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.
The Business Cycle
How will you weather the ups and downs of the business cycle?
5 Smart Investing Principles
Principles that can help create a portfolio designed to pursue investment goals.
Have A Question About This Topic?

The Junk Drawer Approach to Investing
It's easy to let investments accumulate like old receipts in a junk drawer.

The Sequence of Returns
A look at how variable rates of return impact investors over time.

Bull and Bear Go To Market
Learn about the difference between bulls and bears—markets, that is!
The Business Cycle
Understanding the economy's cycles can help put current business conditions in better perspective.
The ABCs of Zero Coupon Bonds
Understanding some basic concepts may help you assess whether zero-coupon bonds have a place in your portfolio.
Alternative Investments - Going Mainstream
Alternative investments are going mainstream for accredited investors. It’s critical to sort through the complexity.
Emotional vs. Strategic Decisions
Information vs. instinct. Are your choices based on evidence of emotion?
How Financial Professionals Are Compensated
Read this overview to learn how financial advisors are compensated.
Diversification, Patience, and Consistency
Three important factors when it comes to your financial life.
View all articles
How Compound Interest Works
Use this calculator to better see the potential impact of compound interest on an asset.
Saving for College
This calculator can help you estimate how much you should be saving for college.
Impact of Taxes and Inflation
Estimate the potential impact taxes and inflation can have on the purchasing power of an investment.
Contributing to an IRA?
Determine if you are eligible to contribute to a traditional or Roth IRA.
What Is My Risk Tolerance?
This questionnaire will help determine your tolerance for investment risk.
What Is the Dividend Yield?
This calculator helps determine your pre-tax and after-tax dividend yield on a particular stock.
View all calculators
5 Smart Investing Principles
Principles that can help create a portfolio designed to pursue investment goals.
5 Smart Investing Strategies
There are some smart strategies that may help you pursue your investment objectives
View all presentations
Bursting the Bubble
Tulips were the first, but they won’t be the last. What forms a “bubble” and what causes them to burst?
The Business Cycle
How will you weather the ups and downs of the business cycle?
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.
Should I Invest in Gold?
Learning more about gold and its history may help you decide whether it has a place in your portfolio.
Should You Invest in Exchange Traded Funds?
There are thousands of ETFs available. Should you invest in them?