Stay Open for a New Thing
 

"Behold, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs forth; do you not perceive and know it and will you not give heed to it? I will even make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert" (Isaiah 43:19, AMP).

If we are going to be all that God created us to be, we have to be open to change. Just because something worked five years ago doesn´t mean it´s still going to work today. We can´t get so set in our ways that we won´t try anything new. Many people today have lost their enthusiasm, or there´s no freshness in their life because every time an opportunity comes for change, for promotion, for increase, they shrink back because they´re not used to it. They don´t realize that´s what´s keeping them from going to the next level.

One thing I´ve noticed about successful people is that they know how to change with the times. They don´t get stuck in a rut doing the same thing, the same way, year after year. They´re constantly evaluating where they are and what they´re doing. They make adjustments so they can improve.

Decide today to stay open for the new thing God wants to do in your life. Remember, He´s promised to make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. Look for the new thing so that you can fulfill the destiny He has prepared for you!
 

Heavenly Father, search my heart today. Remove any attitudes or thought patterns that would keep me from Your best. I will stay open to the new things You have in store for me. In Jesus´ Name. Amen.

I Will Say of the Lord

"I will say of the Lord, He is my Refuge and my Fortress, my God; on Him I lean and rely, and in Him I [confidently] trust" (Psalm 91:2, AMP).
 

Your words of faith activate the promises of God. What are you saying of the Lord today? In other words, what are you declaring that God will do in your life? The next verse in this passage says, "And He will cover me, deliver me, and protect me." Notice the connection. "I will say" and "He will do." What a wonderful promise! On the other hand, if we’re not saying anything, we´re not releasing our faith.  So you could read the passage in the reverse, "I will not say of the Lord and He will not do."

It says in 3 John 2 that God wishes above all things that you prosper and be in health. You can take that promise and say, "God, You said You want me to be healthy. You said You want me to be prosperous. So I say of the Lord, ´You are my Healer. You are my Provider. You are my Vindicator. You are my Victory.´" Remember, when you start "saying of the Lord", your faith-filled words open the door for Him to move on your behalf. Before long, you´ll see His mighty works, and you´ll move forward into the life of victory He has in store for you!

Heavenly Father, thank You for saving and redeeming me. I choose Your promises for my life, and I will declare that You are my Refuge and my Fortress, and I will trust You all the days of my life. In Jesus´ Name. Amen.

 

As the market continues to be highly volatile, more and more would-be traders are starting to pay attention to such things as “yield,” safety, and steady “cash flow.”

These ingredients are the life-blood of an investment strategy practiced by one of Forbes’ most successful editor/partners, Richard Lehmann. You may recognize Richard as Forbes Magazine’s Fixed Income columnist and resident bond expert. He is also author of fixed income bible Income Investing Today and editor of monthly newsletter Forbes/Lehmann Income Securities Investor.

Richard’s portfolio of safe, conservative, high-yield fixed-income securities has beaten the stock market for years. Given the market pullback, some of his recommendations are now providing yields as high as 30%. And if you had invested $100,000 in Richard's high yield model portfolio in 2000, it would have been worth $266,000 in mid 2008 compared to only $85,000 for a similar investment in the riskier S&P 500.

That means his readers have been able to more than double their capital … while protecting themselves from the looming threat of more market volatility.

With Richard’s fixed-income securities picks and portfolios, you can build or re-build your retirement nest egg … generate the income you need to live after you stop working … and preserve the wealth you worked your entire life to accumulate.

 

In a recent interview, Richard shared with Forbes 5 portfolio strategies to help you ensure a financially secure retirement … for as long as you live.

 

 

Tax-free municipal bonds are the most widely advertised income investment – promising safe, tax-free returns.

But even at today's attractive yields, forget them, advises Richard, who says they’re a terrible value. They are only for the super-rich, who are interested in preserving their capital. And now as the bond insurance industry implodes we are discovering that "safe" munis aren't so safe after all. A much better alternative is “corporate preferred shares.”

These essentially allow individual investors to buy corporate bonds equivalents once available only to institutional investors – as preferred shares on the stock exchange.

While they aren’t tax-free, the income generated by many preferred shares is taxed at the reduced 15% rate for dividends.

So they actually generate a superior return compared with tax-free munis.

Depending on their rating, preferred shares are yielding between 8% and 14%.

Even after the 15% tax on dividends, that’s still a heck of a lot better than the measly 3.8% that AAA-rated munis yield.

In his monthly advisory Forbes/Lehmann Income Securities Investor, Richard Lehmann offers a wide choice of preferred shares … ranging from AAA-rated to below investment grade.  Some of these pay dividends as high as 250% of Treasury yield!

To find out which high-yielding preferred shares Richard is currently recommending, click here to subscribe now.

 

 

Despite the recent decline in oil and natural gas prices, don't give up on Canadian oil trusts. The best income play on crude oil prices is still to invest in select Canadian energy royalty trusts.  Unlike U.S. energy royalty trusts, which stop paying once the trust runs out of oil….

Canadian energy trusts can acquire and add more reserves to replenish depleted supplies – and as a result, pay off perpetually.

Traditionally, these Canadian energy trusts have been exempt from corporate tax.

