"We're adding Brazil's Vale S.A. (NYSE: VALE), the world's leading iron ore producer, to our model growth portfolio," says growth stock expert Stephen Leeb.

In his The Complete Investor, he explains, "This outstanding company offers investors simultaneous stakes in two key areas: iron ore-a commodity essential to any and all infrastructure projects-and Brazil's appreciating currency, the real.

"When it comes to understanding the importance of a commodity such as iron ore, the tale starts with China. Even with China's GDP growth again approaching double digits, the Chinese government continues to aggressively promote growth, offering consumers incentives to buy cars and investing in infrastructure, from roads to bridges to sewers to energy plants.

"The health care picks in our growth portfolio should prosper whatever the outcome of the raging health care debate," suggests growth stock specialist Stephen Leeb.

In The Complete Investor, he explains, "That's because they're leveraged to demographic realities, and in particular to the tide of aging baby boomers," Here, he reviews on portfolio holding -- Teva Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: TEVA).

Leeb says, "Israel-based Teva Pharmaceutical is the world's largest manufacturer of generic drugs. Capitalized at $49 billion, Teva pulled in some $11 billion in revenues in 2008, with generic drugs contributing more than two-thirds of those sales.

"CVS Caremark (NYSE: CVS), the nation's largest U.S. drugstore chain, remains a buy in our model growth portfolio," says Stephen Leeb.

In his The Complete Investor, he explains, "Business at CVS has been resilient. In the second quarter, revenue growth was up 22% for its pharmacy benefits management (PBM) business and 17% for retail operations.

"Total sales, almost evenly divided between the two segments, rose 18% to $24.9 billion. Earnings of $886.5 million, or 60 cents a share, were 13% higher than in the year-earlier period and beat consensus estimates by a penny.

"One way to protect yourself in a difficult market environment is to buy shares in low-risk, blue chip companies; one outstanding examples is Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT)," suggest Kuen Chan & David Sandell.

In The Complete Investor, they explain, "The company is safe, strong, and able to grow even in a weak economy. It also has more than $25 billion in cash and equivalents and almost no debt."

"Microsoft is near ubiquitous in the computer world. Some version of its Windows operating system runs on roughly 90% of all personal computers, while its Office Suite programs have more than 550 million users.

"Several global utilities offer excellent growth potential while throwing off moderate income," says Stephen Leeb in Income Performance Letter. Here's a look at a pair of Brazilian utilities.

"We particularly favor two companies in Brazil. The economy appears to be on the mend from the global financial crisis and should be expanding at a 5% pace again by 2010.

"Brazil's prosperity is translating into greater consumption of electricity and water. Two major beneficiaries are our Growth & Income holdings CPFL Energia (NYSE: CPL) and Companhia de Saneamento Basico do Estado de Sao Paulo (NYSE: SBS), known as SABESP for short.

"Wal Mart Stores (NYSE: WMT), the world's largest retailer, with $405 billion in revenues last year, has remained remarkably strong during the recession even as other retailers have floundered," says Stephen Leeb.

In his The Complete Investor, he explains, " Its low prices have lured more customers, while its product line-up emphasizes items seldom cut from consumer budgets, such as food and health care products." Here's his review.

"Its Wal-Mart stores draw an estimated 100 million people a week, explaining why the company dominates the U.S. supermarket industry, with a better than 25% market share. The company also sells under numerous other names, including Sam's Club.

"In the 2000s, as we've alternated between deflationary and inflationary worries, gold has been the only major investment to rise every year," says Stephen Leeb.

In his The Complete Investor, he explains, "We think that many miners are exceptional bets today. And among our favorite gold investments is one that we hold in our small cap value model portfolio: NovaGold Resources (AMEX: NG)."

"The case for mining stocks is that the price of gold rises faster than miners' costs, allowing margins to increase.

"Overall, we believe quality technology stocks offer above-average growth potential and attractive valuations," says Gregory Dorsey.

