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.

Should You Invest in Exchange Traded Funds?
There are hundreds of ETFs available. Should you invest in them?

Keys to Investing for Retirement
There are some key concepts to understand when investing for retirement.

Jane Bond: Decoding Diversification
Agent Jane Bond is on the case, discovering how bonds diversify a portfolio.

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.

The Cycle of Investing
Understanding the cycle of investing may help you avoid easy pitfalls.
How Financial Advisors Are Compensated
Read this overview to learn how financial advisors are compensated.
A Primer on Dividends
A company's profits can be reinvested or paid out to the company’s shareholders as “dividends."
Required Reading: The Economic Report of the President
The Economic Report of the President can help identify the forces driving — or dragging — the economy.
You Would Rather Be...
Are you a thrill seeker, or content to relax in the backyard? Use this flowchart to find out more about your risk tolerance.
Rebalancing Your Portfolio
Over time, different investments' performances can shift a portfolio’s intent and risk profile. Rebalancing may be critical.
The New Red Scare: Chinese Ownership of U.S. Debt
China owns a portion of the total outstanding debt of the U.S. Government. What does it mean?
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How Compound Interest Works
Use this calculator to better see the potential impact of compound interest on an asset.
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.
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.
Saving for College
This calculator can help you estimate how much you should be saving for college.
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Keys to Investing for Retirement
There are some key concepts to understand when investing for retirement
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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The Fed and How It Got That Way
Here is a quick history of the Federal Reserve and an overview of what it does.
From Boats to Brokers
From the Dutch East India Company to Wall Street, the stock market has a long and storied history.
Are Alternative Investments Right for You?
With alternative investments, it’s critical to sort through the complexity.
Jane Bond: Infiltrating the Market
Agent Jane Bond is on the case, cracking the code on bonds.
16 Wall Street Cliches in 60 Seconds
Pundits say a lot of things about the markets. Let's see if you can keep up.
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.