MORE PROFIT, LESS RISK: Your New Financial Strategy

Unlike most financial prophets, Kiplinger staffer Cerami expects only an interim rally in stock prices--to be followed by a renewal of double-digit inflation, soaring interest rates, and impaired investor confidence. The reason: Washington will soon have to focus on alleviating unemployment in lieu of controlling the price spiral and federal budget deficits. The answer: Preeminently, gold. In the quarter of the text devoted to precious metals (silver as well as bullion), Cerami notes that the ounce of gold which bought a fine man's suit during the Civil War will do so today--and reviews the various ways to make gold commitments, including coins and mining-company shares (with kind words--only--for the prospective rewards of South African issues). Briefly surveyed as well are common stocks, fixed-income vehicles, money-market funds, commodity futures contracts, exchange-listed options, and strategic materials--antimony, cobalt, rhodium, titanium, etc. Cerami does warn that, for example, middleman charges can boost the acquisition cost of a high-tech metal like germanium 100 percent or more above market value--but his treatment of most areas in so meager and approving that the inattentive reader may well miss the warning. A questionable premise--and sparse documentation throughout.