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!
The Business Cycle

The Business Cycle

How will you weather the ups and downs of the business cycle?

How Stocks Work

How Stocks Work

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

The Junk Drawer Approach to Investing

The Junk Drawer Approach to Investing

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

Asset Allocation

Consider how your assets are allocated and if that allocation is consistent with your time frame and risk tolerance.

Getting a Head Start on College Savings

A few strategies that may help you prepare for the cost of higher education.

How the Federal Reserve Works

Each day, the Fed is behind the scenes supporting the economy and providing services to the U.S. financial system.

Your Shifting Risk Tolerance

Time and market performance may subtly and slowly imbalance your portfolio.

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.

Risk Perspective

Is it possible to avoid loss? Not entirely, but you can attempt to manage risk.

View all articles

College Savings

See how much you may need to save now to cover future college costs for your child.

What Is the Dividend Yield?

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

Taxable vs. Tax-Deferred Savings

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

Comparing Investments

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

Monthly Budget

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

Student Loan Payoff Calculator: Extra Payments Can Save You

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

View all calculators

Should I Invest in Gold?

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

16 Wall Street Cliches in 60 Seconds

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

What Smart Investors Know

Savvy investors take the time to separate emotion from fact.

The Business Cycle

How will you weather the ups and downs of the business cycle?

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.

Bursting the Bubble

Tulips were the first, but they won’t be the last. What forms a “bubble” and what causes them to burst?

View all videos