Clinton’s Newest Passion: School Girls in Kenya.

by Natalie Pace.

President Clinton started the Clinton Global Initiative five years ago to "turn good intentions into real action and results." Toward that end, commitments made in the corridors of CGI Meetings have affected more than 200 million lives in 170 countries (according to CGI data). More than 1,700 commitments have been made, valued at $57 billion. (The most famous CGI sprouts would be the Cash for Clunkers Program, Brad Pitt’s Make It Right Foundation and Water.org – a Matt Damon project.)

Mary Mwende Alex, a college-bound Kenyan, may not yet fully comprehend just how much $57 billion is. Girls in her neighborhood are still struggling to scrape together change for tampons and shoes. But she is completely aware of and grateful for the extraordinary opportunities that lie before her, thanks to CGI and her mentor, Linda Lockhart.

In 2008, Linda Lockhart, the founder of the Global Give Back Circle, leveraged a membership with CGI into a partnership with Microsoft, AREbank Greece and Equity Bank. With the support of these partners, GGBC volunteers have financially supported and personally guided 35 disadvantaged (female) high school graduates in Kenya out of the slums and into college. This year, Linda has committed to expand the GGBC reach and bring another 100 girls into the program. With that goal in mind, she flew three GGBC Ambassadors (recent high school grads, bound for college) to the Clinton Global Initiative Meeting in New York City.

Carolyne Manchara, Mary Mwende Alex and Khadija Abdulla Said rapping onstage at the Clinton Global Initiative (from left to right), while President Clinton and Linda Lockhart watch. Photo Credit: The Clinton Global Initiative © 2009

Carolyne Manchara, Mary Mwende Alex, President Clinton, Linda Lockhart and Khadija Abdulla Said (from left to right). Photo Credit: The Clinton Global Initiative © 2009

September 22, 2009 was the first time that Mary Mwende Alex, Khadija Abdulla Said and Carolyne Manchara had ever visited New York City, or worn makeup and hosiery, but they were nonplussed and inspiring both times they took the stage at the Clinton Global Initiative. President Clinton invited Mary, Khadija and Carolyne to rap, as a warm-up for the crowd before the opening keynote speaker – President Barack Obama. And three days later, just moments before his wife, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, closed the ceremony, President Clinton proudly announced that the American University in Dubai had offered 4-year scholarships to the three young women, to attend their university as Clinton Scholars.

Mary Mwende Alex holds her own at a press conference. She is flanked by the Dr. Andrew Kuper (on her left), the President and Founder of of Leapfrog Investments and Vinita Bali, CEO/Managing Director of Britannia Industries Ltd. Photo: © 2009 Natalie Pace

Photo: © 2009 Natalie Pace

While in New York City, at a social gathering sponsored by CGI, Mary, Khadija and Carolyne chatted up celebrities, including Martin Scorsese (without realizing who he was) and Alicia Keys, and handed out their business cards.

Linda Lockhart (in rear), Mary Mwende Alex, Alicia Keys, Carolyne Manchara and Khadija Abdulla Said (from left to right)

It’s quite a long way from Kenya, but these girls take their jobs as Ambassadors for the organization that saved them seriously. They are devoted to getting out and getting educated, but not just for themselves. Each intend to return to Kenya and help their friends escape the health hazards and poverty that run rampant, destroying the spirit and possibilities of those still living in the slums.

Mary Mwende Alex (in her own words)
Girls in my country are not treated the same way boys are. I do not mean that all boys are treated better in all families in Kenya. But most are. Many people and communities in Kenya have let go of all the misleading cultures. But some are still deeply rooted in these communities.

Female genital mutilation is still practiced in several communities. No anesthesia is used, so the little girl bears all that pain and sometimes dies, due to either the pain or excessive bleeding.

Most communities still think that the position of a woman in the society is the kitchen. Therefore when the boys are either playing or studying, the girl is doing the house chores and being taught how to be a good mother. Early marriages still occur in a few communities and this is forced early marriage and not just "early" marriage. A girl is married off at a very young age, and this is really disheartening because the dreams of that girl are buried in the kitchen and in the house chores.

We never dream again when such things occur. We stop dreaming.

That is why we need the organizations that are involved in the fight against all these inhuman customs to help out. That is why we need organizations like the Global Give Back Circle to bring back the old memories -- where we used to dream big.

The circumcision process of a girl is very painful and bitter. I have not experienced it, but I have seen it happen to many. I have read what they do and you will never imagine anything like it. Some communities are really rough and the girl dies during childbirth. Most are affected for the rest of their lives.

The women of Africa in general want to sing a song of love. And the time is finally here when each and every being should sit down and think about all these things. They are totally unacceptable and are disheartening.

Mary Mwende Alex

Mary’s mission is to educate herself and return home to empower her African sisters. Thankfully and miraculously, this mission caught Clinton’s roving eye. And I’m not just talking about Bill. Both Bill and Hillary share the passion of actively improving the lives and opportunities for girls and women worldwide. In her role as Secretary of State, one of the first things Secretary Clinton did was to appoint the first Ambassador of Global Women’s Issues – Ambassador Melanne Verveer. As Secretary Clinton says in a special message on Oprah.com, "Women and girls hold up half the sky… A change must happen so that [they] have the rights and the voice that they deserve to have."

"The most dangerous places in the world are those places where women are put down," according to the U.S. Ambassador of Global Women’s Issues Melanne Verveer. "No country can prosper if it leaves half of its population behind," she advises.

In January, Mary Mwende will board a plane to a new life that few girls in Kenya could ever imagine -- college. She is deeply honored to be a Clinton Scholar at the American University in Dubai. She aims to study biotechnology.

All of this is possible thanks to the work and vision of the Clintons (giving women and girls a stage and a voice), Mary’s mentor Linda Lockhart and Global Give Back Circle’s partners Microsoft, AREbank Greece and Equity Bank.

For more information, please visit the Global Give Back Circle’s website, where mentors are actively empowering talented, intelligent girls in Kenya to lift up their half of the sky – before they are married off… or mutilated..

Germany Designs the Coolest (errr.. Hottest) Solar Home Again!

by Natalie Pace.

Report from the Department of Energy’s Solar Decathlon 2009.

Includes a Solar Stock Report Card.

The Solar Decathlon, which was inaugurated in 2002 when President Bush was in office, was designed to push solar power and energy efficient innovation through a student-led competition. The inaugural event got very few headlines. A solid green fan base came by to tour the homes, but, even with a convenient location on the Washington Mall, few of the DC power elite cared to even make an appearance.

However, this year’s Solar Decathlon, the 4^th ever, brought the Wow factor with it. The twenty 500+ square foot homes were more than the novelties -- interesting, but fragile, leaky and cramped – of yesteryear. In fact, this year’s architectural winner -- Team California’s home – was drop dead gorgeous – something that could grace the cover of a leading architectural magazine.

Solar Decathlon Architectural Winner: Team California (Santa Clara)

And CEOs, VIPs and even Spanish royalty stopped by for photo ops with U.S. Secretary of Energy Steven Chu.

U.S. Secretary of Energy Steven Chu cuts the ribbon to officially open the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon 2009 on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., Thursday, Oct. 08, 2009. From left: Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy John Lushetsky; Joseph Rigby, CEO of Pepco Holdings Inc.; Amy Huntington, president of Schneider Electric; Mike Splinter, CEO of Applied Materials; Secretary of Energy Steven Chu; Spain Housing Minister Beatriz Corredor; and BP Solar CEO Reyad Fezzani. (Credit: Stefano Paltera/U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon

Princess Cristina De Borbon of Spain takes a look at Team Spain's solar-powered house with Spain's ambassador Jorge Dezcallar de Mazarredo, left, and Universidad Politécnica de Madrid professor Joseph Adell, center, during the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., Friday, Oct. 16, 2009. (Credit: Stefano Paltera/U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon)

The technological, architectural and viability progress made since 2002 is impressive – with each team building upon the prior team’s successes and failures. Rice University had the most noteworthy post-competition use for its home. The team negotiated an agreement with Project Row Houses, a local community development organization, to donate their ZEROW HOUSE to Houston's Third Ward after the competition. With a cost of under $250,000 (the lowest in the competition), their home meets HUD standards and could become a prototype for low-income, energy efficient housing.

Rice University Home

Team Germany reigned supreme for the second consecutive Decathlon, followed by #2 University of Illinois. But #3 Team California was truly the talk of the Mall and the competition. If the categories were more evenly weighted, Team California would have easily won. #1 Team Germany and #2 University of Illinois edged out #3 Team California for the top spots by scoring the most points in Net Metering – essentially by producing more energy. Net Metering (energy generation) accounts for 15% of the total points – the most of any of the 10 categories.

#1 Team Germany (the black house), #2 University of Illinois

Power generation is a game of dollars and cents. While Team Germany’s home was, for the second competition in a row, noteworthy, unique and fresh, the real story is that the team spent a lot more on solar panels than any school in the competition. Their cost came in at the staggering price of $650-$850,000. (Rice’s home was less than a third of the price.) If Team California, with a budget of $450,000-$650,000, had spent an extra quarter of a million on solar panels, the team would have won the competition hands down, since it outscored both Germany and Illinois, when Net Metering is given equal weighting. Team California scored in the Top Three of seven categories, while Team Germany’s Top Three showings were limited to just three energy-related categories of Net Metering, Comfort and Hot Water.

I’m not pooh-poohing comfort in a home, but why not have it all – style, comfort and affordability! Team California produced enough energy to power their home, while Team Germany was more of a power plant — producing twice as much power as needed.

In addition to renewable energy, the competition rewards innovative uses of recycled and reclaimed materials. The University of Illinois constructed their home with old barn’s wood. The University of Arizona’s walls were made from recycled plastic containers. And Cornell was inspired by silos.

Each home was extremely tailored for their local needs – spiked roofs for snowy weather and skylights for sunny climates. Puerto Rico’s home, with lots of patio space and hammocks, works perfectly in the Caribbean. People’s Choice and Market Viability, the University of Louisiana at Lafayette designed a front porch for Blue Grass and jug-blowing in the summer, which can be partitioned off as an inside den in winter.

SiloHouse: Cornell University, CASHHouse: Puerto Rico (Caribbean Affordable Solar House), BeauSoleil: University of Louisiana at Lafayette

Which Solar Panel Reigns Supreme at the Solar Decathlon?
There is one solar panel manufacturer that has dominated the Solar Decathlon competition year in and year out, since the inaugural event in 2002. The University of Colorado, the #1 team in those years, used Sunpower panels in 2002 and 2005. This year, the University of Illinois lined their roof with Sunpower solar panels and scored 2^nd in Net Metering. Team California also sported Sunpower panels on their home.

