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 I Invest in Gold?
Learning more about gold and its history may help you decide whether it has a place in your portfolio.
5 Smart Investing Strategies
Getting what you want out of your money may require the right game plan.
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Should You Invest in Exchange Traded Funds?
There are hundreds of ETFs available. Should you invest in them?

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.

Jane Bond: Infiltrating the Market
Agent Jane Bond is on the case, cracking the code on bonds.
Required Reading: The Economic Report of the President
The Economic Report of the President can help identify the forces driving — or dragging — the economy.
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.
The Business Cycle
Understanding the economy's cycles can help put current business conditions in better perspective.
How Stocks Work
Understanding how a stock works is key to understanding your investments.
Bull & Bear Markets: A Timeline
This helpful infographic will define bull and bear markets, as well as give a historical overview.
Getting a Head Start on College Savings
A few strategies that may help you prepare for the cost of higher education.
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Taxable vs. Tax-Deferred Savings
Use this calculator to compare the future value of investments with different tax consequences.
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.
What Is My Risk Tolerance?
This questionnaire will help determine your tolerance for investment risk.
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.
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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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Finding the Balance
The sandwich generation faces unique challenges. For many, meeting needs is a matter of finding a balance.
Should You Invest in Exchange Traded Funds?
There are hundreds of ETFs available. Should you invest in them?
Where Is the Market Headed?
We all know the stock market can be unpredictable. We all want to know, “What’s next for the financial markets?”
Bursting the Bubble
Tulips were the first, but they won’t be the last. What forms a “bubble” and what causes them to burst?
The Business Cycle
How will you weather the ups and downs of the business cycle?
What Can a Million Dollars Buy You?
$1 million in a diversified portfolio could help finance part of your retirement.