In Stephen Leeb's The Complete Investor, he explains, "International Business Machines(NYSE: IBM) has plowed ahead despite a daunting economic and business environment; we are adding the stock to our Growth & Income Portfolio."

"For prudent investors in this challenging economy, most of the major technology companies are financially solid, often with little or no debt and lots of cash on their books. This makes them good long-term vehicles even if the economy remains off the rails for a prolonged period.

"Over the next five years the energy patch should offer some of the best investments around, and one standout is Schlumberger (NYSE: SLB)," says Stephen Leeb in The Complete Investor.

"Schlumberger, by a wide margin, is the best and most dominant. Its services range from well testing to pressure pumping to seismic testing, and it's No. 1 in virtually every area it occupies.

"Some of its operations, especially those that maintain the health of existing wells, are highly recession-resistant.

This post is part of a 12 articles feature on the best bets for investing in China. To see all the other recommendations in this special report, click here.

"Amidst all the concern about the U.S. economy and stock market, investors may gain some solace, as well as profits, by looking east-to China, where there are signs the huge government stimulus is bearing fruit," explains Stephen Leeb.

In The Complete Investor, he adds, "For income investors, it makes good sense to own carefully selected dividend-generating Chinese securities such as PetroChina (NYSE: PTR) and China National Offshore Oil Corp. (NYSE: CEO).

Here, the growth and income advisor reviews the two Asian energy plays.

"Software giant Adobe Systems (NASDAQ: ADBE) has joined our model Growth Portfolio," says Stephen Leeb. Here's his assessment of the tech firm in The Complete Investor.

"When it comes to investing in tech, perhaps the most difficult task is to find one with a bona fide franchise, i.e., an ironclad grip on its market that keeps it largely immune to competition.

"Adobe -- also known as 'the PDF company' -- fits the bill. As most computer users know, PDF files are ones that you can read but can't change in any way-the content is controlled solely by the file's creator.

"With its strong balance Plum Creek Timber (NYSE: PCL) will be able to weather the real estate storm," says growth and income expert Stephen Leeb in The Complete Investor. Here is his look at the timber play.

"Plum Creek, which was added to our model portfolio in November, is the largest and most geographically diverse private landowner in the U.S. and owns more than 7.4 million acres of timberlands in the Pacific Northwest, the South, and the Northeast.

"The completion of our nation's transition from analog to digital TV in June will allow the analog spectrum to become available for different uses," points out David Sandell.

Here, the contributing editor of Leeb's Income Performance Letter explains why AT&T (NYSE: T) and Verizon (NYSE: VZ) are poised to be the biggest beneficiaries among leading telecoms.

"Customers are increasingly seeking lower-cost services and delaying purchases of more costly equipment. But the companies are adapting, particularly through cost-cutting and strengthening their balance sheets by paying down and restructuring debt.

"AT&T and Verizon, the telecom industry leaders, were the big spenders for rights to the powerful analog signals when the FCC auctioned off much of the freed-up spectrum in early 2008.

"The solar sector has been notably weak, including First Solar (NASDAQ: FSLR)," says Stephen Leeb. Despite the setback, the editor of The Complete Investor rates the stock a high risk buy.

"First Solar is one of the few whose earnings outperformed consensus estimates: its fourth-quarter results reported yesterday after the market's close were nearly 25% better than estimates.

"First Solar made $1.61 per share this past quarter; Wall Street was expecting $1.30 per share. Revenues were also ahead of estimates, although the company reduced 2009 revenue estimates by about 10%, citing short-term credit concerns for customers.

This post is part of a 12-article feature that can be read here: Today's best income ideas.

"Some types of bonds have rarely looked as appealing as they do now compared with other income alternatives," says Philip Springer. In Leeb's Income Performance Letter, the advisor looks at three favorite fixed-income funds -- one invested in mortgages, one in corporates and one in municipal bonds.

"Our top pick among fixed-income funds now is U.S. government-guaranteed, mortgage-backed securities (MBS) issued by government agencies.