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.
What Smart Investors Know
Savvy investors take the time to separate emotion from fact.
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?

Don’t Be Your Own Worst Enemy
Emotional biases can adversely impact financial decision making. Here’s a few to be mindful of.

Should I Invest in Gold?
Learning more about gold and its history may help you decide whether it has a place in your portfolio.
A Decision Not Made Is Still a Decision
Investors who put off important investment decisions may face potential consequence to their future financial security.
The Business Cycle
Understanding the economy's cycles can help put current business conditions in better perspective.
A Primer on Dividends
A company's profits can be reinvested or paid out to the company’s shareholders as “dividends."
Mutual Funds vs. ETFs
Exchange-traded funds have some things in common with mutual funds, but there are differences, too.
Investing with Your Heart
For some, the social impact of investing is just as important as the return, perhaps more important.
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.
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Impact of Taxes and Inflation
Estimate the potential impact taxes and inflation can have on the purchasing power of an investment.
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.
What Is the Dividend Yield?
This calculator helps determine your pre-tax and after-tax dividend yield on a particular stock.
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.
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5 Smart Investing Principles
Principles that can help create a portfolio designed to pursue investment goals.
5 Smart Investing Strategies
There are some smart strategies that may help you pursue your investment objectives
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The Business Cycle
How will you weather the ups and downs of the business cycle?
16 Wall Street Cliches in 60 Seconds
Pundits say a lot of things about the markets. Let's see if you can keep up.
Inflation and Your Portfolio
Even low inflation rates can pose a threat to investment returns.
Should You Invest in Exchange Traded Funds?
There are hundreds of ETFs available. Should you invest in them?
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?