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Frequently Asked Questions about Our Publications

1. Q: What is the difference between The Moneypaper and the many other financial newsletters available?

2. Q: What kind of information will I find in The Moneypaper?

3. Q:How does The Moneypaper work with your other investment solutions?

4. Q:If I subscribe to The Moneypaper, will I get the reduced rate when I use the enrollment service?

5. Q:Why would I need Direct Investing if I subscribe to The Moneypaper?

6. Q:What kind of information will I find in Direct Investing?

7. Q:If I subscribe to Direct Investing, will I get the reduced rate when I use the enrollment service?

8. Q:What is The Moneypaper's Guide to Direct Investment Plans?

9. Q:What kind of company DRIP information will I find in the Guide?

10. Q:If I order The Moneypaper's Guide to Direct Investment Plans, will I get the reduced rate when I use the enrollment service?

11. Q:How would I benefit from managing with PortfolioKEEPER?

12. Q:What are some of the features of PortfolioKEEPER?

13. Q:If I subscribe to PortfolioKEEPER, will I get the reduced rate when I use the enrollment service?

14. Q:What does INVEST% do and why would I need it?

15. Q:Does INVEST% recommend specific stocks?

16. Q:If INVEST% is in The Moneypaper, why would I need an online version?

17. Q:If I subscribe to INVEST% online, will I get the reduced rate when I use the enrollment service?

 

Frequently Asked Questions about DRIPs

1. Q: What are direct investment plans (dividend reinvestment plans, DRIPS, DSPPs, DRPs)?

2. Q: Can my IRA be invested through DRIPs?

2. Q: Once I purchase the initial share, how do I continue investing?

3. Q: Can I send a check to a company to open an account and start buying shares?

4. Q: Can I enroll in the plan if I am already a shareholder of the company?

5. Q: How much will I have to invest, and how often?

6. Q: How can I sell shares?

7. Q: Is there any reason why a certificate for one share would be better than book entry to open an account?

 

Frequently Asked Questions about the Enrollment Service

1. Q: Is Temper of the Times Investor Services a broker/dealers?

2. Q: What is the minimum $ to open an account?

3. Q: How much does it cost to enroll in a direct investment plan (a DRIP)?

4. Q: Is there a minimum number of shares I need to own to qualify?

5. Q: What is the easiest way to get enrolled?

6. Q: How does the Temper Enrollment Service work?

7. Q: How long will it take to become enrolled?

8. Q: Can I get enrolled without using the Temper Enrollment Service?

9. Q: How do I fill out the Temper Enrollment Service order?

10. Q: What should I expect to receive after I have sent in an order?

11. Q: How will I know that my order is progressing properly?

12. Q: What happens after I am enrolled successfully?

13. Q: If I'm a shareholder, why haven't I received a certificate?

14. Q: I have already received a final statement and a refund check from your service but my DRIP is not yet open. Why?

15. Q: Where can I enroll with Temper Enrollment Service?

 

Frequently Asked Questions about Our Publications

1. Q: What is the difference between The Moneypaper and other financial newsletters?

A: The Moneypaper streamlines complicated financial subject matter, making it easy to understand and, therefore, less risky to implement. Its comprehensive, diverse investment strategies are backed by a track record of more than 25 years of successful recommendations.

Other publications bombard you with confusing, short-term strategies that could have you end up losing money rather than accumulating it. The Moneypaper promotes self-reliance and financial self-direction, clearing a path to financial independence. To that end, it supports your use of the DRIP enrollment service like the one offered by Temper of the Times Investor Services, Inc., an affiliate .

2. Q: What kind of information will I find in The Moneypaper?

A:Michael Burke, renowned contrarian and editor of Investors Intelligence--describes his current outlook for the market every month. Michael maintains a portfolio, which is reported on in each issue with buy, sell, hold, and stop loss recommendations.

Other portfolios include the StockTrack, which includes the single best stock pick of seven outstanding brokers. Max Bowser's low price stock portfolio, and a DRIP portfolio, containing stocks appropriate as core holdings for new investors.

Other sections include DRIP News Briefs, MP 63 Index updates, and the INVEST% calendar--our proprietary contrarian investment schedule.

