Editorials

2011 wasn't a great year for SMI's strategies. A quick review of the past may offer us clues regarding Upgrading's likely path forward

How does SMI founder Austin Pryor invest his own money? Take a peek behind the curtain at his personal investing plan for 2012.

In keeping with our long-standing tradition, we've selected a special Christmas gift to offer to our SMI family.

How can a country with an economy roughly the size of Maryland's dominate the world's financial markets? Austin explains.

It's been said that the greatest ability is availability. God doesn't need superstars to accomplish His purposes, but he does look for servants who are willing to act when He leads them to. Consider this story of one such man and the impact his availability has made on the world as we know it.

There have been an unusual number of major financial issues in the news this summer. Here's a quick summary of our thoughts on each, plus four keys to navigating this stormy environment.

These are worrisome times, but we have promises from our God that He is ever near His children. Here are assurances from Scripture that you can take to heart.

The great and precious promises of God should foster in us a sense of gratitude that dwarfs any attachments we have to the material world.

Want to learn a few profound investing insights? You'll be amazed at what you can discover about investing simply by planning and taking a trip to the beach.

Investors can easily fall into the trap of blowing right past restraint en route to imagined future riches — often with unhappy results. Here are four tips to help you check that impulse.

The night before his crucifixion, Jesus told his disciples, "Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in Him" (John 13:31). What did he mean? And what does it mean for us today?

Acknowledging your limited vision is a principle to follow in your finances — and as a way of life.

Here is Austin's personal investing plan for 2011. What's yours?

We've just concluded the worst decade for momentum investing in the past 80 years. Even so, SMI's momentum-based Upgrading strategy handily outperformed the overall market. And a recent study suggests momentum investors are likely to see much brighter days are ahead.

In keeping with our long-standing tradition, we're offering a special Christmas gift to SMI readers.

Even more than seeing large gains, risk-averse investors want to eliminate large losses. Happily, our analysis of the past eight decades suggests there is a "sweet spot" for such investors.

Like the framers of the Declaration, we must act to free ourselves from those unfit to govern.

Investing history tells us that even during the stock market's "worst of times," perseverance has rewarded the steadfast.

Consistently spending time with the Lord each morning leads to experiencing His presence throughout the day in fresh and life-giving ways. God will open the eyes of your heart, so that you may see — and delight in — His love and faithfulness.

Competing threats to the economy are keeping each other in check — for now. Our overview of the standoff will help you understand the current investing climate.

In a recent impromptu appearance on one of the nation's top radio talk shows, Austin chatted briefly about the benefits of SMI's approach to investing. If he had it to do over, he'd present this even stronger case.

Stock market performance over the past year has been great news for those who held on through the fear-filled days of the bear market. But suppose you bailed out at some point back then. Is it "too late" to get back in?

God says his name is "I am." We, of course, want to know more: "I am — what?" The answer to that question yields inexhaustible blessings, as Hannah Whitall Smith explains in this excerpt from her classic book, The God of All Comfort.

We need to add another key member to the SMI team. Perhaps the Lord will use you to help us do it.

Last year provided yet another unmistakable reminder that the market is a mystery. In the face of such certain uncertainty, Austin lays out his personal investing plan for 2010.

Throughout 2009, we've written about the reasons stoking the growing concern of rising inflation in the future. For 2010, we're introducing a new monthly feature: optional inflation hedges that can be used in combination with SMI's core investment strategies to help reduce this particular risk.

In keeping with our long-standing tradition, we've selected a special Christmas gift to offer to SMI readers.

It seems likely that taxes and personal insurance costs will rise significantly if health care legislation passes in its currently proposed form.

Different scenarios call for different investment strategies. But it's tough to settle on a strategy when there is so much uncertainty about what economic conditions are likely to lie ahead.

If you're a financial professional who utilizes SMI's material in managing your client accounts, please read this article about our new institutional service.

In the past, SMI hasn't been particularly concerned about inflation, and as a result, we haven't been particularly attracted to gold. However, recent events have changed our outlook, both for inflation and gold.

Through the words of Scripture, God calls us to demonstrate our trust in Him by living lives of sacrificial generosity.

This recession could very well be "a fundamental economic reset" (as Microsoft's CEO recently called it) rather than just a temporary slowdown in growth. If so, how should you plan accordingly?

The amount of wealth you accumulate by investing is determined by several factors. Some you can control, others you can't. Which do you think you should focus on?

To abide in Jesus is to live the life of a branch. As the vine manifests its life through the branch, so Jesus manifests His life through us.

Big changes to the financial landscape have prompted Austin to rethink his investing strategy for the year.

Like almost everyone else, Austin was brutally mistreated by the stock market last year. So what's he doing with his portfolio in 2009?

If recent events have you doubting the wisdom of staying invested in stocks, perhaps a little history will help.

This Christmas, we're offering a special gift to SMI subscribers and web members. With it, we invite you to join us on a journey through the Scriptures in search of the answer to this question: What is it that delights the heart of God?

Even as a "perfect storm" appears to be wreaking havoc in the economy, Kingdom seekers can rely on God's promise to provide us with everything we need.

Two large investment banks implode; an ailing insurance company almost collapses; the government acts to bail out the two companies that hold roughly half of America's home mortgages. No doubt about it. Recent headlines have been dire. But investing history suggests this may be just the time to face the future with confidence.

This has been as rough a stretch as we've seen in quite a while for our Upgrading methodology. Did the Upgrading strategy go wrong somewhere? The answer is, "No."

One of the most important attributes for an investor to develop is the ability to think long-term. When the market corrects, as it has recently, are you ready to take advantage? Or are you part of the fearful herd asking each other all the wrong questions?

Why did Jesus teach "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth…"? Was it because he was anti-treasure? No, it was because he knew earthly treasures won't last. Randy Alcorn calls this idea The Treasure Principle. Here's an overview.

Coming soon: a special opportunity to spend time with Austin, while learning about one of the most effective evangelistic tools in operation today. Reserve your spot today!

With the stock market showing meager gains over the past 10 years, many are talking about it having been a "lost decade" for investors. Sound like bad news? Dig beneath the surface and you'll find the seed of some very promising news for the next 10 years.

Putting this market ideal into practice is tough on the emotions, but ultimately rewarding for your pocketbook.

If you've got seven minutes, this year's Easter meditation will lift your spirits.

Austin shares four things that encourage and comfort him when periods of distressing stock market losses suddenly arrive.

How does SMI founder Austin Pryor invest his own money? Take a peek behind the curtain at his personal investing plan for 2008.