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.

Have A Question About This Topic?

Thank you! Oops!
Should You Invest in Exchange Traded Funds?

Should You Invest in Exchange Traded Funds?

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

All Muni Bonds Are Not Created Equal

All Muni Bonds Are Not Created Equal

Gaining a better understanding of municipal bonds makes more sense than ever.

Global and International Funds

Global and International Funds

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

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.

Bull & Bear Markets: A Timeline

This helpful infographic will define bull and bear markets, as well as give a historical overview.

A Taxing Story: Capital Gains and Losses

Understanding how capital gains are taxed may help you refine your investment strategies.

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.

Mutual Funds vs. ETFs

Exchange-traded funds have some things in common with mutual funds, but there are differences, too.

Inflation & Your Money

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

View all articles

Taxable vs. Tax-Deferred Savings

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

Impact of Taxes and Inflation

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

Saving for College

This calculator can help you estimate how much you should be saving for college.

Contributing to an IRA?

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

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.

View all calculators

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

View all presentations

Are Alternative Investments Right for You?

With alternative investments, it’s critical to sort through the complexity.

The Real Cost of a Vacation Home

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

What Smart Investors Know

Savvy investors take the time to separate emotion from fact.

The Cycle of Investing

Understanding the cycle of investing may help you avoid easy pitfalls.

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.

View all videos