Wishing you a prosperous New Year! In today's issue: 
As we bid farewell to 2001, investors are getting ready 
to ride into smoother waters. Also new this week: a 
look at smoking and life insurance. Plus: Have you 
thought about investing in investment companies? We 
offer two to check out.
 

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Below
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- Investment strategies
- Personal finance
- Fund watch
- Special report
- Online advice
- Free and sponsored reports



Investment strategies 
-----------------------------------------

What's in store
Investors get ready to ride into smoother waters  
 
By Carla Drysdale, columnist 
 
As we bid farewell to a year in which many of us dealt 
directly with loss of lives, jobs, and investments, the 
Big Ball of 2002 is poised to bring in what we hope will 
be a brighter new year. Now, more than halfway 
through the fourth quarter, the venture capital market 
is still far from robust. Where will it go from here and 
which will be the startups that drive VC investments in 
2002? 
 
For the moment, venture capitalists are putting most 
of their money into saving existing businesses, rather 
than starting new ones. According to data from 
VentureWire, a division of New York-based 
Technologic Partners, halfway through the fourth 
quarter, seed money and first-round financing 
accounted for just 12 percent of all disbursements, 
down from 25 percent in the first quarter.

Click here to read more.
http://www.multexinvestor.com/article.asp?docid=5414&nd=1229


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

1. Insurance on MultexPF
Smoking and life insurance

Looking for a reason to quit smoking? It costs you 
money! We all know that purchasing cigarettes and 
cigars cost money, but you need to add the 
significantly higher cost to purchase life insurance to 
that expense.
http://www.multexinvestor.com/Topic.asp?target=/personalfinance/insurance/item&ForumID=25&DocID=5502&nd=1229


2. Mortgage on MultexPF
Multex case study: Tapping your home for cash

All those holiday bills have you contemplating a good 
way to pay them off. Which is a better way for you to 
do that, a home equity loan or a line of credit? Find 
out how one couple decided.
http://www.multexinvestor.com/Topic.asp?target=/personalfinance/mortgages/item&ForumID=22&DocID=5501&nd=1229


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



TODAY'S SPECIAL REPORT
-----------------------------------------
 
Invest in the fund company, with or without investing 
in its funds

Morningstar gives Eaton Vance an A+ for profitability, 
when few of its competitors are delivering any profit 
growth under current market conditions. Find out how 
Eaton Vance does it. (3-page report, $10)
http://www.multexinvestor.com/download.asp?docid=21427368&nd=1229

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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
==============================================================


Online advice and chats 
-----------------------------------------

1. ASK THE ANALYST 
Schaeffer's Research's Bernie Schaeffer explains 
what his favorite sentiment indicators are suggesting. 

Noting a highly complacent market, Schaeffer 
discusses bearish trends in the CBOE's volatility (VIX) 
and equity put/call indices and the Consensus Index 
of Bullish Opinion. Has holiday market cheer come to 
an end? Ask him questions until Mon., Dec. 31.
Click here: http://www.multexinvestor.com/AskTheAnalystForm.asp?&nd=1229

Want to kick off the New Year right?  In his latest 
report, Bernie Schaeffer reveals "3 Hot Stocks to Ring 
in the New Year." Access Bernie's FREE Special Report 
now! Click here!  
http://www.schaeffersresearch.com/redirect.asp?CODE=GB01M8&PAGE=1


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=1229


3. LIVE EVENT 
John Bogle, founder of Vanguard Funds, says staying 
the course after the September 11 tragedy benefited 
investors. He explains why economics, not emotions, 
should rule your decisions.
http://www.multexinvestor.com/LiveEvents/Article.asp?ForumID=42&DocID=5280&nd=1229


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

1. DAILY FREE SPONSOR REPORT 
Morgan Stanley rates Goldman Sachs (GS) an 
"outperform."

Goldman Sachs is one of the few financial service 
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2. FREE REPORTS LIST 
Get the goods gratis: Catch up on the week's 
giveaway research reports.

End-of-the-year update; tech perspectives; Robertson 
Stephens conference call summary.
http://www.multexinvestor.com/freereports.asp?&nd=1229


3. FREE RESEARCH REPORT 
Growth and Income C (ECSTX)
Even in this bad market, Eaton Vance Growth & 
Income C has excelled

This fund has managed to trounce its benchmark, the 
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about this top-ranked fund. The report is free for a 
limited time.
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You can also download a free Morningstar snapshot 
report for Eaton Vance Growth and Income C:   
http://www.multexinvestor.com/jp.asp?id=nl_ECSTX1229

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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/