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 Smart Investors Know
Savvy investors take the time to separate emotion from fact.
5 Smart Investing Strategies
Getting what you want out of your money may require the right game plan.
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The Business Cycle
How will you weather the ups and downs of the business cycle?

Global vs. International: What’s The Difference?
International funds invest in non-U.S. markets, while global funds may invest in U.S. stocks alongside non-U.S. stocks.

Jane Bond: Decoding Diversification
Agent Jane Bond is on the case, discovering how bonds diversify a portfolio.
Required Reading: The Economic Report of the President
The Economic Report of the President can help identify the forces driving — or dragging — the economy.
4 Reasons for the Return of Market Volatility
Why have the markets been so volatile recently?
How Financial Professionals Are Compensated
Read this overview to learn how financial advisors are compensated.
A Taxing Story: Capital Gains and Losses
Understanding how capital gains are taxed may help you refine your investment strategies.
Mutual Funds vs. ETFs
Exchange-traded funds have some things in common with mutual funds, but there are differences, too.
A Primer on Dividends
A company's profits can be reinvested or paid out to the company’s shareholders as “dividends."
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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.
What Is My Risk Tolerance?
This questionnaire will help determine your tolerance for investment risk.
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.
How Compound Interest Works
Use this calculator to better see the potential impact of compound interest on an asset.
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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
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Global and International Funds
Investors seeking world investments can choose between global and international funds. What's the difference?
Events on Wall Street
Can successful investors predict changes in the markets? Some can but others miss the market’s signals.
Bridging the Confidence Gap
In the world of finance, the effects of the "confidence gap" can be especially apparent.
When Markets React
When markets shift, experienced investors stick to their strategy.
The Cycle of Investing
Understanding the cycle of investing may help you avoid easy pitfalls.
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.