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 Junk Drawer Approach to Investing

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

What Smart Investors Know

Savvy investors take the time to separate emotion from fact.

Value vs. Growth Investing

Among stock-market investors there’s long been a debate between those who favor value and those who favor growth.

What Can a Million Dollars Buy You?

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

• Articles

  Buying a Home

  A look at what you need to think about when buying a home.

  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.

  Alternative Investments - Going Mainstream

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

  The Investment Risk No One’s Ever Heard Of

  You face a risk for which the market does not compensate you, that can not be easily reduced through diversification.

  Separating the Signal From the Noise

  A good professional provides important guidance and insight through the years.

  Best-Performing Asset Classes

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

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• Calculators

  Comparing Investments

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

  How Compound Interest Works

  Explore how compound interest can grow your money over time with this interactive tool.

  College Savings

  See how much you may need to save now to cover future college costs for your child.

  What Is My Net Worth?

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

  How Long Will Your Money Last?

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

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• Videos

  Behavioral Finance

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

  Bursting the Bubble

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

  Jane Bond: Infiltrating the Market

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

  Inflation and Your Portfolio

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

  The Fed and How It Got That Way

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

  The Real Cost of a Vacation Home

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

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