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.

The Fed and How It Got That Way

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

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Should You Invest in Exchange Traded Funds?

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

Required Reading: The Economic Report of the President

The Economic Report of the President can help identify the forces driving — or dragging — the economy.

What Smart Investors Know

Savvy investors take the time to separate emotion from fact.

How Stocks Work

Understanding how a stock works is key to understanding your investments.

Alternative Investments - Going Mainstream

Alternative investments are going mainstream for accredited investors. It’s critical to sort through the complexity.

The Utility of Sector Investing

Successful sector investing is dependent upon an accurate analysis about when to rotate in and out.

Asset Allocation

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

Best-Performing Asset Classes

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

Emotional vs. Strategic Decisions

Information vs. instinct. Are your choices based on evidence of emotion?

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Monthly Budget

Track your monthly income and expenses to get a clearer view of your cash flow.

The Power of Interest - How Long Will it take My Money to Do

Use the Rule of 72 to estimate how long it takes your money to double at a given rate.

Taxable vs. Tax-Deferred Savings

Compare how the same contribution grows differently in taxable versus tax-deferred accounts.

Comparing Investments

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

How Long Will Your Money Last?

See how long a lump sum of savings could last based on your withdrawal rate and return.

Bi-Weekly Mortgage Payments

See how switching to bi-weekly mortgage payments could reduce interest and shorten your loan.

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Jane Bond: Scaling the Ladder

Agent Jane Bond is on the case, uncovering the mystery of bond laddering.

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?”

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.

Emerging Market Opportunities

What are your options for investing in emerging markets?

From Boats to Brokers

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

Behavioral Finance

An amusing and whimsical look at behavioral finance best practices for investors.