Prudential Financial (NYSE: PRU) used to have an advertisement offering consumers a piece of the rock (Gibraltar). Now Hank Paulson's $810 billion Troubled Asset Recovery Plan (TARP) has replaced Pru's rock. Insurance companies around the world are angling to buy a Savings & Loan (S&L) so they can apply for some of that money. So I think it's time to create a mutual fund that will be used to buy an S&L so that the average citizen can get some of that money as well.

Not only are U.S. insurance companies on the hunt for an S&L, there's a European insurer seeking some of our tax dollars as well. The U.S. insurers seeking an S&L include Hartford Financial Services Group (NYSE: HIG), a life and property insurer that has been hit by investment losses, Genworth Financial (NYSE: GNW) and Lincoln National (NYSE: LNC). And the European insurer in question is Amsterdam's Aegon AG, which wants to buy Suburban Federal Savings Bank.

I've been too patient waiting for my share of the TARP. Here's an idea that will make it affordable for the average taxpayer to buy an S&L so we can apply for some of that money -- which is really our money -- as well. We should start a mutual fund and once it has collected enough cash, the fund could purchase a little S&L and then apply for some of that TARP money. With banks, insurance companies and automobile manufacturers getting their piece of the TARP, it's our turn now.

Peter Cohan is President of Peter S. Cohan & Associates. He also teaches management at Babson College and edits The Cohan Letter. He has no financial interest in the securities mentioned.

Our turn to get a piece of the TARP; let's buy an S&L originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 18 Nov 2008 11:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

For 25 years, Steven Halpern, editor of TheStockAdvisors.com, has surveyed the leading financial newsletter advisors asking for their favorite stocks for the coming year. This article is one of 100+ ideas in the Best Stocks for 2008 report.

"My favorite conservative stock for 2008 is Aegon (NYSE: AEG), a large diversified life insurance and pension services company headquartered in the Netherlands," says Sy Harding, editor of Street Smart Investing.

"Aegon conducts 73% of its business in the Americas, 14% in the United Kingdom, and 11% in the Netherlands. Value Line estimates the company's revenue will grow by 10% in 2007, with earnings per share rising 8%.

"The company has been on an impressive growth track since 2005, and its goal is to double the level of its 2005 business by the year 2010. With 2007 revenues running 48% higher than 2005, the company seems well on its way to achieving that goal.

"Demand for Aegon's products and services should continue in 2008 as longer life expectancies provide a growing demand for pensions and other retirement needs. And in December 2007, Aegon finalized a joint venture agreement with Taishin Financial Holdings Co., headquartered in Taiwan.

Continue reading Best Stocks for 2008: Aegon (AEG) looks to insure Taiwan

Best Stocks for 2008: Aegon (AEG) looks to insure Taiwan originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 22 Dec 2007 09:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

I've just returned from the World Money Show in Orlando where more than 10,000 investors gathered to learn about global investing. I had a chance to meet with many of the U.S. and foreign financial experts featured at the show, and over the next week I will share some of their top investment ideas. To view all of the stocks featured in this special global report, click here.

Richard Lehmann, editor of The Forbes/Lehmann Income Securities Investor, is a long-standing expert in assessing income-oriented stocks. Here, he reviews a pair of global preferreds that he recommends for low-risk investors.

"Aegon N.V (NYSE:AEG) is one of the world's largest global life insurance and pension companies. Their major markets are the United States, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom. The Aegon N.V. 6.375% perpetual preferreds (NYSE:AEH) were recommended in October 2005 at a price of $25.50 for a then-current yield of 6.25% and a yield to call of 6.15%.

"Aegon recently expanded its operations by partnering with Ranbaxy Promoter Group to jointly enter the life insurance and asset management business in India. This A-rated preferred is currently trading at $25.97 for a current yield of 6.14%.

"The preferred is not callable until 2015 and qualifies for the 15% tax rate. This security is a good investment for low-risk investors and has been added to our Low-Risk Portfolio. Our recommendation is to buy this issue at or below $26.

Continue reading Global gains: Lehmann goes for global yields

Global gains: Lehmann goes for global yields originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 16 Feb 2007 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.