The best stock funds when the economy is robust and growing are usually growth stock funds. In 2011 and beyond this scenario appears unlikely. Since stock (equity) funds belong in the average investor’s portfolio, what are the best stock funds if 2011 fails to produce good economic growth?
Even the best growth funds rarely pay a significant dividend – that’s not the nature of growth funds. These funds focus on price appreciation or rapidly rising stock prices as an objective by investing in companies with higher than average prospects for growth in sales and earning or profits. The stocks they invest in plow their money back into the company instead of paying it out to investors in the form of dividends. Without a significant dividend as a cushion, growth funds generally experience greater share price fluctuation, which means greater risk.
If uncertainty remains high and the economy remains sluggish in 2011 and beyond, growth funds are not your safest bet. When it’s time to be defensive, it’s nice to own equity funds that have a good track record for paying dividend yields of 2%, 3% or more. A dividend of 3% might not sound like much but it does provide a cushion under stock prices. With today’s interest rates 3% looks rather attractive, and many major corporations have a surplus of cash available to increase dividends.
As a conservative play the best stock funds for 2011 to stay invested in equities and decrease the risk of big losses: equity-income or “value” funds that invest in major (large) dividend-paying companies. Don’t worry so much about the name of a fund because names can be misleading to the average investor. Instead start by looking for equity funds that have dividend income as a primary objective. Such a fund would fall under the general category of DOMESTIC (U.S.), GENERAL DIVERSIFIED equity funds.
They can be further classified as value funds, equity-income funds, or maybe DIVIDEND growth funds. The latter tend to invest in large companies with a history of paying stable and/or INCREASING dividends over the years. Make sure that the fund you pick invests in high quality major corporations. Some value funds invest in smaller less-stable companies that “appear” to be cheap, and these funds can be quite volatile (risky). Every fund gives investors a general description of its objectives and what kind of investments it intends to make. It’s often in the fund’s introduction or summary, so look before you leap!
In my opinion, the very best stock funds for 2011 and going forward would also be classified as NO-LOAD and INDEX equity funds. You can cut your cost of buying an equity fund by 5% by avoiding sales charges or “loads”, by simply buying no-load funds. You can save 1% to 2% on YEARLY fund expenses by going with INDEX funds that simply track a sector of the market instead of trying to outperform. Few funds outperform their benchmark (index) on a consistent basis and many under perform it. Why pay to take this added risk?
In summary, to avoid high risk and stay invested in the stock market in 2011 and into the future, here’s how to find the best stock funds. Get info from the major no-load fund companies like Vanguard, Fidelity, T Rowe Price, and Century Funds. Look under the category of EQUITY INDEX funds. Make sure that there are NO sales charges. Look for a DIVIDEND YIELD of 2% or higher, and make sure the fund tracks an index of large-company or large-cap (capitalization) stocks, like the S&P 500 Index.
Over the long-term the best stock funds reward investors with higher fund prices (values) and dividends. The very best funds for most investors also offer a bit less risk than their competition and a lower cost of investing.
16 JanBest Stock Funds For 2011 and Into the Future
30 JunChecks For Clunkers – Trade in clunker checks drafting software for $70 paid to your credit card when you get a new CheckWriter Brand CD
Overview:
The “checks for clunkers, ” program is designed to take outdated check drafting software, non-compliant applications, unauthorized version releases, and other “clunker” check drafting packages that may not be fully compliant with current ABA and Federal Reserve regulations or standards.
These “clunker” software products clog up bank processing facilities, slowing the pace of business, costing banks and consumers, and inhibiting economic growth.
How to qualify for $70.00:
To get the payment, check the list of qualifying software below. If you have one of these brands, we will give you $70 towards the purchase of CheckWriter™ Brand Software – the industry standard.
Software that will qualify for a $70 payment toward CheckWriter™:
- Checker Brand
- CheckMan Brand
- Checknique Brand
- Check Composer Brand
- CheckMatic Brand
- Chekfaxx Brand
- Draftability Brand
- Q-chex Brand
- My Personal Check Writer Brand
- My Business Check Writer Brand
- QuickPay Office Pro Brand
- VersaCheck Brand
Steps to take:
1. Order any CheckWriter™Single User Version, CheckWriter™Best Deal Package, CheckWriter™Network Edition or CheckWriter™ Enterprise Edition at the posted price.
2. Fax your receipt and order number along with a receipt or web order confirmation for any of the brands listed above within 30 days of placing your order to 617-249-0850. If you do not have your original receipt, you can also photocopy and then fax the face of the CD ROM that corresponds with one of the listed clunker brand names. If the software did not come on CD ROM or Floppy Disk and you have no receipt, your other option is to open the software and print the ABOUT screen showing the brand name and version, and that it is registered and not a trial version.
BOTTOM LINE
Once your proof of ownership is received, a $70 payment will be made to your credit or debit card within 30 days or less.
PLACE YOUR ORDER: Here —> Checks for Clunkers
Then collect your $70 and help to unclog processing facilities, while getting the industry standard software for check drafting.
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