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 Can a Million Dollars Buy You?

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

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The Junk Drawer Approach to Investing

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

Estimating the Cost of College

This worksheet can help you estimate the costs of a four-year college program.

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.

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.

TIPS for Inflation

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

Inflation & Your Money

It's important to understand how inflation is reported and how it can affect investments.

Separating the Signal From the Noise

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

The Business Cycle

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

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How Can I Save a Million Dollars?

See what it takes in monthly contributions and time to reach a million-dollar savings goal.

Monthly Budget

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

Debt vs. Investment

Weigh the potential outcomes of paying off debt versus directing those dollars elsewhere.

Student Loan Payoff Calculator: Extra Payments Can Save You

See how extra payments toward your student loans could shorten your payoff timeline.

Comparing Investments

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

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.

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Should You Invest in Exchange Traded Funds?

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

Global and International Funds

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

Finding the Balance

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

Bridging the Confidence Gap

In the world of finance, the effects of the "confidence gap" can be especially apparent.

16 Wall Street Cliches in 60 Seconds

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

Behavioral Finance

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