The Big Picture: How to Determine the Stock Market's Direction

Stock Strategies
Investing in DRPs: A Guide to Dividend Reinvestment Plans
A major attraction of a dividend reinvestment plan is the opportunity to buy shares with little or no commissions levied. Many companies sell initial shares directly to investors so that no purchases need to be made through a broker.

Estate Planning
The Tools of the Trade: Basic Estate-Planning Trusts
Sometimes, a trust is the only vehicle that will provide a reasonable level of assurance that the goal of passing the fruits of your labor to your desired beneficiaries can be achieved.

Stock Screens
Implementing a High-Yield Screen to Invest in Stocks With DRPs
Many individuals are attracted to companies with DRPs as a low-cost way to buy shares. But limiting investment to only DRPs tends to exclude certain sectors from your portfolio, including higher-growth stocks.

Portfolio Manager Interview
An Interview With Theodore T. Southworth, Northern Income Equity Fund
A focus on convertible securities: Equity-like returns with an income component.

The Markets
The Big Picture: How to Determine the Stock Market's Direction
The CAN SLIM strategy has been a superior performer among the AAII stock screens. But our approach misses one aspect--market direction. William O'Neil himself describes how to gauge the market's direction.

Portfolio Makeover
Inherited Stocks Raise Issues for Couple Nearing Retirement Age
Portfolio Makeover: Financial Planner Clark Blackman writes a planning letter to Timothy Smith addressing his financial concerns and, in particular, his upcoming retirement and what to do with a major inheritance.