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.

5 Smart Investing Principles
Principles that can help create a portfolio designed to pursue investment goals.

Are Alternative Investments Right for You?
With alternative investments, it’s critical to sort through the complexity.

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.

Finding the Balance
The sandwich generation faces unique challenges. For many, meeting needs is a matter of finding a balance.
You Would Rather Be...
Are you a thrill seeker, or content to relax in the backyard? Use this flowchart to find out more about your risk tolerance.
The ABCs of Zero Coupon Bonds
Understanding some basic concepts may help you assess whether zero-coupon bonds have a place in your portfolio.
Investment Challenges of the Affluent Investor
Affluent investors face unique challenges when putting together an investment strategy. Make sure you keep these in mind.
Do Our Biases Affect Our Financial Choices?
Even the most seasoned investors have biases affecting their financial choices.
The Business Cycle
Understanding the economy's cycles can help put current business conditions in better perspective.
Mutual Funds vs. ETFs
Exchange-traded funds have some things in common with mutual funds, but there are differences, too.
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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.
Taxable vs. Tax-Deferred Savings
Use this calculator to compare the future value of investments with different tax consequences.
How Compound Interest Works
Use this calculator to better see the potential impact of compound interest on an asset.
Contributing to an IRA?
Determine if you are eligible to contribute to a traditional or Roth IRA.
Saving for College
This calculator can help you estimate how much you should be saving for college.
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5 Smart Investing Strategies
There are some smart strategies that may help you pursue your investment objectives
5 Smart Investing Principles
Principles that can help create a portfolio designed to pursue investment goals.
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Should You Invest in Exchange Traded Funds?
There are hundreds of ETFs available. Should you invest in them?
The Real Cost of a Vacation Home
What if instead of buying that vacation home, you invested the money?
The Junk Drawer Approach to Investing
It's easy to let investments accumulate like old receipts in a junk drawer.
Should I Invest in Gold?
Learning more about gold and its history may help you decide whether it has a place in your portfolio.
The Cycle of Investing
Understanding the cycle of investing may help you avoid easy pitfalls.
What Can a Million Dollars Buy You?
$1 million in a diversified portfolio could help finance part of your retirement.