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.
Behavioral Finance
An amusing and whimsical look at behavioral finance best practices for investors.
5 Smart Investing Principles
Principles that can help create a portfolio designed to pursue investment goals.
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Should I Invest in Gold?
Learning more about gold and its history may help you decide whether it has a place in your portfolio.

Best-Performing Asset Classes
Bonds may outperform stocks one year only to have stocks rebound the next.

Jane Bond: Infiltrating the Market
Agent Jane Bond is on the case, cracking the code on bonds.
How Financial Professionals Are Compensated
Read this overview to learn how financial advisors are compensated.
The ABCs of Zero Coupon Bonds
Understanding some basic concepts may help you assess whether zero-coupon bonds have a place in your portfolio.
Separating the Signal From the Noise
A good professional provides important guidance and insight through the years.
Rebalancing Your Portfolio
Over time, different investments' performances can shift a portfolio’s intent and risk profile. Rebalancing may be critical.
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.
Required Reading: The Economic Report of the President
The Economic Report of the President can help identify the forces driving — or dragging — the economy.
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What Is My Risk Tolerance?
This questionnaire will help determine your tolerance for investment risk.
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.
What Is the Dividend Yield?
This calculator helps determine your pre-tax and after-tax dividend yield on a particular stock.
Taxable vs. Tax-Deferred Savings
Use this calculator to compare the future value of investments with different tax consequences.
Contributing to an IRA?
Determine if you are eligible to contribute to a traditional or Roth IRA.
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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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Should You Invest in Exchange Traded Funds?
There are hundreds of ETFs available. Should you invest in them?
Bursting the Bubble
Tulips were the first, but they won’t be the last. What forms a “bubble” and what causes them to burst?
When Markets React
When markets shift, experienced investors stick to their strategy.
The Business Cycle
How will you weather the ups and downs of the business cycle?
Are Alternative Investments Right for You?
With alternative investments, it’s critical to sort through the complexity.
The Fed and How It Got That Way
Here is a quick history of the Federal Reserve and an overview of what it does.