Feb. 8, 2010, 4:33 p.m. EST

Hartford reports quarterly net profit of $557 million

Hartford Financial Services {Stock Symbol: HIG} said late today (Monday, February 08, 2010) that fourth-quarter net income came in at $557 million, or $1.19 a share, compared to a net loss of $806 million, or $2.71 a share, in the same period a year earlier. Core earnings, which exclude net realized investment gains and losses, were $689 million, or $1.51 a share, in the latest period. Hartford said last month that fourth-quarter core earnings would likely be $1.45 to $1.60 a share. Hartford said it sees 2010 core earnings coming in at $3.70 to $4 a share.

Just like we discussed on Saturday (February 06, 2010) during our last ASK THE WIZ WEALTH INSTITUTE class/session this earnings report option play will take off when the market opens tomorrow (Tuesday, February 09, 2009). Remember to adhere to our training techniques and stick to the placement paradigm we discussed in class to maximize your profits. Let VOLUME be your trigger/barometer.

NOTE: Monitor today’s “afterhours trading” on the associated stock price run-up this will have an affect on our option position. The March “CALL OPTION” position had a 33%+ profit/yield during intraday trading today (Monday, February 08, 2010) before the market closed at 4pm (EST) and before the release of their aftermarket positive earnings report.

Let’s go to work family!!!

Kenneth Reaves, Ph.D.

Chief Investment Strategist

ASK THE WIZ, INC.

ASK THE WIZ WEALTH INSTITUTE, INC.

Today’s (Thursday, February 4, 2010), ASK THE WIZ radio broadcast from 2-4pm (EST) on WIGO 1570AM you don’t want to miss!!! Tune in on your radio or listen “live” via the internet anywhere in the world at: www.wigoam.com .

“THE WIZ” will be presenting vital information pertaining to the following economic topics:

During the 1^st hour of ASK THE WIZ

* DOMESTIC STOCK MARKET ANALYSIS

* “THE WIZ” WILL ANALYZE THE RECENT MASSACHUSETTS ELECTION AND INDICATE THE ASSOCIATIVE TRADING/INVESTING PROFIT MAKING OPPORTUNITIES.

* “THE WIZ” WILL REVEAL A FEW LITTLE KNOWN COMPANIES THAT ARE IN THE “BLUE GOLD” BUSINESS, ALSO KNOWN AS WATER, THAT NEED TO BE ON YOUR INVESTMENT RADAR.

* “THE WIZ” WILL REVIEW RECENT DEVELOPMENTS THAT HAVE HAD A DIRECT AFFECT ON VERIZON STOCK.

During the 2^nd hour of ASK THE WIZ

* INTERNATIONAL STOCK MARKET ANALYSIS

* “THE WIZ” WILL INTERVIEW DEBBIE SNELLING, A FINANCE AND TAXATION EXPERT/SPECIALIST WITH OVER 24 YEARS OF PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE. MS. SNELLING WILL PRESENT THE “SNELLING REPORT”.

* “THE WIZ” WILL INDICATE WHY THE EMERGING MARKETS WILL DRIVE M&A THIS YEAR (2010).

* “THE WIZ” WILL DISCUSS A CLEVER WAY TO INVEST IN IRAQ OIL.

We think you will agree, you need to tune in to today’s (Thursday, February 4, 2010) broadcast!!! Like always “THE WIZ” continues to be adamant about providing the community with vital information people need to finance and maintain their economic liberation.

REMEMBER: THERE AIN’T NOTHING “FREE” ABOUT FREEDOM!!! YOU MUST PUT YOUR MONEY TO WORK FOR YOU, NO MATTER WHAT THE AMOUNT {$1 or $100,000.00}, 24-7/365 DAYS A YEAR GENERATING REVENUE AND INCOME…

Don’t miss today’s broadcast of ASK THE WIZ from 2-4pm (EST) on WIGO 1570AM or listen “LIVE” via the internet anywhere in the world at: www.wigoam.com .

NOTE: REBROADCASTS OF ALL ASK THE WIZ RADIO PROGAMS ARE AVAILABLE ON DEMAND AT OUR WEBSITE: www.askthewiz.info .

Thank you for allowing us to be your COMMUNITY SERVANTS!!!

Customer Service Department,

ASK THE WIZ, INC.

ASK THE WIZ WEALTH INSTITUTE, INC.

You hear phrases like these often in the investment world. Commercials for TD Ameritrade and Charles Schwab continuously pound nonsensical comparisons into viewers' heads. In the end, these are important concepts. But are they really important to the average investor? After all, don't people invest to make money -- not compete with others?

It's important to step back and look at what you're doing. In fact, we'd argue that it's the most important part of investing. If you are looking to average a 3% gain, that's fine. But it's important to realize it. Above all, however, we expect companies we invest in to pay us our share.
Dividend investing was once the easiest way to invest. All it took was a quick screen of companies that had paid steady dividends over decades. Today, we don't have the same luxury.

For example, ini2008 the S&P 500 saw 62 dividend cuts. That translates into $37 billion down the tube. With the likes of GM and Bank of America slashing their payments, nothing seems easy anymore. We have to be very careful these days.
That's why, ASK THE WIZ WEALTH INSTITUTE family, PAYOUT RATIOS are so important.
PAYOUT RATIOS are simply the percentage of company profits investors receive in dividends. Most young businesses have low payout ratios. That's because they need to put more money into their businesses for future growth. Likewise, older, more established organizations distribute more of their income to shareholders.

