Briefly Noted

Matter of Opinion
Model Fund Portfolio Update: A 2004 Performance Report
Feature: A performance update for the Model Fund Portfolio shows dramatic results for 2004.

Bonds
Bond Market Strategies for a Rising Rate Environment
Bonds: The current "consensus" is that short-term interest rates are likely to rise. That leaves many questions open, including what, if anything, you should do about it. A look at strategies that will serve you best when interest rates are rising.

Stock Screens
The IBD Stable 70: Screening for Long-Term Growth and Stability
AAII Stock Screens: Searching for "recession-proof" stocks? The IBD Stable 70 screen attempts to identify companies that have strong and stable long-term earnings growth—characteristics that have allowed firms to weather downturns in the past.

Broker Guide 2005
Stocks at a Discount: AAII's Annual Broker Firm Survey 2005
Feature: Keep your investment costs low by shopping for discount brokers using AAII's annual survey of discount broker firms. This year's survey covers 57 discount firms, 47 of which conduct business on-line.

Hot Links
How to Check Out a Broker
Hot Links: Where can you get background information and ratings on discount brokers? Visit these Web sites to check a broker's disciplinary history or see what others think of a broker's services.

Portfolio Strategies
Tax-Efficient Investing and What It Means to Your Portfolio
Portfolio Strategies: Although tax laws constantly change, the key to tax-efficient investing is contained in a small number of provisions that are unlikely to be altered. A new way of thinking about asset allocation that considers aftertax values.

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

Departments
Letters to the Editor
Member questions and comments on recent AAII Journal articles.