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• savingsbonds.gov - you still have time to buy

Clark has talked with great enthusiasm about the “Smart Car” coming to the U.S. The Smart Car is a Mercedes-Swatch idea that is from Europe and is being sold in Canada. The cars average 60 miles for gallon and many have wanted them to come to the U.S. It’s not going to happen, but all is not lost. Zap, the company that was going to sell the Smart Car in the U.S., is now bringing another car into the States. It’s from Brazil and it can run on various types of fuel, including corn, sugar, gasoline and other sources. It’s called the Obvio 828. It’s one of the oddest looking cars you’ve ever seen and it goes 0 to 60 in about five seconds. The Obvio takes up as much space as a motorcycle, but it can seat three people. Prices on these will ultimately be decided, but we’ll keep you posted. In other car news, Mazda is bringing a micro mini-van into the States that seats six people. It gets about 50 percent more fuel economy than a regular mini-van. Clark is psyched about the options coming our way because they get such better fuel economy and reduce our dependence on foreign sources of oil.

Clark was 22 when he got his master’s degree in business management. At the time, he had done a number of studies on companies and programs. What he learned was that the best companies treat their workers like gold. And he believes it even more today. Even more convincing is the news recently reported in the Financial Times of London. The Times reported that stocks of the 100 best companies to work for in America also have stocks that earn three times the rate of general companies on the various exchanges. That’s because companies that romance their workers have workers that romance the customer. It simply improves how companies run and earns more money for the company. The data is very clear on this. So the bottom line is that you want to invest in a company that treats its workers well.

There is a trend in direct marketing right now to send very misleading, yet convincing mailings that could wipe out your wallet. The main target is senior citizens and they are old fashioned ways of taking advantage of you. They mailings look like they’re coming from an official government organization or department. A popular one today uses a logo that looks like the one from the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Really it’s just a pitch from a mortgage company to try and get you to refinance. Another one featured in the Washington Post looks exactly like an envelope from the U.S. Treasury, but it too is a refinance pitch. Many also look like correspondence from your bank or from some kind of “sweepstakes commission” or bureau that doesn’t exist. The Federal Trade Commission is very concerned about these scams, so warn your parents. These are all scams demanding payments, so be very careful.

In years 1998, 1999, 2000 and 2001, Clark talked quite a bit about what a great deal Series I savings bonds were. Known as inflation adjusted bonds, they were a great opportunity for the small saver. People who bought the bonds back then are now earning 9.4 percent on their money. Today, you still have an opportunity to buy them. And at today’s rate, you’ll earn 6.73 percent. Six months from now, however, that rate could move higher or lower. You get a base guaranteed interest rate plus the rate of inflation. So, when inflation rises, you’ll make more and vice versa. You can own between $50 and $30,000 worth of I-bonds. In some cases, people will hold onto them for 30 years. But if they turn out to be not such a good deal down the road, you can cash in the I-bonds for free after 5 years. As long as you keep them a year, the penalty for cashing them in before five years is not so bad. To buy them, go to savingsbonds.gov and enter your checking information. It’s ok to do because the U.S. Treasury takes the information and issues you an electronic statement. Think about getting some!