State-owned enterprises typically have inherently lower operating efficiency due to compromised business interests. It may be prudent to avoid them in your international portfolio. Here we'll see what the data has to say. What Are State-Owned Enterprises? State-owned enterprises, or SOEs, refer to companies with at least partial government ownership. The … [Read more...] about Should You Avoid State-Owned Enterprises in Your Portfolio?
Investing 101
Sequence of Return Risk in Retirement Explained
Sequence of return risk may very well ruin your financial retirement plans, and all from sheer bad luck. Here we’ll look at the nature and implications of sequence of return risk in retirement, and some proposed solutions to at least mitigate its potential negative impact. What Is Sequence of Return Risk? Sequence of return refers to the variability of … [Read more...] about Sequence of Return Risk in Retirement Explained
Factor Investing and Factor ETFs – The Ultimate Guide
Factor investing refers to specifically targeting independent risk factors in securities markets that explain the differences in returns between diversified portfolios. Here we'll look at what factor investing is, various factor models from the research, and how to do it using factor ETFs. What Is Factor Investing? Factor investing means targeting specific drivers … [Read more...] about Factor Investing and Factor ETFs – The Ultimate Guide
ESG Investing – Going Socially Responsible in Your Portfolio
Interest in ESG investment products has skyrocketed in recent years, particularly among young investors. Let's explore what ESG investing is, why you might be interested in it, and how to implement it in your portfolio. What Is ESG Investing? ESG investing - also referred to as socially responsible investing, sustainable investing, and impact investing - means … [Read more...] about ESG Investing – Going Socially Responsible in Your Portfolio
Day Trading vs. Investing in Stocks – Which Is Better?
Day trading and investing involve very different audiences, time horizons, trade frequencies, risk profiles, mindsets, tactics, and methodologies. Here we'll explore the differences and similarities between day trading and investing. What Is Day Trading? Day trading, as the name suggests, refers to attempting to capitalize on intraday changes in the share price of … [Read more...] about Day Trading vs. Investing in Stocks – Which Is Better?
Why Automated Investing Is More Powerful Than You Think
With the new year usually comes new or renewed interest in investing and personal finance. Let's explore why you should be looking into automating your investing. The Benefits of Automated Investing Any successful investor knows to invest early and often. That means regular deposits into an investment account. Thankfully, this usually happens automatically with a … [Read more...] about Why Automated Investing Is More Powerful Than You Think
401k Front Loading Max Contribution Calculator
I've always tried to both max out and "front load" my 401k contributions each year. Front loading refers to contributing more earlier in the year to get money in the market sooner and then dropping the contribution election down for the rest of the year, while staying under the annual max contribution limit. For my personal situation, for example, I front load heavily in the … [Read more...] about 401k Front Loading Max Contribution Calculator
Why and How To Invest in Gold for Beginners
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
Beginners Start Here – 10 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 – 10 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. Prefer video? Watch it here. 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 … [Read more...] about What Is a Leveraged ETF and How Do They Work?
Why, How, & Where 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 and inflation. Introduction - Why Invest Your Emergency Fund? An emergency … [Read more...] about Why, How, & Where 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: What Is a Stock? A stock … [Read more...] about What Is the Stock Market? How It Works & How to Invest in It
The 4 Best Investing Apps for Beginners (2024 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 for . In a hurry? Here's the list: Introduction - Features of the Best Investing Apps Not long ago, investors had to … [Read more...] about The 4 Best Investing Apps for Beginners (2024 Review)
The Best Index Funds for 2024 for the Passive Investor
Index investing is a simple yet powerful approach to consistent 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 for . What Is an Index Fund? An index fund, as the name implies, is simply an investment product designed to track a particular index in the … [Read more...] about The Best Index Funds for 2024 for the Passive Investor
The 5 Best Stock Brokers Online for Investing (2024 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 (2024 Review)
Portfolio Asset Allocation by Age – Beginners To Retirees
Asset allocation refers to the 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 Video Prefer video? Watch it here: What … [Read more...] about Portfolio Asset Allocation by Age – Beginners To Retirees
VOO vs. SPY vs. IVV – The 3 Best S&P 500 ETFs (2024)
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 3 best S&P 500 ETFs - VOO, IVV, and SPY - and why you might want one over the others for . Video Prefer video? Watch it here: Introduction - What Is the S&P 500 … [Read more...] about VOO vs. SPY vs. IVV – The 3 Best S&P 500 ETFs (2024)
13 Best Index Funds for Young Investors (6 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 the best index funds for young investors for . 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 13 Best Index Funds for Young Investors (6 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