life insurance payouts aren't subject to inheritance taxes. That would have given his heirs a worry-free, no strings attached lump sum to pay off and then be rid of the IRS.

Gandolfini might have left money to his heirs while he was still alive in the form of gifts. Gifts above $13,000 are subject to taxes, but then again, there are tax credits available that permit up to $1 million of gifts in a lifetime

It's also possible to attach stipulations to gifts that make them tax-advantaged. For instance, gifts for higher education and medical expenses aren't liable to tax.

In Estate Planning, Anything Goes

When planning an estate, when attempting to give it all possible tax advantages, a no-holds-barred, no-stone-unturned strategy is called for. It's wise to take advantage of all the different ways available - no matter how complicated or unorthodox - to protect your heirs' legacy.

You can't cheat death, and you shouldn't cheat on your taxes, but you don't have to lie down for either of them.

All Part of "The War on Success"

James Gandolfini's post-mortem financial woes illustrate a tricky problem in this country. Gandolfini made his money himself, through his own hard work and with his considerable acting talents.

But, because he wasn't devious and clever with his earnings, a goodly portion of them will end up in government coffers, rather than remaining with his numerous chosen heirs - his family and friends.

On the one hand, it's fair to pay your taxes. Fair tax rates are not impossible to achieve.

But is it fair for the government to tax the dead? After a lifetime of hard work? Is it fair that you have to be devious and clever to protect your legacy?

These are legitimate questions that have to be a part of any debate over fair taxes. But anything that comes from that debate is likely to be of little comfort to James Gandolfini's friends and family when the tax man comes knocking.

What do you think of the #deathtax? Sound off on Twitter or drop us a line on Facebook.

Death Tax - 07232013 Is there any such thing as a fair tax? Yes, I think so. We should all pay at least something. No way! We should get to keep everything we make.
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Jim Cramer's 'Mad Money' Recap: Stocks Are Where It's At

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NEW YORK (TheStreet) -- If you care about making money, stocks are still the only place to be, Jim Cramer told his"Mad Money" TV show viewers Monday, after another up day on Wall Street. Cramer said the bears are beginning to come out in droves, proclaiming that the top has arrived, but that simply isn't the case.

With the markets up 24% for the year, Cramer said, history remains on investors' side. Historically, markets that are up more than 20% going into November have only added to their gains. Stocks have been a great place to be since the lows of March 2009. Add to that a steaming hot IPO market, and the effectively nonexistent yield from all other forms of investments and it's easy to see why stocks remain the place to be.

There are no real alternatives to stocks, Cramer continued, and with the S&P 500 trading at just 14.7 times forward earnings, stocks really aren't that expensive either. Some sectors, like biotech, continue to rally with names like Celgene (CELG), Gilead Sciences (GILD) and Regeneron (REGN) continuing to shine. Yes, there are some stocks, like the newly minted Twitter (TWTR), that ARE wildly expensive, but that doesn't apply to the market at large. The analysts who are calling for a top in the market are those who never had any conviction in the rally to begin with, Cramer said, but in reality, stocks remain the only game in town. Executive Decision: Dave Melcher In the "Executive Decision" segment, Cramer spoke with Dave Melcher, president and CEO of Exelis (XLS), the defense contractor that's seen its shares rise 66% since Cramer last checked in back in September 2012. Despite the ongoing sequester, shares of Exelis still offer a 2.6% yield. Melcher started off commenting on Veterans Day, noting that veterans are the fabric of America and offer many talents to the companies who hire them. Nearly 10% of Exelis' workforce are veterans, he said, adding that hiring vets is just "the right thing to do." Turning to the business of Exelis, Melcher said that while his company can't control the top line given the continued budgets cuts, it does have control of the bottom line, which is why it has been cutting costs and reducing head counts where to bolster earnings.

Top Penny Companies For 2014

Exelis has many growth areas, Melcher said, including internationally, where the company derives 10% of its revenues. The demand for Exelis' night vision, radio and networking equipment all remains strong. Additionally, aerospace remains in secular growth mode, and Exelis continues to be a big supplier to Boeing (BA).

Cramer said that companies like Exelis continue to prove that execution matters, even in the face of continuing budget cuts. Priceline.com in Spotlight

Don't freak out over its price tag, shares of Priceline.com (PCLN) are worth every penny, Cramer told viewers, as he highlighted the travel Web site that's given investors a 1,909% return over the past five years, 77% of which came from this year alone.

Cramer called Priceline THE growth stock to own going into the end of the year, as it currently trades for just 19 times earnings despite a 20% growth rate. He reminded viewers that money managers will pay up to twice a company's growth rate, or 40 times earnings, for a stock like Priceline, which is why the stock is incredibly cheap at its current valuation. While its true that Priceline has been rallying for years, Cramer said the company remains the best of breed playing in a secular growth industry. The company has a big exposure to Europe, which is finally taking a turn for the better, and it also derives 75% of its revenues from lucrative hotel bookings and far less from cut-throat airline reservations. Priceline also uses an agency model, acting as a broker between buyers and sellers, taking a 15% to 20% cut of the transaction fee. That makes it a far safer bet than its peers, Cramer said, especially given its scale. Priceline also snapped up Kayak, making it a big player in the fast-growing mobile bookings space. Given the company's huge cash flows, which afford it lots of options for buybacks, dividends and future acquisitions, Cramer said that Priceline should be on everyone's wish list this year. While some fretted over the companies' recent guidance, Cramer reminded viewers that Priceline is renowned for its tepid guidance, which explains the stock's $100 swing from its post-earnings selloff to its close the following day.

