Q. I am a disgruntled Bank of America shareholder. Is there reason to expect improved results going forward?A. The question for shareholders is how quickly it can put past mistakes in the rearview mirror, significantly improve its controls, and

While basketball players may aspire to "be like Mike," as in NBA great Michael Jordan, investors have a variety of role models to choose from.Finding one that suits their personality is not easy, so it makes sense to study as many as best-known

Investors have to wonder over the course of this year of economic and political surprises whether the stock market will finish with a roar or with a whimper.Since anything seems feasible, the predictions of experts run the gamut. The only is is

Bank stocks favored by investors are few and far between these days.Despite improved earnings and more stringent safety requirements, the stocks of financial institutions have lagged behind the broader market in 2011. Weighing down their are a a

Banks must endure fiscal fitness tests these days, with the results not always pretty or predictable.This concept isn't such a bad idea for average citizens either.The darkest stories of recession involve lost jobs, lost homes, and lost hope.

The global energy picture has become more complicated in 2011, but investors are making some sense of it.The nuclear outage in Japan and turbulence in oil-producing nations is prompting increased demand for alternative electricity sources such a

Once you enter retirement, financial reality sets in.Retirees must cope with changing economic and market trends over a long period of time, often without the backstop that was once provided by tried-and-true pension plans.The possibility of

Would you rather follow an elephant or a jackrabbit into the stock market?Elephant-sized stock mutual funds trumpet loudly and leave big footprints but often trail the more agile smaller funds that can hop around swiftly with the these behemoths

Levolor blinds, Hot Wheels, and fragrances such as Wild Elixir could be leading Americans out of recession in 2011.Companies that make such products tend to excel as consumers gain confidence and begin to treat themselves to discretionary items

Growth versus value investing is shaping up to be a horse race in 2011.While growth stocks had maintained the lead throughout much of 2010, the performance margin between the two narrowed later in the year.Growth stocks represent companies to