3. Q: How does The Moneypaper work with all of your other investment solutions?

A: The Moneypaper Inc. designs its products to make it easy for you as a small investor to begin investing for your future without paying outrageous broker fees and commissions. Most of our subscription bundles include all the ingredients for successful investing, such as convenient online delivery, discounted rates on DRIP enrollment, and online access to the INVEST% calculator. Go to Subscribe Page

    • The Moneypaper provides a range of investment strategies that help individual investors to build wealth over time, addressing the investor's needs from a broad perspective.

    • Direct Investing--its twice-monthly companion publication-- provides a more focused approach with six portfolios you can use to model your own investments. You get specific advice, including how much to invest and when. The publication relieves you of some of the time-consuming, frustrating indecision that you as an investor might otherwise experience.

    • The Moneypaper's Guide to Direct Investment Plans is an annual release containing a comprehensive list of all companies offering DRIPs, acting as a DRIP reference center.

    • INVEST% online gives up-to-date contrarian guidance, enabling self-reliant investors to make educated decisions based on its mathematical formula. While an INVEST% schedule appears in each issue of The Moneypaper as a general guideline, INVEST% online works to gives you a daily point of reference for your investments.

    • PortfolioKEEPER--The Moneypaper Inc.'s online portfolio tracking system integrates INVEST% online, DRIP prospectus information, and the investors personal portfolio.

4. Q: If I subscribe to The Moneypaper, will I get the reduced rate when I use the enrollment service?

A: Yes. However, only full-year subscribers to The Moneypaper, Direct Investing, DRIP Club Membership, or Bargain Basement Stocks are eligible for the reduced rate when enrolling in DRIPs. You may find that this reduced rate may be included in special promotional offers for our other products. If this is the case, the benefit of reduced enrollment fees will be specified in the promotional offer.

5. Q: Why would I need Direct Investing if I subscribe to The Moneypaper?

A: The Moneypaper provides you with a regular monthly stream of diverse investment strategies, whereas Direct Investing is delivered twice each month and provides more "hand-holding" for direct investors. It delivers a stronger focus on your personal portfolio growth.

6. Q: What kind of information will I find in Direct Investing?

A: Each twice-monthly issue of Direct Investing concentrates on one of six portfolios, enabling you to model your investment strategies on specific recommendations so that you spend less time on decision-making.

7. Q: If I subscribe to Direct Investing, will I get the reduced rate when I use the enrollment service?

A: Yes. However, only full-year subscribers to The Moneypaper, Direct Investing, DRIP Club Membership, or Bargain Basement Stocks are eligible for the reduced rate when enrolling in DRIPs. You may find that this reduced rate may be included in special promotional offers for our other products. If this is the case, the benefit of reduced enrollment fees will be specified in the promotional offer.

8. Q: What is The Moneypaper's Guide to Direct Investment Plans?

A: It is the most comprehensive, reliable DRIP information resource available. It gives you complete, up-to-date details of more than 1,000 plans--or virtually every company plan offered.

9. Q: What kind of company DRIP information will I find in the Guide?

A: Virtually every DRIP that permits optional cash investments is listed alphabetically and by industry. Included are each company's cash limits and investment frequency, and whether it offers a discount. You will also find phone numbers and complete instructions on how to invest.

10. Q: If I order The Moneypaper's Guide to Direct Investment Plans, will I get the reduced rate when I use the enrollment service?

A: No. Only full-year subscribers to The Moneypaper, Direct Investing,DRIP Club Membership, or Bargain Basement Stocks are eligible for the reduced rate when enrolling in DRIPs. However, you may find that this reduced rate may be included in special promotional offers for our other products. If this is the case, the benefit of reduced enrollment fees will be specified in the promotional offer.

11. Q: I have been managing my DRIP accounts for years. How would I benefit from managing with PortfolioKEEPER?

A: PortfolioKEEPER eliminates paperwork and creates a more efficient investment environment for you to monitor and manage your investment activity. Our proprietary online INVEST% calculator and The Moneypaper's Guide to Direct Investment Plans are integrated into PortfolioKEEPER, delivering a comprehensive DRIP information dashboard. You are able to get instant online access to a history of your portfolio--both your DRIP holdings and your non-DRIP holdings.

