Most of us aren’t compulsive gamblers, heavy drinkers, or chain smokers. Three habits that over time, are bad for your wallet and – more importantly – your health. But from an investment standpoint, the so-called “sin stocks” – companies that make alcohol, firearms, cigarettes and those that operate gambling casinos – are doing quite well.

So I had a flashback recently. (Not an acid flashback, mind you — never tried the stuff — but a market flashback). It was almost 10 years ago on the nose: August 1998. I was a wet-behind-the-ears college grad, and I’d just flown into Reno/Tahoe for a job interview with Commodity Resource Corp. I’d never seen Tahoe except in pictures (though, of course, I’d heard how amazing the place is).