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.

Jane Bond: Scaling the Ladder

Agent Jane Bond is on the case, uncovering the mystery of bond laddering.

Featured Presentation

5 Smart Investing Principles

Principles that can help create a portfolio designed to pursue investment goals.

Have A Question About This Topic?

What Smart Investors Know

Smart investors take the time to separate emotion from fact.

How Financial Advisors Are Compensated

Read this overview to learn how financial advisors are compensated.

Emerging Market Opportunities

What are your options for investing in emerging markets?

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

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

How Financial Advisors Are Compensated

Read this overview to learn how financial advisors are compensated.

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.

A Primer on Dividends

A company's profits can be reinvested or paid out to the company’s shareholders as “dividends."

The Ivory Tower Changes Wall Street

Thanks to the work of three economists, we have a better understanding of what determines an asset’s price.

View all articles

Impact of Taxes and Inflation

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

Taxable vs. Tax-Deferred Savings

Use this calculator to compare the future value of investments with different tax consequences.

What Is My Risk Tolerance?

This questionnaire will help determine your tolerance for investment risk.

What Is the Dividend Yield?

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

Contributing to an IRA?

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

How Compound Interest Works

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

View all calculators

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.

View all presentations

The Real Cost of a Vacation Home

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

Where Is the Market Headed?

We all know the stock market can be unpredictable. We all want to know, “What’s next for the financial markets?”

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.

Emerging Market Opportunities

What are your options for investing in emerging markets?

Can Election Results Predict the Market?

How do the markets usually react to elections? Was the 2016 election any different?

Should You Invest in Exchange Traded Funds?

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