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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5 Smart Investing Strategies

Getting what you want out of your money may require the right game plan.

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What Can a Million Dollars Buy You?

$1 million in a diversified portfolio could help finance part of your retirement.

The Anatomy of an Index

The S&P 500 represents a large portion of the value of the U.S. equity market, it may be worth understanding.

The Business Cycle

How will you weather the ups and downs of the business cycle?

Getting a Head Start on College Savings

A few strategies that may help you prepare for the cost of higher education.

The Business Cycle

Understanding the economy's cycles can help put current business conditions in better perspective.

A Taxing Story: Capital Gains and Losses

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

Asset Allocation

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

How Stocks Work

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

Mutual Funds vs. ETFs

Exchange-traded funds have some things in common with mutual funds, but there are differences, too.

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What Is the Dividend Yield?

This calculator helps determine your pre-tax and after-tax dividend yield on a particular stock.

Impact of Taxes and Inflation

Estimate the potential impact taxes and inflation can have on the purchasing power of an investment.

How Compound Interest Works

Use this calculator to better see the potential impact of compound interest on an asset.

Saving for College

This calculator can help you estimate how much you should be saving for college.

Contributing to an IRA?

Determine if you are eligible to contribute to a traditional or Roth IRA.

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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Bursting the Bubble

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

The Junk Drawer Approach to Investing

It's easy to let investments accumulate like old receipts in a junk drawer.

The Rule of 72

Do you know how long it may take for your investments to double in value? The Rule of 72 is a quick way to figure it out.

16 Wall Street Cliches in 60 Seconds

Pundits say a lot of things about the markets. Let's see if you can keep up.

Should You Invest in Exchange Traded Funds?

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

Jane Bond: Infiltrating the Market

Agent Jane Bond is on the case, cracking the code on bonds.