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.

Featured Video

Inflation and Your Portfolio

Even low inflation rates can pose a threat to investment returns.

It Was the Best of Times, It Was the Worst of Times

All about how missing the best market days (or the worst!) might affect your portfolio.

A Deeper Look at the National Debt

Strategas Chief Economist Don Rissmiller discusses in-depth the issues he’s watching on the budget deficit and national debt.

Should I Invest in Gold?

Learning more about gold and its history may help you decide whether it has a place in your portfolio.

• Articles

  The Dangers of Portfolio Tinkering

  “Your money is like a bar of soap – the more you handle it, the less you’ll have.”

  Geopolitical Uncertainty Expected to Continue

  The events in the Middle East fit the larger theme of geopolitical uncertainty that we are seeing across the world stage.

  All That Matters: What's New, What Isn't

  How should investors interpret recent market volatility? And what’s different this time?

  The Anatomy of an Index

  The S&P 500 represents a large portion of the value of the U.S. equity market, it may be worth understanding.

  Do Our Biases Affect Our Financial Choices?

  Even the most seasoned investors have biases affecting their financial choices.

  The Business Cycle

  Understanding the economy's cycles can help put current business conditions in better perspective.

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• Calculators

  How Long Will Your Money Last?

  See how long a lump sum of savings could last based on your withdrawal rate and return.

  Taxable vs. Tax-Deferred Savings

  Compare how the same contribution grows differently in taxable versus tax-deferred accounts.

  Wedding Budget Calculator

  Estimate total wedding costs and see how different choices affect your overall budget.

  How Compound Interest Works

  Explore how compound interest can grow your money over time with this interactive tool.

  What Is the Dividend Yield?

  Calculate the dividend yield of a holding and see what that means for income over time.

  The Power of Interest - How Long Will it take My Money to Do

  Use the Rule of 72 to estimate how long it takes your money to double at a given rate.

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• Videos

  Investments

  You’ve made investments your whole life. Work with us to help make the most of them.

  Bridging the Confidence Gap

  In the world of finance, the effects of the "confidence gap" can be especially apparent.

  Jane Bond: Scaling the Ladder

  Agent Jane Bond is on the case, uncovering the mystery of bond laddering.

  The Fed and How It Got That Way

  Here is a quick history of the Federal Reserve and an overview of what it does.

  Jane Bond: Infiltrating the Market

  Agent Jane Bond is on the case, cracking the code on bonds.

  The Cycle of Investing

  Understanding the cycle of investing may help you avoid easy pitfalls.

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