Last week’s question and answer

I came to life in 1993 as an amusing printed financial newsletter that two brothers sold to friends and relatives. A year later I made my debut online and became quite popular. I’m on a mission to improve people’s lives, offering superior investment ideas and sound financial advice. I have a weekly radio show broadcast on more than 100 stations, a weekly newspaper feature, eight published books and seven investing newsletters. I’ve raised more than $2 million for charity, and my staff sometimes wears clothing that jingles. I throw parties on April 1. Who am I?

(Answer: The Motley Fool)

IRA shuffle

Can I shift money invested in mutual funds into other mutual funds or individual stocks in my IRA? — J.T., Bloomington, Ind.

If your IRA is maintained by a brokerage, you should be able to shift around your investments from one mutual fund to another, or to and from individual stocks. You won’t have to pay taxes on any gains, but you probably will have to pay your brokerage the applicable commissions for the transactions.

If your IRA is with a mutual fund family, you can probably switch between its own funds with minimal or no charge. You might pay steeper fees to switch to certain funds, and you may not be permitted to invest in individual stocks at all. If so, you might consider transferring your IRA to a brokerage. Learn how to find the best brokerage for your needs at www.broker.fool.com.

Is it better to buy or lease a car? — M.B., Hartford, Conn.

It depends. With leasing, your payments are often lower than those you’d make if you bought a new car. Of course, after a few years a buyer will own the car, while the leaser won’t. For those who buy expensive cars and use them mainly for work, it can make a lot of sense to lease, given available tax deductions.

Leases are more complicated than purchases, and dealers can increase your cost with some subtle moves. With leases, you don’t own the car, although you pay to maintain it. You can’t sell it if you need some quick money. Unlike mortgages, the payments you’ve made generally don’t build equity. You face headaches or penalties if you can’t abide by the terms of the contract. Additionally, insurance costs can be higher with leases.

FedEx climbing

FedEx (NYSE: FDX), a Motley Fool Stock Advisor recommendation, recently released its third-quarter results, delivering a strong performance. It warned that fuel costs could put a damper on margins, but the broad strength across its business lines should mitigate some of these concerns.

Revenues grew by 21 percent to $7.34 billion in the quarter, while net income surged 53 percent to $317 million. FedEx is enjoying higher returns while keeping an eye on expenses and productivity. Operating margins grew solidly in three of the company’s segments. At FedEx Express, the firm’s largest unit, they jumped by an impressive 1.9 percent to 6.9 percent, while the ground and express units likewise saw significant improvements. The newly acquired FedEx Kinko’s unit is lagging with low 2.2 percent margins, but Kinko’s is still a relatively fresh acquisition, and the strategy of having a retail storefront for the FedEx name still seems like a sound move.

FedEx also sees more growth ahead. It expects to have made $2.3 billion in capital expenditures by the end of this fiscal year and it has received approval for three additional flights into China.

Fuel might still take a bite out of the company’s bottom line next quarter. But the real concern should be whether fuel prices will take the steam out of the global economy. For as long as the global economy chugs ahead, FedEx’s prospects look strong.