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.

Featured Video

The Fed and How It Got That Way

Here is a quick history of the Federal Reserve and an overview of what it does.

Should You Invest in Exchange Traded Funds?

There are thousands of ETFs available. Should you invest in them?

Understanding ETFs: Building Blocks of Modern Investing

Educational ETF infographic explaining benefits, types & mechanics. Features current statistics and citations.

Where Is the Market Headed?

We all know the stock market can be unpredictable. We all want to know, “What’s next for the financial markets?”

• Articles

  Best-Performing Asset Classes

  Bonds may outperform stocks one year only to have stocks rebound the next.

  A Taxing Story: Capital Gains and Losses

  Understanding how capital gains are taxed may help you refine your investment strategies.

  What It Takes to Become an Accredited Investor

  What does it take to be an accredited investor? Explore the details, & the types of investments offered to those who qualify.

  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.

  Key Money Moments: 4 Times You Should Talk to a Pro

  Life happens fast, and your finances can take a backseat if you’re not careful. Is it time to check in with a financial professional? This infographic will help you examine your own financial situation and decide if it’s time to step up your financial game.

  Asset Allocation

  Consider how your assets are allocated and if that allocation is consistent with your time frame and risk tolerance.

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• Calculators

  Debt-to-Income Ratio Calculator

  Calculate your debt-to-income ratio to understand how lenders may view your financial health.

  Comparing Investments

  Compare two different scenarios side by side to see how they stack up over time.

  How Can I Save a Million Dollars?

  See what it takes in monthly contributions and time to reach a million-dollar savings goal.

  Student Loan Payoff Calculator: Extra Payments Can Save You

  See how extra payments toward your student loans could shorten your payoff timeline.

  What Is the Dividend Yield?

  Calculate the dividend yield of a holding and see what that means for income over time.

  Debt vs. Investment

  Weigh the potential outcomes of paying off debt versus directing those dollars elsewhere.

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• Videos

  Inflation and Your Portfolio

  Even low inflation rates can pose a threat to investment returns.

  What Smart Investors Know

  Savvy investors take the time to separate emotion from fact.

  Bursting the Bubble

  Tulips were the first, but they won’t be the last. What forms a “bubble” and what causes them to burst?

  Should You Invest in Exchange Traded Funds?

  There are thousands of ETFs available. Should you invest in them?

  It Was the Best of Times, It Was the Worst of Times

  All about how missing the best market days (or the worst!) might affect your portfolio.

  From Boats to Brokers

  From the Dutch East India Company to Wall St., the stock market has a long and storied history.

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