Welcome to the New Year! This week, we discuss
reviewing your finances to ensure that you will
achieve your targets, and what to do if you are going
to come up short. Also this week, lowering the risk of
bond investing.

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Below
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- Investment ideas
- Personal finance
- Monthly matters
- Fund watch
- Online advice and chats
- Free and sponsored reports


Investment ideas
-----------------------------------------

1. INVESTMENT IDEAS
Analysts predict solid 2002 for cable TV stocks
Consolidation and EBITDA growth will be the year's major themes

by John Filar Atwood, equity research columnist

Investors relying on cable television stocks as a defensive investment were
disappointed in 2001, as the group fell by about 20 percent, compared with
the a drop of "just" 13 percent for the S&P 500. But investors who now
abandon the industry may find themselves even more disappointed in 2002.

Analysts are projecting a strong year for cable companies, predicting
revenue growth of 13 percent and EBITDA growth of 14 percent. They also
believe most of the stocks are more fairly valued heading into 2002 than
they were at the outset of last year, when a late-2000 runup left them
overpriced.

Adding to analysts' enthusiasm is the recent completion of Comcast's
(CMCSK) purchase of AT&T's (T) broadband unit. The merger
underscores the value of broadband and its ability to offer voice, data and
video over the same pipe.

Click here to read more.
http://www.multexinvestor.com/article.asp?docid=5682&nd=0105


2. INVESTMENT IDEAS
E-commerce across platforms--PC wins hands down
Wireless platforms have a role to play, but not in nailing sales

By Ben Macklin, senior analyst, eMarketer

Much has been made of the potential for e-commerce on mobile devices
and TV, but two leading research firms, Gartner and Forrester, predict
that in both Europe and the US, the PC will be the platform of choice for
e-commerce.

Gartner forecasts that by 2005, 72.6 percent of the US population will
access the Internet via PC, compared to 37 percent through an Internet
phone, and 16.5 percent through TV. They add that 42 percent of US e-
commerce buyers will regularly use multiple platforms.

Click here to read more.
http://www.multexinvestor.com/article.asp?docid=5676&nd=0105


WORD FROM OUR SPONSOR
--------------------------

Fixed-income funds finished the week only slightly down

Taxable income funds delivered a very narrow range of returns last week, with
the average fund nearly breaking even with a loss of only .01 percent.
International funds fared worse due to a weakening Euro.
http://www.multexinvestor.com/ExpertInsights/SponsorHome.asp?target=/funds/expertinsights/sponsor&sid=127&nd=0105


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Personal finance
-----------------------------------------

1. Retirement on MultexPF

Start the year off right

Early January provides you with a wonderful
opportunity to review your financial situation to see if
you are making progress toward achieving your goals.
Here are a few things to consider.
http://www.multexinvestor.com/Topic.asp?target=/personalfinance/retirement/item&ForumID=20&DocID=5494&nd=0105


2. Insurance on MultexPF

New Year's resolutions

The clock has counted down and the New Year has
arrived, but are you ready? As you consider your New
Year's resolutions, take time to review your insurance
coverage. Much can happen in one year, and your
coverage from 2001 may not be enough in 2002.
http://www.multexinvestor.com/Topic.asp?target=/personalfinance/insurance/item&ForumID=25&DocID=5605&nd=0105


Monthly matters
-----------------------------------------

Poor Planning: Facing a retirement shortfall

Perhaps you didn't realize how much money you
needed to put aside, or you invested aggressively and
the stock market dented your retirement fund in a big
way. Either way, how do you make it up? We have
some tips.
http://www.multexinvestor.com/Topic.asp?target=/personalfinance/monthlymatters/item&ForumID=19&DocID=5613&nd=0105


Fund watch
-----------------------------------------

1. FUND STRATEGIES

Lowering the risks of bond investing

When the stock market and interest rates rise, your
bond portfolio may drop. Is there a way to temper this
risk? Yes, you might lessen that risk with a closed-end
fund. Here's how.
http://www.multexinvestor.com/Funds/Article.asp?Section=fundstrategies&ForumID=60&DocID=5532&nd=0105


2. MUTUAL FUNDS

Visit our new Mutual Funds center

Investing isn't easy, but we're here to help. You'll find
tools for investors, fund industry news, research
reports, and more in our new Mutual Funds center.
Learn the basics of investing, discover new strategies,
and see what the experts are saying!
http://www.multexinvestor.com/Funds/MutualFunds.asp?target=/funds/mutualfunds/home&nd=0105

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specific research highlights, investment ideas, analyst opinions, portfolio
strategies: http://www.multexinvestor.com/Analysts/HomeTTA.asp

To be sure you receive your TTA newsletter every week, click here:
http://www.multexinvestor.com/login.asp
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Online advice and chats
-----------------------------------------

1. ASK THE ANALYST
PowerPlusOptions.com's Victor Schiller discusses how to
successfully hedge stock purchases.

Using an example involving Microsoft (MSFT), Schiller explains
how selling out-of-the-money covered call options helps mitigate the risk
involved with being long stocks. You can ask him your questions
regarding options until Mon. Jan. 7. Ask the analyst.
http://www.multexinvestor.com/AskTheAnalystForm.asp?&nd=0105

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2. ASK THE EXPERT
Insurance.com's Ronald E. Newton discusses life
insurance coverage issues brought up by divorce.

Newton explains the importance of reviewing
insurance coverage in the midst of divorce to protect
loved ones should catastrophic events occur. Do you
have all the coverage you need? He can take your
questions until Thurs., Jan. 10. Ask the expert.
http://www.multexinvestor.com/AskTheExpertForm.asp?&nd=0105


Free and sponsored reports
-----------------------------------------

1. DAILY FREE SPONSOR REPORT
Morgan Stanley rates Van Kampen Bond Fund (VBF)
an  "outperform."

VBF invests primarily in investment-grade bonds and
uses no leverage to achieve its current 7.1 percent
yield. Sign up for Morgan Stanley's free research trial
to access this report.
http://www.multexinvestor.com/download.asp?docid=4735044&sid=8&nd=0105


2. FREE REPORTS LIST
Get the goods gratis: Catch up on the week's giveaway
research reports.

A comprehensive look at the markets, plus
semiconductors and automotive stocks.
http://www.multexinvestor.com/freereports.asp?&nd=0105


3. FREE RESEARCH REPORT
Standard and Poors: John Hancock Income Securities (JHS)

This fund seeks to provide as much income as
possible while investing prudently, and may contain
up to 20 percent income-producing stocks. The report
is free for a limited time.

This fund is also a featured fund in our new article on
closed-end income funds. Click here to read this
article.
http://www.multexinvestor.com/download.asp?docid=408084&nd=0105

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Be sure to check out our other newsletters, The Internet Analyst
and The Telecomm Analyst by Multex.com. The newsletters will
inform, educate, and entertain you with usable investment data,
ideas, experts, and info about the Internet and telecommunications
sectors. To see this week's issue,
click here:
http://www.thetelecommanalyst.com/ or
http://www.theinternetanalyst.com/