- How to Create Multiple Streams of Income
eveNearly half of all Americans depend on secondary work to get by. This is largely hidden from BLS and Census bureau data. According to the Census, 7.8% of Americans work more than one job. Having multiple streams of income is rapidly becoming… read more…
- Investing in Municipal Bonds During Rate Hikes
Municipal bonds, or “munis,” are popular investments for a few reasons. Most notably, as a government bond, they can be the closest thing to a safe asset that the market offers. And, investors typically pay no federal taxes on the… read more…
- Everything You Need to Know About Investing in Bonds Right Now
Bonds are one of the two most basic investment options, along with stocks. While stocks are fairly well understood — you buy a piece of a company and make money when the company does well and becomes worth more —… read more…
- 10 High-Dividend Stocks to Consider
If you’re looking to invest money, you may want to consider high-dividend stocks. Dividends are regular distributions that companies dole out to their shareholders. High dividends simply mean that whatever money is returned to shareholders, generally each quarter tends to… read more…
- Qualified vs. Non-Qualified Dividends
Many people wonder whether they should be investing in qualified or non-qualified dividends and what the differences are. The largest difference is in how each is taxed. To help you determine what stock paying dividends could have a place in… read more…
- Bond Price vs. Yield: Key Differences
Bonds are a popular security for fixed-income investors and people seeking stability for their portfolios. Understanding how bonds, which are essentially corporate or government IOUs, provide income requires a grasp of the price of a bond and its yield, both… read more…
- How Do Bonds Generate Income for Investors?
Corporations and government entities must have funding for their land, buildings, equipment, operating expenses and ongoing projects. One of the major sources of funding is through the debt market where they can issue debt instruments or bonds. Let’s break down… read more…
- What Is a Phantom Stock Plan for Employees?
If you’ve been promoted to a senior position in a company, you might find yourself wading through a flood of new perks. While a higher salary and company car has obvious uses, obscure rewards like phantom stock plans can be… read more…
- Ordinary Dividends vs. Qualified Dividends
Dividends paid to investors by corporations come in two kinds – ordinary and qualified – and the difference has a large effect on the taxes that will be owed. Ordinary dividends are taxed as ordinary income, meaning a investor must… read more…
- Bond Yield vs. Interest Rate: Investing Guide
Yield and interest are highly-related when it comes to bonds. Your yield is based on the interest payments generated by a bond. However, because yield is the total profit you make based on your underlying investment, it might not always be… read more…
- What Is a Step-Up CD?
A step-up certificate of deposit, or “step-up CD,” is a variable interest deposit product where the rate of interest gradually increases over the term of the certificate. Eventually, the certificate matures and you get back your initial deposit with interest.… read more…
- Investment-Grade Corporate Bonds Can Help You Fight Inflation
Amid market turmoil, every investor is looking for ways to protect his or her portfolio. According to research from AllianceBernstein, investment-grade corporate bonds have promising yields and spreads to provide this protection. Unlike stock investments which are temperamental and leave… read more…
- Why Now May Be a Good Time to Invest in Dividend-Paying Stocks
The market is down and inflation is up – so what’s out there for an investor looking for growth, appreciation and stability? You can try dividend-paying stocks. Many companies that pay dividends are still profitable during a market downturn so… read more…
- How Much Can Investing $1,000 Per Month Give Me?
Investing $1,000 per month for 30 years at a 6% rate of return hypothetically will give you an investment portfolio worth more than $1 million. This result is hypothetical because it doesn’t take into account taxes, fees, varying rates of… read more…
- With Bond Funds Battered, Investors Might Want to Climb a Treasury Ladder
In times of changing interest rates, Wall Street traders like to say, “Don’t fight the Fed.” With returns on bond funds plummeting that could be good advice for fixed-income investors, too. Let’s take a look at why bonds are plummeting… read more…
- Fixed Income vs. Equity Investments
Building the “perfect” investment portfolio can be tough, especially with so many choices, like fixed income and equities. However, both equities and fixed-income products can be strong components of your investment portfolio. After all, each one can help advance, in… read more…
- How to Earn Passive Income From Dividends
The premise of passive income is attractive because who wouldn’t want to sit back and watch their extra cash silently earn more money without doing any additional work? However, generating passive income is easier said than done. It only comes… read more…
- How Dividend Per Share Is Calculated
Dividend per share allows investors in a business to determine how much dividend income they will receive per share of their common stock. Dividends are the portion of profit that a company distributes to its investors. Many investors, such as… read more…
- How Much Interest Will I Earn on $5 Million?
When people think of their ideal nest egg, many aim for – or hope for – $1 million. They want a sufficient cushion to carry them and any loved ones through their golden years. However, that may not actually be… read more…
- Series I Savings Bonds vs. TIPS
If you’re looking for an investment option that is less volatile than the stock market, your options aren’t limited to savings accounts. Both TIPS and Series I savings bonds are investments that help you protect your principal while earning over… read more…
- Nominal Yield: What It Is and How to Calculate It
Bonds can add diversification to a portfolio if you’re looking for fixed-income investments. If you’re new to bond investing, you may not be familiar with certain key terms, such as nominal yield. A bond’s nominal yield represents its coupon rate… read more…
- This Type of Fund May Help During a Recession
Retail investors everywhere want to know: how do we beat the recession? While experts may be somewhat divided over whether or not the U.S. economy is currently in a recession (some of which depends on which political party you are… read more…
- Understanding the 7 Types of Interest Rates
Interest is the money that someone pays for borrowing money. If you take out a loan, you pay interest in exchange for using that capital. If someone else borrows money from you, they do the same. Yet while interest is… read more…
- If Interest Rates Rise, What Happens to Bond Prices?
Interest rates and bond prices generally move in opposite directions. Thus, when interest rates go up, the price of fixed-rate bonds usually falls. Similarly, a fall in interest rates causes the price of fixed-rate bonds to increase. This dynamic is… read more…
- What Is an Add-On CD?
An add-on certificate of deposit, or “add-on CD,” is a specialized type of certificate of deposit. It has the same term and withdrawal limits as a standard CD. It differs in that you can add to this account over time,… read more…