Lightning Round

In the Lightning Round, Cramer was bullish on Pharmacyclics (PCYC), Johnson & Johnson (JNJ), Cheniere Energy (LNG), Cheniere Energy Partners (CQP), Ubiquiti Networks (UBNT), Columbia Banking System (COLB) and Apple (AAPL).

Cramer was bearish on Advanced Micro Devices (AMD), Skyworks Solutions (SWKS), Arena Pharmaceuticals (ARNA), Windstream (WIN) and Weatherford International (WFT). Executive Decision: Gregg Engles

For his second "Executive Decision" segment, Cramer sat down with Gregg Engles, chairman and CEO of WhiteWave Foods (WWAV), which today delivered a penny-a-share earnings beat on better-than-expected revenues and increased margins, which caused management to raise the low end of their estimates, sending shares to a 52-week high. Shares of WhiteWave are up 10% since Cramer last spoke with Engles just three months ago. Engles said WhiteWave's non-dairy products are increasingly in demand as consumers are looking for healthy nutrition with fewer calories. Such items as almond and soy milks have lots of room to grow given the overall size of the dairy market. Fortunately for WhiteWave, the economics of almond and soy products is far better than that of traditional dairy, affording the company far higher margins. Additionally, Engles noted that WhiteWave is still a small company and is leveraging its cost structure as sales continue to grow, adding to its bottom line. WhiteWave is also in the process of selling one of its larger farms, which produces 5% of its organic milk. Engles explained that the farm is no longer an area of expertise for WhiteWave, so the capital will be better used elsewhere. Cramer said that WhiteWave remains a terrific story. No Huddle Offense In his "No Huddle Offense" segment, Cramer weighed in on DineEquity (DIN), purveyors of the Applebee's and IHOP restaurant chains, which continues to only receive a lukewarm reception from Wall Street. Cramer said its clear that the analysts continue to struggle with DineEquity. While the company continues to cut costs, bolster average ticket prices and keep its brands fresh, Wall Street remains unimpressed, raising price targets only when the old targets have been overrun. Cramer said that with a 3.75% yield, it's clear that DineEquity is doing something right, but that just creates an opportunity for investors to get in before the analysts finally wake up and recommend the stick at higher levels.

To watch replays of Cramer's video segments, visit the Mad Money page on CNBC.

To sign up for Jim Cramer's free Booyah! newsletter with all of his latest articles and videos please click here.

-- Written by Scott Rutt in Washington, D.C.

To email Scott about this article, click here: Scott Rutt Follow Scott on Twitter @ScottRutt or get updates on Facebook, ScottRuttDC

At the time of publication, Cramer's Action Alerts PLUS was long AAPL, JNJ. Jim Cramer, host of the CNBC television program "Mad Money," is a Markets Commentator for TheStreet.com, Inc., and CNBC, and a director and co-founder of TheStreet.com. All opinions expressed by Mr. Cramer on "Mad Money" are his own and do not reflect the opinions of TheStreet.com or its affiliates, or CNBC, NBC Universal or their parent company or affiliates. Mr. Cramer's opinions are based upon information he considers to be reliable, but neither TheStreet.com, nor CNBC, nor either of their affiliates and/or subsidiaries warrant its completeness or accuracy, and it should not be relied upon as such. Mr. Cramer's statements are based on his opinions at the time statements are made, and are subject to change without notice. No part of Mr. Cramer's compensation from CNBC or TheStreet.com is related to the specific opinions expressed by him on "Mad Money." None of the information contained in "Mad Money" constitutes a recommendation by Mr. Cramer, TheStreet.com or CNBC that any particular security, portfolio of securities, transaction, or investment strategy is suitable for any specific person. You must make your own independent decisions regarding any security, portfolio of securities, transaction, or investment strategy mentioned on the program. Mr. Cramer's past results are not necessarily indicative of future performance. Neither Mr. Cramer, nor TheStreet.com, nor CNBC guarantees any specific outcome or profit, and you should be aware of the real risk of loss in following any strategy or investments discussed on the program. The strategy or investments discussed may fluctuate in price or value and you may get back less than you invested. Before acting on any information contained in the program, you should consider whether it is suitable for your particular circumstances and strongly consider seeking advice from your own financial or investment adviser. Some of the stocks mentioned by Mr. Cramer on "Mad Money" are held in Mr. Cramer's Action Alerts PLUS Portfolio. When that is the case, appropriate disclosure is made on the program and in the "Mad Money" recap available on TheStreet.com. The Action Alerts PLUS Portfolio contains all of Mr. Cramer's personal investments in publicly-traded equity securities only, and does not include any mutual fund holdings or other institutionally managed assets, private equity investments, or his holdings in TheStreet.com, Inc. Since March 2005, the Action Alerts PLUS Portfolio has been held by a Trust, the realized profits from which have been pledged to charity. Mr. Cramer retains full investment discretion with respect to all securities contained in the Trust. Mr. Cramer is subject to certain trading restrictions, and must hold all securities in the Action Alerts PLUS Portfolio for at least one month, and is not permitted to buy or sell any security he has spoken about on television or on his radio program for five days following the broadcast.

