Ask Doc I just returned from a whirlwind tour in China...
The incredible nature of the country's boom is impossible to fully comprehend unless you've been there, on the ground. And after my first visit last year, I understood.
That's why, just last week, I went back to China – again with my friend and colleague Steve Sjuggerud.
One of the reasons I decided to return, besides for the wonderful experience with our subscribers, was to search for investment ideas. And I heard from some of the leading experts on investing in China, including Steve.
Steve has pounded the table on China for years.
But if you've turned on the news or opened a newspaper this month, chances are, you've thought the following:
- What do the problems with China mean for my money?
- How will the trade war affect the "Melt Up" in U.S. stocks?
- I thought Chinese stocks were rallying this year... what happened?
- Did Steve have it all wrong?
So next Thursday, May 30, Steve is holding a China Emergency Briefing. According to Steve...
Most people have the wrong impression about investing in China right now... and they're about to miss a tremendous money-making opportunity by letting the mainstream press scare them away.
During the briefing, he'll explain the $2 trillion story everyone is overlooking right now... and the small handful of companies he saw firsthand that are literally designing the future.
And Steve will share the name of an investment I think will soar following the trade war.
Q: I read your articles regularly. I'm taking your advice to contribute to a 401(k), but I don't know what exactly to invest in with it. Can you offer some input on that? – A.M.
A: Congrats on making one of the best financial decisions you'll ever have to make.
If there's one thing that every single person needs to do, it's this... Always contribute to your 401(k) if your employer matches it.
Never underestimate the power of a 401(k). This is a retirement account that your employer sponsors and manages.
Our employer matches half of an employee's contributions up to 6% of his salary. That means if the employee sets aside 6%, the employer adds 3%... for a total of 9%. That's an instant 50% return on your money...
Skipping out on that free money is the worst mistake in personal finance. And far too many people make it...
The investment options offered in a 401(k) plan vary by employer, but one of the simplest investments is a stock index fund.
Index funds track a market, like the S&P 500, and don't try to provide excess returns. And since they aren't actively managed, they charge astonishingly low fees. Some are nearly free. This is a great way to get instant diversification, especially when you're just starting out.
You can learn more about how to invest with your 401(k) here.
Q: I have been an avid reader of your Health & Wealth Bulletin. In a recent post you, again, talked about the great blueberry food. I have incorporated it into my diet for the past year and am consuming three to four ounces per day about five to seven days a week. Is this an adequate amount to get the benefits this food provides?
I have, also, in this time period been exercising three to four days a week at the gym, have lost twenty pounds.
But my cholesterol has stayed high (230) which it has been since my thirties. I am seventy now and wondering what to do about the cholesterol. I am in agreement with you when it comes to statins, which my doctor recommends. Any ideas? Can you talk about red rice yeast? – N.P.
A: Blueberries have some incredible health benefits. Eating the "blues" will...
- Improve digestion
- Lower cholesterol
- Slow the effects of aging
- Improve eyesight
- Reduce inflammation
- Fight cancer
- Fight urinary tract infections
- Improve recovery from strokes
- Slow the effects of dementia
Depending on the study you read, you need anywhere between half a cup to just under around a cup and a half. A half cup of blueberries is about 2.6 ounces. I get at least that each day or more depending on the time of year. With what you're eating, you're reaping the benefits.
It sounds like you're already doing two things we recommend – eating right and exercising. But most of us can always do a bit better.
Eating foods like fish and broccoli lowers your cholesterol and reduces inflammation. Get rid of inflammation-causing foods like white bread and refined sugar, too.
But remember – some folks might try diet and exercise and it still won't be enough. Talk to your doctor about your statin concerns and see if a non-statin drug would work for you. For example, there's promising (although still new and scant) research on a non-statin called ezetimibe. You can read more on different non-statin treatments right here.
We've had a few readers ask about red yeast. We're working on our research now, so keep an eye out for that. And great work on your weight loss!
Q: When do you sell a dud stock? Example: I bought a stock (which will remain nameless) and it was showing a steady growth then the bottom fell out of it and it dropped 30% in 4-5 days. By the time I got back into town the damage was done and it is stable at a price 30% lower and has stayed there for 6 months with a small 5% increase over that time. I feel that the downside is out of it but do you just take the loss? I've never had a stock do this to me. Should I be patient and let this volatile stock come back (VQ 32%). – B.S.
A: Ask yourself one question: Is this company the best place for your money?
Every day you hold a stock, it's like you are choosing to buy it again. It doesn't matter what your entry price is or how much you are up or down. Take a look and decide if right now, today, this business is the best thing to invest in.
Have a wonderful long weekend.
Our offices are closed on Monday for Memorial Day, so your next issue of Health & Wealth Bulletin will be in your e-mail inbox on Tuesday, May 28.
What are you doing for the holiday weekend? Let us know at [email protected].
What We're Reading...
- Did you miss it? Don't poison yourself this Memorial Day.
- Something different: Your poor diet is probably giving you cancer.
Here's to our health, wealth, and a great retirement,
Dr. David Eifrig and the Health & Wealth Bulletin Research Team
May 24, 2019