- What Is the Real Return of an Investment?
When measuring investment performance, it’s helpful to understand its real return. The real return on investment is what you earn after returns are adjusted for inflation and taxes. Nominal returns, on the other hand, don’t account for those deductions. Understanding… read more…
- How to Start Investing in Your 20s
The earlier you begin investing, the better off you’re likely to be in the long term. Here’s how you can get started if you’re still in your 20s. It’s never too early to start investing—as long as you do so wisely.… read more…
- Here’s How Often You Should Rebalance Your Portfolio, According to Vanguard
Portfolio shifts are a common occurrence for investors, especially active ones. Over time, assets shift out of balance from their original assigned portions and could take you out of your comfort zone. Rebalancing your portfolio realigns your assets to meet… read more…
- Webull vs. Charles Schwab
Finding an online brokerage firm to use for your personal investment can be intimidating. There are many options out there, and it isn’t all about picking the option with the most bells and whistles — you have to choose the… read more…
- Passive Real Estate Investing: What to Know
Real estate investing can have many benefits, including cash flow, asset appreciation and tax breaks. However, it can also be a lot of work, which many people don’t have the time to do. But investing in real estate doesn’t have… read more…
- What Is a Forward Rate?
A forward rate can be one of two things. In most usage, forward rates estimate the interest that an investment or loan will pay in the future. You can use it to predict the yield you will get on a… read more…
- How This ‘Do Nothing Portfolio’ Can Beat the S&P 500
A hypothetical stock portfolio has taken hands-off investing to a whole new level. Jeffrey Ptak, a chartered financial analyst (CFA) for Morningstar, recently devised a passive investment portfolio that’s based on the composition of the S&P 500. But instead of… read more…
- Should You Invest All at Once or Spread it Out? Here’s What Vanguard Says You Should Consider
A financial windfall like an inheritance or salary bonus can be a wonderful opportunity for investing. But what’s the best way to invest your newfound wealth: all at once or little by little? New research from Vanguard suggests that you’re… read more…
- How Much Should You Invest Each Month
Investing money can help you to build wealth. The sooner you start investing, the more time you have to benefit from compounding interest. So, how much should you invest per month? It’s not a simple question as you have to… read more…
- How to Invest in Artificial Intelligence
Artificial intelligence has become one of the most talked about technologies over the past few years. Many see AI with large dollar signs in their eyes. However, every new technology has a lag between invention and commodification and just… read more…
- Morningstar Says to Look for Durable Dividends
Dividend stocks are the primary building blocks of income portfolios – that is, investment portfolios that aim to generate cash flow instead of simply growing in value. Picking which dividend stocks to buy, though, isn’t always easy. While the “instant… read more…
- Why Schwab Believes Short-Duration Stocks Belong in Your Portfolio
As the Federal Reserve has aggressively raised interest rates over the last year to fight inflation, shorter-duration bonds have offered higher yields than their longer-duration counterparts. Surprisingly, a similar dynamic has existed for equities, according to financial services giant, Schwab.… read more…
- Buy to Open vs. Buy to Close: Investment Guide
Buying to open is when you purchase a new options contract and assume either a long or short position. Conversely, buying to close is when you purchase an existing options contract that matches a contract you sold. In doing so… read more…
- What Are FAAMG Stocks?
FAAMG is an acronym for a group of five American technology stocks: Facebook, Apple, Amazon, Microsoft and Google. Given the tech behemoths behind each of these stocks, they have been centerpieces in millions of stock portfolios. Here’s what you need… read more…
- Have Apple and Microsoft Made Portfolio Diversification Impossible?
While the volatility of a single stock can lead to big winnings if the company takes off, your portfolio can suffer just as easily if that firm has a bad day. Diversification can help you smooth out those lows. At… read more…
- These Stocks Fell at Least 38% Last Quarter. Are They in Your Portfolio?
The first quarter of 2023 was a mixed bag for many stocks. And five, in particular, were among the worst performers. According to Morningstar, First Republic Bank (FRC), Bed Bath & Beyond (BBBY), Groupon (GRPN), Lumen Technologies (LUMN) and Zions Bancorp… read more…
- Dollar-Cost Averaging vs. Lump Sum Investing
If you want to dip your toe into investing, it can be overwhelming. The terminology, risks and fees might make you want to just dump your funds in a savings account instead. But that would be a mistake – investing… read more…
- How to Be a Risk Averse Investor
A risk-averse investor is someone who prefers to emphasize security over potential gains. Their portfolio is built to preserve capital and prevent losses first and pursue growth second. This isn’t to say that risk-averse investors see no gains. This is… read more…
- When You Should Use a Taxable Brokerage Account?
A taxable brokerage account that allows you to buy and sell a wide range of securities, such as stocks, bonds, mutual funds and exchange-traded funds (ETFs). Unlike contributions to a traditional IRA or a 401(k), contributions to a taxable brokerage… read more…
- Protect Your Investments From Market Crashes With Theses 2 Strategies From Fidelity
When financial markets are falling fast, risk-averse investors may be tempted to cut and run. But cashing out your investments when markets are falling often means locking in investment losses. And knowing the right moment to reenter the market when… read more…
- Impact Investing vs. ESG
Impact investing is a strategy for using your money to create or affect positive change by investing in things that will do good in the future. ESG, on the other hand, is a framework for evaluating and selecting investments based… read more…
- Obsessed With High-Dividend Stocks? Here’s Why This Major Firm Says That’s a Mistake
In recent years, high-dividend stocks have become especially popular among investors looking for income in their portfolios. A new article from asset management firm AllianceBernstein, though, posits that these shares are not enough for building an effective portfolio. Rather, the… read more…
- 5 Tips From Morningstar to Invest Like Warren Buffett
Warren Buffett is one of the most successful investors of all time, with a net worth of over $100 billion. Known as the “Oracle of Omaha,” Buffett has made his fortune by investing in businesses with strong competitive advantages and… read more…
- Morningstar Says These Two Assets Can Protect Your Portfolio From Inflation
Let’s face it: the past few years have been pretty scary for investors. From the pandemic to the bear market and inflation, it seems like most people aren’t as concerned with making huge gains as they are with simply protecting… read more…
- Vanguard Says Don’t Give Up on the 60/40 Portfolio
Of all the choices an investor has to make, asset allocation could be the most important. Deciding how to split up the money you invest among different asset classes requires clarity of purpose and an understanding of each category’s advantages… read more…