At first, settlers congregated most rapidly where the lowest investment of money and mind earned the highest return.

That was a better performance than the previous year, when Harvard's investments earned a 12.5 percent return and its top money managers were paid $107.5 million.

An investment of $100 in the stock market at the beginning of 1963 would have earned $2,330 by the end of 1993.

But this year, with investments earning 14.5 percent, they're delighting in their shrewdness.

If the investment earns 8.5 percent, the investor would receive $850 at year's end.

The dollar fell as well, reflecting the fact that dollar-denominated investments will earn lower interest.

Since then, the investment has earned $10.29 in interest, but incurred $45 in fees, according to the lawsuit.

"If your investments are earning more than the cost of your debt, you come out ahead," he said.

That means an $8,200 investment would earn 820 miles a year.

Such investments now earn an average 3.34 percent for one year and 4.03 percent for five years, according to Bankrate.com.