Over the phone, they inquire about emerging health issues, check for insurance or housing problems, ask about unfilled prescriptions.

NEWYORKER: The Hot Spotters

Naturally curious, he started to ask various CIOs about their big problems.

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Their favourite activity is to ask each other questions about practical research problems, from DNA-sequencing techniques to statistical tricks.

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Tax strategist Robert Gordon of Twenty-First Securities in New York suggests that hedge-fund investors ask managers about possible changes that could pose problems.

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If you decide to buy through an importer, it is important to ask about the track record of the European dealer and if there have been any problems with the particular model in the past.

BBC: Q&A: Buying a new car