Germany, which consistently boasts of the most innovative use of solar panels, had Würth Solar shingles on the exterior of their home. In 2007, Germany had mini solar panels embedded into louvers on the exterior of the house.

Thin film solar panels are almost nonexistent at the competition because they get killed in the net metering, comfort, hot water and appliances categories. Sunpower panels have the most power, efficiency and a sleek, black surface that can be used for aesthetics in the design. Click here for a Solar Stock Report Card to learn more about these solar manufacturers as potential investments.

If you’re interested in a small, sustainable home, regardless of whether you are in Arizona, New Jersey or Canada, you’re certain to be inspired by this year’s Solar Decathlon collection of 20 homes. Tour the homes on the Solar Decathlon site and take virtual tours on the Solar Decathlon’s YouTube channel. Mark your calendar to attend the 5^th competition in the fall of 2011.

Solar Decathlon Categories:
Net Metering (150 points)
Architecture (100 points)
Market Viability (100 points)
Engineering (100 points)
Appliances (dishwasher, laundry, refrigerator) (100 points)
Hot Water (100 points)
Comfort Zone (warm, cozy and not too humid) (100 points)
Home Entertainment (TV/computer, dinner parties, movie night) (100 points)
Communications (website/brochures/info) (75 points)
Lighting Design (75 points)

Full Disclosure: I own shares of Hoku and LDK Solar (mentioned in the Stock Report Card). I do not own positions in any other companies mentioned in this Stock Report Card and article.

About Natalie Pace:
Natalie Pace, is the author of You Vs. Wall Street and CEO of one of the most respected, independently owned financial news corporations in the U.S. She has been ranked as a #1 stock picker from TipsTraders.com and has partnered content with Forbes.com, Sohu.com, Kiplinger’s Personal Finance and more.  She has appeared on Fox News, Good Morning America, CNBC, Time Magazine, More Magazine, USA Today, NPR and national radio shows. Ask her your money questions on her weekly radio show on BlogTalkRadio.com/NataliePace! Follow her on Twitter.com/NataliePace, YouTube.com/NataliePaceDOTCOM and Facebook.com/NatalieWynnePace. For more information please visit, http://www.nataliepace.com.

Please note: NataliePace.com does not act or operate like a broker. We report on financial news, and are one of the most trusted independently owned and operated financial news corporations in the U.S. This article is intended to educate and inform individual investors, and, thus, to give investors a competitive edge in their personal decision-making. The publicly traded companies mentioned in this article are not intended to be buy or sell recommendations. ALWAYS do your research and consult an experienced, reputable financial professional before buying or selling any security, and consider your long-term goals and strategies.

Investors should NOT be using the Hot News on Cool Stocks list or the Cooling Off list to trade their nest eggs. Your retirement plan should reflect a long, safe strategy, which has been designed with the assistance of a financial professional who is familiar with your goals, risk tolerance, tax needs and more. The "trading" portion of your portfolio should be a very small part of your investment strategy, and the amount of money you invest into individual companies should never be greater than your experience, wisdom, knowledge and patience.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER: Information has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable however NataliePace.com does not warrant its completeness or accuracy. Opinions constitute our judgment as of the date of this publication and are subject to change without notice. This material is not intended as an offer or solicitation for the purchase or sale of any financial instrument. Securities, financial instruments or strategies mentioned herein may not be suitable for all investors.

Miss America Goes Green.

by Tamara Henry.

Learn what America’s most beautiful young women are doing to save the planet.

What does "being green" mean to the contestants of the Miss America 2010 Pageant?  That's what I went to find out, as I flew from Los Angeles to Orlando, Florida to interview the eco-chic Miss America hopefuls.  It's all part of the "Green T - Green is Gorgeous Award", an interactive video contest on my Green T with Tamara website,  www.GreenTwithTamara.TV . 

Their answers will surprise you.  Here are the top five topics that came up:

1. Recycling. Among them, one hopeful said she uses shoeboxes and "Pringles" cans for gift boxes during the holidays.  Along with many traditional tips on recycling, some unique habits emerged. One Miss America hopeful uses MAC makeup products and returns six of the reusable cases to the MAC Store to receive free lipstick. 

2. Reduce. Using aluminum water bottles instead of bottled water to reduce the amount of plastic pouring into our landfills was a popular theme, as well as cutting down on the amount of time spent in the shower to reduce water consumption. One contestant tells of how she frequently goes into the basement in her dorm and shuts the hot water valve off to force her roommates out of the shower. Another told of how her campus has gone "trayless" in the dining hall so there is no water used to wash them.  Everything from using public transportation to adjusting thermostats came up in their answers. 

3. Reuse. Bringing your own bags to the grocery store for shopping is de rigueur among the beauties of the contest.  One Miss America hopeful told me a story of how her grandmother taught her to reuse aluminum foil and clean plastic Baggies for reuse.

4. Small Changes. Many of the contestants pointed out the importance of each one of us doing small things.  Just being aware of your impact and doing your part because SMALL things add up.  There was also a BIG - small thing pointed out as one hopeful said that in her state they were planning to manufacture a battery powered Hummer!

5. Buying Local. Buying locally grown produce means fewer pesticides are used, and it helps local farmers in their states. It also tastes better because fewer preservatives and flash-freezing means you get just-picked flavor.

Editor’s Note: Even though I’m not a Miss America Hopeful (no, sadly, you cannot vote for me), I’d like to add one simple tip. Unplug your cell phone chargers! If you leave it plugged in all day, you are sucking energy that entire time.

Now it's your turn.  Please vote for the Beauty with the best insight on "being green."  The winner will become the first "Green T - Green is Gorgeous Award" winner and will take home a few environmentally conscious prizes.  Watch their answers on-line now and vote for your favorite!  

Just go to the Green T with Tamara website www.GreenTwithTamara.TV. The contestants are on our interactive map and YOU get to be the judge!  The contest will end on Friday, January 29, 2010, at 9PM Eastern Time, the night before the Miss America 2010 Pageant.  

Thank you for taking part and supporting Green T in our mission of HOPE . . . Healing Our Planet Earth.

Is your energy bill killing your budget? Want to go green, but need a few more tips? Green in good for your wallet, as well as the planet. There are some VERY simple strategies that are still not well known. Join Tamara Henry on BlogTalkRadio.com with host Natalie Pace on Wednesday, December 2, 2009 at 9:00 a.m. PT. Go to BlogTalkRadio.com now to get the call-in information. You can ask your questions online LIVE during the show in the BTR chat room. Spread the word!

About Tamara Henry
*Tamara Henry competed in the Miss Arkansas - America Pageant system from 1991-1994... placed in the top ten twice... and was the winner of the Fruit of the Loom Quality of Life Award and the Community Service Award for a program she created - "Promoting Health through Whole Person Wellness" - an inspirational program about mind/body/spirit/Earth. Since winning the title of Miss Arkansas USA 1997, Tamara has been giving back a scholarship: "The Tamara Henry Broadcast Journalism Award." 
www.MissArkansas.actorsite.com

Meet The First Woman of Finance: Muriel Siebert (and Her Multi-Billion Dollar Bond Business).

by Natalie Pace.

Exclusive Q&A.

Muriel "Mickey" Siebert is a legend on Wall Street. Junior Achievement named her the First Woman of Finance earlier this year, and that pretty much sums up her legacy. Mickey was the first woman to have a board seat on the New York Stock Exchange (in 1967), the first Female Superintendent of Banking in the State of New York (in 1977) and she has underwritten over $560 billion in public financings through her municipal bond business, Siebert Brandford Shank.

Needless to say, she knows a thing or two about Wall Street, about bonds and about the regulatory oversight (or lack thereof) of banks. Since so many of us are wondering "what’s safe" in these crazy times, I turned to the expert.

Natalie Pace: You have had so many achievements that it is difficult to know where to begin. What’s your secret to success?

Muriel Siebert: It’s sort of fun to see a challenge and say, "I can do it."

Wall Street is quite a challenge these days. Any tips for the average investor?

They have to start studying so they know what they are buying. That takes time and a determination. It can pay off in gains. It can keep you out of bad stocks. But it will not automatically mean good stocks.

Isn’t that the brokers’ job – to put you in great stocks and avoid the clunkers?

The brokerage business has changed. If you want to use your own advice, you can get very cheap order executions. If you want to get advice from a well-paid broker, you’re going to have to pay for it -- either in commissions or a higher transaction fee.

There are rare events where you can get both low costs and excellent research analysis. Full-service brokers are charging you more, so they should know and have researched the company they are recommending to you.

You have a brokerage. Do your brokers help their clients select stocks?

We’re discount brokers. We have a low commission and people have to know what they want to buy or sell.

You also have a strong municipal bond business. Can you give our readers tips on selecting bonds these days? Since the rating agencies bungled corporate bonds so badly in 2008 and 2009, it’s hard to know whom to trust. And, of course, with California (and other states) on the brink of bankruptcy…

With Municipal bonds, one of the things you have to do is to get a prospectus. In the prospectus, it will tell you the source of revenues that back the interest. If you don’t like the source, you don’t consider buying it. You’ve got bonds that are covered by the general revenues of the state. New York City and other parts of the nation also have bonds that are guaranteed by their income from water. There you have to look at the revenue streams to see if they look sufficient to be paid in good markets and bad.

Hmmm. So, it’s not as simple as "avoid California." The assumption is that the closer you get to revenues derived from basic needs, the safer the bond is in a recession, right?

You have to analyze each one. You can’t generalize. You can have a dozen safe bonds in a state where not everything has the same quality of earnings behind them. Water is a particularly stable one because people very rarely turn off their water. That’s a bill they’ll try to pay.

Can you give us an example of a riskier bond?

Tobacco bonds were not respected. They were yielding more, but they were guaranteed by the tobacco. They paid more, but you have to be willing to take that risk relative to getting the better interest. That information is available in the prospectus.

If you can’t blindly trust the rating agencies and we’ve seen problems with the analysts in the past, where can you get good information?

You can get good information off the web today. You can get it in the financial reports or write the company and ask for an annual report and interim reports. A lot of the companies have meetings every quarter where they go into the explanation of what happened. You can get invited to those meetings with 800 numbers. Those help a lot.

What about funds?

You can make very good money in any of them – funds, stocks or bonds -- or lose money in them. You must follow the pricing. I personally price what I own every Saturday morning.

Are you a day-trader?

I don’t trade much. I have to see if a stock is down or up for a reason that I don’t know. If there is news on it, like their earnings were disappointing or way above average, you would see why the stock went from $3.40 to $3.60. If their earnings weren’t explaining it, you would want to know why the stock moved. You don’t sell on that unless you think that increase will not continue.

What is the best strategy in a tough economy like we have today. Even if we’re on the Road to Recovery, there are a lot of people out of work and worried about their livelihood and their retirement plan.