12. Q: What are some of the features of PortfolioKEEPER?

A: In addition to helping you manage your portfolio efficiently, PortfolioKEEPER addresses your DRIP investing needs with these features:

    • Online DRIP database to enable you to scout DRIP companies based on the specific criteria you input
    • Investment allocation recommendations based on the stock's current price
    • Reminders of the next investment dates
    • Dividend tracking
    • "Smart Selling" to help you choose which stocks to sell (and even which purchase lots of a specific stock--depending on whether you want to recognize a loss or a gain
    • Direct access to online DRIP enrollment

13. Q: If I subscribe to PortfolioKEEPER, will I get the reduced rate when I use the enrollment service?

A: No. However, only full-year subscribers to The Moneypaper, Direct Investing, PortfolioKEEPER, INVEST%, or Bargain Basement Stocks are eligible for the reduced rate when enrolling in DRIPs. You may find that this reduced rate may be included in special promotional offers for our other products. If this is the case, the benefit of reduced enrollment fees will be specified in the promotional offer.

14. Q: What does INVEST% do and why would I need it?

A: INVEST% calculates the optimum times to buy and sell based on the 52-week moving high and low of any given stock. When the price of a stock is near its 52-week high, the amount to invest is reduced, and when prices are near their lows, the amount is raised. The suggestions of INVEST% will help you to withstand the natural urge to buy when the exuberance of the marketplace pushes prices up too high.

15. Q: Does INVEST% recommend specific stocks?

A: INVEST% does NOT recommend specific stocks, nor does it consider company fundamentals. However, by following its calculated results and diversifying your holdings, you will optimize your investment strategies, reduce overall risk, and identify bargain stock opportunities, enabling you to accumulate stock in the companies you select at a lower cost per share.

16. Q: If I have the INVEST% calculator in The Moneypaper, why would I need an online version?

A: While the INVEST% listing in The Moneypaper provides a general monthly guideline for investing, INVEST% online works as an evolving interactive guidance tool that enables you to check up-to-date stock information against your own current holdings. Just plug in your stock inquiry and you will get the latest recommended investment allocation based on the stock's current price via The Moneypaper Inc.'s proprietary INVEST% formula.

17. Q: If I subscribe to INVEST% online, will I get the reduced rate when I use the enrollment service?

A: No. However, only full-year subscribers to The Moneypaper, Direct Investing, or Bargain Basement Stocks are eligible for the reduced rate when enrolling in DRIPs. You may find that this reduced rate may be included in special promotional offers for our other products. If this is the case, the benefit of reduced enrollment fees will be specified in the promotional offer.

 

Frequently Asked Questions about DRIPs

1. Q: What are direct investment plans (dividend reinvestment plans, DRIPS, DSPPs, DRPs)?

A: In general, these plans will reinvest dividends to buy more shares of the company stock. What is even better, these plans give shareholders the ability to buy more shares directly from the company. That way the investor does not have to pay brokerage commissions (except for small service fees in some cases). Some plans require that dividends must be reinvested. Others permit partial dividend reinvestment or even allow no dividend reinvestment.

2. Q: Can my IRA be invested through DRIPs?

A:The Internal Revenue Service code requires that a financial institution act as a custodian for an IRA. Thus, in general, if you wish to invest IRA funds through DRIPs, you must have a bank act as custodian of your IRA to make those investments. However, some companies are organized to provide custodial services and will open IRAs through their DRIPs. (A small service fee may apply.) Check the Guide to Direct Investment Plans for those companies

3. Q: Once I purchase the initial share, how do I continue investing?

A:The enrollment service includes opening an account for you directly on the books of the company.You will get a statement from the company indicating your ownership of one share (actually you can start out with up to 100 shares through the enrollment service) .That statement will have a tear off portion at the bottom that you can return along with a check which will be deposited into your account and used to buy additional shares on the next investment date. Your cost for the shares will be the market price on that investment date.Every company has its own schedule for investments. We provide the investment information gleaned from the company prospectus at the directinvesting website.

3. Q: Can I send a check to a company to open an account and start buying shares?

A: Some companies will open an account for individuals who are not already shareholders in that company. These companies are listed in The Guide to Direct Investment Plans. Most plans are considered "shareholder benefits" and you will need to own at least the minimum number of shares required to qualify to join the plan.

4. Q: Can I enroll in the plan if I am already a shareholder of the company?

A: Yes, easily. But, if the shares are registered in "street name," the company will not recognize you as a shareholder. In that case, ask your broker to reissue some or all of the shares in your name. Then, contact the transfer agent (the transfer agents' addresses and phone numbers are listed in Guide to Direct Investment Plans, updated daily at our web site) and request the enrollment forms for the DRIPs of the companies in which you would like to invest.

