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

Global and International Funds

Investors seeking world investments can choose between global and international funds. What's the difference?

Bull and Bear Go To Market

Learn about the difference between bulls and bears—markets, that is!

All Muni Bonds Are Not Created Equal

Gaining a better understanding of municipal bonds makes more sense than ever.

The Fed and How It Got That Way

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

• Articles

  The Business Cycle

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

  Do Our Biases Affect Our Financial Choices?

  Even the most seasoned investors have biases affecting their financial choices.

  All Muni Bonds Are Not Created Equal

  Gaining a better understanding of municipal bonds makes more sense than ever.

  How Stocks Work

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

  TIPS for Inflation

  If you are concerned about inflation and expect short-term interest rates may increase, TIPS could be worth considering.

  Types of Stock Market Analysis

  Most stock market analysis falls into three broad groups: Fundamental, technical, and sentimental. Here’s a look at each.

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• Calculators

  What Is the Dividend Yield?

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

  What Is My Net Worth?

  Get a snapshot of your overall financial picture by calculating your total net worth.

  Monthly Budget

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

  Bi-Weekly Mortgage Payments

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

  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.

  Comparing Investments

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

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• Videos

  From Boats to Brokers

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

  Global and International Funds

  Investors seeking world investments can choose between global and international funds. What's the difference?

  16 Wall Street Cliches in 60 Seconds

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

  The Real Cost of a Vacation Home

  What if instead of buying that vacation home, you invested the money?

  Finding the Balance

  The sandwich generation faces unique challenges. For many, meeting needs is a matter of finding a balance.

  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.

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