I went into our brokerage office the other day, and I saw this couple there. They said, "Our stocks are going down. We’re worth less money every day."

I said, "I would add up what I spend every month and then see if you could sell enough of common stocks and invest them at 5% bond interest. Could you get those costs safely and still have enough portfolio of stocks so that when the market turns, you’ll make some back?"

They did that. I ran into them again and they said, "You gave us a piece of mind."

I felt very good about that.

Do you recommend more of a balance between stocks and bonds? That all investors should consider adding bonds to their portfolio -- as more peace of mind and stability…

Stocks could bounce up, or it take them several years. But in the meantime, the bonds haven’t gone bad. So they still have their capital if they needed it, but they know that they can live their life. I’m not saying they have enough to charter an airplane.

There have been horror stories about retirees who were all in on stocks, who never knew that bonds are more stable and steady, with much lower risk.

I think it’s incumbent to have bonds because you put your money in expecting it to be worth X dollars…

You were the first female Superintendent of Banking for the State of New York. Do you have any insight into what the hell happened to leave taxpayers bailing out banks?

I have never seen anything like this and I don’t think the country has seen it since the Depression. When I learned the importance of the subprime mortgages, I did some research and talked to people I hadn’t spoken to in years. Where were the regulators and why didn’t they catch this? It’s very hard to comprehend.

So, for those of us who are moving in with relatives to make ends meet, or have lost a job, or have seen so much of the nest egg run out that we’ll be forced to continue working instead of retiring, what is your best advice?

When everything is caving in, you have to have a sense of humor because it lets you laugh and keep your health. That’s important. You can’t let the little bastards get you down.

Excellent advice!

When it’s money in general, you know that other people are going through the same things and it will change.

And let’s not forget the importance of health to wealth. Stressing out over money is only going to cost you more in lost income and doctor bills…

I can have as good of a time in a good hamburger bar as I can eating a steak. And I had to do that a lot of time. I had a hamburger a block from where I live at a local Irish bar. I don’t have to impress anyone.

If there were one challenge you would like to conquer today, what would it be?

I get annoyed at times, because we should be teaching investing and budgeting in schools.

Aren’t your financial literacy programs being taught in New York City high schools?

I started a program in the New York schools that teaches the kids credit cards and checking accounts. When I was Superintendent of Banks, my deputy brought in kids who were going bankrupt at 18. They got a credit card. They maxed it out and basically went bankrupt. That’s pretty pathetic. I saw that they couldn’t ask their parents to teach them better habits. Their parents didn’t know. And we don’t teach it in school. We’re sending these kids into the real world and they don’t know how to handle their money. I had to lobby to get it into the NYC schools. It’s in 109 schools now.

Well, with any luck we’ll see more financial literacy programs for young adults and adults alike! (That’s my passion, too.) Thanks so much for your time, Mickey.

Muriel Siebert is the president and chief executive officer of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) brokerage firm that bears her name, Muriel Siebert & Co., Inc. She established the firm in 1967 when she became the first woman member of the NYSE and transformed it into a discount brokerage house on May 1, 1975, the first day that NYSE members were permitted to negotiate commissions. The firm’s Siebert Brandford Shank & Co., LLC municipal affiliate is ranked in the top 20 public finance firms in the country. By the end of 2008 Siebert Brandford Shank had served as a managing underwriter for public financings exceeding $560 billion in total par amount since the firm was founded in October 1996.

Siebert’s Online Discount Brokerage boasts experience and integrity and no hidden fees. To "trade up" to Siebert Brokerage, go to SiebertNet.com.

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Will World Food Prices Resume their Sharp Increase?

by Dr. Gary S. Becker.

The worldwide recession has slowed the growth in the demand for cereals and other foods as many countries have experienced stagnation or contraction in their GDPs. Now that the recession appears to be over, world GDP will start growing again. Many are forecasting that this growth in world output, especially the growth in developing nations, will put sharp upward pressure on food prices and that of oil, natural gas, and other commodities. Even the Malthusian specter has been raised again that the growth in world population will exceed the capacity of the world to produce the food demanded to improve living standards in the developing world.

The sharp increases in food and other commodity prices during the period from 2002 to 2008 when world GDP was growing rapidly tends to support these fears. The World Bank's index of world food prices increased by 140 percent from 2002 to the beginning of 2008, and by 75 percent after September 2006. The price of oil went up more than fourfold from the beginning of 2002 to its peak at over $145 a barrel during mid 2008. At that time there were many predictions of oil going to $200 a barrel rather quickly, and also of food prices continuing to rise rapidly. The world recession clearly made these predictions obsolete, at least until world GDP begins to grow again.

Rapid growth in world GDP will put strong upward pressure on some commodity prices. However, the supply responses of exhaustible resources, like oil and natural gas, should be distinguished from the supply response of food production. The supply of fossil fuels is obviously ultimately limited by the amounts in the ground. Outputs of oil, coal, and other fossil fuels can be increased by new discoveries, such as the recent discovery of oil off of Brazil, by extracting more of these fuels out of existing fields, and by squeezing oil and other fuels out of shale and other rock formations. Yet, all these ways combined have rather limited effects on total output. This is why, along with OPEC's restrictions on oil output, long run supply responses of oil, gas, and coal to changes in their prices are usually estimated to be quite modest. The long run elasticities of supply in response to rises in the prices of fuels are about +0.4 to +0.5.

The short run response of world food production to increases in food prices may not be large either, although farmers can shift rather quickly among the production of corn, soybeans, wheat, and other crops. In the long run, however, world production of food is quite sensitive to the world price of food. Given time to adjust, farmers can substantially increase the production from given amounts of land devoted to farming by greater use of fertilizers and capital equipment. Higher prices encourage investments in discovering new methods of improving farm productivity, such as corn and other hybrids, the green revolution, and genetically modified foods. Productivity advances in agricultural output were very rapid at many times during the past century, often outstripping advances in manufacturing and other sectors.

The amount of land devoted to farming in most countries declined drastically during the past century as urban sprawl, highways, and other land uses took over much of the land formerly used to farm. In the United States, farmers comprising less than 2% of the labor force and using well under half the available land, produce enough farm goods not only to contribute most of the food that feeds the huge American population, but these farmers also export corn, soybeans, wheat, and other farm goods all over the world. With high enough food prices, financial incentives will encourage farmers to take some land back from suburban, ethanol production, and other non-food uses.

World prices of food generally declined during the 20th century when world population and world GDP per capita grew enormously. The reason for these diverse trends is that productivity in the production of food expanded at a more rapid rate than did the demand for food. The advances in production were due to the use of new and more effective fertilizers, better farm machines, and many applications of scientific knowledge to improving the productivity of agriculture. Developed countries spent considerable resources on subsidies to farmers to help keep their prices up, not down. Even though it may not be possible to predict the exact nature of future agricultural innovations, one can reasonably expect similar growth in world farm output during the next several decades, especially if food prices rise by a significant amount.

Rapid growth in future world GDP is likely to greatly raise the prices of oil and other fossil fuels, unless concerns about global warming induce major steps to reduce the demand for these fuels. Rapid growth in world output is also likely to sharply raise the demand for cereals, meat, and other foods in developing countries. However, I have tried to show why food is different from fossil fuels and minerals, like copper, in that the supply of food is not limited by natural bounds on overall quantity. Rather, the efforts and ingenuity of farmers and researchers are able to greatly increase world food supply to meet even very large increases in the world demand for food.

Dr. Gary Becker is a University Professor, Department of Economics, and Sociology Professor, Graduate School of Business, The University of Chicago. He won the Nobel Prize in Economics in 1992 for his groundbreaking work in "human capital." President George W. Bush awarded him the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2007.

To keep track of Dr. Becker's continuing research and commentary, visit his web site and blog. To hear more of his research and recommendations for strengthening the U.S. economy, check out the 2009 Milken Global Economic Conference web page. Dr. Gary Becker has been a keynote speaker at the conference every year since it began and spoke at two of the luncheon keynotes in April 2009.

Hard Assets: The Secret to a Beautiful Life.

by Natalie Pace.

Doug Mazell. Mazell.com © 2008.

Are you curious about how to invest in the world where nothing feels safe? Perhaps you chased NASDAQ in 2000, only to be popped in the DOT COM bust. Or chased real estate in 2005, only to be run over with the costs of keeping a spec house you couldn’t really afford in the first place? It’s tough to make sense in a world where the pundits shrug their shoulders and say, "Who knew?" when the excellent sure-shots they were touting yesterday become goose eggs, instead of gold.

How is it that the Bureau of Economic Analysis reported on October 29, 2009 that the economy was on the road to recovery, with advance estimates putting GDP growth as high as 3.5%, but investors freaked out and sold en masse the following day, creating a 250 point drop in the Dow Jones Industrial Average? The headlines on both days did an excellent job of explaining the phenomenon. 10.29.09: "US futures perk up on GDP optimism." 10.30.09: "Economic worries batter stocks." Yikes! How is the average person to make sense of that!

In a herky-jerky economy with dramatic mood swings that are destroying the average person’s dreams, there is one love story still waiting to be told – Hard Assets. I don’t mean strictly commodities, like gold (which can have hidden costs to buy and carry and fluctuates dramatically in value). I’m talking about things that stand the test of time for wise, forward-thinking investors, like cash-positive, well-managed investments in:

1. Apartment buildings
2. Dry cleaners
3. ATM machines
4. Healthy fast-food chains in high-demand areas
5. Car washes
6. Municipal Bonds that are tied to water revenues (read my interview with Mickie Siebert, in this ezine, for additional information). (Water revenue muni bonds typically fund improvements in the sewage and/or water systems, which is why I’m calling this ownership in "hard assets," too.)

Even newbie investors can have great success investing in hard assets (provided they are smart about cash positive cost-to-carry). In 1980, Yoko Ono was interviewed with John Lennon for Rolling Stone. In her new role heading up John Lennon’s investments, Yoko was having great luck expanding John’s net worth and had recently even sold a cow for a quarter of a million dollars. When Rolling Stone asked her how she’d accomplished that odd and spectacular feat, she noted that she believed in investing in things you love. "If you are going to make money, you have to make it with love," Ono said. "I just buy [things] we love, not the ones that people say are good investments.’

John D. Rockefeller really believed in creating a world-class university system in the United States and put his money where that ethos was -- creating two of the most prestigious institutions of our nation – the University of Chicago and Rockefeller University. The University of Chicago is also referred to as "Nobel Alley" because 79 laureates have ties, as faculty, former faculty and/or alumni, to that school. Rockefeller University, specializing in biotech, physiology and medicine, boasts 23 Nobel Prize winners.

Stick with what you know, understand and have a passion for, and you increase your odds of profiting. Even if you’re not bound for billion-dollar grandeur, you can certainly start thinking about a legacy of your own, and of making money while you sleep.