In November 2006, Canada announced its intent to tax these trusts – sending investors scurrying.

But what many don’t realize is that the earliest this tax would go into effect is 2011.

Also, while the tax rate in Canada is 35%, the effective tax rate for Canadian corporations is a mere 7%.

So even if the tax on Canadian energy trusts actually starts in 2011 – and it may not, since the party in power does not hold a majority in parliament – the effect on dividends is negligible.

Richard’s 3 favorites are among the largest energy royalty trusts in Canada – and in Canadian energy trusts, size does matter.

These trusts have 9 years of reserves as well as vast acreage of undeveloped properties.

 

So they are likely to pay increasing dividends for a long, long time. Right now, they pay yields of up to 30%.

As a subscriber to Richard Lehmann’s Income Securities Investor, you get the names of his top 5 Canadian energy trusts – some of which have yields over 30% -- with your very first issue. Click here to subscribe now.

 

 

Income investments aren’t only for income.

Some generate superior total returns through a combination of high yields and capital gains.

One of the ways Richard helps his readers generate the dual objectives of growth and income is with “special situation” plays.

Typically, these are companies whose shares (preferred and regular) have fallen in price because of negative news.

Right now, he’s recommending specific preferred shares of a large U.S. auto-maker.

As the woes of the U.S. auto industry made front-page headlines, credit agencies couldn’t downgrade the credit ratings of this car company fast enough.

Result: institutional investors who are mandated to hold only investment-grade paper dumped these preferred shares into the market.

Now they can be owned by individual investors looking for growth and income.

Expected cost savings would have a major affect on its stock price. But even if it doesn’t, you still collect a 21% yield on your shares.

 

 

There is no magic formula or hard-and-fast rule determining how to allocate your investments between stocks and bonds.

The amount of your portfolio that should be in fixed-income securities vs. the stock market depends on:

For instance, if you are a 65-year-old retired person with a net worth of a couple of million dollars, you don’t need to increase your nest egg.

You’d therefore invest a larger portion of your wealth in safe, conservative fixed-income securities with good credit ratings.

By doing so, you’d protect yourself against big investment losses which you can’t afford, since you are not working and therefore don’t have a paycheck coming in to replace them.

If you invested $1 million of your money in a diversified portfolio of fixed-income securities earning 8.5% annually, you’d collect $85,000 a year in dividend payments – taking care of most or all of your daily needs.

 

 

Thousands of investors at or near retirement age depend on Richard Lehmann to help them navigate the somewhat complex – and unfamiliar – terrain of corporate bonds, preferred shares, convertibles, hybrid preferreds, PET bonds, and other fixed-income securities.

In each issue, you’ll find dozens of recommendations on fixed-income investments with yields ranging from around 5% to 20% and even higher.

Best of all, there are 6 portfolios to choose from, each tailored to achieve a different set of investment objectives.

These are:

There are 2 ways you can “hire” Richard Lehmann to increase yield, capital gains, and safety of principle on your fixed-income investments.

The first is to become one of his private clients. But with a minimum account size of half a million dollars – and a one percent management fee – that will run you a minimum of $5,000 a year.

 

A much more cost-effective alternative is to subscribe to Richard’s high-yield income investment newsletter, Forbes/Lehmann Income Securities Investor.

Your cost is as little as 47 cents a day – less than you pay for your morning cup of coffee! And of course, you can cancel and request a refund on all unmailed issues at any time.

 

Sincerely,

Charles Morgan
Associate Publisher
Forbes Newsletters

*P.S. Bonus Reports with Every Subscription          * "Top 3 Yield Gushers to Fatten Your Wallet"           * "The Insider's Guide to Buying High Yielding Preferreds and Trusts"           * "Earn Powerhouse Returns In the New PET Bonds"           * "Richard Lehmann's Bond Investor's Owners Manual" If you are not 100% satisfied, you may cancel your subscription for a full and prompt refund of the balance of your subscription term*. All issues and bonuses received are yours to keep free, with no further cost or commitment of any kind.  Click here to subscribe to Forbes/Lehmann Income Securities Investor , today! * Monthly subscriptions are not eligible.

Choose to Bless Your Future

"I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live" (Deuteronomy 30:19, NKJ).
 

Did you know that with your words you can either bless your future or curse your future? Your words have creative power. If you want to know what your life is to going to be like five years from now, just listen to what you’re saying about yourself today. Too many people go around saying, "I´ll never get well. I´ll never get out of debt." "It´s flu season. I´ll probably get it." "This marriage is never going to last." Then they wonder why they don´t see things turn around. It´s because they´re calling defeat into their future. They´re calling in mediocrity. Don´t let that be you!

When you get up in the morning, no matter how you feel, no matter what things look like, instead of using your words to describe your situation, use your words to change your situation. Make a declaration of faith by saying, "This is going to be a great day. I have God´s favor. He´s directing my steps." When you do that, you are choosing to bless your future. You are calling in favor, increase, and opportunities. You are opening the door for God to move on your behalf so you can live the abundant life He has for you!

Heavenly Father, I commit my words to You today. Help me to speak good things over my life so that I can choose blessing for my future. Keep me close to You so that everything I say and do is pleasing in Your sight. In Jesus´ Name. Amen.