What does it mean to "ladder" CDs? - G.S., Stockton, Minn. [...] if you're expecting rates to drop over the coming years, consider locking in current rates by buying long-term CDs. Certain beaten-down stocks can make great long-term investments, and Wynn Resorts (Nasdaq: WYNN) seems likely to be a good example. Part of its problem has been weak performance in the Chinese gambling hot spot of Macau, which should be growing at a much faster pace than Wynn's Las Vegas operations, but the two have reversed roles lately. The fourth quarter saw a huge 40 percent drop in VIP gambling volume in Macau, so it bodes well that Wynn has been shifting its focus more toward mass-market gamblers - of which there are many as China's middle class grows. Opening in 2016, the new Wynn Palace could boost the company's top and bottom lines significantly.