Foolishly timed international fund investment cautionary tale
A reader recounts buying American Century International Growth after a strong 1999 gain, then seeing a 30 percent drop in the following month. The Fool advises dollar cost averaging can help during down markets, warns against trusting one strong year, notes a roughly 13 percent decade average per Morningstar, and suggests targeting large U S firms with global exposure like ExxonMobil or McDonald's.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
American Century International
Morningstar.com
ExxonMobil
McDonald’s
Corporate Tech Pioneer Built From $1,000 in 1984
Founder dropped out in 1984 to sell custom computer systems directly to users, bypassing middlemen. Annual sales now near $33 billion with stock up about 50,000 percent in a decade. Wall Street Journal ranked it top for total return over 3, 5, and 10 years.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Wall Street Journal
Flexible spending accounts grow as workers face new rules
In coming weeks many U S firms will offer flexible spending accounts to cover health and child care costs next year. Experts note the accounts lower taxable income but warn that unused funds revert at year end. Dependent care accounts max out at 5000 yearly and may bar the federal child care tax credit.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Gary Kushner
Kushner & Co
Kalamazoo, Mich
Kushner
Michael O'Toole
American Payroll Association
O’toole
O'Toole
IRS
Economy holds up amid terror, experts split on long term impact
After the World Trade Center and Pentagon attacks investors weighed a possible recession against a quick recovery. Analysts note confidence surveys give only short term signals while markets look further ahead. Despite shocks, inflation unemployment and the dollar strength suggest resilience, with cracks seen as solvable.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
World Trade Center
Pentagon
Manhattan
Should I Invest in U S Savings Bonds The Debate
Hope Yen of the Associated Press explains that savings bonds fund the federal borrowings and could aid national needs, yet experts warn against purchases driven by patriotism alone. They note war bond campaigns in WWII raised revenue but constrained spending, while today economy fragility may make bonds less stimulative.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
U.S
Dan Pederson
Savings Bond Informer
Detroit
War bonds eyed to fund U S terrorism response drives debate
Lawmakers consider creating a war bond category within 30 year savings Bonds to finance counterterrorism efforts. EE and I bonds offer 4.5 to 5.92 percent, with potential for a new series and different rates. Investors urged to align with personal needs while noting tax deferral and government guarantees.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Treasury Department
U.S
Hollenbach
Also Mentioned on This Page
Mig Dumbest Investment
Harold K
Kansas City, Mo
Philadelphia
Hershey Foods
Eileen Alt Powell
The
Associated Press
Knight Ridder
New York
Kushnerco.com
Www
Americanpayroll.org
Irs.gov
Conference Board
New York City
By Hope Yen
Pete Hollenbach
Bureau of
Public Debt
Pederson
Savings and Loans
Federal Reserve Bank
Publicdebt.treas
Web
Treasury's
Dept.’s Bureau of Public Debt
the Savings Bond Informer
Bondhelp.com
Nasdaq
Wall Street
Giant City
Carbondale
Illinois
AG Edwards Investments
SIPC
A.G. Edwards & Sons, Inc
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