Consider Cheyenne’s story (a fictional account, based upon many happy stories that I’ve had the pleasure to hear)
When her father died, Cheyenne, a 32-year-old singer/songwriter, inherited a lot of money. She was advised by her father’s Certified Financial Advisor that she needed to own her own home. He gave her a few months to get it done.

Cheyenne was told that houses were better investments than condos. She hadn’t found anything she could afford in Malibu – she was living there in a friend’s guesthouse -- not even a condo. She didn’t particularly like East Hollywood, but, in terms of affordability, her choices, at the time, were East Hollywood or Compton -- unless she wanted to move to Kansas.

That is how she ended up with a one-bedroom cottage in a neighborhood close to the old Capitol Records Building, which had some nostalgic appeal to her. After moving in, however, she learned that an entire, untoward industry spread open its wares after ten p.m. on her street. Her real estate agent assured her that the home was secure; it had bars on all of the windows. But that was small comfort at midnight, when Cadillacs and limos screeched to a halt alongside the sidewalk, the booming bass and loud giggles were shushed to silence by edgy salesmen, with neatly folded sachets of cocaine and heroine.

Cheyenne had one thing that she loved on her property -- her blood orange tree, which twined and twisted its way to three feet high in the side sliver of grass that was wedged between the stucco of her house and the giant cement wall that separated her property from her neighbors’ yard. The tree actually bore delicious fruit that stained her fingers when she sucked on the sliced wedges. It reminded her of the bloodstained sidewalks in the corner donut shop, where pigeons cooed and strutted, begging for crumbs. Pigeons and blood were the only signs of life, really, in what otherwise was a concrete landscape, full of cars cutting through the side street on the way to Hollywood Boulevard and the freeway. It was nothing like Malibu Beach.

Needless to say, buyer’s remorse entombed her the first night Cheyenne lay awake counting the cars. The intoxicated restraint of the constant clandestine party of pimps, drug dealers and buyers was impossible to sleep through – whispered screams really -- and there are only so many blood oranges you can delight in before they turn sour in the drink of desperation, rampant in the neighborhood. Being an artist, Cheyenne might have been endured the insanity and even been inspired to sing the lurid details of these midnight encounters, if only she had the ability to safely step out (and away from it all) for a quick glass of wine at the local bar every now and again.

So why did she buy a home that she felt trapped in? Cheyenne felt as though she had to buy at that particular time, in 2005, when the real estate markets were so high, because she had inherited cash, stocks and bonds from her father and the financial planner told her to do it for tax purposes. The real estate agent also pressured her to do it before December 31, 2005, so that she’d get 2005 prices, saying that 2006 was bound to bring another run-up.

All in all, Cheyenne was just following doctor’s orders – or at least the "specialists" she trusted to steer her right in money matters. And that cottage in East Hollywood looked almost quaint, at least during the daytime when she did her tours, with the realtor who whipped her arms into a frenzy about how the kitchen would pop with a little paint and the delight of fresh, organic blood oranges ripe for the picking!

Malibu was a pipedream – just like her career as a rock star always was. Who was she fooling? Life was passing her by, while she sat around singing and plucking to ever-dwindling audiences. Malibu was so far out of reach that she crushed the vision completely every time a happy thought tried to sneak in. She even quit calling most of her friends, since she was too embarrassed to invite them over for a drink. Cheyenne lived unhappily in that nightmare for three years, until one fall morning, after news of a stock market crash.

For the first time since her father’s passing, Cheyenne opened her brokerage statement to discover that she had lost hundreds of thousands of dollars in her stock portfolio. A large number of the bonds she was holding had been reduced from A-rated to junk bond status. Her hell-home was worth $200,000 less than she’d purchased it for. That financial fallout made the drug dealers and pigeons and late night limo screeching completely unbearable. She couldn’t even talk to her broker without screaming because he was responsible for everything – for ruining her entire life! Her father left her a fortune. How could he lose it all overnight?

Cheyenne didn’t know who to trust, what was right, but she did know that she needed to learn more in order to get her life back on track. It was almost a matter of life and death at this point. So, out of desperation and because she liked the idea of investing in things she actually cared about – like a home she wanted to wake up in each morning -- Cheyenne came to my retreat. She had no real faith that investing in what you love was even possible, and less assurance that you could prosper with that strategy, but she respected my ranking on Wall Street and the stories she’d heard about how I’d turned my own life around.

Cheyenne participated for three full days, sat up front, drew flow charts using my information and asked more questions than the other hundred attendees combined. But, by the end of the retreat, her language was still bitter – full of blame and limitations/ excuses, more than possibility.

There are those who "get it," and race out right after the retreat, make more money than it cost them to come and completely transform their lives in a few short months. I know this sounds incredible, but when you touch pleasure points in people – such as happens when you give them permission to live in a home they love, or invest in companies they really want to succeed (using a tried and true system, not just racing in with blind faith), it’s like tapping a geyser. Powerful results gush out immediately.

My own test investment club doubled their money in less than two years. The Green Goddess Investment Club, mostly actresses who had never touched an investment before, scored 48% returns between the worst period of the 2008-2009 recession. Even retired handymen were rebuilding tens of thousands in a portfolio that had been decimated in the downturn, after attending my investing educational retreat. And for those of you who think this is a "chick strategy," typically half of my students are men, and even options traders have reported increased gains of over 50% in the wake of those three days as well, calling their results "staggering."

I did not think Cheyenne would be one of those success stories. I never saw the light bulb spark in her eyes. She was still spitting out broker-speak and scrunching up her eyes each time I explained, in careful detail, my tried and true strategy. I’d seen this face before on real estate agents who refused to believe that real estate, on average, makes lower returns than stocks. They were caught up in the subprime fever and honestly believed that real estate could double its value every two years. That couple lost five spec homes and their own residence to foreclosure in 2009 – essentially everything they’d owned.

I marked Cheyenne as someone who would just go back to doing whatever her broker, husband, brother or dad told her to do – mostly so she could blame them when it screwed up. She was an artist and didn’t want to be too bothered with anything that took her away from writing songs. And who can blame her really? Especially when investing in things you care about seems so hard to believe in. You’ll rarely hear that strategy touted on the news.

So, when Cheyenne called me less than a year later, literally gushing on the phone with ecstasy, I thought I must have mistaken her for another Cheyenne in my class (as if that was even possible).

"Thank you. Thank you. Thank you!" Cheyenne sang into the phone. "I’m sitting in my new home, in Malibu, California, overlooking the ocean, right as we speak!"

There was no way I thought Cheyenne had really taken anything I said to heart. The idea that She would carefully plot her way out of East Hollywood and into Malibu and was now sitting in a dream house in her dream city, that she owned… Well, even I had trouble believing in that fairy tale. The next fantasy she would gush is that she’d won a Grammy. (Have faith, Cheyenne. Tina Turner’s career hit big after 40!)

For no additional cash out of pocket or debt, Cheyenne went from a one-bedroom hut in the midst of the concrete jungle to a five-bedroom pad on the landside of Malibu, overlooking the ocean. The home had a backyard big enough for a barbecue and a game of touch football. That sounds impossible, so how did she do it? With a partner.

By selling her place in the summer of 2008 and waiting to buy the Malibu home late in the off-season that same year (during December divorce liquidation), she only needed one partner to afford it – her best friend, Janet, who was also a songwriter (and the daughter of a legendary actor). The master bedrooms were on opposite sides of the house, so that each woman had her privacy. And the three interior bedrooms were small, but side-by-side, so that if they knocked out a wall, they could have a decent-sized music studio, while still retaining one room for guests.

Cheyenne’s Certified Financial Planner was right about one thing. In the United States, you get a very attractive write off for owning your own home, which is something Cheyenne needed the year she inherited her money and will continue to need going forward, now that she knows how to employ Modern Portfolio Theory, diversified funds and annual rebalancing in her stock portfolio.

In addition to the tax considerations, it is critically important, especially regarding your home, to invest in what you love because you’ll wake up enriched every single day as a result. Imagine how much more easily your dreams can come true, if dawn shines on your waking smile and you actually believe in the beauty of your dreams.

Tricks and Tips for Fiscal Fitness in your Hard Assets
Hard assets provide diversification, appreciation potential (your home can increase in value) and perhaps even a return on rents (apartment buildings) or profits (solar farms, car washes and dry cleaners). But they also require some tending, which is why there are a few important considerations. You want your hard assets to have:

1. Cash positive operations with a cushion in case of recession, maintenance, upgrades or competition.
2. With regard to your home, make sure that the cost of ownership, including property taxes and insurance, doesn’t bury you in basic needs. You should still be able to afford fun, charity, travel and education. Don’t just be a slave to your mortgage.
3. Outstanding Management. Don’t get over-extended by adding two or more full-time jobs to your workload. Make sure the new acquisition has a strong management team and the cash-positive means to keep them onboard.
4. Start with what you know and love. If you know about it, you’re more likely to get one and two right. If you love it, you’ll have a different way of valuing it. When you love something, you’ll wait for the perfect opportunity (like Cheyenne did when looking for her Malibu dream house) and you’ll never be tempted to sell it on the cheap (like the realtors who had to walk away from five spec homes).

Take-Away Suggestions:

1. After you have your stocks and bonds, the next natural investment would be to buy a home.
2. After you have your stocks, bonds, Certificates of Deposit and home, the next natural plan would be to find some easy, low-maintenance, stable, cash-positive business or investment that you are really going to love to own.
3. Geeks are going to do better with PC Malls, car collectors with classic cars and pet friends will do better with pet shops. What’s your passion?

About Natalie Pace:
Natalie Pace, is the author of You Vs. Wall Street and CEO of one of the most respected, independently owned financial news corporations in the U.S. She has been ranked as a #1 stock picker from TipsTraders.com and has partnered content with Forbes.com, Sohu.com, Kiplinger’s Personal Finance and more.  She has appeared on Fox News, Good Morning America, CNBC, Time Magazine, More Magazine, USA Today, NPR and national radio shows. Ask her your money questions on her weekly radio show on BlogTalkRadio.com/NataliePace! Follow her on Twitter.com/NataliePace, YouTube.com/NataliePaceDOTCOM and Facebook.com/NatalieWynnePace. For more information please visit, http://www.nataliepace.com.

Leveraged and Inverse ETFs: Specialized Products with Extra Risks for Buy-and-Hold Investors.

Investor Alert by FINRA.org.

The SEC staff and FINRA are issuing this Alert because we believe individual investors may be confused about the performance objectives of leveraged and inverse exchange-traded funds (ETFs). Leveraged and inverse ETFs typically are designed to achieve their stated performance objectives on a daily basis. Some investors might invest in these ETFs with the expectation that the ETFs may meet their stated daily performance objectives over the long term as well. Investors should be aware that performance of these ETFs over a period longer than one day can differ significantly from their stated daily performance objectives.

