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.

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

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.
Best-Performing Asset Classes
Bonds may outperform stocks one year only to have stocks rebound the next.
How Financial Professionals Are Compensated
Read this overview to learn how financial advisors are compensated.
A Primer on Dividends
A company's profits can be reinvested or paid out to the company’s shareholders as “dividends."
How to Conquer the World - 5 Financial Strategies for Savvy
Learn more about women taking control of their finances with this infographic.
The Sequence of Returns
A look at how variable rates of return impact investors over time.
The Business Cycle
Understanding the economy's cycles can help put current business conditions in better perspective.
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How Compound Interest Works
Use this calculator to better see the potential impact of compound interest on an asset.
Taxable vs. Tax-Deferred Savings
Use this calculator to compare the future value of investments with different tax consequences.
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.
Contributing to an IRA?
Determine if you are eligible to contribute to a traditional or Roth IRA.
Impact of Taxes and Inflation
Estimate the potential impact taxes and inflation can have on the purchasing power of an investment.
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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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Jane Bond: Infiltrating the Market
Agent Jane Bond is on the case, cracking the code on bonds.
Bursting the Bubble
Tulips were the first, but they won’t be the last. What forms a “bubble” and what causes them to burst?
Global and International Funds
Investors seeking world investments can choose between global and international funds. What's the difference?
The Junk Drawer Approach to Investing
It's easy to let investments accumulate like old receipts in a junk drawer.
The Fed and How It Got That Way
Here is a quick history of the Federal Reserve and an overview of what it does.
Bridging the Confidence Gap
In the world of finance, the effects of the "confidence gap" can be especially apparent.