Briefly Noted

Stock Strategies
Foreign Investing: Keeping It Simple
In the early 1990s, popular wisdom was pushing foreign investments. But you can't extrapolate the past to arrive at the future. Instead, you have to have some measure of value. When investing overseas, you must take into consideration not only the markets, but also the value of the dollar. A look at the value of the dollar and when it does well.

Mutual Funds
The Top Funds Over Five Years: 2001-2005 Survival of the Fittest
The last five years provided the ultimate financial stress test for mutual funds and investors. Some funds flunked, and a few proved to be in top shape. What made these top performers so fit? A look at who survived--and how they did it.

Financial Planning
Juggling Competing Goals: College vs. Retirement Funding
What's more important, your retirement or your child's college education? While financial planners generally suggest retirement should receive priority, most parents also want to plan for their children's higher education. A look at how to balance the two goals.

Stock Screens
Graham's Long-Term Winning Approach for Enterprising & Defensive Investors
Father knows best--at least as far as Benjamin Graham, the father of value investing, is concerned. A look at Graham's approach to long-term investing for both enterprising and defensive investors.

Matter of Opinion
Model Shadow Stock Portfolio Keeps Chugging Along
As of the end of February 2006, the Shadow Stock portfolio is up 5.4% year-to-date, compared to 2.9% for the S&P 500. Although the market most recently has been up, the choppiness that has marked 2005 is continuing into 2006, and continues to affect the model portfolio as well as the general market.

Hot Links
College Financing On-Line
Where to find the information you need on college savings plans and financial aid programs.

Stock Strategies
Your Brokerage Account: Protection Beyond SIPC
If a brokerage firm goes belly-up, how protected are customer accounts from creditors and other parties? While brokerage busts have been rare in recent years, it's a question worth pondering. A look at where you stand in the event of a problem.

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.