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 You Invest in Exchange Traded Funds?
There are hundreds of ETFs available. Should you invest in them?

5 Smart Investing Strategies
Getting what you want out of your money may require the right game plan.
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Mutual Funds vs. ETFs
Exchange-traded funds have some things in common with mutual funds, but there are differences, too.

From Boats to Brokers
From the Dutch East India Company to Wall Street, the stock market has a long and storied history.
Earnings for All Seasons
Earnings season can move markets. What is it and why is it important?
How Financial Advisors Are Compensated
Read this overview to learn how financial advisors are compensated.
The New Red Scare: Chinese Ownership of U.S. Debt
China owns a portion of the total outstanding debt of the U.S. Government. What does it mean?
Best Performing Asset Classes
Bonds may outperform stocks one year only to have stocks rebound the next.
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.
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.
Impact of Taxes and Inflation
Estimate the potential impact taxes and inflation can have on the purchasing power of an investment.
What Is the Dividend Yield?
This calculator helps determine your pre-tax and after-tax dividend yield on a particular stock.
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.
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5 Smart Investing Strategies
There are some smart strategies that may help you pursue your investment objectives
Keys to Investing for Retirement
There are some key concepts to understand when investing for retirement
5 Smart Investing Principles
Principles that can help create a portfolio designed to pursue investment goals.
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The Rule of 72
Do you know how long it may take for your investments to double in value? The Rule of 72 is a quick way to figure it out.
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.
Bridging the Confidence Gap
In the world of finance, the effects of the "confidence gap" can be especially apparent.
What Smart Investors Know
Smart investors take the time to separate emotion from fact.
Inflation and Your Portfolio
Even low inflation rates can pose a threat to investment returns.