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.

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Inflation and Your Portfolio

Inflation and Your Portfolio

Even low inflation rates can pose a threat to investment returns.

Bull & Bear Markets: A Timeline

Bull & Bear Markets: A Timeline

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

Should I Invest in Gold?

Should I Invest in Gold?

Learning more about gold and its history may help you decide whether it has a place in your portfolio.

Separating the Signal From the Noise

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

All Muni Bonds Are Not Created Equal

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

Best-Performing Asset Classes

Bonds may outperform stocks one year only to have stocks rebound the next.

Inflation & Your Money

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

How Stocks Work

Understanding how a stock works is key to understanding your investments.

The Great Debate Continues: Active vs. Passive

In investments, one great debate asks the question, “Active or Passive Investing: Which Is Better?”

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Student Loan Payoff Calculator: Extra Payments Can Save You

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

Debt-to-Income Ratio Calculator

Calculate your debt-to-income ratio to understand how lenders may view your financial health.

Taxable vs. Tax-Deferred Savings

Compare how the same contribution grows differently in taxable versus tax-deferred accounts.

Bi-Weekly Mortgage Payments

See how switching to bi-weekly mortgage payments could reduce interest and shorten your loan.

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.

What Is the Dividend Yield?

Calculate the dividend yield of a holding and see what that means for income over time.

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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.

Should I Invest in Gold?

Learning more about gold and its history may help you decide whether it has a place in your portfolio.

Jane Bond: Scaling the Ladder

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

The Fed and How It Got That Way

Here is a quick history of the Federal Reserve and an overview of what it does.

When Markets React

When markets shift, experienced investors stick to their strategy.

What Smart Investors Know

Savvy investors take the time to separate emotion from fact.

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