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

The Real Cost of a Vacation Home
What if instead of buying that vacation home, you invested the money?

Emotional vs. Strategic Decisions
Information vs. instinct. Are your choices based on evidence of emotion?

The Business Cycle
How will you weather the ups and downs of the business cycle?
How Financial Professionals Are Compensated
Read this overview to learn how financial advisors are compensated.
Pullbacks, Corrections, and Bear Markets
Pullbacks, corrections, and bear markets are all a part of the investing cycle. When the market experiences volatility, it may be a good time to review these common terms.
Risk Perspective
Is it possible to avoid loss? Not entirely, but you can attempt to manage risk.
Value vs. Growth Investing
Among stock-market investors there’s long been a debate between those who favor value and those who favor growth.
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.
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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.
What Is My Risk Tolerance?
This questionnaire will help determine your tolerance for investment risk.
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.
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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Bursting the Bubble
Tulips were the first, but they won’t be the last. What forms a “bubble” and what causes them to burst?
Emerging Market Opportunities
What are your options for investing in emerging markets?
Should I Invest in Gold?
Learning more about gold and its history may help you decide whether it has a place in your portfolio.
Inflation and Your Portfolio
Even low inflation rates can pose a threat to investment returns.
Jane Bond: Scaling the Ladder
Agent Jane Bond is on the case, uncovering the mystery of bond laddering.
What Can a Million Dollars Buy You?
$1 million in a diversified portfolio could help finance part of your retirement.