2011: 6.8% Yield Fixed Income Portfolio vs. 6.8% Return on Equity

Jim Pyke submits:There are many articles that write about the benefit of high yield corporate bonds, formerly known by the term junk bonds. In addition to providing good yields, they provide additional diversification benefits. The easiest way for a casual investor to gain exposure is through mutual funds or ETFs. I'll focus on the latter.

- By Pat Stout:The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DIA) recently reached an all-time high value. This article will detail if the individual issues reached new high levels, or if not what gain would be required to set a new high. Issues at an All-Time High March 22, 2013

By Regarded Solutions:In reviewing the core holdings of the Team Alpha Retirement Portfolio, I try to find stocks that have a balance of the ingredients I look for in a sound income producing portfolio: Quality products and brand, mega-cap blue chips, dividend paying winners or opportunities, and a dash of capital appreciation potential.

By Regarded Solutions:I love months like the one we just had, don't you? Actually I love day's like Friday even more. The "Team Alpha" portfolio surged 6% in the month of June and while we remained in our holding pattern, we are still in great shape to add another stock to our core portfolio, and we can take some risk for the next few months as well.

By Regarded Solutions:With so much news that has come out our "Team Alpha" portfolio update is a bit late this month but still is showing good results vs the recent declines in the overall markets.

By Hao Jin:2012 is going to be another choppy year. On one hand, investors are encouraged by the best holiday shopping season since the Great Recession, a potential turnaround in the housing market, increased gains in job markets, improved consumer confidence and rising corporate profits. On the other hand, investors are concerned about European problems, a potential collapse of the banking system, slowing growth in emerging markets, a potential war in Iran and natural disasters.

By The Financial Lexicon:Over the years, I have spoken to many investors who are comfortable selecting individual stocks for their portfolios but fear diversifying their fixed income allocation across individual bonds. For these investors, when it comes to bond investing, diversified funds have been the way to go. And they don't favor just any diversified funds, but they often invest in passive funds with hundreds of holdings tracking a particular index.

By Regarded Solutions:Our "Team Alpha" portfolio has had an awesome run thus far. Any of our readers who have followed this step by step portfolio, and strategy, would be well ahead of any of the market indexes and in very good shape for the balance of the year.That being said, I feel that Friday was a great day to take profits, rebalance and set some strategic goals for what I consider a market that has gotten ahead of itself.