Take the Guesswork Out of Investing

Take the Guesswork Out of Investing

Over my long career, I've had a lot of folks ask me to handle their money for them...

"Doc, can I just give you all my money and you do all the investing?"

No, I can't do that. But I understand why people would want to have a hands-off approach. Investing can be daunting.

For starters, the barrier to entry is high. Ask people why they don't even bother investing, and they'll give you a whole list of excuses:

It makes sense. If you're like most folks, you don't want to spend your free time figuring out what to invest in, rebalancing your portfolio, and worrying what the market is doing each day.

So you might be tempted to either stay out of the market or do something simple like throw your money into a fund that tracks the S&P 500 Index.

But I want you to do better with your wealth...

Though I can't do your investing for you, I can do the next-best thing: teach you how to earn more income in retirement... and give you a lot more time to spend doing other things.

Next Tuesday, January 28, I'm unveiling a really simple way to take the guesswork out of building your portfolio... You can get all of our best recommendations in one place, one ultimate Stansberry Research portfolio overseen by five of our top people (including me).

While this service offers all our usual perks – such as picking stocks for you, telling you when to sell them, and keeping you updated on changing economic conditions – there's even more... We've created an entire portfolio for you, including the allocations, all without the pesky fees an adviser would charge.

Our team does more of the work for you, making things less stressful on your end. And to top it off, I believe this approach could more than double your entire portfolio, long term, without any big risks.

Stop making excuses and putting off investing... Click here to join me on Tuesday evening for our most important event of the year.

Now, let's get into this week's Q&A... As always, keep sending your comments, questions, and topic suggestions to feedback@healthandwealthbulletin.com. My team and I read every e-mail.

Q: I see you recommended omega-3 fatty acids in your recent newsletter. I am a scientist that worked on these fatty acids for many decades while at the [National Institutes of Health]. I just want to remark that your fish-eating advice was good. However, you also promoted a common item of misinformation that you can get your omega-3 requirement from walnuts (or other nuts). Nuts only have alpha-linolenic acid, which admittedly is an omega-3 fatty acid. However, our published research has shown that humans do not metabolize ALA to DHA and only inefficiently to EPA. Our bodies also do not store ALA. Thus we need to take omega-3 fatty acids in preformed, as from fish. Nuts are also high in caloric density, so I was never very comfortable with this advice as a nutritional biochemist. If you would like more of the primary references to back up these claims, let me know and I can send it to you. I do very much like your newsletter and have benefited over the years from your recommendations. So, thanks for that! – N.S.

A: Thanks for writing in, N.S. You're absolutely correct about plant-based omega-3 fatty acids versus the marine-based variety. Lots of omega-3 studies have focused on the health benefits of eicosapentaenoic acid ("EPA") and docosahexaenoic acid ("DHA"). Eating seafood gives us an instant dose of both.

On the other hand, there's alpha-linolenic acid ("ALA"), like you mentioned. It's an essential nutrient that our bodies convert to EPA and DHA – albeit inefficiently. Scientists such as N.S. have discovered that depending on factors like gender, age, and genetics, the conversion rate can range from less than 1% to 20%.

That's why dining on a fish dish once or twice a week is great for getting in your EPA and DHA. I eat about two servings a week of low-mercury fish (like wild-caught salmon, sardines, canned light tuna, and trout). They deliver on the fatty acids, while also being a good source of protein, vitamin D, and vitamin A.

However, I won't give up my nuts and will continue to enjoy them alongside my fish...

Not only are walnuts a tasty, ALA-rich snack, they're packed with inflammation-fighting antioxidants like tocopherols (a form of vitamin E) and polyphenols (plant-based compounds). Studies have demonstrated that eating more nuts is linked to a lower risk of cardiovascular problems. Plus, emerging research shows that walnuts have prebiotic potential, meaning they feed the "good" bacteria in our gut. I just make sure to enjoy walnuts in moderation – a small handful or so at a time – since they definitely are high in calories.

Now, if you want an ALA-rich food that's lower in calories than walnuts, I recommend flaxseed.

There are a few options... oil, whole, or ground. Flaxseed oil is rich in ALAs, but it's quick to oxidize (meaning the beneficial fatty acids and polyphenols break down). And whole flaxseed can pass right through your gut, undigested. Personally, I prefer ground flaxseed since it's full of fiber and vitamins like vitamin E and niacin (a type of B vitamin that's great for converting food into energy).

Like its oil brethren, ground flaxseed oxidizes rapidly. But you can combat this natural process by storing it in a cool, dark location. (And the sooner you consume it, the better.)

To get the freshest ground flaxseed possible, I buy whole flaxseed and then run it through my spice grinder. Any leftovers are stored in my fridge in a small, airtight container. As for uses, I like sprinkling ground flaxseed on my oatmeal or yogurt. It also works like a charm to thicken smoothies and soups.

For folks who prefer to go the supplement route to get their omega-3s, just remember that over-the-counter fish-oil pills can contain heavy metals like mercury, lead, arsenic, and cadmium. You're using those at your own risk. I recommend talking to your doctor about whether fish-oil pills are right for you.

Also, moderation is key. It's all too easy to overdo supplements... Too much omega-3 can cause blood-clotting problems and even have a negative effect on your immune system. The same goes for algae-oil pills, which haven't been studied as much as fish-oil pills but also contain DHA and EPA.

Finally, go easy on the processed foods. They tend to be made with oils like sunflower, corn, and soybean, all of which contain a lot of omega-6 fatty acids. We do need omega-6s, but too much can lower that ALA conversion rate I mentioned earlier. So watch your intake of processed foods and consider using olive oil in your cooking, as it's low in omega-6s.

What We're Reading...

Here's to our health, wealth, and a great retirement,

Dr. David Eifrig and the Health & Wealth Bulletin Research Team
January 24, 2025