5. Q: How much will I have to invest, and how often?

A: Once you open a DRIP, you do not have to invest any money at all-unless and until you want to. But if you do wish to invest additional funds, most plans invest on specified investment dates. Some plans invest DRIP money on a weekly basis; others invest once a month and a few plans will only accept investments on a quarterly basis. Since the transfer agent holds your funds until the investment date but you do not get any interest on them, it makes sense to invest your money as close to the plan cutoff date as possible-without cutting it too close. Most companies' cutoff date is five business days prior to the investment date. For others, it's 10 business days, or even the day prior to investment. (This information can be found in the company's prospectus.) Information concerning the next investment date is provided at www.portfoliokeeper.com.

All plans have a minimum amount that will be accepted, but these amounts vary widely. Coca-Cola, for example, will accept as little as $10, whereas Church & Dwight requires at least $250, and in between, there are hundreds of DRIPs that let you invest $50 or less.

As stated earlier, even though there are investment minimums, you do not have to invest anything at all unless you so choose.

6. Q: How can I sell shares?

A: Once you have accumulated a round lot (100 shares) within a direct investment plan (dividend reinvestment plan or DRIP), it makes sense to ask the transfer agent to have those shares certificated and sent to you. Some transfer agents take longer than others, and at best it will take a week or two. (If you have a single share in storage at home, ask that 99 shares be certificated so that you can get rid of that one share when you sell a round lot.)

With that certificate immediately available to you, you can call your broker and place a sell order whenever you wish. However, if you prefer, you can ask the transfer agent to liquidate shares within the plan and send a check. In most cases, you will benefit from a lower institutional commission rate, but you may be better off by using a discount broker (commission rates are typically 10-12 cents a share). Keep in mind if you use the transfer agent, you may miss selling at the best price because liquidations may be transacted on a specific date according to the plan and, therefore, you may have to accept the price in effect on that date. Check the Guide to Direct Investment Plans for plan selling practices.

7. Q: Is there any reason why a certificate for one share would be better than book entry to open an account?

A: In most cases, it is much more convenient for you to have your account opened on a book entry basis. That way, you will not have a certificate for a single share to keep track of and, presumably, to sell some day.

 

Frequently Asked Questions about the Enrollment Service

1. Q: Is Temper of the Times Investor Services a broker/dealers?

A:Technically, yes. We are registered with the SEC and we are members of FINRA, and protected by SIPC. However, all we do is open DRIP accounts for individuals. So, you can say that we are very specialized broker/dealers.

2. Q: What is the minimum $ to open an account?

A: There is no minimum to open an account with us. We open an account for you just to get you enrolled in a plan, and then turn the account over to you. We don't hold customer's funds.

3. Q: How much does it cost to enroll in a direct investment plan (dividend reinvestment plan or DRIP)?

There are two processes necessary to become enrolled in a DRIP. In order to qualify for the plan, in many cases you must first own at least a single share of the company stock (in some cases it is more than one share). In addition, that share must be registered in your name (and not in Street Name, which is the broker’s name). After you are shareholder, then you must contact the transfer agent to have an account with that company opened for you . Temper charges you a small mark up over the cost of the qualifying share(s), which is no more than 50 cents for the single share required. It also charges a one-time service fee to deal with the transfer agent on your behalf to get the account set up. These charges apply each time you enroll in a company plan.

4. Q: Is there a minimum number of shares I need to own to qualify?

A: That depends on the company in which you want to invest. Most plans require only one share. The Temper Enrollment Service will open your account with the minimum number required by the plan or with as many shares as you wish-up to 100 shares.

5. Q: What is the easiest way to get enrolled?

A:Temper deals with the various transfer agents, performing all the necessary paperwork functions to facilitate the transactions.

6. Q: How does the Temper Enrollment Service work?

A: After receiving your order, Temper purchases the initial share(s) necessary to get you enrolled in a given plan. Temper gets the share(s) registered in your name and contacts the transfer agent on your behalf to have your account enrolled in the DRIP. (We must point out that in some cases the transfer agent will not accept Temper's request on your behalf and requires a signed enrollment form from you after the stock has been registered in your name.)

Once you are a shareholder and your account has been established, you will be able to send investments directly to the transfer agent for the company (or the company itself). Temper is out of the picture and charges no continuing fees.

7. Q: How long will it take to become enrolled?

A: The Temper Enrollment Service accepts new orders until the last business day of each month. Stock orders are placed at the beginning of the following month, and the DRIP enrollment process should be completed by the end of that month, or the middle of the next month; in rare cases, it may take as long as 12 weeks. Some companies won't acknowledge your orders until after they reinvest your first dividends.

