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.

Inflation and Your Portfolio
Even low inflation rates can pose a threat to investment returns.

5 Smart Investing Strategies
Getting what you want out of your money may require the right game plan.

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

How Financial Advisors Are Compensated
Read this overview to learn how financial advisors are compensated.

Jane Bond: Decoding Diversification
Agent Jane Bond is on the case, discovering how bonds diversify a portfolio.
Types of Stock Market Analysis
Most stock market analysis falls into three broad groups: Fundamental, technical, and sentimental. Here’s a look at each.
The ABCs of Zero Coupon Bonds
Understanding some basic concepts may help you assess whether zero-coupon bonds have a place in your portfolio.
Value vs. Growth Investing
Among stock-market investors there’s long been a debate between those who favor value and those who favor growth.
The Business Cycle
Understanding the economy's cycles can help put current business conditions in better perspective.
Asset Allocation
Consider how your assets are allocated and if that allocation is consistent with your time frame and risk tolerance.
Four Really Good Reasons to Invest
There are four very good reasons to start investing. Do you know what they are?
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Taxable vs. Tax-Deferred Savings
Use this calculator to compare the future value of investments with different tax consequences.
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.
What Is the Dividend Yield?
This calculator helps determine your pre-tax and after-tax dividend yield on a particular stock.
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 Principles
Principles that can help create a portfolio designed to pursue investment goals.
Keys to Investing for Retirement
There are some key concepts to understand when investing for retirement
5 Smart Investing Strategies
There are some smart strategies that may help you pursue your investment objectives
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Bridging the Confidence Gap
In the world of finance, the effects of the "confidence gap" can be especially apparent.
The Good Ship IPO
The seas of the market are constantly shifting. Whether the good ship IPO can set sail may depend heavily on the tides.
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?”
Jane Bond: Infiltrating the Market
Agent Jane Bond is on the case, cracking the code on bonds.
The Fed and How It Got That Way
Here is a quick history of the Federal Reserve and an overview of what it does.