I'm Not Always a Codger
Earlier this week, I attended one of my favorite events of the year...
It's the annual Stansberry Conference & Alliance Meeting in Las Vegas.
Not only do I get to spend time chatting face-to-face with subscribers, but I also get to hear from fantastic speakers covering all the hot topics in finance and investing today.
At this year's event, attendees heard about...
- The best investment to protect their portfolios as America's new foreign policy changes the shape of global politics.
- Why the Magnificent Seven can't prop up the market forever.
- Some of the best ways to play the current gold boom.
Along with countless other topics...
Of course, when you put great thinkers in a room together, not all of them agree on the best way forward. Even at our special Stansberry Research editors' panel, it was clear that our experts have differing views on investing and shaping portfolios.
Sometimes subscribers will ask why we can't all just agree on the same strategies and investments. But I believe our differences are what help best serve the needs of subscribers from different financial backgrounds.
For example, longtime subscribers know I'm a bit of a codger. When it comes to my own health and wealth, I follow common-sense advice that doesn't add unnecessary risk. And you'll see that mindset in most of the stock recommendations I publish in my newsletters.
But even I have occasionally put my money in risky investments for the chance to make a big profit. One of my biggest scores happened when I invested in the private gene-therapy company Mirus Bio from its founding in 1995... I was still holding this stake in 2008 when pharmaceutical giant Roche (RHHBY) bought the company for $125 million in cash. Early investors like me cleaned up.
The point is, you should always have a little bit of what I call "play money" set aside to give your portfolio a chance to grow more than a typical blue-chip stock would allow.
But you don't want to throw away that play money. Even when you gamble, you want to make a smart bet. And I know just the person you should listen to...
On October 29, a former hedge-fund manager with two decades of experience is unveiling a new model portfolio that will stand alone as the most elite published research across our entire company.
By focusing on smaller, overlooked companies with powerful catalysts and limited downside, he's targeting a minimum of 300% to 500% upside on every position... no matter what the market does next.
This strategy is as simple as buying shares in publicly traded stocks... It doesn't take any extra effort on your part – besides having the right person guiding your investments.
The expert behind this strategy has already used it to find 18 triple-digit winners over the past few years. And there's plenty more where that came from.
Most investors can benefit from this research in the coming years... And anyone who doesn't check it out will wish they had.
Now, let's get to this week's Q&A... And as always, keep sending your comments, questions, and topic suggestions to feedback@healthandwealthbulletin.com. My team and I read every e-mail.
Questions About Hybrid Cars
Q: I liked this column on cars, and your preference for hybrids. I got a RAV4 hybrid last year and love it. I get in the low 40s for mileage. Curious if you have heard of Toyota only offering hybrids for certain models of their cars, like Camrys, now? Wasn't sure if it was true. – J.M.
A: J.M. is talking about last Thursday's article by the auto expert on my team, Brady Holt. I'll let Brady take the Q&A from here...
Thanks for reading, J.M. You're exactly right – the Toyota Camry sedan and the Toyota Sienna minivan are offered exclusively as gas-electric hybrids. What's more, the 2026 RAV4 will also drop its gas-only model and become 100% hybrid.
This change isn't ideal for someone who drives almost exclusively on the open highway. That's where a gas car and a hybrid often get similar gas mileage. But for many people, like you, hybrids are a lot more efficient. So it's easy to see why Toyota would want to steer more and more customers to one.
Q: Love your articles. That Dodge Charger looks fun! I'm interested in a hybrid, but nobody seems to offer a hybrid that has a V-6 turbo option. Some of us are not interested in more miles per gallon. We just want the option of highway driving of a V6 and city driving using the battery powered option. I also want the security of having two ways to drive when the gas prices skyrocket or gas is unavailable due to economic uncertainties.
Ultimately, I would love a V-6 turbo hybrid Honda Ridgeline. That swingout tailgate is awesome along with the trunk in the back. I love mine. It's a pickup that drives like an SUV. But Honda does not seem to change the Ridgeline much at all year to year, which is a little disappointing. I have a 2020 and would buy a new one if the new models were upgraded at all, but they are identical. – J.C.
A: To me, J.C., you're describing the perfect use case for a plug-in hybrid.
A conventional hybrid, like the ones I wrote about last week, charges its own small battery while you drive. That gets you better gas mileage, but you always need gas.
With a plug-in hybrid, or "PHEV," though, you can charge it up using inexpensive electricity from the grid when you're at home. That typically gets you about 30 to 50 miles of range, depending on the model of car. And it also has a gasoline engine, so when you take a longer trip or don't get a chance to plug it in, it still drives normally. Plus, you get the feel and sound of a gas engine when you want that.
Now, most people who buy a hybrid are more interested in fuel economy than you are, J.C. So most hybrids use smaller four-cylinder engines instead of a V-6. But a few high-end PHEVs are available with six-cylinder turbo engines. These include the Mercedes-Benz E53 AMG and BMW 550e midsize cars and the BMW X5 50e SUV.
In the truck world, Ram is developing a model called the REV... a PHEV version of the Ram 1500 full-size pickup. That's bigger and more expensive than your Ridgeline. And it will use its V-6 gasoline engine only as a generator to keep the electric battery charged – not to power the truck directly. However, the Ram REV will go an estimated 145 miles using only electricity.
About the Honda Ridgeline... I'm also a fan of this cleverly designed pickup. It has the space and comfort of a full-size truck, yet it's less bulky and a lot less expensive. But as you noted, it hasn't changed much over the years. Since 2020, Honda has upgraded the infotainment system and improved the control layout... But I agree that's not enough reason to trade in a vehicle you're happy with.
At the Washington Automotive Press Association Rally I wrote about last week, I had lunch with a representative from Honda. A number of journalists at our table asked him when Honda would upgrade the Ridgeline. He didn't have an answer on that. But he did say Honda is developing a hybrid powertrain for its bigger vehicles... So you can keep your fingers crossed.
Combatting Back Pain
Q: What are those specific back exercises the reader mentioned that has helped him? I read all of your newsletters, I must have missed this one. – H.D.
A: Thanks for your readership, H.D. You can find my top tips for fighting back pain without pills here.
What We're Reading...
- Did you miss it? We're in a healthy market.
- Something different: Contaminated meat might be a major cause of UTIs.
Here's to our health, wealth, and a great retirement,
Dr. David Eifrig and the Health & Wealth Bulletin Research Team
October 24, 2025