By Dr. Carla Pasternak

"Don't put your money in banks. Put it in bank stocks," so the stock market adage says. But you need to be selective.

2.18%. That's the average dividend yield of the big money center banks mainly in the U.S. These banks do business with government and corporations, not just with folks like you and me. They include names like Citigroup (C), Bank of America (BAC), Goldman Sachs (GS), and Bank of New York Mellon (BK), which all offer puny yields of less than 2%.

By Dr. Carla Pasternak

Do you watch Netflix? Listen to Ted talks? Store your photos on the cloud? If so, you can thank a data center real estate investment trust (REIT). These high-tech storage centers house computer systems. Yes, the data you download on your cell phone, tablet or TV is actually stored in old-fashioned bricks and mortar facilities rented by the likes of Facebook, Google, and other cloud, digital media, and software firms.

By Dr. Carla Pasternak

Financials have been going gangbusters, outpacing the S&P 500's returns by more than 100% over the past year.

Big U.S. banks have been on a tear since passing the Federal Reserve's annual stress test and announcing plans last month to increase dividend payouts and share buybacks to their highest levels in years.

By Dr. Carla Pasternak

With interest rates at historic lows, one corner of the income universe that still throws off huge and unusually safe huge yields is preferred shares.

The benchmark S&P U.S. Preferred Stock Index carries a generous yield of 5.96%. That's more than twice the 1.95% yield on the S&P 500 and far richer than the you can get on investment grade bonds in the by the benchmark Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Aggregate Index or the benchmark 10-year Treasury.

By Dr. Carla Pasternak

Tech stocks are on a roll. The Technology Select Sector SPDR (XLK) the largest technology exchange traded fund by assets has been hitting record highs. The technology-rich Nasdaq Composite has also been breaking new records and is now trading at its highest level ever. The Dow Jones U.S. Technology Index is trouncing the S&P 500, with year-to-date returns of nearly 18%, almost triple the benchmark's.

By Dr. Carla Pasternak

Investors are turning to Europe amid concerns that U.S. equities are overvalued. At a forward P/E of 18 times 2024 earnings, the S&P 500 is trading well above its 10-year historical average of 14 times. By comparison, the benchmark STOXX Europe 600, which represents 17 countries across the European region, offers better value.