What Are Exchange-Traded Funds?
ETFs are typically registered investment companies whose shares represent an interest in a portfolio of securities that track an underlying benchmark or index. (Some ETFs that invest in commodities, currencies, or commodity- or currency-based instruments are not registered as investment companies.) Unlike traditional mutual funds, shares of ETFs typically trade throughout the day on a securities exchange at prices established by the market.

ETFs have evolved over the years, becoming more complex. Investors considering ETFs should evaluate each investment closely and not assume all ETFs are alike. In the last few years, a number of leveraged and inverse ETFs have been introduced to the market that are very different from the traditional variety of ETFs.

What are Leveraged and Inverse ETFs?
Leveraged ETFs seek to deliver multiples of the performance of the index or benchmark they track. Inverse ETFs (also called "short" funds) seek to deliver the opposite of the performance of the index or benchmark they track. Like traditional ETFs, some leveraged and inverse ETFs track broad indices, some are sector-specific, and others are linked to commodities, currencies, or some other benchmark. Inverse ETFs often are marketed as a way for investors to profit from, or at least hedge their exposure to, downward moving markets.

Leveraged inverse ETFs (also known as "ultra short" funds) seek to achieve a return that is a multiple of the inverse performance of the underlying index. An inverse ETF that tracks a particular index, for example, seeks to deliver the inverse of the performance of that index, while a 2x (two times) leveraged inverse ETF seeks to deliver double the opposite of that index’s performance. To accomplish their objectives, leveraged and inverse ETFs pursue a range of investment strategies through the use of swaps, futures contracts, and other derivative instruments.

Most leveraged and inverse ETFs "reset" daily, meaning that they are designed to achieve their stated objectives on a daily basis. Their performance over longer periods of time—over weeks or months or years—can differ significantly from the performance (or inverse of the performance) of their underlying index or benchmark during the same period of time. This effect can be magnified in volatile markets. As the examples below demonstrate, an ETF that is set up to deliver twice the performance of a benchmark from the close of trading on Day 1 to the close of trading on Day 2 will not necessarily achieve that goal over weeks, months, or years.

Real-Life Examples
The following two real-life examples illustrate how returns on a leveraged or inverse ETF over longer periods can differ significantly from the performance (or inverse of the performance) of their underlying index or benchmark during the same period of time.

How can this apparent breakdown between longer-term index returns and ETF returns happen? Here’s a hypothetical example: let’s say that on Day 1, an index starts with a value of 100 and a leveraged ETF that seeks to double the return of the index starts at $100. If the index drops by 10 points on Day 1, it has a 10 percent loss and a resulting value of 90. Assuming it achieved its stated objective, the leveraged ETF would therefore drop 20 percent on that day and have an ending value of $80. On Day 2, if the index rises 10 percent, the index value increases to 99. For the ETF, its value for Day 2 would rise by 20 percent, which means the ETF would have a value of $96. On both days, the leveraged ETF did exactly what it was supposed to do—it produced daily returns that were two times the daily index returns. But let’s look at the results over the 2-day period: the index lost 1 percent (it fell from 100 to 99) while the 2x leveraged ETF lost 4 percent (it fell from $100 to $96). That means that over the two day period, the ETF's negative returns were 4 times as much as the two-day return of the index instead of 2 times the return.

Things to Consider Before Investing
The best form of investor protection is to clearly understand leveraged or inverse ETFs before investing in them. No matter how you initially hear about them, it’s important to read the prospectus, which provides detailed information related to the ETFs’ investment objectives, principal investment strategies, risks, and costs. The SEC’s EDGAR system, as well as search engines, can help you locate a specific ETF prospectus. You can also find the prospectuses on the websites of the financial firms that issue a given ETF, as well as through your broker.

You should also consider seeking the advice of an investment professional. Be sure to work with someone who understands your investment objectives and tolerance for risk. Your investment professional should understand these complex products, be able to explain whether or how they fit with your objectives, and be willing to monitor your investment. Before investing in these instruments, ask:

As with all investments, it pays to do your own homework. Only invest if you are confident the product can help you meet your investment objectives and you are knowledgeable and comfortable with the risks associated with these specialized ETFs.

About FINRA:
The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), is the largest independent regulator for all securities firms doing business in the United States. All told, FINRA oversees nearly 4,800 brokerage firms, about 172,000 branch offices and approximately 646,000 registered securities representatives. Created in July 2007 through the consolidation of NASD and the member regulation, enforcement and arbitration functions of the New York Stock Exchange, FINRA is dedicated to investor protection and market integrity through effective and efficient regulation and complementary compliance and technology-based services.

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Doing What We Love.

by Gary Kobat.

Gary Kobat “on the wheel” of Lance Armstrong

If there are a few things I've learned in life, through our thousands of experiences together the past decade, is that the more we let go, the more the Universe gives to us, the more that arrives magically for us, and the more that manifests.

Happiness in Life is truly supposed to feel downwind and not like an against-the-wind experience.

In life: as in riding our bike: we can't hold on too tight; can't stay clipped in all the time, and as we have all experienced:

When we're going too slowly, we'll fall over. We must keep on moving. 

You must know by now that absolutely no one else truly knows and feels what you're here to accomplish.

You need to give yourself permission to hear your inner guidance and ignore the outside influences.

The beauty of the end of the year and the beginning of a new one is that we all start with a clean slate.

Many people are looking outside themselves for the answers.

But when in alignment with universal law, art, and love: the answers are right inside, next to the power you were given when you were born.

Feeling good… is the work.

When we’re connected…everything feels good.

It's easy to have faith in people when they have proven themselves; tougher to BEFORE they have. The key to motivating? Believe in yourself before you succeed.

Gary Kobat

About Gary Kobat:
Gary is the tough-love Coach, no-nonsense Trainer, and World-Class Athlete whose energy for life has inspired, educated, and empowered lasting personal and professional change for thousands. He believes that we can re-invent ourselves by living life without-limits; understanding that the universe is full of infinite possibilities; that everything we need is inside: right here & right now; and by never, ever, ever giving-up.

Gary's client list includes the who's who in film, business, and sport. For the past decade he has quietly mentored the spirituality, health, and longevity of Jim Carrey, Will Ferrell, Mariska Hargitay, and countless others.

You can sign up for a free copy of Gary’s e-book at GaryKobat.com. Follow him on Facebook and Twitter for daily tweets of inspiration.

Autism and ADHD. Learn Natural Ways to Reduce the Symptoms.

by Dr. Dennis Maness. HealthWalk.com.

1 in 100 children now are diagnosed  with autism and this number is growing. 1 in 76 boys are now "autistic." Adults can also have these health issues. Learn what you can do to reduce the symptoms of Autism and ADHD.

What are the early signs and what actions can I take to circumvent ADHD before it has a chance to become resident in my child?
TAGS: Lazy, Unorganized, Impulsive, Problematic, Emotional
Have any of those words been used to describe you? Has anyone described your child using those words? Log online to take a self-test for ADD/ADHD.

Have you just been trying to cope with the behavior because you don’t like your options for treatment? Attention disorders, also known as ADD/ADHD, affect children and adults.

• About 60% of children diagnosed with an attention disorder continue to exhibit symptoms as adults.

Hyperactivity and inattention have been well studied and found to be a nervous system disorder.

• Nothing is worse than knowing that you are capable of completing a task exceptionally, but not being able to because your own thoughts and actions are out of your control. Brain chemicals, called neurotransmitters, are crucial in balancing out the "miss fires" in the brain.

I measure Neurotransmitters utilizing a EEG machine. QEEG Brain Mapping is a diagnostic procedure that records electrical activity in the brain. Most people are familiar with the EKG that represents the electrical activity of the heart. EEG represents the electrical activity of the brain. It serves as a basis for identifying variations in brain function that are associated with different types of neurological disorders including Attention Deficit Disorder, Learning Disabilities, Depression, Dementia, Head Injury, Obsessive/Compulsive Disorder, Autism and bipolar disorder.

;

Different disorders have their own unique behavior. For example below are the frequencies of Autism. One in 73 boys are being diagnosed with Autism. Why?

There is debate as to the cause of Autism. One of the strongest suggestions has been metals in the vaccines. This is one area I feel is very strong that should and is being looked into that may soon explain many fetal and early childhood issues.

Neurotransmitters:
ADHD is among the most common neurotransmitter-related conditions. Others include anxiety disorders, compulsive behaviors, insomnia, depression and migraines.

Neurotransmitters are chemicals that relay signals between nerve cells, called "neurons." These are present throughout the body and are required for proper brain and body functions. Serious health problems can occur if neurotransmitter levels are too high or too low.

Environmental and biological factors — including stress, poor diet, neurotoxins or genetics — can cause imbalances in the levels of neurotransmitter chemicals in the brain. Imbalances can trigger or exacerbate ADHD symptoms.

If left untreated, children with ADHD can develop self-destructive behaviors. They can fall behind in academics and are more likely to drop out of school. They are more prone to altercations with authority figures and law enforcement officials, and to experiment with drugs and alcohol. They also are more likely to become injured in accidents due to risk-taking.

Most of the drug-based methods used to treat behavioral issues include chemicals that either imitate a neurotransmitter or redistribute existing neurotransmitters.

Many affect norepinephrine, and some affect other neurotransmitters like GABA, serotonin, or dopamine. It is generally believed that drugs supporting norepinephrine signaling will be beneficial when behavioral issues result from a lack of norepinephrine and that GABA supporting drugs will be effective when a person's symptoms are caused by a lack of GABA. While the idea of matching a drug to a chemical imbalance is generally supported, the vast majority of healthcare providers prescribe psychological drugs based on a patient's symptoms and few try to match a drug to a biochemical imbalance. This may explain why some drugs are ineffective for some patients.

Neurotransmitter function can also be supported with nutrient-based programs. Neurotransmitters are made from various components of food in a normal, healthy diet. Increasing the amounts of these dietary constituents can help maintain normal neurotransmitter levels.

While no program can guarantee success for everyone, it is worthwhile to effectively match a drug-based and/or nutrient-based program to the specific needs of the individual. Join Dr. Maness online Wednesday, November 6, 2009 on BlogTalkRadio.com for the Natalie Pace Health is Wealth call-in show. Be sure to write down any questions you might have, and ask them firsthand then and there!

Get more information at BlogTalkRadio.com/NataliePace.

Please note: This article has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. The information herein is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

HealthWalk is a separate entity from NataliePace.com and NataliePace.com offers no guarantees of, nor do we endorse, their products and/or services.

