Lifestyle

A Fool's Game

in the New Year, when you see financially related ads that proclaim, often in small print, that "Past results do not guarantee future returns," believe them. Predicting, and the implied acceptance of that prediction, is a fool's game.

The FDA ended 2012 with a bang, approving eight new drugs in December and pushing the year's total to 39, its highest level since 1996 when the agency cleared a backlog of applications.

Sector Relativity

Portfolio managers tend to rotate money from some sectors to others depending upon what stage we are at in the economic cycle. The trick, obviously, is knowing where you are at in the cycle and how long that dynamic will continue.

For three consecutive years overall health care spending in the U.S. has grown at the slowest rate in 52 years. However, one area where there was growth was spending for personal health care goods and services.

Harvard University is routinely named the best medical school in the U.S., but how does it fare in a global ranking? Universities in the United States overwhelmingly fill the top 15.

Having a hobby is always encouraged and millions of Americans have chosen birding. More than a third of these enthusiasts travel from home to pursue their passion; South Texas is a must see since it is home to the World Birding Center.

The 2012 cars with the best safety ratings from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety that were also under $30,000.

In 2012 the S&P 500 reported a 13% return, and investors are forecasting another good year for 2013. Here are five health-related stocks with huge upside, according to Goldman Sachs.

Americans are very split on whether or not they approve of the final fiscal cliff deal, although they are slightly more disapproving. Plus, they will have to endure more last-minute negotiations in just a few months.

With too many patients and an ever-increasing administrative workload, many physicians are burnt out and ready to leave health care. There may be a less stressful job that doesn't mean abandoning the medical industry, though.

Stocks often trend depending upon the psyche of investors, not always on hard fundamental data. In the aftermath of the fiscal cliff deal, investors are feeling hopeful, if a bit cautious.

The top issues in health care that will affect physicians and patients in 2013 and five more complaints doctors had about problems affecting their relationship with patients in 2012.

Now there is scientific evidence to back up the concept that stock market predictors for the future year are virtually worthless. The person who makes them is wasting his breath and, worse, the person who believes them is naïve.

Only a small majority of Americans support physician-assisted suicide for the terminally ill. However, support could grow in future years since younger generations support the idea more strongly, according to a new poll.

Congress managed to pass legislation on the tax increases that were part of the fiscal cliff and addressed the Medicare physician pay cut. However, it failed to address federal spending cuts, setting up the next battle.