Investment
Investing should be easy – just buy low and sell high – but most of us have trouble following that simple advice. There are principles and strategies that may enable you to put together an investment portfolio that reflects your risk tolerance, time horizon, and goals. Understanding these principles and strategies can help you avoid some of the pitfalls that snare some investors.
Finding the Balance
The sandwich generation faces unique challenges. For many, meeting needs is a matter of finding a balance.
5 Smart Investing Principles
Principles that can help create a portfolio designed to pursue investment goals.
The Fed and How It Got That Way
Here is a quick history of the Federal Reserve and an overview of what it does.
Asset Allocation
Consider how your assets are allocated and if that allocation is consistent with your time frame and risk tolerance.
Inflation and Your Portfolio
Even low inflation rates can pose a threat to investment returns.
Do Our Biases Affect Our Financial Choices?
Even the most seasoned investors have biases affecting their financial choices.
You Would Rather Be...
Are you a thrill seeker, or content to relax in the backyard? Use this flowchart to find out more about your risk tolerance.
Separating the Signal From the Noise
A good professional provides important guidance and insight through the years.
Inflation and the Real Rate of Return
Learn about the role of inflation when considering your portfolio’s rate of return with this helpful article.
A Primer on Dividends
A company's profits can be reinvested or paid out to the company’s shareholders as “dividends."
Emotional vs. Strategic Decisions
Information vs. instinct. Are your choices based on evidence of emotion?
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Impact of Taxes and Inflation
Estimate the potential impact taxes and inflation can have on the purchasing power of an investment.
Contributing to an IRA?
Determine if you are eligible to contribute to a traditional or Roth IRA.
What Is the Dividend Yield?
This calculator helps determine your pre-tax and after-tax dividend yield on a particular stock.
Saving for College
This calculator can help you estimate how much you should be saving for college.
How Compound Interest Works
Use this calculator to better see the potential impact of compound interest on an asset.
Taxable vs. Tax-Deferred Savings
Use this calculator to compare the future value of investments with different tax consequences.
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5 Smart Investing Strategies
There are some smart strategies that may help you pursue your investment objectives
5 Smart Investing Principles
Principles that can help create a portfolio designed to pursue investment goals.
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The Business Cycle
How will you weather the ups and downs of the business cycle?
Finding the Balance
The sandwich generation faces unique challenges. For many, meeting needs is a matter of finding a balance.
The Real Cost of a Vacation Home
What if instead of buying that vacation home, you invested the money?
Global and International Funds
Investors seeking world investments can choose between global and international funds. What's the difference?
Should You Invest in Exchange Traded Funds?
There are hundreds of ETFs available. Should you invest in them?
Should I Invest in Gold?
Learning more about gold and its history may help you decide whether it has a place in your portfolio.