Editorials

All of SMI's core investment strategies — Just-the-Basics, Fund Upgrading, and Dynamic Asset Allocation — are having a good year, so which one should you follow? We analyze them here, showing how each stacks up on multiple factors — from complexity to emotional hurdles, and from profit potential to risk exposure. Hopefully this way of sizing up the pros and cons will help you choose the best strategy for your personal situation.

Gold was supposed to be a safe haven, a hedge against the future inflation that so many people have been concerned about for so long. But with that inflation appearing to be more bark than bite, gold has lost of much of its allure—and a decent chunk of its value. In this month's editorial, SMI Executive Editor Mark Biller explores why the gold rush has recently run out of steam.

The times—they are uncertain. The good news is that God uses such times to mature us in our Christian walk, strengthen our faith, know Him better, and live a life worthy of His praise. Austin points us to God's Word for a timely reminder that "...in all things God works for the good for those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose" (Romans 8:28).

The new investing strategy we're introducing this month, Dynamic Asset Allocation, places a premium on preservation of capital. Our testing indicates it would have generated impressive returns while also providing significant bear market protection. We explain how this new strategy fits within SMI's strategy framework and how it may be substituted as an improvement to some of our earlier strategies.

As we prepare to celebrate our Savior's miraculous birth, let's also reflect on the miraculous reality of His eternal existence. One of Austin's favorite authors, John Piper, will help you do so through a thought-provoking excerpt from his book, "Seeing and Savoring Jesus Christ."

We don't often use these pages to weigh in on political issues, but with the presidential election just weeks away, we're making an exception. SMI Founder Austin Pryor, a registered independent, says the past four years add up to one very clear conclusion: it's time for a change.

The Fed is at it again, pumping more money into the economy in the hope of spurring spending, investing and overall economic growth. What will it mean to you as an individual investor and saver? And how will it impact the economy?

If you haven't gotten off to a great investing start, don't despair. Here are four keys to getting back on track.

We've said it before and we'll keep saying it: when the markets go crazy, don't panic! We examine the difference between what the average investor has earned over the past 20 years vs. what the market has delivered as a way to drive home this vital point.

It's Christmas in July at SMI, and the gifts are all for you. We so enjoyed Bruce Wilkinson's book, "The God Pocket" (excerpted in this month's cover story), that we'd like to give it to you. Find out how to get your free copy.

Of all the factors that go into successful investing, one stands above the rest: emotional self-control. Here's a blueprint for building and strengthening this essential character trait.

Most marathon runners wouldn't fare well in a sprint. Nor would the typical sprinter stand a chance in a marathon. However, successfully running the investment race requires both — investments that can accelerate quickly over the short-haul as well as those that can keep up a respectable pace over longer distances. Putting the right investment runners in the race at the right time is what our Upgrading strategy is all about.

As we celebrate Easter and the first coming of Christ, it's only natural for our attention to turn towards the promised return of our king. Pastor John MacArthur gives us 10 reasons why our confidence in Jesus' return is well placed.

It's easy to lose faith in a system or indicator when it fails to perform as expected. After 2011's Bear Alert signal turned out to be false (for the second time in two years), it would be easy to dismiss this indicator as unhelpful. As Austin explains, however, doing so might be a mistake.

2011 wasn't a great year for SMI's strategies. A quick review of the past may offer us clues regarding Upgrading's likely path forward

How does SMI founder Austin Pryor invest his own money? Take a peek behind the curtain at his personal investing plan for 2012.

In keeping with our long-standing tradition, we've selected a special Christmas gift to offer to our SMI family.

How can a country with an economy roughly the size of Maryland's dominate the world's financial markets? Austin explains.

It's been said that the greatest ability is availability. God doesn't need superstars to accomplish His purposes, but he does look for servants who are willing to act when He leads them to. Consider this story of one such man and the impact his availability has made on the world as we know it.

There have been an unusual number of major financial issues in the news this summer. Here's a quick summary of our thoughts on each, plus four keys to navigating this stormy environment.

These are worrisome times, but we have promises from our God that He is ever near His children. Here are assurances from Scripture that you can take to heart.

The great and precious promises of God should foster in us a sense of gratitude that dwarfs any attachments we have to the material world.

Want to learn a few profound investing insights? You'll be amazed at what you can discover about investing simply by planning and taking a trip to the beach.

Investors can easily fall into the trap of blowing right past restraint en route to imagined future riches — often with unhappy results. Here are four tips to help you check that impulse.

The night before his crucifixion, Jesus told his disciples, "Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in Him" (John 13:31). What did he mean? And what does it mean for us today?

Acknowledging your limited vision is a principle to follow in your finances — and as a way of life.

Here is Austin's personal investing plan for 2011. What's yours?

We've just concluded the worst decade for momentum investing in the past 80 years. Even so, SMI's momentum-based Upgrading strategy handily outperformed the overall market. And a recent study suggests momentum investors are likely to see much brighter days are ahead.

In keeping with our long-standing tradition, we're offering a special Christmas gift to SMI readers.

Even more than seeing large gains, risk-averse investors want to eliminate large losses. Happily, our analysis of the past eight decades suggests there is a "sweet spot" for such investors.

Like the framers of the Declaration, we must act to free ourselves from those unfit to govern.

Investing history tells us that even during the stock market's "worst of times," perseverance has rewarded the steadfast.

Consistently spending time with the Lord each morning leads to experiencing His presence throughout the day in fresh and life-giving ways. God will open the eyes of your heart, so that you may see — and delight in — His love and faithfulness.

Competing threats to the economy are keeping each other in check — for now. Our overview of the standoff will help you understand the current investing climate.

In a recent impromptu appearance on one of the nation's top radio talk shows, Austin chatted briefly about the benefits of SMI's approach to investing. If he had it to do over, he'd present this even stronger case.

Stock market performance over the past year has been great news for those who held on through the fear-filled days of the bear market. But suppose you bailed out at some point back then. Is it "too late" to get back in?

God says his name is "I am." We, of course, want to know more: "I am — what?" The answer to that question yields inexhaustible blessings, as Hannah Whitall Smith explains in this excerpt from her classic book, The God of All Comfort.

We need to add another key member to the SMI team. Perhaps the Lord will use you to help us do it.

Last year provided yet another unmistakable reminder that the market is a mystery. In the face of such certain uncertainty, Austin lays out his personal investing plan for 2010.

Throughout 2009, we've written about the reasons stoking the growing concern of rising inflation in the future. For 2010, we're introducing a new monthly feature: optional inflation hedges that can be used in combination with SMI's core investment strategies to help reduce this particular risk.

If recent events have you doubting the wisdom of staying invested in stocks, perhaps a little history will help.