InvestTalk Podcasts

This Friday through Sunday and Cyber Monday are make-or-break days for some retailers. What happens during these days could also help dictate what happens in December and 2014.Today's Stocks & Topics: GGN - GAMCO Global Gold Natural Resources & Income Trust, The Economy, Black Friday, ECB says financial system stress has fallen to pre-crisis levels, FNMA - Fannie Mae, MWE - MarkWest Energy Partners L.P., ATHN - athenahealth Inc., Long Term Investments, SJNK - SPDR Barclays Short Term High Yield Bond ETF.

As the saying goes, Id rather be lucky than good. They both play a role in the outcome, but to what proportions?Today's Stocks & Topics: Shorting, Interest Rates, Jobs Report, China, New Investor, Bond Funds, Mutual Funds, Retirement Funds, IRAs, Treasury Bonds, Investing for kids.

Already the largest natural gas producer in the world, the U.S. is estimated to produce more oil than Russia and Saudi Arabia in 2013.Today's Stocks & Topics: Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, Margin, Energy, Capital Gains, 401k, Interest Rates, Equity Index Annuities, Ne w Investor, Retirement, Extra Income, Portfolio.

How will the market react when Fed tapering actually begins? What the $11.7 trillion Treasury market is betting.Today's Stocks & Topics: LF - LeapFrog Enterprises Inc. Cl A, Black Friday Secrets, Loan Limits, Annuities, HPQ - Hewlett-Packard Co., INTC - Intel Corp., Stop Loss Limit, NSC - Norfolk Southern Corp., Technology Sectors, Protect Assets.

Does your 401(k) have the best and latest features? If you are going to have a 401(k) plan it might as well be a good one. But what features should it have?Today's Stocks & Topics: Home Sales, QE3, Year end Tax Tips for Retirement, EWU - iShares MSCI United Kingdom ETF, Brokers, GNT - GAMCO Natural Resources Gold & Income Trust, OAKL - XOakmark Select Fund;I, Mutual Funds, Real Estate, Roth IRA, DLTR - Dollar Tree Inc., FE - FirstEnergy Corp.

Worrying about making theRIGHT investment often prevents people from getting started on their investment. Today's Stocks & Topics: Portfolio, Has QE Worked?, Earnings, Stock Adjustments, IRAs, 401k, New Investor, Investing at Old Age, Stock Split, Stock Evaluation, Money Management, Mutual Funds.

About half of working Americans do not have an employer-sponsored retirement plan, but a Treasury Department proposal could offer a new option.Today's Stocks & Topics: Currencies, Retirement Tax Tips, Gold May Come Back, Is QE Working?, GDX - Market Vectors ETF Trust Market Vectors Gold Miners, S - Sprint Corp., Dividends, REITs, S&P 500, The Stock Market, Silver.

By distributing essentially 100 percent of all rent payments, these REITs provide a durable stream of monthly income. Are they for you?Today's Stocks & Topics: Interest Rates, TBT - ProShares UltraShort Lehman 20+ Year Treasury (ETF), Janet Yellen, 3 Thing to Boost Our Economy, JE - Just Energy Group Inc., Earnings, GDX - Market Vectors ETF Trust Market Vectors Gold Miners, Young Investor, PGF - PowerShares Exchange Traded Fund Financial Preferred Portfolio, Investments Strategies, Energy.

Insanity -Doing the same thing expecting different results. Like picking a fund manager on last years performance. Then, when they flop, doing it again next year.Today's Stocks & Topics: LOW - Lowe's Cos., HD - Home Depot Inc., Earnings, Pockets of Value left in the Market, PSA - Public Storage, BAC - Bank of America Corp., Books, Energy ETFs.

During times like these, it can be helpful to look over the shoulders of some of the best and brightest managers in the business. But which billionaire is best?Today's Stocks & Topics: CTXS - Citrix Systems Inc., Retail Sales, Bull Market isn't all Different, Gas & Energy, ONVO - Organovo Holdings Inc., DFE - WisdomTree Trust WisdomTree Europe SmallCap Dividend, Earnings, SRV - Cushing MLP Total Return Fund, Energy ETFs.

To offset zero interest rates, slow increases in Social Security checks, and falling investment income, retirees are taking on more risk. Maybe too much.Today's Stocks & Topics: BBY - Best Buy Co. Inc., Europe and Japans Growth, Walmart's Sales Projection, Oil Production, TASR - TASER International Inc., GMCR - Green Mountain Coffee Roasters Inc., WYNN - Wynn Resorts Ltd., Commodities, PCYC - Pharmacyclics Inc., 401k, AMAG - AMAG Pharmaceuticals Inc., Stock Evaluation.

Already the largest natural gas producer in the world, the U.S. is estimated to produce more oil than Russia and Saudi Arabia in 2013.Today's Stocks & Topics: CSCO - Cisco Systems Inc., Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, Margin, Energy, FDUS - Fidus Investment Corp., Capital Gains, TGT - Target Corp., PNRA - Panera Bread Co. Cl A, NS - NuSTAR Energy L.P., MU - Micron Technology Inc., F - Ford Motor Co., NLY - Annaly Capital Management Inc., RMD - ResMed Inc., HPQ - Hewlett-Packard Co.

The next year is loaded with uncertainty, but planning ahead for likely changes, and then taking action now can help reduce it.Today's Stocks & Topics: The Stock Market, TBT - ProShares UltraShort Lehman 20+ Year Treasury, 14 Investing Ideas for 2014, Mortgage Rates, Cisco, Investing Strategies, EIX - Edison International, GALE - Galena Biopharma Inc., RAX - Rackspace Hosting Inc., Interest Rates, MDCO - Medicines Co., PCLN - Priceline.com Inc.

It is becoming trendy - investing in enterprises that can make a positive difference - housing, education, health. But is it really sound investing?Today's Stocks & Topics: Weak or Strong Currency, Shell & OPEC, World Economic Growth, Retail Sales, Retirement, Mutual Funds, Indicators, SZYM - Solazyme Inc., FCX - Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc.

Ignorance will be penalized. Questions and complaints have prompted this warning to investors about these popular funds.Today's Stocks & Topics: The Economy, Holiday Retail Season, 5 Worst Ways to Pick a Mutual Fund, Retiring, DDD - 3D Systems Corp., Loaded Funds, WU - Western Union Co.