Older companies with low payout ratios are basically stealing from you. Younger companies with high payouts are stunting their growth. Unfortunately, no investment is as simple as that...

You see, too high a payout ratio could also mean the company will have to cut its payments in the future. On the other side of the coin, too low a payout could mean the company won't ever pay shareholders their... well, share.

A perfect balance is hard to find, especially in this market.

Take Pfizer, for instance...
The drug giant has paid shareholders a growing dividend for 42 straight years. Meaning Pfizer increased its dividend-per-share amount every first quarter of the year for over four decades. In the middle of December 2008, that all changed.
The company decided to stick with its current quarterly dividend of 32 cents per share. A news story like this barely receives any airtime on shows like Mad Money and Squawk Box. That doesn't mean, however, it isn't an important development.
Pfizer's payout ratio reached a peak of 78% at the end of 2007. That's quite a buildup from just 40% in 2004. With economic turmoil and a dwindling drug pipeline, Pfizer decided it's better to level its dividend out for a while and reinvest it back into the company (i.e., the acquisition of Wyeth).
Of course, this story changed again the last week of January 2009. Pfizer cut its dividend in half to 16 cents a share. This cut did make some news channels, but only after it was too late.
Income investors have to be on their toes. For the Pfizer shareholders who didn't catch it in December, the January announcement came as quite a blow. when that occurred, shares went down nearly $3 per share -- most of that coming in the first hour of trading after the cut was announced.
Unfortunately, we are seeing this more and more since the credit market completely froze up last year. That's why smart income investors are keeping a closer eye than ever on payout ratios.

Here are some hard and fast rules to follow when it comes to PAYOUT RATIOS:

     2.  If a company pays less than 20%, it is ripping you off. Only in cash-intensive businesses like heavy manufacturing is this acceptable. But wouldn't you rather own a cash cow, like a pipeline trust?

     3.  If a payout ratio spikes, check to see if it is a one-time expense artificially pushing the ratio out of whack. Most of the time, a payout will spike because of an acquisition or a nonrecurring payout. If not, panic. That means a company isn't making what it used to.

Some companies' payout ratios are more volatile than others. The more volatility, the better chance of a dividend cut (or increase).
Of course, there are exceptions to these rules. MASTER LIMITED PARTNERSHIPS (MLP’s), for example, are required by law to pay out at least 90% of their earnings to investors. We have discussed MLP’s during our ASK THE WIZ WEALTH INSTITUTE class/session(s). Income streams for those companies are so steady that such a high payout is completely acceptable.
Other such examples pop up every once in a while, and it's important to stay ahead of the curve and let the market come to us.

PEACE AND BLESSINGS,

Kenneth Reaves, Ph.D.

Chief Investment Strategist

ASK THE WIZ, INC.

Today’s (Tuesday, February 2, 2010), ASK THE WIZ radio broadcast from 2-4pm (EST) on WIGO 1570AM you don’t want to miss!!! Tune in on your radio or listen “live” via the internet anywhere in the world at: www.wigoam.com .

“THE WIZ” will be presenting vital information pertaining to the following economic topics:

During the 1^st hour of ASK THE WIZ

* DOMESTIC STOCK MARKET ANALYSIS

* “THE WIZ” WILL EXPLAIN HOW THE TOYOTA “GAS PEDAL” SITUATION GENERATED 237% PROFIT IN 4 DAYS FOR MEMBERS OF THE ASK THE WIZ WEALTH INSTITUTE.

* “THE WIZ” WILL ANALYZE AND LIST SPECFIC COMPANIES THAT ARE POISED TO BENEFIT FROM OBAMANOMICS.

* “THE WIZ” WILL REVIEW A RECENTLY RELEASED PENTAGON REPORT THAT REVEALS TRADING/INVESTING PROFIT MAKING OPPORTUNITIES.

During the 2^nd hour of ASK THE WIZ

* INTERNATIONAL STOCK MARKET ANALYSIS

* “THE WIZ” WILL IDENTIFY ANOTHER ONE OF THE GREATEST TRADER/INVESTOR(s) OF THE CENTURY.

* “THE WIZ” WILL REVEAL WHY COMPANIES IN THE EMERGING MARKETS WILL DRIVE THE GLOBAL ECONOMY DURING 2010.

* “THE WIZ” WILL INDICATE 10 COMPANIES THAT HAVE INCREASED DIVIDENDS EVERY YEAR FOR OVER A DECADE.

We think you will agree, you need to tune in to today’s (Tuesday, February 2, 2010) broadcast!!! Like always “THE WIZ” continues to be adamant about providing the community with vital information people need to finance and maintain their economic liberation.

REMEMBER: THERE AIN’T NOTHING “FREE” ABOUT FREEDOM!!! YOU MUST PUT YOUR MONEY TO WORK FOR YOU, NO MATTER WHAT THE AMOUNT {$1 or $100,000.00}, 24-7/365 DAYS A YEAR GENERATING REVENUE AND INCOME…

Don’t miss today’s broadcast of ASK THE WIZ from 2-4pm (EST) on WIGO 1570AM or listen “LIVE” via the internet anywhere in the world at: www.wigoam.com .

NOTE: REBROADCASTS OF ALL ASK THE WIZ RADIO PROGAMS ARE AVAILABLE ON DEMAND AT OUR WEBSITE: www.askthewiz.info .

Thank you for allowing us to be your COMMUNITY SERVANTS!!!

Customer Service Department,

ASK THE WIZ, INC.

ASK THE WIZ WEALTH INSTITUTE, INC.