About Dr. Dennis Maness:
Dr. Maness holds a PhD in Education, Master of Science in Neuro-Biology and Bachelor of Science in education from Southern Baptist University, Atlanta, GA. Dr. Maness is the developer of the Neuro Stimulation Sound Therapy and the Learn It FASTER cognitive processing brain games. He is Board Certified, Neuro therapy, Neuro feedback and Biofeedback Instructor and a Diplomat of Neurotherapy and Biofeedback Certification Board. Dr. Maness has worked with over two million students of all ages in cognitive development via live workshops, teaching classes and over the Internet since 1997. He pioneered discoveries in Brain Wave frequencies that to aid in memory and cognitive processing.

For more support and to establish a base line on your health and toxin level, come to HealthWalk. Our integrated health and wellness center is designed to help you identify your current health condition and to support you in boosting your immune system to rid the body of toxins and other impairments to vibrant health.

HealthWalk™, the leading edge, non-invasive integrated healthcare center and products company, has specially priced Health and Wellness Products and Services for NataliePace.com subscribers. HealthWalk is offering 10% discount for NataliePace.com subscribers on all individual HealthWalk products and services. Please mention the discount code, HWNP upon ordering.

Call HealthWalk at 877-255-4703 or email info@healthwalk.com

www.healthwalk.com
HealthWalk, 5825Avenida Encinas suite 111, Carlsbad CA 92008

You can lose everything in life and make it all back - With one exception… Your Health

HealthWalk™ offers customized, non-invasive and effective support to enable your body’s own innate powers to regain and enhance health, performance and healing. HealthWalk™ is dedicated to supporting and empowering you to achieve and maintain vibrant wellness. HealthWalk™ is a non-invasive, integrative healthcare facility with a global umbrella of leading edge technologies, services, natural supplements and products backed by over 20 years of research. HealthWalk™ is based in Carlsbad, CA.

www.healthwalk.com
Phone 877.255.4703 info@healthwalk.com

Worried About Your Job? Give Yourself a Raise.

by Natalie Pace.

7 Easy Ways to Profit During the Bail Outs, Booms and Busts of Modern Life.

Stacie Isabella Turk. © 2008 Ribbonhead. Makeup/ Stylist: Arlene Hylton-Campbell

If you are worried about money, about your job, about your nest egg, et al., you’re not alone these days. Almost one in ten of us is out of work, and we all know someone who is having a tough time making ends met (or moving in with relatives). Whether we are really on the road to recovery, or stuck in a slow growth economy, there are a few important strategies that you can employ right here and now that will help you to profit in any market – bull or bear.

Even if you are on unemployment, it is important to continue the habits of prosperity and abundance, rather than being sucked into poverty consciousness – while you continue to look for gainful employment.

The 7 strategies highlighted below work wonderfully in any market.

1. Give yourself a raise. When you tithe 10% to your Month in Rome Plan (formerly called your retirement plan), you are effectively giving yourself a raise. This is money that will not get burned through on bills, given away to others or disappear without you ever knowing where it went. If you start this healthy fiscal habit as a teen, you’ll be ready to buy your first home within two or three years – long before any of your friends are. If you’re middle-aged, you’ll be able to afford college for the kids. As an elder, you’ve got extra protection against any health issues that might come up. Your nest egg, if properly set up, is protected against debt collectors, so even if you are "in debt" this habit is very important, both as a habit and to keep your own base of assets, no matter what.
   
   
2. Be an and person. Successful investors have real estate, stocks, bonds, Treasury bills and gold. They don’t chase the investment du jour, go all in on any one type, take big risks or consider their small business "an investment" (your business should make enough to pay your bills, including your tithe to the nest egg, not vice versa). This is "money while you sleep," i.e. low-risk and low-maintenance. Read You Vs. Wall Street to learn how to identify attractive investments over duds. Yes, even if you’re worried about your job, the best attitude is to focus on getting a good return on your investments, not on worrying that we’ve entered the Apocalypse.
   
   
3. Modern Portfolio Theory. Always keep a percentage equal to your age safe – not in stocks at all. During recessions, overweight 10-20% additional safe. (Using this strategy, losses were less than 11% for 50 year-olds in 2008 and 2009.) Diversify the remaining money into 10 targeted funds (ETFs may be a better fit than mutual funds). The best mix is: 4 hot industries and 6 that are diversified by size and style. If you have ownership in small, medium and large companies, value and growth and industries that are in favor, it is much easier to see and capture your gains than if you own a big blob – one over-fat fund with everything and the kitchen sink in it.





4. Annual Rebalancing. Draw a pie chart of what you are supposed to have (according to #3). Look at a pie chart of what you have. Make what you have look the way it is supposed to look, by "rebalancing" once a year. You will find that the money you have been tithing into your safe portion is ready to be deployed, and you should see some areas that have worked wonderfully (and others that need more attention). This works much better than "dollar cost averaging" and "buy and hold."
   
   
5. Avoid the Bailout Index. Once you get one through four set up, you’re ready to start making the smaller adjustments that will make all the difference in the world. In 2008 and 2009, the leading Blue Chip Index (the one you likely owned in your nest egg called the Dow Jones Industrial Average), had four out of thirty companies that were bailed out. Hmmm. Either the index manager has trouble adding or there is cronyism at play. So, if trusting Wall Street to pick your companies isn’t a good plan, what is? Get educated. My stock newsletter warned to get out of Fannie Mae in 2003, to avoid General Motors in 2004, that real estate was poised to fall off a cliff in 2005, that insiders were jumping ship from Lehman Bros. in 2006 (two years before it went bankrupt). You can read about my strategies for identifying leaders over laggards in You Vs. Wall Street. You can learn about them directly from me at a 3-day retreat, where you will learn strategies that will work for the rest of your life. Call 866.4767442 or email Heather@NataliePace.com to learn more about our retreats.
   
   
6. Put Your Money Where Your Heart Is. This isn’t just a fluffy idea. When you invest in things you actually buy, you are investing in companies that are getting a lot of things right. When you invest blindly, that is how you can lose money on companies that are struggling to compete. (Those companies advertise more on television and pay higher commissions to brokers, to keep you invested, instead of competing for your investment by making a better product.) At the end of the day, it is product sales, not ads and commissions, that fuel the success of a corporation. Believe it or not, all the information you need is easy to find out with three easy clicks on your computer (which is why my 3-day investing retreat is so popular). You’ll never be duped again!
   
   
7. Hard Assets. Once your nest egg is fat and healthy, it’s time to start looking at hard assets. Again, "money while you sleep" is the ticket here. Would you like to own student housing near a great university? Make sure that the housing can support itself and a manager, including upkeep on the property, taxes, insurance, etc. with enough cushion that increased costs in any of these areas won’t kill you. (Income property can be a great strategy, but most people underestimate the costs of carrying and maintaining it.) Other hard assets include healthy, cash positive staple businesses, such as dry cleaners, car washes, ATM machines, etc.

Using this plan, you’d have capitalized on all of the booms of the last decade, and minimized losses during the busts. You’d have more than doubled your money on the hot industry of DOT COMs between 1998 and 2000.

Your maximum losses during the horrible DOT COM bust of 2000-2002, when investors lost up to 75% of their DOT COM investments, would have been less than 10% of your nest egg.

Your gains in 2003 in NASDAQ would have been 50%!

Your real estate gains between 2002 and 2005 would have doubled.

The hottest industry of 2007, clean energy, earned almost 60 cents on every dollar.

And, again, since you’re rebalancing annually, capturing your gains and keeping your investments in balance, you are protected against the recessions.

Modern Portfolio Theory, 10 ETF diversification and annual rebalancing works in bull and bear markets!

To sign up for the next Get Rich and Enrich Retreat, call 866.476.7442 or email Heather@NataliePace.com NOW.

Fun on the Wall Street Rollercoaster..

by Natalie Pace.

Should you capture your 25% NASDAQ gains?

Includes my Hot News on Cool Stocks List.

November 2, 2009

General Stock Market Performance

Wall Street Highs/Lows in the New Millennium:

Hot News on Cool Stocks Highlights!
546% gains on U.S. Gold!
NASDAQ Leads Returns, With 25% Gains -- compared to +23% rise in gold prices and only +7.5% for the Dow Jones

Stacie Isabella Turk. © 2008 Ribbonhead. Makeup/ Stylist: Arlene Hylton-Campbell

Industrial Average.
87% of the positions listed in 2008 & 2009 are in the money. Woo hoo!

TipsTraders ranked me #11, above over 830 A-list pundits, in 2008.

Market Update:
My mid-month update on November 12, 2009, when I originally asked if investors should capture their NASDAQ gains of 31% tells the real story here. Investors who took my nudge to heart are 6% richer than their friends are today...

The Bureau of Economic Analysis reported on October 29, 2009 that the economy was on the road to recovery, with advance estimates putting GDP growth as high as 3.5%. That news created a one-day surge of almost 200 point in the Dow Jones Industrial Average. But investors freaked out and sold en masse the following day, dragging it down for a 250 point drop. Yikes!

So, how do you have fun on the Wall Street rollercoaster? Start by acknowledging that you are on a rollercoaster! If you’re expecting a Sunday walk in the park and suddenly you’re whipsawed around, it’s enough to make you vomit! The chart below illustrates the essence of what I mean when I say that buy and hold doesn’t work in a slow growth economy that is fueled by free money and boom/bust cycles. Note that "walk in the park/buy and hold" investors have lost a lot of dough over the last few years.

The American economy has actually been a down-trending rollercoaster for the last ten years.

And, as long as the policy is free, easy money – whether it is linked to bailouts or innovative mortgage loans – there will be boom and bust cycles. Interest rates have been at 40-year lows for the last ten years, and the Federal Open Market Committee plans to continue that accommodative policy (low interest rates) until the economy starts showing signs of sustainable life. On September 23, 2009, The Federal Open Market Committee issued a press release, stating, "The Committee will maintain the target range for the federal funds rate at 0 to 1/4 percent and continues to anticipate that economic conditions are likely to warrant exceptionally low levels of the federal funds rate for an extended period." If you strap yourself in and prepare for the resulting boom/bust rise and fall, you might actually find yourself giddy with delight.

This has nothing to do with "day-trading." Modern Portfolio Theory, fund diversification and annual rebalancing is no more difficult than buying and holding, and works infinitely better. This strategy is "easy as a pie chart," rather than "easy as throwing a dart, while blind-folded." If you were always keeping a percentage to your age safe and were capturing the gains you made annually, you’d be richer today than you were ten years ago. If you were buying and holding, you lost money in your stock portfolio.

Here is how it works.

1. Start by drawing a circle on a page.
2. Now partition off "your age," i.e. 50% if you are 50. 25% if you are 25.
3. Add another 10-20% safe, since we are still in a recession. (More safe if you’re scared, less if you like more risk.)
4. Diversify the remaining pie into at least 10 Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs). Have: 1) small cap growth, 2) small cap value, 3) mid cap growth, 4) mid cap value, 5) large cap growth, 6) large cap value and then four hot industries, such as gold, information technology, clean energy and biotechnology.




