A TREND WORTH REVERSING

HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO INCREASE THE SIZE OF YOUR NEST EGG?

If you're like most Americans - if you're like me - you'd jump at the chance. That's partly why people pay such close attention to the financial markets. Every blip up in the Dow spells an extra dollop of return, and that means the savings nest egg expands by one more centimeter.

But recent government statistics suggest we may all be a bit too focused on the extra returns that savvy investing can bring, and not sufficiently attentive to the need to supply more cash to the equation.

The savings trend Americans, courtesy of the Commerce Department, indicates that we're getting worse at stashing cash. To be sure, there are many flaws in the methods used to calculate the savings rate (which has lately been flashing a nines sign), but few would argue with the thought that Americans are saving a frighteningly low percentage of their income, the lowest rate, in fact, in decades. Why? The stock market is one reason. It is now on its way to the fifth straight year of 20% or better returns. With that kind of wind at your back, people figure who needs to save more? More popular today is to direct spare cash toward remodeling kitchens, family trips, or countless little luxuries at the mall.

We are always committed to helping you increase returns, but we wouldn't be doing our jobs, if we didn't focus equally hard on the other components of wealth creation. To that end, in this issue we feature a rich trove of financial--planning advice, the first bit of which is, you guessed it, a compelling reason to save more. We've not only gathered some the most valuable tips from America's top planners, but we've also included an article we hope will assist you in finding a local planner when the need arises. And to help you keep what you save, for your family and your heirs, we've included a ten-page section on smart estate-planning moves.

Sure, there are countless things the government could do to stimulate more savings - expanding IRA's, for instance - but there are also countless things we can do, today.

**Courtesy of John Curran Managing Editor - First Word**

There is a worldwide interest in mutual funds moving capital out of banks in to this explosive marketplace. The principal reason why asre easy to understand. Mutual funds offer diversity, professional management and a targeted approach to participate in select portfolios around the globe.

The opportunity to participate in the potentially significant investment trends that result from changing political and economic conditions is a critical factor to the successful achievement of your long-term investment goals.

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