Best Undervalued Companies To Own In Right Now

The stock market can be a wonderful thing, helping you grow your wealth and enjoy a comfortable retirement. But it can also fry your precious nest egg if you're not careful. My colleague Morgan Housel has noted that the financial industry "is dominated by cranks, charlatans, and salesmen" -- but very often, we're the ones who most endanger our portfolios and our financial futures with our reckless investment ideas. Permit me to review just a few.

"Wow, this cheap stock is only $0.13 per share! I can buy 10,000 shares for just $1,300!"
Penny stocks -- those trading for less than about $5 per share -- are usually very bad investment ideas, as they can be easily manipulated and are often tied to shaky, unproven companies. Sure, they entice us with their seemingly cheap prices, and the thought of owning 10,000 shares of something is somehow more exciting than owning far fewer shares. But a low price isn't necessarily a cheap price. A $200 stock can be undervalued and more likely to rise than fall while a $0.13 stock can be worth much less than that and be more likely to fall than rise.

Best Undervalued Companies To Own In Right Now: Caterpillar Inc.(CAT)

Caterpillar Inc. manufactures and sells construction and mining equipment, diesel and natural gas engines, industrial gas turbines, and diesel-electric locomotives worldwide. It operates through three lines of businesses: Machinery, Engines, and Financial Products. The Machinery business offers construction, mining, and forestry machinery, including track and wheel tractors, track and wheel loaders, pipelayers, motor graders, wheel tractor-scrapers, track and wheel excavators, backhoe loaders, log skidders, log loaders, off-highway trucks, articulated trucks, paving products, skid steer loaders, underground mining equipment, tunnel boring equipment, and related parts. It also manufactures diesel-electric locomotives; and manufactures and services rail-related products and logistics services for other companies. The Engines business provides diesel, heavy fuel, and natural gas reciprocating engines for Caterpillar machinery, electric power generation systems, marine, petrol eum, construction, industrial, agricultural, and other applications. It offers industrial turbines and turbine-related services for oil and gas, and power generation applications. This business also remanufactures Caterpillar engines, machines, and engine components; and offers remanufacturing services for other companies. The Financial Products business provides retail and wholesale financing alternatives for Caterpillar machinery and engines, solar gas turbines, and other equipment and marine vessels, as well as offers loans and various forms of insurance to customers and dealers. It also offers financing for vehicles, power generation facilities, and marine vessels. The company markets its products directly, as well as through its distribution centers, dealers, and distributors. It was formerly known as Caterpillar Tractor Co. and changed its name to Caterpillar Inc. in 1986. Caterpillar Inc. was founded in 1925 and is headquartered in Peoria, Illinois.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Alexis Xydias]

  Caterpillar (CAT)�� valuation has climbed 28 percent in the past year as the largest manufacturer of mining and construction machinery posted three quarters of earnings declines. Analysts predict a profit drop of 27 percent in 2013. Last month, the Peoria, Illinois-based company cut its earnings forecast as mining-equipment sales declined on slower commodity demand from emerging markets.

Best Undervalued Companies To Own In Right Now: Dollar Tree Inc.(DLTR)

Dollar Tree, Inc. operates discount variety stores in the United States and Canada. Its stores offer merchandise primarily at the fixed price of $1.00. The company operates its stores under the names of Dollar Tree, Deal$, Dollar Tree Deal$, Dollar Giant, and Dollar Bills. Its stores offer consumable merchandise, including candy and food, and health and beauty care, as well as household consumables, such as paper, plastics, household chemicals, in select stores, and frozen and refrigerated food; variety merchandise, which includes toys, durable housewares, gifts, party goods, greeting cards, softlines, and other items; and seasonal goods, such as Easter, Halloween, and Christmas merchandise. As of April 30, 2011, it operated 4,089 stores in 48 states and the District of Columbia, as well as 88 stores in Canada. The company was founded in 1986 and is based in Chesapeake, Virginia.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Jon C. Ogg]

  Dollar Tree Inc. (NASDAQ: DLTR) was maintained as a Buy but was removed from the prized Conviction Buy list at Goldman Sachs.

  Duke Energy Corp. (NYSE: DUK) was raised to Buy from Hold with a $79 price target at Argus.

Best Low Price Companies To Buy For 2014: Schlumberger N.V.(SLB)

Schlumberger Limited, together with its subsidiaries, supplies technology, integrated project management, and information solutions to the oil and gas exploration and production industries worldwide. The company?s Oilfield Services segment provides exploration and production services; wireline technology that offers open-hole and cased-hole services; supplies engineering support, directional-drilling, measurement-while-drilling, and logging-while-drilling services; and testing services. This segment also offers well services; supplies well completion services and equipment; artificial lift; data and consulting services; geo services; and information solutions, such as consulting, software, information management system, and IT infrastructure services that support oil and gas industry. Its WesternGeco segment provides reservoir imaging, monitoring, and development services; and operates data processing centers and multiclient seismic library. This segment also offers variou s services include 3D and time-lapse (4D) seismic surveys to multi-component surveys for delineating prospects and reservoir management. The company?s M-I SWACO segment supplies drilling fluid systems to improve drilling performance; fluid systems and specialty tools to optimize wellbore productivity; production technology solutions to maximize production rates; and environmental solutions that manages waste volumes generated in drilling and production operations. Its Smith Oilfield segment designs, manufactures, and markets drill bits and borehole enlargement tools; and supplies drilling tools and services, tubular, completion services, and other related downhole solutions. The company?s Distribution segment markets pipes, valves, and fittings, as well as mill, safety, and other maintenance products. This segment also provides warehouse management, vendor integration, and inventory management services. Schlumberger Limited was founded in 1927 and is based in Houston, Texas.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Tyler Crowe and Aimee Duffy]

