Financial Sense Newshour

Jim is pleased to welcome back Steve Forbes, Chairman, CEO, and Editor in Chief at Forbes Media and an internationally respected authority in the worlds of economics, finance, and corporate leadership. They cover a number of issues, including the recent plunge in gold, the Fed’s manipulation of the economy and the potential for future inflation, and the government’s relentless search for more revenue to raise federal spending. Mr. Forbes believes there is a determination in Washington to increase taxes on wealth, following the French model.

This week Jim and Cathlyn discuss the dilemma of those sitting on the sideline in cash. When is the right time to make a move? They illustrate the issue by discussing the case study of a retired couple, David and Michelle, who are unhappy with the meager returns on cash and CDs, but have not been ready to make a move into the market. Jim lays out a strategy to boost their income, but warns that time may be running short for income investors. This week’s guest is Peter Bell, president & CEO of the National Reverse Mortgage Association.

In this week’s first topic on the Big Picture, Jim looks at the global problem of low interest rates for investors, and how difficult it is for those who need interst income to survive. Jim sees time running out in that any significant yield in the future will come with higher risk. Jim disucsses what a yield-starved investor should do. In the next Big Picture topic, which relates to the first topic, Jim lays out the case that dividend-paying stocks are still the best game in town. Jim also looks at specfic sectors within the dividend stock universe and explains why these blue-chip dividend plays are the best alternative in the current environment. Jim also answers your Q-Calls in this segement of the program.

Jim is pleased to welcome back Michelle Caruso-Cabrera, an award-winning financial television journalist working for CNBC. Michelle and Jim discuss her on-the-ground reporting from Cyprus during its financial crisis. She believes Cyprus was treated unfairly by the European powers, and didn’t receive the same treatment as Greece, which was kept afloat with massive bailouts. Michelle notes that Cyprus runs on its banking system, and Cyprus was treated as an off-shore tax haven, not a sovereign country. She also points out that Cyprus did not cut government spending, but raised taxes instead. Michelle also discusses the European economy and the chances of the Euro surviving longer term.