"In a new paradigm where risk will become a paranoid obsession with investors, a few TIPS make sense for income," says long-standing advisory industry expert Curtis Hesler.

In his The Professional Timing Service, he highlights the role of Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities within a long-term portfolio and reviews two ways for investors to purchases these issues.

"You can buy them in your Treasury Direct account. If you don't have a Treasury Direct account, you can open one at www.treasurydirect.gov. The problem is that so far, you can't open a retirement account - only an individual account. Go to the Treasury Direct Web site and bone up on all the details, especially if you are going to buy them online.

"TIPS work this way. They are U.S. government bonds issued by the Treasury. They are marketable in that you can sell them in the 'after' market. They come in terms of 5, 10, and 20 years. The interest rate on an issue is determined at auction, and they are sold in increments of $1,000.

Resource stock expert Curtis Hesler -- who correctly forecast the recent sharp decline in metals prices -- sees long term value in NovaGold Resources (ASE: NG) for those who buy on pullbacks. In his Professional Timing Service he explains, "Nova Gold has some interesting projects; its Galore Creek contains as much as 13 billion pounds of copper; and at today's price of $3.90, that is not a small deal.

"Galore Creek sits just south of the Yukon Territory in northern British Columbia, and there is virtually no infrastructure, power, or anything else. The original development cost was estimated at $2.2 billion, but it has since jumped to over $5 billion.

"This prompted Nova to announce that they were halting construction and were delaying development. Nova's stock plummeted below $6 in December.

"Meanwhile, Nova has several additional projects in the works; Donlin Creek, a 50-50 partnership with Barrick Gold, is one of the largest unexploited gold bodies in the world with an estimated 29.4 million of gold reserves. With the Galore Creek project on hold, they have the resources to exploit Donlin Creek.

"Within a diversified portfolio of resource stocks, I like to have some small bets on the little guys," says Curtis Hesler, a noted authority on natural resource investing and the editor of The Professional Timing Service.

"Some of the smaller and, admittedly, more speculative exploration companies did not follow the mining sector during the August-November rally. This is not unprecedented.

"This failure to 'join the party' reminds one of what happened in 2005 when the lower tier gold miners failed to participate (some crashed severely) while the majors were strong. Most of them more than made up for it during 2006 when the mining stocks surged again.

"Everyone has a different financial circumstance, so you will have to decide what a prudent wager on these will be for you individually. There is risk here, but the juniors certainly do beat buying call options, and they do apppear to be poised for superior performance in 2008.

"Currently, I favor Taseko (ASE: TGB) and Great Basin Gold (ASE: GBN). They are our most recent lower tier recommendations They are buys at $4.50 and $2.45, respectively.

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.

"Everyone should have some gold, but it is an individual decision as to what best fits one's risk tolerance and personal financial makeup," says resources expert Curtis Hesler, editor of Professional Timing Service.

"Bullion in some form, be it bullion coins or bullion ETF's like StreetTracks Gold ETF (NYSE: GLD), should be fitted into one's portfolio -- for diversification, if no other reason. I would consider this a top speculative idea for 2008.

"However, be mindful that bullion profits, even in the ETF form, are taxed at a higher rate than gold-mining stocks. So, bullion ETF's are perhaps best held in a tax-sheltered account, but that is an individual call."

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 idea for 2008 is Transocean (NYSE: RIG)," says resources expert Curtis Hesler, editor of Professional Timing Service.

"Long after the last field is discovered -- and probably after the last oil well runs dry -- treasure hunters will continue to drill for oil. The best potential will be offshore.

"Transocean, the world's foremost deep water driller, recently merged with Global Santa Fe, the world's principal shallow water driller. The combination resulted in a new company retaining the name Transocean.

"With crude oil hitting new highs, rig rental rates will continue to skyrocket in a market with a chronic shortage of rigs to hire. Additionally, there are simply some drilling jobs -- especially offshore -- that no one else is qualified to tackle.

"The new Transocean is unique. It is in a business with virtually no ease of entry, and it is on a strong growth path. If I were to buy one stock without regard to price for a long-term portfolio, it would be Transocean. It is now THE powerhouse in offshore drilling."

Curtis Hesler, editor of The Professional Timing Service, believes that the recently announced Chinese investment fund will have a significant impact on commodities. The fund, he explains, was developed in order for China to diversify its reserves.

He notes, "The great Chinese reserve fund has now been established, and it is a whopper; they have announced that they will hold $650 billion of their reserves at ready.

Further, he adds, "They will also invest $200 billion to $250 billion a year that they expect to receive hereafter. That is a lot of money!"

So, what will they buy? According to Hesler, "They will certainly spend a lion's share on raw materials and other commodities."

The advisor forecasts, "This money will likely be the engine that will fuel the next major leg in the commodity bull market. China has every intention of being a significant player on the global scene; and to do that, they will need to increase their gold reserves."

Already bullish on gold, the development of the China investment fund for its reserves is an added demand factor supporting his optimistic stance. He notes that some resource experts are estimating that China will need to accumulate 2,000 to 3,000 tons of gold toward this goal.

Among junior gold mining stocks, Hesler owns Gammon Lake (ASE: GRS) and Yamana (NYSE: AUY). Another "solid core metal investment" he adds is Gabelli Global Natural Resources (ASE: GGN), which he points out has a decent dividend and as a closed-end fund, offers a broad-based investment in metals.

As a long-term investor, Hesler argues for patience and suggests that investors should accumulate positions during periods of price weakness. Long-term, however, he says, "I firmly expect to see gold eventually hit $1,600. That will put the mining stocks through the roof."

For more stock picks from the leading financial newsletter advisors, visit Steven Halpern's free daily website, TheStockAdvisors.com.

Each year Steven Halpern, editor of TheStockAdvisors.com, surveys the leading financial newsletter advisors asking for their favorite stocks for the coming year. This article is part of his 24th annual Top Picks Report.

Yamana Gold (ASE: AUY) is a favorite speculative pick for 2007 from Curtis Hesler, editor of The Professional Timing Service.

He explains, "I believe that gold made a significant breakout in early December, officially ending the correction begun in May. The correction resulted in a triangle formation with the lows all about $560 and the highs successively lower.

"The last time gold formed a triangle like the recent May to November pattern was in 1979. When prices broke out of the triangle pattern in the fall of 1979, gold went straight from $400 to about $875 by January 1980. We are likely setting up for a similar run now, and the dollar is confirming this.

"A doubling of today's price does not require a stretch of the imagination. The gold-to-oil ratio is currently about 10, but it is rising. If it hits the long term average of 16, gold would be $1,000 with crude at $63. If crude were to go back over $70, and the ratio were 16 the price of gold would be $1,120.