  About 1% of all drilling operations are powered by natural gas. By shifting all drilling operations over to natural gas, the industry could save as much as $1.6 billion a year. The idea has such appeal that both Haliburton (NYSE: HAL  ) and Schlumberger (NYSE: SLB  ) have said that they would be willing to test sites with Apache for free. In this video, Fool.com contributor Tyler Crowe talks about how the industry could convert to natural-gas-powered operations, and highlights companies to look out for that could benefit from this movement.

• [By Dan Caplinger]

  Halliburton has focused much of its attention on the booming U.S. market, giving it more exposure to domestic production than more globally focused rival Schlumberger (NYSE: SLB  ) . With domestic drilling activity having been fairly weak lately, Halliburton's U.S. concentration has raised concerns among investors, as land-based rig counts have fallen sharply. But with efficiency gains from multi-pad drilling and multi-stage hydraulic fracturing, bulls hope that rig counts don't accurately reflect actual production activity and therefore that Halliburton's earnings will hold up better than some expect.

Best Undervalued Companies To Own In Right Now: Tupperware Corporation(TUP)

Tupperware Brands Corporation operates as a direct seller of various products across a range of brands and categories through an independent sales force. The company engages in the manufacture and sale of kitchen and home products, and beauty and personal care products. It offers preparation, storage, and serving solutions for the kitchen and home, as well as kitchen cookware and tools, children?s educational toys, microwave products, and gifts under the Tupperware brand name primarily in Europe, Africa, the Middle East, the Asia Pacific, and North America. The company provides beauty and personal care products, which include skin care products, cosmetics, bath and body care, toiletries, fragrances, nutritional products, apparel, and related products principally in Mexico, South Africa, the Philippines, Australia, and Uruguay. It offers beauty and personal care products under the Armand Dupree, Avroy Shlain, BeautiControl, Fuller, NaturCare, Nutrimetics, Nuvo, and Swissgar de brand names. The company sells its Tupperware products directly to distributors, directors, managers, and dealers; and beauty products primarily through consultants and directors. As of December 26, 2009, the Tupperware distribution system had approximately 1,800 distributors, 61,300 managers, and 1.3 million dealers; and the sales force representing the Beauty businesses approximately 1.1 million. The company was formerly known as Tupperware Corporation and changed its name to Tupperware Brands Corporation in December 2005. The company was founded in 1996 and is headquartered in Orlando, Florida.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Arie Goren]

  After running this screen on May 21, 2013, before the markets' open, I discovered the following eight stocks: Sunoco Logistics Partners LP (SXL), Leggett & Platt Inc (LEG), Copa Holdings SA (CPA), RPC Inc. (RES), Tupperware Brands Corp. (TUP), Herbalife Ltd. (HLF), John Wiley & Sons Inc. (JW.A) and C.H. Robinson Worldwide Inc. (CHRW).

Harvard’s deficit soars to $34 million

BOSTON (AP) — Harvard University finance officials are pledging to manage costs better and pursue innovative revenue strategies after its deficit soared to $34 million in the most recent fiscal year, compared to a $7.9 million shortfall the previous year.

A financial report released Friday says the school saw revenues jump 5% to $4.2 billion, due largely to the increased annual distribution from its hefty $32.7 billion endowment.

Revenue also was bolstered by a 17% increase in gifts for current use, from $289 million in the previous fiscal year to $339 million in the most recent year.

Operating expenses for the nation's oldest school rose 6% to $4.2 billion. Benefits, wages and other compensation expenses accounted for about half of expenses.

The financial report, authored by Harvard's Vice President for Finance and Chief Financial Officer Daniel S. Shore and Treasurer James F. Rothenberg, notes that the $34 million deficit is slightly less than 1% of the school's revenue. In that context, they said, it is manageable, while still meaningful.

"However, the ability to stay in financial balance going forward depends in large part on institutional commitment to cost management and an embrace of innovative revenue opportunities," they said.

The Ivy League school can manage costs better by consolidating operations and procurement, which could also help improve efficiency, yield higher quality service and improve ability to manage vendor-related risks, according to the report.

"Culture change of this sort is hard for any large and decentralized organization," Shore and Rothenberg said in the report. "Changing Harvard's culture will require time, transparency, a willingness to make mistakes along the way, and the capacity to learn from them. "

Reducing costs of benefits can be difficult because they are "experienced at a more personal level," they said. "Yet these changes are inevitable and will allow us to protect the integrity of the high-quality teaching and r! esearch that has allowed Harvard to lead throughout the centuries."

The report noted that Harvard is no exception from other colleges and universities facing substantial pressure as net income from tuition, particularly at the undergraduate level, grow slowly. Although the endowment earned an 11.3% gain on investments in the most recent fiscal year, Harvard must use caution in planning for future distribution due to the volatility of global financial markets, the report said.

