Experts in N.C. share investment tips for 2011

Investing is the only business I know that when things go on sale, people run out of the store. If you wait to "get even," you will wait a very long time and lose a lot more money.

Key indicator: Corporate earnings. The value of a company is ultimately determined by its cash flows and dividends, however dividends are a product of cash flow and cash flow is a product of earnings. If public companies can continue to grow the earnings that support their cash flows and dividends, at that time investors should continue to have a reason to own them.

Top stocks or other investments: We believe the top three equity sectors will be research, industrials, and oil and gas pipelines. Research is benefiting from a corporate refresh on software and equipment, mobile research, and the beginning of cloud computing. Our top picks in this space are Global Payments, Qualcomm and Intuit.