Sure, this fast-growing company makes copies -- 12 billion copies in 1997 alone. But its real mission is to help the growing population of self-employed professionals remake how they work and live.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. (Dec. 29, 1997)-- The benchmark Nasdaq and S&P 500 averages closed sharply higher in this last week of 1997. The Boring Portfolio had a good day as well, rising 1.7%. Six of eight ...