5. Draw another pie chart of what you actually own in your IRA, 401(k), etc. Your bonds, T-bills, savings, money markets and CDs belong on the safe side. Your stocks (mutual funds, individual companies, ETFs, bond funds, etc.) can then be divided into the 10 slices as described in #4.
6. Ideally, you want to rearrange what you currently have into what you should have. That can mean that you have to reallocate in your 401(k) or sell and buy into other ETFs in your IRA.
7. If you have 31% gains in your NASDAQ funds, then reallocating means that you are actually capturing those gains and putting the majority of it safe, outside of the slice of NASDAQ pie that you should own. NASDAQ stocks should not be taking up 1/3 of your investments if you are 50 years old. That makes you too vulnerable to a downturn.
8. Make sure that you continue to tithe 10% of your income into your Buy My Own Island fund. (This money can go into your money market account or Treasury Bills, until you rebalance. That way you are prepared for keeping an additional 1% safe, as you age.)
9. Rebalance now, and again at the end of January 2010. Why? Because for the last two years, the markets have been lower at the end of the year than they were in October. You’ll never be sorry that you took your gains early and often in this volatile, down-trending marketplace.  

Market Performance October 1, 2007 through January 1, 2008

Market Performance October 1, 2008 through January 1, 2009

Modern Portfolio Theory, diversified funds (size/style and hot industries) and annual rebalancing are made easy-as-a-pie chart in my book, You vs. Wall Street. Readers say Put Your Money Where Your Heart Is is a "must-read financial bible," and "just what some readers may need to find themselves exponentially richer in the coming years." You vs. Wall Street is available wherever books are sold.

I also teach these strategies in a 3-day investing retreat. Investors who attend the retreat walk out with a blueprint that works for the rest of their life. They have selected the exact ten funds they are most interested in, and know how to select new funds as different industries become the next hot thing. They know which months are best for profit-taking and which for buying back in, historically, to maximize the potential for capturing gains annually.

If you are interested in hosting a 3-day Get Rich and Green investing retreat for your friends or group, please call me at 866.476.7442 or email info@NataliePace.com. Groups like the Green Goddess Investment Club are reporting 47% gains over the last 12 months, using my strategies. "With the valuable guidance of our mentor Natalie Pace we out performed the bear market with the extraordinary result of 48% GAINS!!!!!!"  Cindy Ciscowski, President, Green Goddess Investment Club.

This method of having a plan that works in bull and bear markets is far easier than trying to read crystal balls. If you’ve lost money in stocks, real estate, et al., chances are you were following trends, instead of following a well-laid plan. Time to invest in wisdom and education because investing can and should be money while you sleep, i.e., low risk and low maintenance. It should not be the biggest stress in your life – something that keeps you awake at night, or the reason you’ve gone on blood pressure medication.

Track Record of our Reporting
While the markets have fallen in 2008, the Hot News and Cooling Off lists below have a winning track record – in bear and bull market years. 81 positions listed below – 87% -- have delivered impressive gains over the past two years, even while the Dow Jones Industrial Average is trading lower than it was ten years ago! Only twelve of our listings went in the opposite direction of the reporting, which is quite impressive given the horrible market drop of 2008-2009.

Yes, many, but not all, of our top performers in 2008 and 2009 are shorts, which is why we added options training to the retreat. Remember that the trading portfolio should be equal to your experience, and should not be part of your nest egg. (The nest egg is money you earn while you sleep, not while you day-trade.) If you’re new, you should be using education or fun money, not your nest egg, to learn on. Take your profits early and often in these volatile, whip-sawing years.

3 out of 6 Company of the Year selections more than doubled.  My 2003, 2004 and 2007 Companies of the Year posted up to 9000% gains (Taser), up to 690% gains (Opsware) and up to 215% gains (Suntech Power Holdings), respectively, before we took them off of the list.  MySpace, my 2006 Company of the Year, was a large part of News Corp’s success with shareholders that year.   So three out of six are superperformers, and one (Myspace) performed well above the market. That’s the kind of record that puts you on top on Wall Street.  (I launched my first publication on 11.15.02, and featured the first Company of the Year on 1.1.03.)

TipsTraders.com continues to list me as a Highly Recommended Stock Picker, with their independent ranking system, where I’ve repeatedly occupied the #1 position and have consistently scored at the top of their 830 A-list pundits. I scored a #11 ranking for 2008. Some of my best picks include: Google (GOOG) +585%, Opsware (OPSW) +690%, Rio Tinto (RTP) +145%, Sohu (SOHU) +150%, Suntech Power Holdings (STP) +107%, Taser (TASR) up to 9000% gains. Some of the best picks in 2008 and 2009 were put options – on the Cooling Off list -- which is why I added options training to my 3-day Get Rich and Green Investing Retreat. Look on the Cooling Off list for details on the incredible gains options investors enjoyed on Wells Fargo, Fannie Mae, Toll Brothers, KB Home, Novastar Financial and more there.

This stock newsletter was the first to list the following 911 alerts:

1. To get Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac out of your 401(k) in 2003
2. Avoid General Motors and other American auto-manufacturers in 2004
3. Get out of Dodge (real estate) in 2005
4. Trim back on Faded Blue Chips in 2006
5. Lehman Bros’ colossal insider selling in 2006

Market Movers:
The Federal Open Market Committee and Monetary Policy
The Fed funds rate continues to be "0 to ¼ percent." In the 9.23.09 meeting press release, the Federal Reserve Board further elaborated on the reasoning behind the rock bottom rates, writing: "Information received since the Federal Open Market Committee met in August suggests that economic activity has picked up following its severe downturn. ... Economic conditions are likely to warrant exceptionally low levels of the federal funds rate for an extended period."

That is Fed-speak for "We are doing everything to stimulate the economy, which should work eventually, but the situation is still rough, folks." Deflation is no longer much of a concern, and the Feds think that inflation "will remain subdued for some time," though some economists warn that this is a big bear to be considered once recovery really kicks in.

The Milken Institute estimates that the bailout to date has already cost the taxpayer $9.8 trillion.

The next FOMC meeting takes place on November 3-4, 2009.

Advance GDP growth rates for 2Q 2009 were positive growth (for the first time since the 4^th quarter of 2007) of 3.5%, according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis. Final GDP growth rates for 2Q 2009 and 1Q 2009 were a decline of -0.7% & -5.5%, respectively. The economy contracted at -6.3% in the 4^th quarter of 2008. What happened between 2008 and 3Q 2009? Massive government spending is the main driver of the economy at this point. The Cash for Clunkers Program is responsible for almost half of the GDP growth, both in government incentives and stimulated, incentive-related consumer spending.

Second estimate GDP growth for 3Q 2009 will be released on November 24, 2009 at 8:30 a.m. ET. These release days tend to be very active on Wall Street. No surprise that the 3^rd quarter of 2009 was the first positive GDP report since the 4^th quarter of 2007, however, if the second estimates come in lower than 3.5%, investors could lose confidence (and vice versa if the numbers are revised upward). For more BEA release dates, go to the BEA.gov website and be sure to visit the NataliePace.com calendar section often.

EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITES AND INFORMATION:
1. FOMC Information: Interested in reading the minutes of the September 23, 2009 FOMC meeting for yourself? You can. The official Federal Reserve document is available online. Click on FOMC, or go to FederalReserve.gov to read!

The tentative FOMC meeting schedule for the 2009 calendar is: November 3-4, 2009 (Tuesday-Wednesday), December 15-16, 2009 (Tuesday-Wednesday), January 26-27, 2010 (Tuesday-Wednesday), March 16 (Tuesday), April 27-28 (Tuesday-Wednesday), June 22-23 (Tuesday-Wednesday), August 10 (Tuesday), September 21 (Tuesday), November 2-3 (Tuesday-Wednesday), December 14 (Tuesday), January 25-26, 2011 (Tuesday-Wednesday).

2. Calendar Section: Conferences, Online Chats and more: Check out the Calendar section of NataliePace.com regularly. Be the first to know the dates of the mid-month Hot News on Cool Stocks Update and the publication date of our next ezine. Join me on BlogTalkRadio.com. Get more information on how to best use our articles in the FAQs article, located under the Investor Edu link on the home page of NataliePace.com.

Don’t miss the Health is Wealth Show with Natalie Pace on BlogTalkRadio.com Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2009, at 9:00 a.m. PT. This show is on Natural Cures to Reduce the Symptoms of Autism and ADD. Get call-in and log-in instructions at BlogTalkRadio.com/NataliePace. This is a Q&A format, where you can call in or Twitter in your questions. Be sure to write down your most pressing questions now, and become a friend to Natalie Pace on Twitter at Twitter.com/NataliePace, so that you can Tweet on the show.

3. Survey Results: Each month we have three new surveys so that we can stay in touch with your needs and desires. Cast your vote on our survey page! What are your thoughts on the recent tragic deaths at the Spiritual Warrior Camp in Sedona, Arizona?

4. Euro interest rates: ECB rates are at 1.00% (main refinancing), 1.75% (marginal lending) and 0.25% (deposit facility). The next meeting and interest rate announcement is scheduled for November 5, 2009 at 2:30 p.m. CET. (November 19, 2009 after that.)

Hot Stocks List
Investors who "never pay retail," note that the BOLD highlighted stocks are trading at their 52-week lows or near the price featured in NataliePace.com’s article. This may be a good buying opportunity. (If the stocks are not highlighted, then in our estimation, this is not a good time to buy. Reasons are explained in the news commentary.) The companies that are listed below which are not highlighted may not be in a good buying range, but they appear to be poised to continue performing well (if you have already purchased them). There are never any guarantees in life, and all stocks are risk-based investments. Consult your certified financial planner before making any changes to your investment strategy. And remember that these "Stocks on Steroids" are not intended to be part of your nest egg strategy at all – not even for "pros." If you’ve never traded individual stocks before, this is your "fun" or "education" money. You should not stake your future on anything that you don’t have mastery over.

