Gold can be used as a store of value and a significant alternative asset in a diversified investment portfolio. Here we'll explore how to invest in gold quickly and easily online. Why Invest in Gold? Gold has long been a common currency of the world. The shiny metal is now traded on exchanges via futures and ETFs. Gold is considered a commodity. Commodities as a … [Read more...] about Why and How To Invest in Gold for Beginners
Investing 101
Beginners Start Here – 9 Steps to Start Building Wealth
I would have loved some sort of a roadmap laid out for me when I started over a decade ago. The goal of this page is to do just that, so that you can start building wealth today. View this page as a reference sheet; a pathway along which you'll progress; a general framework, from which the details branch off. I would suggest taking a brief look at all the steps first, and … [Read more...] about Beginners Start Here – 9 Steps to Start Building Wealth
What Is a Leveraged ETF and How Do They Work?
Leveraged ETFs allow investors to increase exposure without additional capital outlays. Below we'll explore what leveraged ETFs are, how they work, and why you might want to use them. What is a Leveraged ETF? A leveraged ETF, as the name suggests, is an ETF (exchange-traded fund) that allows investors to utilize leverage in their portfolio. Leverage simply refers … [Read more...] about What Is a Leveraged ETF and How Do They Work?
Why, Where, & How To Invest Your Emergency Fund To Beat Inflation
The oft-cited advice is to put your emergency fund in a safe, high-liquidity savings account or money market fund, but there may be a better way if you're willing to take on some additional risk. Here we explore how you can invest your emergency fund to beat a high-yield savings account. Introduction - Why Invest Your Emergency Fund? An emergency fund is exactly … [Read more...] about Why, Where, & How To Invest Your Emergency Fund To Beat Inflation
Why and How To Buy Bonds Online: A Guide for Beginners
Bonds are a critical part of a diversified investment portfolio alongside stocks, lowering volatility and risk. Here we'll explore what a bond is, why you'd want to invest in bonds, types of bonds, and how to buy bonds online. In a hurry? Here are the highlights: A bond is an instrument by which lenders/investors are paid periodic interest payments for providing a … [Read more...] about Why and How To Buy Bonds Online: A Guide for Beginners
What Is the Stock Market? How It Works & How to Invest in It
For beginners who lack investing experience, "the stock market" can seem like a big, complex, intimidating entity, especially after seeing scary headlines about market crashes. But it doesn't have to be this way. Here we'll explain what the stock market is, how it works, and how to invest in it. In a hurry? Here are the highlights: A stock is an instrument by which … [Read more...] about What Is the Stock Market? How It Works & How to Invest in It
The 4 Best Investing Apps for Beginners (2020 Review)
Recent technological advances in the investing world have resulted in new mobile apps that make it easier than ever before to get in the market and start saving for retirement. In this post we'll look at the best investing apps for beginners. In a hurry? Here's the list: M1 FinanceSchwabAcornsWebull Introduction - Features of the Best Investing Apps Not … [Read more...] about The 4 Best Investing Apps for Beginners (2020 Review)
How To Invest in an Index Fund – The Best Index Funds of 2020
Index investing is a simple yet powerful approach to consistent, low-risk investment portfolio growth. Here we'll explore what index funds are, their benefits, how they work, how to invest in them, and some of the best index funds to choose. What is an Index Fund? An index fund, as the name implies, is simply an investment product designed to track a particular … [Read more...] about How To Invest in an Index Fund – The Best Index Funds of 2020
The 5 Best Stock Brokers Online for Investing (2020 Review)
The recent race to zero for fees and trade commissions from online stock brokers has made investing cheaper and more accessible than ever before. This has caused the brokerage landscape to change drastically over the last few years. Here we'll look at the 5 best stock brokers online for investing. In a hurry? Here's the list: M1 FinanceSchwabFidelityInteractive … [Read more...] about The 5 Best Stock Brokers Online for Investing (2020 Review)
Portfolio Asset Allocation by Age – Beginners to Retirees
Asset allocation refers to the assignment of a ratio among different asset types in one's investment portfolio. Here we'll look at how to set one's portfolio asset allocation by age and risk tolerance, from young beginners to retirees, including calculations and examples. In a hurry? Here are the highlights: Asset allocation refers to how different asset classes are … [Read more...] about Portfolio Asset Allocation by Age – Beginners to Retirees
How to Invest in the S&P 500 Index – 3 of the Best ETFs
Warren Buffett has advised DIY retail investors to simply buy a low-cost S&P 500 index fund and sit back and relax. Here we'll look at how to invest in the S&P 500 index with the best S&P 500 index funds. Introduction - What is the S&P 500 Index? The S&P 500 index, the modern shorthand name of the Standard & Poor's 500 Index, is simply a … [Read more...] about How to Invest in the S&P 500 Index – 3 of the Best ETFs
The 9 Best Index Funds for Young Investors (4 From Vanguard)
Get your portfolio off the ground on the right foot at a young age with passive, buy-and-hold index investing. Here we'll look at 9 of the best index funds for young investors. In a hurry? Here's the list: VOO - Vanguard S&P 500 ETFITOT - iShares Core S&P Total U.S. Stock Market ETFVT - Vanguard Total World Stock ETFIXUS - iShares Core MSCI Total … [Read more...] about The 9 Best Index Funds for Young Investors (4 From Vanguard)
The 6 Best Index Funds for Beginners for Long-Term Growth
Investing in the stock market can appear daunting, but it doesn't have to be. Technology and modern online brokers have made it easier, cheaper, and faster now more than ever for DIY investors to create a simple and effective portfolio. Index funds allow you to make an initial investment and then sit back, relax, and watch your portfolio grow. Here we'll look at the best index … [Read more...] about The 6 Best Index Funds for Beginners for Long-Term Growth
Treasury Bonds vs. Corporate Bonds – The Showdown
Bonds are usually held in a portfolio with equities to reduce volatility and to offer downside protection against black swan events. Let's dive right into comparing treasury bonds vs. corporate bonds. In a hurry? Here are the highlights: Corporate bonds are more volatile than treasury bonds.Interest from treasury bonds is exempt from state and local taxes, while … [Read more...] about Treasury Bonds vs. Corporate Bonds – The Showdown
Lazy Portfolios and Their ETF Pies for M1 Finance
The term "lazy portfolio" refers to a portfolio designed to perform well in most market conditions, that can be held for an extended period without changing the asset allocation leading up to retirement. Popular examples are the traditional 60/40 Portfolio and the Bogleheads 3 Fund Portfolio. Lazy portfolios are usually simple, diversified collections of low-cost index … [Read more...] about Lazy Portfolios and Their ETF Pies for M1 Finance
How to Invest Your HSA (Health Savings Account)
A Health Savings Account (HSA) is an extremely powerful vehicle for both investing and paying for medical expenses, but a common question is how exactly to invest inside it. Here we'll explore the the properties, benefits, and investment options of an HSA. In a hurry? Here are the highlights: An HSA is a tax-advantaged account used to pay medical expenses and/or to … [Read more...] about How to Invest Your HSA (Health Savings Account)
8 Reasons Why I’m Not a Dividend Income Investor
This post largely originated after seeing all the misinformation surrounding dividends floating around Reddit and YouTube recently. Most users on the M1 Finance subreddit, for example, seem to be very pro-dividend, almost unwaveringly so and nearly cult-like, so I’m a little afraid to even open this can of worms for fear of being pitchforked. It’s scary how much cavalierness, … [Read more...] about 8 Reasons Why I’m Not a Dividend Income Investor