Political bickering in Washington is not helping matters either.

"The federal government's ongoing commitment to research funding is more uncertain than it was last year, and we have already begun to feel the chilling effects of the budget sequester on research grants," the report said.

Harvard President Drew Faust noted the nation's wealthiest university has not been immune to the fact that a faltering economy has raised questions in the public's mind about the value of a college education as well as the reality that every revenue stream upon which institutions of higher learning depend has come under pressure.

"We will need to meet those challenges by acting thoughtfully and decisively as a community; we will adapt where circumstances demand it; and we will remain steadfast in defending the values that make Harvard an essential contributor to the pursuit of knowledge in the world," Faust said.

Today's 3 Best Stocks in the S&P 500

Although we don't believe in timing the market or panicking over market movements, we do like to keep an eye on big changes -- just in case they're material to our investing thesis.

Following yesterday's sizable losses, the broad-based S&P 500 (SNPINDEX: ^GSPC  ) soared on mixed economic data and robust earnings reports.

On the positive side, the October jobs report showed gains of 204,000 nonfarm payroll jobs, which was practically double what economists had expected. Understandably, the estimates were all over the place considering the effect of the government shutdown; but these are still very strong results, nonetheless. Ironically, though, with more people actively being counted in the labor force, the unemployment rate actually ticked higher by 0.1%, to 7.3%.

An early reading of the Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index was on the other side of the spectrum, with a reading of 72 coming in well below expectations for a reading of 75. A lower reading here implies that consumers are getting more skeptical of the U.S. economy and, if this trend continues, could reduce their spending and make a challenging holiday season for retailers even tougher.

Overall, investors took the uptick in the unemployment rate as a great sign that the Federal Reserve may continue with its monetary easing for quite some time going forward, dispelling yesterday's primary fears after a better-than-expected third-quarter GDP report. They sent the iconic index higher by 23.46 points (1.34%) to close at 1,770.61, less than five points from a new all-time high.

Leading the index higher today with a gain of 9.8% was clothing retailer Gap (NYSE: GPS  ) , which delivered a better-than-expected preliminary third-quarter forecast, and reported solid October same-store sales growth. For the quarter, Gap said it now expects EPS to be in the range of $0.70-$0.71, versus the current consensus of just $0.66. Furthermore, October's same-store sales increased by 4%, according to the company, compared to estimates that had called for a minuscule 0.1% increase. I have little question in my mind, based on these results, that its flagship Gap stores are outperforming the competition, but I remain skeptical of its Old Navy line, which delivered flat same-store sales growth for the quarter, and has been a drag on Gap's top and bottom line for years. As such, I would approach today's move higher very cautiously until its Old Navy brand delivers more consistent growth.

Top 10 Insurance Stocks To Own Right Now

Graphics chip and mobile processor producer NVIDIA (NASDAQ: NVDA  ) went the other way with its third-quarter results, missing sales expectations, and guiding revenue lower than the Street anticipated in the fourth quarter. It still managed, however, to vault higher by 7% on the day after raising its dividend by 13%, and topping EPS expectations in the third quarter. For the quarter, NVIDIA delivered adjusted EPS of $0.26, which topped expectations by $0.07, even with the aforementioned revenue miss. NVIDIA also announced a plan to return $1 billion in share buybacks and dividends to shareholders in 2015, and approved an additional $1 billion in share repurchases. Although revenue is expected to be flat quarter over quarter, I'm quite optimistic that the company's Tegra chips will be a big success in mobile, and would suggest NVIDIA remain a company you keep high on your watchlist

Finally, shares of life insurance company Lincoln National (NYSE: LNC  ) added 5.7% on the day despite no company-specific news. Today's move higher could very well just be carryover from its third-quarter results reported a little more than a week ago where it handily topped the consensus EPS and revenue forecast of analysts. Annuities and retirement planning services have been a big boost to the sector over the past couple of quarters, and a rising market is surely going to encourage investors, young and old, to consider jumping back in and investing for their futures.

Six high-growth stocks to put your portfolio on the map
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Tech stocks: Twitter goes public

Twitter is moving close to becoming a publicly traded company.

The sound of the opening bell on the New York Stock Exchange on Thursday signaled the debut of Twitter's initial public offering. It will trade under the symbol TWTR, and shares have been priced at $26.

Twitter joins a hot sector of the stock market: social networks. After early struggles, Facebook stock has surged in the past few months after revealing significant growth in its mobile numbers. Shares of Facebook have more than doubled since hitting a 52-week low of $19.21 last year.

Meanwhile, LinkedIn has skyrocketed in value, with shares vaulting from $101.21 on this day last year to over $220. And the recommendations service Yelp has watched its stock nearly quadruple over the past year.

"It's a space that's has done very well in the last few months," says Global X Funds CEO Bruno del Ama.

Twitter's stock is expected to trade heavily on Thursday and over the next few days, but del Ama says the activity and the price should start to settle down.

Follow Brett Molina on Twitter: @bam923.