Hot News List (highlighted).  Be sure that you are buying low.
Ener1 (symbol: HEV)
Satcon (symbol: SATC)
Sunpower Solar (SPWRA)

Profit-Taking (Take your profits early and often):
KCI Concepts (KCI) +59%
New Zealand Dollar Currency ETF (BNZ) +35%
U.S. Gold (UXG) +546%

DELETIONS (Take your profits early and often):
None

HOT NEWS on COOL STOCKS LIST

Recently Deleted Companies 2008/2009:
Echelon +20%, GE, +13% and +18%, Google, +15% and +31%, Johnson & Johnson +10%, LDK Solar +18%, Microsoft +12%, Satcon +13%, Suntech +35%, Trina Solar +22%, World Water & Solar +22%. Genentech (8.1.08) +40%. Altair (deleted on 8.7.08) posted gains of +3% and +57%. Zoltek (deleted on 8.18.08) lost 30% before being removed. LDK Solar was deleted on 9.2.08 with 46% and 29% profits. U.S. Gold profit taking on 11.6.08 amounted to 72% gains. Conergy gains of 51% were taken on 11.7.08. American Superconductor posted 50% gains between 12.1 and 1.14.09. MEMC Electronics (WFR) had 21% gains between 12.1 and 12.15.08. STP had gains of 69% between 12.1.08 and 1.2.09. SQM profits 20% on 1.14.09. WWAT was deleted on 2.1.09 with -62% losses. On 2.15.09, AMSC had gains of 65%, MEMC Electronics 26%, Sociedad de Quimica y Minera 48% and U.S. Gold 432%. Citigroup gains of 42% on 3.15.09. Genentech was deleted on 3.15.09 with gains of 29%. OSI Pharmaceuticals was deleted on 3.15.09 with 7% gains. Rio Tinto was deleted on 3.27.09 with gains of 67%. On 3.27.09, the following companies were in the money: ALTI (+48%), AMSC (+51%), eBay (+24%), GE (+40%), HOKU (+38%), LDK (+46%), MEMC (+44%), PBW (+35%), SATC (+42%), SQM (+76%), STP (+211%), TSL (+207%), U.S. Gold (+456%) and WBK (+25%). Profit-taking 4.13.09: ALTI +209%, AMSC +70%, HOKU +32%, LDK +64%, PBW +42%, SQM +42%, UXG+418%. Deleted 4.13.09: eBay, +45%, Eurox -11%, GE +47% & -56%, Google +9%, Maxwell +25%, MEMC Electronics -33% & +49%, Microsoft +24%, SATC +67%. STP +262% & -64%, TSL +216% & -67%, Westpac +42% & -22%. Deleted 5.4.09: FMC Corp. with 19% gains. PZD with losses of -39%. SPWRA with 19% gains. TREMX with 50% losses. WSDT with losses of -59%. Deleted 5.15.09: SQM with gains of 38% and 62%. Deleted 5.31.09: EMKR with losses of 13% and 88% and Melco with losses of 8%. Ener1 with gains of 11% and 17%. Deleted 7.20.09: Conergy with losses of -52-98%. Deleted Smith and Nephew on 8.15.09 with gains of 17% and losses of 28%.

Recently Deleted from the Hot News list:
None

Stocks to Watch
Some of these are great companies that we’re thinking of adding to the Hot List and some are stinkers we’re thinking of adding to the Cooling Off List.
Read carefully to identify which is which!  

Note that right now most of our favorite companies are on the Watch List, anticipating continued weakening of the stock market, and share prices.

Recent Additions:
None

Recent Deletions:
ENER1 (Symbol: HEV). Moved to Hot News List on 11.1.09.
Satcon (Symbol: SATC). Moved to Hot News List on 11.1.09.
Sunpower Solar (Symbol: SPWRA). Moved to Hot News List on 11.1.09.

Cooling Off Stocks List (may be Poised for a Decline in Share Price).
Note: The companies listed in bold have recently been added to this cooling off list and/or may be currently poised for a decline in value. Investors who have them in their portfolio should read the recent news and consider whether it is time to sell and take profits, dump losses, short the position and/or simply weather the storms, while keeping the company in their long-term portfolio. At any rate, always consult your certified financial partner before making adjustments to your portfolio. (Again, note that the stocks on this chart are expected to go DOWN in price.)

Highlighted Companies (Cooling Off List):
American Express (AXP)
Apple (APPL)
Capital One (COF)
Time Warner (TWX)

DELETIONS:
KB Home (KBH)
Toll Brothers (TOL)

Recently Deleted in 2008/2009:

Fannie Mae was deleted on 2.11.08 after losing -50% and -56% of its share price value, and then again on 7.1.08, after losing another -40%. (Both puts more than doubled.) Novastar Financial (NFI) was deleted on 6.2.08 with -95% share price implosion. Sears Holding Corp. was deleted on 7.1.08 with 64% gains on the put option. Wells Fargo was deleted on 7.1.08 with 83% gains on the put. Apple was deleted on 8.1.08 with 35% gains on the put. The Google put, deleted on 8.1.08, was another great performer, with over 50% gains. First Solar had gains of over 32-34%. Mentor was deleted on 9.30.08 with 75% gains on the put option (-17% on the share price); Medicis was deleted with gains of over 37% on the share price (down direction). Boston Properties, Las Vegas Sands and Macerich were deleted on 10.9.08 with gains of 16-30%, 66% and 28-42% respectively. Wells Fargo was deleted on 11.6.08 with 35-50% gains on the put and again on 12.1.08 for 50-70% gains. American Express posted 35% gains in just 30 days, between 2.1.09 and 3.2.09. First Solar was deleted on 8.13.09 with 33% gains. KB Home with 74% gains and Toll Brothers with 51% gains on 10.01.09.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER (PLEASE READ):

Please note: NataliePace.com does not act or operate like a broker. We report on financial news, and are one of the most trusted independently owned and operated financial news corporations in the U.S. This article is intended to educate and inform individual investors, and, thus, to give investors a competitive edge in their personal decision-making. The publicly traded companies mentioned in this article are not intended to be buy or sell recommendations. ALWAYS do your research and consult an experienced, reputable financial professional before buying or selling any security, and consider your long-term goals and strategies.

Investors should NOT be using the Hot News on Cool Stocks list or the Cooling Off list to trade their nest eggs. Your retirement plan should reflect a long, safe strategy, which has been designed with the assistance of a financial professional who is familiar with your goals, risk tolerance, tax needs and more. The "trading" portion of your portfolio should be a very small part of your investment strategy, and the amount of money you invest into individual companies should never be greater than your experience, wisdom, knowledge and patience.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER: Information has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable however NataliePace.com does not warrant its completeness or accuracy. Opinions constitute our judgment as of the date of this publication and are subject to change without notice. This material is not intended as an offer or solicitation for the purchase or sale of any financial instrument. Securities, financial instruments or strategies mentioned herein may not be suitable for all investors.

NataliePace.com Calendar:

Green Conferences Galore. Learn Everything About the Latest Solar, Wind and Geothermal Technologies and Powering the Grid Green.

Nobel Laureate, best-selling author, former Vice President of the United States Al Gore keynotes the 2009 Greenbuild Conference in Phoenix, Arizona on November 11, 2009.

The NataliePace.com Calendar section features conferences, teleconferences, retreats, educational opportunities, cultural events, galas, market events and online chats with executives and VIPs. Stay plugged in! We add online chats, article updates, teleconferences, etc. as they are booked, so be sure to visit the calendar section early and often.  Below is only a partial listing of what’s happening this month.

See below for just a few of the amazing educational and networking opportunities that world-class organizations are offering for you. To access links to the event website and registration, go to the Calendar section at NataliePace.com.

FOMC Meeting
Tuesday, November 3rd, 2009
The Federal Reserve Board governors meet for two days, on the 3rd and 4th of November to determine the best monetary policy for sustained, healthy growth.

Autism/ADD. Call-in radio show
Wednesday, November 4th, 2009
9:00AM through 9:45AM PT
Autism and ADHD. 1 out of 100 kids is now diagnosed with autism. More and more RXs for Ritalin and Adderal are being issued for wired up ADD kids. Learn a natural, healthier approach to reducing the symptoms with HealthWalk.com MD Dr. Dennis Maness, with host Natalie Pace. Health is Wealth online/call-in radio show at http://www.BlogTalkRadio.com/NataliePace.

Women's Leadership Exchange National Summit, NY
Thursday, November 5th, 2009
WLE is the premier conference for you to connect with the right people through guided facilitation throughout the day.

Unemployment Results Announcement
Friday, November 6th, 2009
8:30AM ET
Unemployment tapped near double digits last month, at 9.8%. The largest job losses were in manufacturing, retail, construction and government. New Bureau of Labor Statistics out today.

Opportunity Green Conference, LA, CA
Saturday, November 7th, 2009
Opportunity Green 2009 is a 2-day event focused on greening biz in a profitable way. Explore Product Innovation & Design for Sustainability, How Fortune 500's are Implementing Sustainability for Growth, Raising Investment Capital, Branding...

Sexy, Smart Actresses Raising Money For Charity: Party and Silent Auction, W. Hollywood, CA
Wednesday, November 11th, 2009
7:00PM through 9:00PM
Join some of Hollywood's most desirable actresses in their calendar launch party to benefit TreePeople.

Greenbuild Conference, Phoenix, AZ
Wednesday, November 11th, 2009
Revolutionary Green: Innovations for Global Sustainability, hosted by the Green Building Council. This year, the keynote speaker is the Honorable Al Gore. Experts on the green building movement and green collar jobs.

Money! Money! Money! Talk Radio Show
Wednesday, November 11th, 2009
9:00AM through 9:45AM PT
Join Natalie Pace on BlogTalkRadio.com. Obama and the Stimulus Package are offering free money for new home buyers for college students and even tax credits for health savings accounts! Learn how to access all of this free money today!

Professional BusinessWomen of California 2009 Sacramento Conference
Tuesday, November 17th, 2009
Join the largest gathering of professional women in the Sacramento Area for a day of learning, networking and inspiration. Local and national experts will share the latest strategies for career advancement, leadership, communication, work/life balance and more. Network with state senators & CEOs!

Handel's Tamerlano at the LA Opera
Saturday, November 21st, 2009
7:30PM through 11:00PM
Plácido Domingo stars - in the 126th role of his brilliant career! - as Bajazet, a Turkish sultan.

Rossini's The Barber of Seville at the LA Opera
Sunday, November 29th, 2009
2:00PM through 3:00PM
An effervescent comic opera with songs you'll sing along to.

Partnering for Cures Meeting, NYC
Tuesday, December 1st, 2009
8:00AM through 7:00PM
Expediting cures requires collaboration. Partnering for Cures, a first-of-its-kind meeting to be held December 1-3, 2009 in New York City, facilitates these collaborations by bringing together philanthropy, medical research foundations, and the biotechnology scientists.

Renee Fleming at LA Opera
Saturday, December 12th, 2009
Thrill to the sheer beauty of opera diva Renée Fleming's voluptuous soprano voice.

Clinton Global Initiative University Conference, Miami, FL
Friday, April 16-18, 2010
This 3-day event is one where students work hand-in-hand on global issues, and even get their hands dirty on a community service project. Of course, doing this alongside Prez. Clinton and a few celebrity friends, like Brad Pitt, doesn't hurt! You must apply with a proposal to be accepted. Act fast!

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