A popular prescription in the personal finance domain is to increase or maximize annual contributions to 401(k)s or similar retirement plans. However one of the best financial decisions I’ve made over the past couple of years has been to move in the opposite direction -- to radically reduce my retirement account contributions.For many years the tax-deferred feature of traditional retirement accounts plus the added sweetener of employer matches to contributed funds found me seeking to "max out" voluntary retirement account contributions (this year the limit is north of $16 000 for 401(k)s).A few years ago I began assembling a ...

With industrial materials among the first to benefit as the global economy turns, the sector ranks as the No. 2 performer among the S&P 500’s 10 industry groups so far this year -- and Citigroup analysts now see nearly a 60% rebound in earnings per share likely for the sector in 2010.

Here are five stocks that should benefit from a lower dollar in 2010.

Gold broke out to a new high yesterday of $1084 and the yellow metal is glittering again today.More impressively strategists note gold prices moved higher on Tuesday even as the S&P 500 ticked up two points and the DXY index modestly rose to 76.3.What has triggered this headline-making move in the gold price?For one the International Monetary Fund reported that it had sold to India 200 of the 403 tonnes it wants to sell this year. All that remains market pros note is the prospect for the other 203 tonnes to be sold with speculation upon China as the ...

Newmont Mining Corp. says it doubled its third-quarter net profit on a combination of cost cuts and a summertime surge in gold and copper prices, but problems ramping up operations in Australia result in a more cautious near-term outlook.

NOTE TO EDITORS: The Following Is an Investment Opinion Being Issued by Ridgewater Equity (RWE).