CBS Earnings Rise Higher Revenues, Share Buybacks

Source: ThinkstockCBS Corp. (NYSE: CBS) reported third quarter 2013 earnings after markets closed Wednesday. For the quarter, the broadcast and cable network posted diluted earnings per share (EPS) of $0.80 on revenues of $3.63 billion. In the same period a year ago, the company reported EPS of $0.60 on revenues of $3.27 billion. Third-quarter results compare to the FactSet consensus estimate for EPS of $0.76 and the Thomson Reuters estimate of $3.47 billion in revenues.

Revenue growth of 11% drove earnings growth of 26%. Content licensing and distribution revenues grew the most, up 18%, and advertising revenues rose 4%. Stock buybacks for the year to date total 39.7 million shares at an average price of $46 a share for a total of $1.84 billion.

CBS attributed part of its earnings growth to the share buyback program and part to growth in operating income. Operating income rose 4% and adjusted diluted EPS grew by 19%, so buybacks represent the largest part of the company's earnings growth. That's one way to keep stockholders happy.

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The company's executive chairman said:

CBS’s third quarter proves once again why content is king. Our programming is becoming more valuable all the time as we continue to take advantage of the ever-expanding multiplatform world.

The CEO elaborated:

Through our studio, we have an ownership interest in most of these shows, meaning that their success not only boosts our base business, but also our newer revenue streams as well, including very strong growth in retransmission consent fees, reverse compensation, international sales and all the opportunities afforded to us by exploding advances in technology. Plus, we are working toward a new advertising model in which we get paid for the significant, additional viewing that is increasingly taking place after a show first airs.

CBS did not offer guidance in its press announcement, but FactSet estimates fourth-quarter EPS at $0.85 and full-year EPS at $3.09, rising to $3.52 in fiscal 2014.

Shares are down about 1.3% in after-hours trading at $58.86 in a 52-week range of $33.04 to $60.91. The consensus Thomson Reuters price target for the shares was around $63.00 before today's report.

Jim Cramer's 6 Stocks in 60 Seconds: BBY IMGN BUD HK MTG K (Update 1)

Check out Jim Cramer's latest trading recommendations on "Action Alerts Plus".

(Updates from 10:42 a.m. ET with closing information.)

NEW YORK (TheStreet) -- Here's what Jim Cramer had to say on CNBC's "Squawk on the Street" Tuesday.

Piper Jaffray raised its price target on Best Buy (BBY). Cramer suggested analysts have been waiting for a day to raise their targets and that "this stock goes higher." BBY closed up 1.8% at $44.06.

ImmunoGen (IMGN) has stopped testing its lung cancer drug, which disappointed Cramer. "This is a really important thing," he said. The stock "may not come right back." IMGN dropped 19% to $13.41.

Cramer called Anheuser-Busch Inbev (BUD) "a good stock." BUD was flat at $102.25.

Wells downgraded Halcon Resources (HK) to hold from buy. Cramer said that although it has been disappointing, the company has a good CEO and he doesn't "want to dump it." HK fell 5% to $5.11. "If you like MGIC Investment Corp. (MTG), you should love Radian Group (RDN), which is better, and Genworth Financial (GNW), which is also terrific," Cramer said. MTG ended the day 2.6% higher at $8.32. Deutsche Bank downgraded Kellogg (K) to hold from buy. Cramer listened to the conference call and said "there really isn't a lot of growth there." He added that "firing your way into prosperity is not lasting for a long time." K was up nearly 1% at $63.09. To sign up for Jim Cramer's free Booyah! newsletter, with all of his latest articles and videos, please click here. -- Written by Bret Kenwell in Petoskey, Mich. Follow @BretKenwell X

What Do These Factors Say About Sprint’s Stock?

With shares of Sprint (NYSE:S) trading around $7, is S an OUTPERFORM, WAIT AND SEE or STAY AWAY? Let's analyze the stock with the relevant sections of our CHEAT SHEET investing framework:

T = Trends for a Stock's Movement

Sprint offers wireless and landline communications products and services to individuals and businesses in the United States. Through its two segments, Wireless and Wireline, it offers voice and data transmission services to subscribers in all 50 states, Puerto Rico, and the United States Virgin Islands under the Sprint corporate brand, which includes its retail brands of Sprint, Nextel, Boost Mobile, Virgin Mobile, and Assurance Wireless. An increasing share of the population is opting for these communications products and services, fueling profits for Sprint.

Sprint posted earnings recently and the company reported net losses of $1.6 billion, up from $1.4 billion a year earlier. The company was hurt by the $623 million it cost to close Nextel, which also cost Sprint 1.05 million subscribers. However, revenue increased to its highest point ever of $7.2 billion, and the company has big plans for the cash it's getting from SoftBank and wireless holdings from Clearwire.

T = Technicals on the Stock Chart are Strong

Sprint stock has seen a strong bid in the last couple of years. The stock is now trading at prices not seen for several years. Analyzing the price trend and its strength can be done using key simple moving averages. What are the key moving averages? The 50-day (pink), 100-day (blue), and 200-day (yellow) simple moving averages. As seen in the daily price chart below, Sprint is trading slightly above its rising key averages which signal neutral to bullish price action in the near-term.

(Source: Thinkorswim)

Taking a look at the implied volatility (red) and implied volatility skew levels of Sprint options may help determine if investors are bullish, neutral, or bearish.

