…and set new goals in new areas. HEDGEfolios has helped me accomplish the main objectives I established over 5 years ago. I had a plan to use the website as a way to create a public record of my ability to cover a huge number of stocks and deliver consistent returns that outperformed the indices. Initially, I determined that 3 years of steady performance would be enough to attract attention from investors for a fund I planned to start or for someone to make me an offer I could not refuse. Before I could get the proof of performance underway, I spent 2 years testing out my analytical methods and designing the website. Since the beginning of 2005, HEDGEfolios has been available on the internet and next week marks the end of that 3-year period.

When this all started, I could barely handle the 500 stocks in the S&P and a few others of interest. Now, HEDGEfolios covers approximately 3500 stocks and about 300 ETFs and I doubt there has been a more diversified portfolio for you to follow each week. As for consistent returns that outperform the benchmarks, I’ll proudly stand by my results and the low volatility throughout these difficult times. With one week to go in 2007, I expect HEDGEfolios performance will come in somewhere between the 25% it did last year and the 20% in 2005.

It’s been a lot of fun and I’ve also enjoyed writing the blog over the past few years. When I started blogging, it had one purpose - show future investors how I think and encourage readers to think creatively and critically on their own. Hopefully, you’ve benefited from it - I know I have. It certainly has been fun to exchange thoughts with market participants from all over the world whether that means the smallest novice investor to the largest hedge funds. Thank you for all your insights and challenges to my opinions.

I’ve achieved all the big goals I set out to do with HEDGEfolios. And with these things being accomplished, it’s time to move towards the next step of getting back into the business of portfolio management. Over the past few years, I got my share of offers, but I always turned them down regardless of how lucrative they may have been. I intended to finish what I started and now I have done that.

So lately, I’ve been listening to some great firms and I’ve been listening to some great personal advisors and I’ve been listening to myself. I am intrigued by firms that can offer me some resources and yet, control is not a compromise I’ve been comfortable with.

As I sort everything out, HEDGEfolios will continue to offer my commentary in the blog and the fundamental and technical database. I plan to take my time making the right choices to either set up my own fund or work with someone else. Additionally, I have made some commitments to children and charities for the next few months so I expect HEDGEfolios to be around for a while until those obligations are fulfilled.

A few months ago, the annual subscription offer disappeared. In the past few days, the quarterly and monthly payment options also were removed. All existing trials and paid subscriptions were extended until January 15th, 2008. All subscriptions extending past January 15th were extended until March 31, 2008.  Why January 15th?  I needed a few weeks to review some existing proposals before making additional plans.  Since I cannot commit to how long it will be available, I cannot ethically sell the service. So, until further notice, using the database will be free. You still need to register, but it will not cost you anything and as has always been the case, you do not need to provide a credit card to receive the free trial. I reserve the right to re-institute subscriptions after January 15th, but it is unlikely.

As time goes by and where it’s appropriate for me to share more information, I’ll do that. Otherwise, it’s time to get back to the daily and weekly challenges of evaluating the markets. Good luck with your investing.