Recently heard on the radio, the average reader of books, non fiction is read 2 times more than fiction, being below the numbers the book The Mask of Troy by David Gibbins published by Headline Publishing Group, London, UK, 2010 was read. It is an interesting read particularly if you have a limited idea about Troy and Homer. In the last number of years, movies about Troy have come out and maybe that is why the book was written. The story is an archaeologist is digging through Troy which was destroyed when it lost the Trojan wars. The archaeologist finds riches, but there is more meaning. What if the battle is not necessarily about gaining territory for the leader, but the changing from the bronze age to the iron age? What if prior to the battle, the metal for armaments was controlled and peace was the result. With a change to the iron age, anyone could make weapons, and those that learnt quickly could control the empire or build new ones.

Linking to dividend paying stocks, for many companies there are alternatives, those alternatives are often times not feasible or not widely available for the mythical average consumer. But when they are: the world for those markets change dramatically. One aspect of owning stocks is looking at the alternatives – what does it take before it is time to switch? There will be clues along the way, declining margins, revenues stalling, when you see it there are alternatives in the marketplace and you will need to move your money to ensure you keep more of it.

There are more questions than answers, till the next time – to raising questions.