8. Q: Can I get enrolled without using the Temper Enrollment Service?

A: A single share will qualify you for most plans (although some plans may require more-typically, 2, 5, 10, or 25 shares). You can buy the required number of shares (or more) from any broker. After you meet the shareholder status to qualify for entry, you can contact the transfer agent for the company and request that your account be coded for direct investment (with or without dividend reinvestment). Information concerning company policies and procedures can be found in Guide to Direct Investment Plans.)

9. Q: How do I fill out the Temper Enrollment Service order?

A: First, provide us with the correct Social Security number, name(s), and address in which you would like the stock(s) registered. (See the Guide to Direct Investment Plans for registration information.)

Enter the names and stock symbols for the companies in which you'd like us to open accounts.

Check your local newspaper, The Wall Street Journal, or www.directinvesting.com for the recent high price of the stock you selected. Any excess will be refunded when the order is complete.

Enter the service fee $25 or $50 (or half off those prices if you are a subscriber and entitled to a reduced service fee).

Order the minimum number of shares to qualify for each plan you select. However, you may order up to 100 shares.

Add up the "Recent high" column prices, and enter 10% of that amount as a "refundable cushion." The result should be entered under "Refundable cushion." This cushion is requested just in case the recent high is exceeded by the time we buy your shares. If the cost of the stock (as indicated on the statement) is less than the amount you sent, the difference will be refunded to you.

10. Q: What should I expect to receive after I have sent in an order?

A: The next time(s) you will hear from Temper will be with a "Confirmation/Purchase Price Report" as each part of your order is filled. And finally, you will be sent a final "Confirmation/Statement", which shows an accounting after Temper has received statements from all companies for which you ordered stock, with an indication of the actual price paid for each share. This final accounting will include either a check or a request for additional funds.

11. Q: How will I know that my order is progressing properly?

A: Anyone who is concerned about an order can call the Temper office and request a status report. However, no news is good news. Status reports/notifications are automatically sent if there will be a delay in getting an account open. In addition, Temper sends a status report if an order is still in the ordering system for any reason after eight weeks. For instance, by the end of July, every order received during the month of May will have been completed and deleted from the open-orders system. If any May orders remain at the end of July, a status report is sent to explain the delay.

12. Q: What happens after I am enrolled successfully?

A: Every company plan is different. Some companies automatically enroll you in the plan without your having to first sign an authorization form. Other companies will open an account on a book entry basis. In that case, you will not get a certificate. Otherwise, a stock certificate will be sent to you by the company's transfer agent or it will be sent from Temper's office (for those companies that issue certificates to the transferor for distribution).

Once the enrollment process is complete, you will be a shareholder of record and receive shareholder communications (annual reports, etc.) directly from the company. Having joined the DRIP, you may make periodic investments through the plan without going through a broker. In most cases there will be no charges associated with the investment. In some cases there will be fee up to $5 - an amount that is charged by the transfer agents of about 250 companies.

13. Q: If I'm a shareholder, why haven't I received a certificate?

A: Temper always requests that the transfer agent open an account on a book entry basis. Therefore, you will not receive a certificate. Some transfer agents who open accounts, as requested on a book-to-book basis, will send you an enrollment form immediately; some will send a statement showing the first shares; and some will wait until the first dividend is reinvested and send you a statement at that time.

14. Q: I have already received a final statement and a refund check from the Temper Service but my DRIP is not yet open. Why?

A: Temper sends you a refund for any extra money you sent the minute it knows the cost of the share(s). Then instructions go to the transfer agent to transfer a share to you. Getting the share transferred and getting your account open are all separate procedures.

By and large, you will be enrolled in a plan and receive notification of your new account two to three weeks after the stock purchase date (which is generally around the 10th of the month).

The transfer agent may not inform you that your account is open. However, some companies that open accounts on a book-to-book basis don't send statements unless an investment is made (your first dividend, therefore, may be the occasion for the first statement from these companies). For this reason, you may want to contact the transfer agent about three to four weeks after the date Temper sent your name for transfer. The agent can give you your account number and you can send in your first investment.

15. Q: Where can I enroll with Temper Enrollment Service?

A: You can enroll online at www.directinvesting.com, and http://www.giftsofstock.com/ or simply fill out an order form (you can get these by calling 800-388-9993. Printable order forms are available online.

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