	Top Low Price Companies To Own For 2014 Implied Volatility (IV)	30-Day IV Percentile	90-Day IV Percentile
Sprint Options	42.32%	50%	48%

What does this mean? This means that investors or traders are buying a significant amount of call and put options contracts, as compared to the last 30 and 90 trading days.

	Put IV Skew	Call IV Skew
September Options	Flat	Average
October Options	Flat	Average

As of today, there is an average demand from call buyers or sellers and low demand by put buyers or high demand by put sellers, all neutral to bullish over the next two months. To summarize, investors are buying a significant amount of call and put option contracts and are leaning neutral to bullish over the next two months.

On the next page, let's take a look at the earnings and revenue growth rates and the conclusion.

E = Earnings Are Mixed Quarter-Over-Quarter

Rising stock prices are often strongly correlated with rising earnings and revenue growth rates. Also, the last four quarterly earnings announcement reactions help gauge investor sentiment on Sprint's stock. What do the last four quarterly earnings and revenue growth (Y-O-Y) figures for Sprint look like and more importantly, how did the markets like these numbers?

	2013 Q2	2013 Q1	2012 Q4	2012 Q3
Earnings Growth (Y-O-Y)	-15.21%	27.59%	-1.22%	-160.00%
Revenue Growth (Y-O-Y)	0.31%	0.68%	3.24%	5.16%
Earnings Reaction	7.31%	-0.14%	-0.51%	-1.77%

Sprint has seen decreasing earnings and increasing revenue figures over the last four quarters. From these numbers, the markets have been excited about Sprint's recent earnings announcement.

P = Excellent Relative Performance Versus Peers and Sector

How has Sprint stock done relative to its peers, AT&T (NYSE:T), Verizon (NYSE:VZ), T-Mobile (NASDAQ:TMUS), and sector?

	Sprint	AT&T	Verizon	T-Mobile	Sector
Year-to-Date Return	23.42%	-0.24%	9.71%	41.28%	17.97%

Sprint has been a relative performance leader, year-to-date.

Conclusion

Sprint provides communications services and technology to a wide variety of consumers and companies in the United States and its territories. The street is excited about a recent earnings announcement. The stock is currently trading at high prices not seen for several years. Over the last four quarters, earnings have been decreasing while revenue figures have been increasing which has left investors with mixed feelings. Relative to its peers and sector, Sprint has been a year-to-date performance leader. Look for Sprint to OUTPERFORM.

High Court Bolsters Gay Marriage, but Financial Planning Hurdles Remain

While financial planning for same-sex couples living in a state that recognizes their marriage just got easier with the Supreme Court’s overturning of the Defense of Marriage Act Wednesday, advisors and attorneys say lots of same-sex planning issues remain unresolved.

The benefit of the Supreme Court striking down DOMA “is still pretty narrow,” says Anna Pfaehler, a CFP and advisor at Palisades Hudson Financial Group in Scarsdale, N.Y., who advises same-sex couples.

While the high court’s striking down of DOMA gives same-sex couples who marry the same federal benefits as straight couples, the ruling also preserved individual state laws on the issue, Pfaehler notes.

“For some very basic cases” the Supreme Court’s decision “makes financial planning easier,” but “it didn’t solve a lot of the problems [involved] with more difficult” same-sex planning cases, Pfaehler says. Planning for same-sex couples is “still kind of a mess.”

In a 5-4 decision, the Supreme Court struck down the portion of DOMA that bans the federal government from recognizing same-sex marriages performed in a state. As it stands now, “legally married gay men and women are entitled to claim the same federal benefits — such as social security survivor benefits—and are subject to the same Federal burdens — such as the so called ‘marriage penalty’ — available to opposite-sex married couples,” says John Olivieri, a partner with the law firm White & Case, who advises same-sex couples on how they should structure their estates.

Olivieri notes that “there are more than 1,000 federal laws, programs and benefits where one’s marital status is relevant.” Previously, he says, “people in a same-sex marriage were not considered ‘married’ for federal purposes. Now they are.”

But individual state laws — specifically in those states that don’t recognize gay marriage — can still cause significant planning headaches for same-sex couples. “For couples that are living in states that don’t permit same-sex marriage, they will still be in the same situation they were in before” the Supreme Court ruling, says Nicole Pearl, a partner in the Los Angeles office of McDermott Will & Emery, who focuses on estate and wealth transfer planning and marital property agreements.

For same-sex couples who live in the 12 states that recognize same-sex marriage—not including California, which could change soon as the Supreme Court declined on Wednesday to decide a case involving California’s Proposition 8 ban on gay marriage—the DOMA ruling brought some real benefits.

As Pfaehler explains, a same-sex couple who were married and living in New York could now file a joint state and federal tax return, and if one partner died without a will, the other partner “would be entitled to receive some of the property.” Also, in gifting from one partner to another, the recipient would not have to pay federal gift tax now, she says. “With DOMA repealed, a married, same-sex partner has the same rights as any spouse would. Therefore, you can now transfer property to your (married) partner free of federal gift tax.” /* .premium-promo { border: 1px solid #ddd; padding: 10px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 200px; float: left; } .premium-promo li, .premium-promo ul { list-style-type: none; margin: 0; padding: 0; } .premium-promo li { margin: 0 0 10px; padding: 0 0 10px; border-bottom: 1px dotted #ddd; } .premium-promo h3 { text-transform: uppercase; font-size: 11px; } .premium-promo h4 { font-size: 16px; } .premium-promo a { text-decoration: none !important; } .premium-promo .btn { background: #0069a1; border-radius: 4px; display: inline-block; padding: 5px 10px; clear: both; color: #fff; font-weight: bold; } .premium-promo .btn:hover { background: #034c92; } */ Both Pearl and Pfaehler agree that the “transitional” issues that come with same-sex marriages can be the most challenging.

