- How to Buy Gold With Your 401(k)
Investing in gold with a 401(k) involves using retirement savings to invest in gold-related assets, which may range from physical gold bars and coins to gold ETFs and mutual funds. It’s not as straightforward as buying stocks or bonds, but it can offer a valuable alternative to more well-known types of securities. Diversifying your portfolio… read more…
- Risks of Investing in Stocks and How to Avoid Them
Every financial investment carries risk. And while conventional wisdom says that you could earn a higher return by taking on more risk, veteran investors will tell you that learning how to manage that risk is the steadiest path to making a profit. Here’s a roundup of common types of risk that affect investments and how… read more…
- What Is Cumulative Preferred Stock?
Investing in dividend stocks is something you might consider if you’re interested in creating passive income. There are different ways that dividends can be paid out, depending on which type of stock you own. Cumulative preferred stock distributes accumulated dividends on a preset schedule, before any dividend payouts to common stock shareholders. If you own… read more…
- Differences Between Active and Passive Mutual Funds
Mutual funds are available in two main variants: active and passive. Active funds are managed by professional portfolio managers who frequently buy and sell assets in an attempt to outperform the market or a specific benchmark index. Passive funds, commonly known as index funds, aim to replicate the performance of a specific market index. It’s… read more…
- Dollar Weighted vs. Time Weighted: Investments
Time-weighted and dollar-weighted returns are two common methods used to evaluate investment performance. A time-weighted return measures how an investment performed independently of cash flows—essentially answering, “How did the asset itself do over time?” A dollar-weighted return, by contrast, factors in the timing and size of contributions and withdrawals, showing how the investment performed for… read more…
- ESPP vs. ESOP: Investment Guide
In today’s dynamic job market, companies are constantly searching for innovative ways to attract, motivate and retain top talent. Two increasingly popular methods that bridge the gap between employees and corporate success are employee stock purchase plans (ESPPs) and employee stock ownership plans (ESOPs). These acronyms may sound similar, but they represent distinct strategies that… read more…
- How to Get a 10% Return on Investment (ROI)
Understanding the concept of return on investment (ROI) is the first step to possibly generating a 10%+ return. Keep in mind, however, that a 10%+ ROI is not a guaranteed result. ROI is a financial metric widely used to measure the possibility of gaining a return from an investment based on its past performance. It… read more…
- What Is Total Expense Ratio (TER)?
Total expense ratio, otherwise known as “TER,” comprises the total costs associated with managing and operating an investment fund. They typically applies to the major types of funds, like ETFs and mutual funds. TER can drastically influence investment decisions, as it can affect how much of a fund’s returns are actually being passed down to… read more…
- What Is Sustainable Investing?
Sustainable investing is an approach for generating financial returns while also having a positive impact on the environment and society as a whole. Sustainable investing looks beyond the financial scope of a company or an asset, and considers various environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors. Let’s delve deeper into sustainable investing, strategies for implementing it… read more…
- What Is Contrarian Investing?
Have you ever considered going against the crowd in your investment decisions? This seemingly unconventional practice is not only exciting but also has the potential to yield significant returns. Welcome to the concept of contrarian investing – a strategy that encourages distinctiveness from herd mentality. In the complex world of investment, breaching the influence of… read more…
- What’s a Good Return on Investment (ROI)?
Just like a seasoned sailor navigates through the vast sea using a compass, a savvy investor uses the return on investment (ROI) as a key compass in navigating the sea of financial decisions. However, understanding what constitutes a good ROI is crucial for making sound financial choices, whether that’s investing in stocks, bonds or real… read more…
- How Does Diversification Protect Investors?
Investing can be a complex field layered with potential pitfalls and unforeseen risks, which is why so many investors seek diversification. The cornerstone of diversification is its potential to disperse risk. You can spread the risk of volatile investments or industries across multiple investments. It can be difficult finding the right diversification mix for you,… read more…
- What Is a Securities-Backed Line of Credit?
A securities-backed line of credit is a credit facility that uses as collateral a bundle of securities that you own. You can then borrow and repay against this credit at will in the same way that you can with a credit card. If you want to close the account or if the value of your… read more…
- Return on Equity vs. Return on Assets: Key Differences
Return on equity (ROE) and return on assets (ROA) determine how efficient a company can be at generating profits. Both formulas that can help investors determine how good a company is at turning a profit. Let’s take a look at both… read more…
- What Is Return on Invested Capital?
Return on invested capital (ROIC) is a financial metric that shows how well a company converts capital into profits. It measures the company’s efficiency and effectiveness at allocating its available capital to projects, products and investments that produce profits. Investors… read more…
- How Do Margin Loans Work?
Typically, margin investing works based on margin loans. These are loans that your brokerage extends so that you can purchase with a combination of your own funds and borrower money, giving you the liquidity to make larger purchases. They are… read more…
- What Is Halal Investing?
You’ve probably heard of values-based investing. Whether your religious beliefs, environmental goals or personal ethics are guiding your investment strategy, the wide array of investments available today allows you to build a portfolio that aligns with your values. Halal investing… read more…
- What Is Faith-Based Investing?
A foundational religious parable tells of two servants who invested their money in the marketplace and one who buried it in the ground. This story gives Christians lessons about serving God with their money and abilities. More broadly, faith-based investing… read more…
- 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…
- 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…
- 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…
- SIPC vs. FDIC: Understanding Key Differences
Whether you’re saving money in a bank account or investing it in the market, you want some reassurance that it’s safe. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) and the Securities Investor Protection Corporation (SIPC) ensure banks and other financial institutions,… read more…
- What Is a Good P/E Ratio? Is High or Low Better?
P/E ratio, or price-to-earnings ratio, is a quick way to see if a stock is undervalued or overvalued. And so generally speaking, the lower the P/E ratio is, the better it is for both the business and potential investors. The… read more…
- How to Open a CD Account
Certificates of deposit (CD) accounts allow depositors to earn a guaranteed interest rate in exchange for keeping their money in the account for a predetermined length of time. These accounts can have higher interest rates than those on traditional savings… read more…