Briefly Noted

Financial Analyst
The Financial Analyst: The Great Stock Option Debate
The Financial Analyst: Proper accounting for stock options has challenged accountants for years. New accounting rule changes will standardize the reporting. What investors need to know about the great debate--and what to look for in a financial statement.

Hot Links
Web Sites for Optimizing Your Portfolio
Hot Links: Through proper diversification, risky assets can be combined to achieve higher returns without taking on additional risk. Now Web sites offer portfolio optimizers, which are asset allocation models to help you select the right combination.

Matter of Opinion
A Performance Spotlight on the Model Shadow Stock Portfolio
Feature: A performance update for the Model Shadow Stock Portfolio shows dramatic results over the last three months through November 2004.

Portfolio Strategies
Retirement Withdrawals: What Rate Is Safe When Time Is Short and Uncertain?
Portfolio Strategies: Most studies that examine sustainable retirement withdrawal rates cover payout periods of 15 to 35 years. But what happens when circumstances shorten the period? A look at how much you can safely withdraw over shorter payout periods.

Stock Screens
Stock Strategy Winners From the 2004 Performance Derby
AAII Stock Screens: It was a mixed field on a changing track during the 2004 stock strategy performance derby. The top performer for the year was the only strategy during 2003 to show a loss. But the Zweig approach maintained its long-term lead.

Stock Strategies
From Lemons to Lemonade: Post-Bankruptcy Investing
Stock Strategies: Tremendous bargains are sometimes hidden under clouds of public financial disgrace, offering unique investment opportunities to investors willing to consider firms that have recently emerged from bankruptcy.

Stock Strategies
Stock Return Outlook: Not-So-Great Expectations
Stock Strategies: Given current valuation levels and reasonable expectations for earnings and dividend growth, investors should moderate their stock expectations to mid-to-high-single-digit return levels over the next several years.

Departments
Briefly Noted
Current news items of interest to individual investors.