“What about the [same-sex] couple who lives in New York and then decides to move to another state that doesn’t allow same-sex marriage?” Pearl asks. “Is the federal government still going to recognize” their marriage? Estate and income tax issues also crop up in this scenario, she says. Then there’s the couple who goes on vacation and gets married and then returns to a state that doesn’t recognize gay marriage. Again, she asks, “Will the federal government recognize it?”

The answers, Pearl says, will likely come in federal regulation that has yet to be issued.

As to the tax and benefit implications of the Supreme Court ruling, Olivieri notes that “financially, it is not always beneficial to be considered married. For example, two-earner couples with high incomes will pay higher income taxes if they are married than if they were single.”

However, he continues, “all things considered, the benefits outweigh the burdens. Although they may pay higher income taxes during life, when one spouse in a same-sex married couple dies, the surviving spouse will now be entitled to claim the so-called ‘marital deduction’ from the estate tax (which generally allows one spouse to leave an unlimited amount of property to the other spouse without estate or gift taxes) and to make a ‘spousal rollover’ of the deceased spouse’s IRA or 401(k).”

Indeed, from a benefits perspective, the ruling’s “broad impact” extends to matters such as spousal protections and rollover rights in retirement plans, the taxation of group health benefits, COBRA health coverage elections, special enrollment rights under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, and leave rights under the Family and Medical Leave Act, say Cathy Stamm and Valerie Grace of Mercer’s Washington Resource Group.

In an alert issued Wednesday, both write that regarding employer action, the Supreme Court rulings in both DOMA and the high court’s action vacating a 9th Circuit decision but leaving intact a U.S. district court decision declaring California’s Proposition 8 unconstitutional take effect “immediately” and possibly even retroactively.

The two write that if “marital status affects the delivery of benefits to an employee’s same-sex spouse or that spouse’s child, employers may need to amend the plan’s ‘spouse’ definition; reprogram tax reporting systems; and update enrollment forms, distribution election packages, tax notices, beneficiary designation forms, SPDs, and the like.”

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Other steps may involve filing refund claims for taxes paid on the value of same-sex spouses’ health care coverage, revisiting domestic partner policies, and evaluating whether DOMA “workarounds” adopted in the past are still needed to achieve HR objectives, the two write.

---

Check out Advisors Missing Opportunities Presented by the ‘New Modern’ Family on AdvisorOne.

Planning to invest in bonds? Here's help

Here is the edited transcript of the interview on CNBC-TV18.

Q: REC has recently announced a very large tax free bond. Would you advise your clients to invest in RECs, particularly in context that equity markets have started seeing a bit of a revival? Also, this time around the investible limit has been hiked to an unprecedented Rs 10 lakh per investor. How much investment is advisable and what kind of yield are you expecting, given these bonds will be listed as well?

A: Let me clarify that only the interest earned from these bonds is tax free and there is no tax exemption on the investment amount. I believe these bonds provide a good opportunity for investors to lock-in their money for longer periods. There are two options of 10 year and 15 year bonds and these are safe bonds, these are AAA rated bonds and they should buy REC which is a Government of India owned corporation. Even in terms of liquidity, there is going to be enough liquidity in the 10 and 15 year bonds by way of listing at NSE and BSE.

I think these are definitely good options and as far as coupon is concerned, it is 7.22 percent for 10 year option and 7.38 percent for 15 year option. But, for retail investors who have been defined as the ones who will invest upto Rs 10 lakh, will get additional 50 basis points, meaning it is going to be 7.72 percent for 10 year bonds and 7.88 percent for 15 year bonds. The issue size is around Rs 4500 crore and 40 percent of it has been earmarked for retail investors. The minimum investment is Rs 5000 which is five bonds and thereafter, in multiples of Rs 1000.

In terms of liquidity, I think there is going to be ample liquidity by way of listing. The major attraction for investors here is the tax free status of the dividend. What typically happens is if we take an example of someone who is in the 30 percent bracket, the pre tax return comes to around 11.25 percent. Now, it is very hard to find an option where one is assured of getting around 11 percent plus pre-tax return over a 10-15 year period. That too in an option where these are issued by government owned organizations where money is safe.

In terms of allocation, I would say that investors need to be a little careful. I believe they should only be putting in that amount which is earmarked for their debt portfolio, especially the one which can be kept aside for the long-term. I don't think it will be a great idea to think of taking money out of their equity portfolio or money which is earmarked for equity portfolio for investing in this bond.

I strongly believe that over a period of 10-15 years, equity can definitely give better returns. There is something called asset allocation. I think there is a place for every asset class in the portfolio. Out of a debt portfolio, I think specially the money which can be kept aside for a longer period is a pretty good option.

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Tags: tax , bonds , tax free bonds, Hemant Rustagi , Wiseinvest Advisors

No intent to control capital; fund-raising door open: FM

No intent to control capital; fund-raising door open: FM

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