Portfolio Example

• 25 percent into dividend-paying stocks, maybe through an exchange-traded fund like the SPDR S&P Dividend fund (SDY). Dividend stocks are somewhat attractive because yields are so low now.

• 10 percent into emerging markets.

• 10 percent into a small-cap fund like the iShares Russell 2000 Index fund (IWM).

• 10 percent into a technology-heavy fund like QQQQ.

• 15 percent into a gold fund (GLD) to capitalize on the possibility of a dollar crisis.

• 10 percent into an inverse interest rate play like the ProShares Short 20+ Year Treasury fund (TBF) that goes up when interest rates rise.

• 20 percent kept in cash.