Catherine Maniscalco Avery · Wealth & Investing Expert

This is the story of two guys; Joe and Moe, both business owners.

MOE

Moe has been in business for over 30 years. He appears to have a great reputation and has taken care of his clients. But he is overloaded with debt and quickly running out of money to pay his employees’ retirement benefits. He also keeps spending to make it look like he’s creating jobs and security (i.e. healthcare.) For a $1,000 investment, Moe will pay you 2.74% for 5 years. At the end of the 5 years, he will give you back the $1,000 plus $137 in interest for a total of $1,137.

JOE
Joe has also run a busine…

With divorce rates sky-high nationwide (recent studies estimate 70% of marriages will end in divorce), the chances of becoming part of a second, blended family is a pressing reality for many Americans.

Lets take a look at some critical financial how to’s within the blended family environment.

Creating Stability and Harmony

Blending families is a stressful time for all involved. It is important that everyone feel loved and included. A couple of key ways to do this are by:

1) Keeping the lines of communication open and being upfront about your respective intentions.

2) Updat…

“Baby Boomer Investing 101” Details Mock Portfolio, Value Investing Strategies and More

NEW YORK, May 24 /PRNewswire/ — A new report released today by Catherine Avery Investment Management (“CAIM LLC”), a leading investment advisory firm, provides a valuable guide to long term investment strategies for the largest and most prosperous generation of Americans: Baby Boomers. The report, “Baby Boomer Investing 101,” details strategies and recommendations for Baby Boomers as they navigate recent market volatility and seek ways to preserve long term value and liquidity.

CAIM includes in the …

Here’s the question: Are things really getting better or have we just settled into a malaise instead?

As far as corporate America is concerned everything certainly seems to be looking up. We had a great 1st quarter earnings season. Management at many of the companies we own have been slowly moving up their earnings estimates for the remainder of the year.

But what about the consumer? Well, retail sales are showing improvement and consumer sentiment is slowly starting to improve. We think this is possibly due to a more positive jobs outlook in general.

Our own view of the em…

‘Parking’ your money with the broker or investment manager your accountant or friend recommended, (but about whom you know nothing) and ‘Praying’ everything will OK is a common practice among investors. It’s also unwise.

The alternative? Ask to be EDUCATED.

Changing from passive, and perhaps misplaced, reliance to proactive, knowledgeable independence will make a world of difference in how you feel about your finances, and ultimately how you allow yourself and your money to be treated by your broker.

‘Parking’ Pitfalls

If you have no rapport with the person managing your investment…

This week we take a look at the issue of Accessibility and your portfolio. In light of recent headlines spotlighting the freeze on investor withdrawals imposed by some renowned hedge funds, it’s vital that readers understand the importance of accessibility when it comes to their investments.

“Fund Manager will go to well amid upheaval,” blares the headline in an April 2008 issue of The Wall Street Journal. The article goes on to describe how clients of the D.B. Zwirn & Co. hedge fund aren’t likely to see the $2 billion they’ve asked to pull this decade, as their fund manager, Danie…

In a 2008 on-line Yahoo Finance article entitled, “Can’t Save, Blame Your Brain,” Jason Zweig takes a look at the very real battle that goes on in people’s brains when faced with instant gratification versus riches down the road later. We’ve all heard the adage, “Hold out and wait for something better,” and we all know we need to save, but it turns out that the average holding period for a stock, among individual and professional investors alike, is a mere 11 months! So much for long-term planning!

Zweig explains that recent tests in neuroscience labs tracking peoples’ choices and their …

In 1996 a new book hit a national nerve as it raced up bestseller lists in the New York Times, Business Week, the Wall Street Journal and Publishers Weekly. It’s title? “The Millionaire Next Door – The Surprising Secrets of America’s Wealthy.”
Written by Thomas J. Stanley and William D. Danko, this landmark study revealed the results of more than 20 years comprehensive research on just how people become wealthy. Their findings may shock you – just as it did millions of other Americans.

How do you become wealthy?
Most people have it all wrong about how you become wealthy in America acc…