Many investors believe that if you want to achieve big returns, you have to take big risks. They believe that safe, boring companies yield nothing but boring results. These investors are wrong. And it has cost them a fortune.  It might sound counterintuitive, but if you want to achieve big gains (I’m talking about 1,000% to 5,000% or more), your best bet is to play it safe.

The economy is now staring eyeball-to-eyeball with an activist U.S. government. It will legislate, reform, supervise, bully, give out money like cotton candy and get concessions in return.

There is a way to join a company’s long-term employee benefit program without lifting a finger, says Jim Nelson. Some firms offer Dividend Retirement Plans (DRIPs), which allow you to both receive regular dividend checks and reinvest earnings in discounted stock. And as long as dividend payments keep coming, there is no need to worry about a volatile share price.

Many investors are turning to high dividend stocks to provide a steady income during this bear market. But Paul Moore says you have to be selective to make this strategy work. Companies that are short of cash could be forced to cut dividend payments. That’s why cash flow is the most important figure on the balance sheet for value investors.

There’s a lot of talk lately about oil and gas. Naturally, I’ got an e-mail from Wayne M. asking…