- How to Get a Fix and Flip Loan for an Investment Property
When it comes to buying a home or a property that you plan to rehab and resell, a fix and flip loan may be just what you need if you’re not sitting on a huge pile of cash. Fix and flip loans work a little… read more…
- 5 Factors to Consider When Rebalancing Your Portfolio
Maximizing returns is a key goal for any investor, but maintaining a well-balanced portfolio is just as important for managing risk and ensuring long-term success. Over time, market fluctuations can shift your asset allocation, potentially exposing you to more risk than you intended. That’s why periodic rebalancing is essential. Before making any adjustments, however, it’s… read more…
- Are ETFs a Good Fit for Your 401(k)?
Thanks to their lower costs, exchange-traded funds (ETFs) are becoming a popular choice among investors. These funds, which track specific stock indexes or market sectors, look like any other mutual fund, but they trade like a stock. While there are… read more…
- How to Invest in Water
In the 2015 film The Big Short, hedge fund manager Dr. Michael Burry realizes that the mortgage market is about to implode. By the end of the movie, Burry decides to shift his investment focus to one thing: water. If you’re wondering… read more…
- Index Funds vs. ETFs
Index funds and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) both earn returns through a series of investments. But how they trade and what they cost varies. However, there are some ETFs that are also index funds (and vice versa). That means the subtle differences between each of these investment types make them specifically better options for certain investors over… read more…
- 5 Factors That Affect Your Investments
Investments can be great wealth building tools that you can use to multiply your savings. But unfortunately, all of the research and counseling in the world can’t necessarily guarantee a high rate of return. Whether you’re an expert or a novice, it’s important to keep in mind that there are certain uncontrollable factors that will… read more…
- The Newbie Investor’s Guide to Fees
New investors often focus on picking the right mix of funds to add to their portfolios based on their risk tolerance. While choosing the right investments is a big part of building wealth, it’s not the only factor that matters. There are certain costs that go along with investing that you can’t afford to overlook. Before diving… read more…
- What Is the IRR for Real Estate Investments?
When it comes to turning a profit on investments, the trick is knowing how to balance the risks against the potential rewards. Calculating a real estate property’s capitalization rate can give you a ballpark figure of what kind of returns… read more…
- ETFs vs. Mutual Funds: When You’re Investing on a Budget
Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and mutual funds are two great ways to dive into the world of investing. What are they? You can think of a mutual fund as a basket of stocks and bonds. Similarly, an ETF invests in a… read more…
- 4 Risks of Investing in a Rental Property
Investing in real estate can potentially yield some major returns. But at the same time, you’re taking a chance in assuming that renting out a property will pay off. Being a landlord isn’t always a walk in the park and… read more…
- 4 Questions to Ask Before Investing in Real Estate
Investing in real estate is a good way to add some diversity to your portfolio and make a decent profit at the same time. But the rewards don’t come without certain risks. Before you start putting big bucks into real estate investments and… read more…
- Pros and Cons of Target-Date Funds for Millennial Investors
Target-date funds (TDFs) take some of the guesswork out of investing for people who aren’t market savvy. And because they shift toward a more conservative asset allocation over time, you don’t have to worry about rebalancing your portfolio. Millennials represent one group of investors that have latched on to target-date funds in a big way.… read more…
- 5 Basic Investing Principles
Investing can be a great way to build wealth as a young adult. But if you don’t know anything about stock or bonds, you might be tempted to avoid the process of investing altogether. Avoiding investing means you could miss out on the… read more…
- Pros and Cons of Crowdfunded Investments
Crowdfunding has taken off since the passage of the JOBS Act in 2012. In addition to being a way to fund personal causes, crowdfunding has opened up new avenues for investors who want to put their money into real estate… read more…
- What Is Factor Investing?
It’s important to diversify your portfolio to hedge against risk. The traditional school of thought suggests that investors focus on things like asset allocation or striking a balance between stocks and bonds. But factor investing takes a different approach. This concept has… read more…
- What Is a Cap Rate?
Owning real estate can be a lucrative venture. But as with any investment, you’ll have to be prepared to tolerate a certain amount of risk. If you’re planning to buy a property for the sole purpose of renting it out, figuring out the cap rate can help you gauge what kind of return you’ll see… read more…
- What Is a Fiduciary Duty?
Fiduciary duty is an important topic of conversation, especially as debates continue over which financial professionals are obligated to uphold this standard for their clients. Simply put, fiduciary duty is a legal and ethical obligation to act in the best interests of another party. Understanding who is bound by this duty — and who is… read more…
- 3 Ways Parents Can Invest for Their Kids
If you’re planning for your child’s future, socking money away into a high-interest kids savings account is a good place to start. The only downside is that investing your money will typically yield a better return than simply saving. Certain types… read more…
- The Economics of Mobile Apps
Those apps on your smartphone? While they’re entertaining you they may be making a lot of other people rich. The mobile apps industry is booming. A 2015 report by Transparency Market Research predicts that the global mobile app market will experience a 16.2% Compound Annual Growth Rate between 2014 and 2020. By 2020, the global… read more…
- The Economics of Film Festivals
These days it seems like film festivals are a dime a dozen. From the glitzy red carpet of the Cannes festival to the casual vibe at Sundance, film festivals are a chance to premiere new films, generate buzz and get… read more…
- 5 Must-Have Estate Planning Tools for Wealthy Investors
When you’re actively working toward building wealth, it’s a good idea to make sure you’re taking steps to protect it. Taking the time to develop an estate plan is a must for wealthy investors, and the sooner you get started, the better. If you don’t have an estate plan in place yet, you can take a… read more…
- What Are Treasury Bills (T-Bills), and Should You Invest in Them?
When you’re looking for a safe way to invest your money, things don’t typically get any more solid than government-backed securities. The U.S. Department of Treasury offers several different low-risk options, including notes, bonds and bills. Treasury bills, or T-bills, can be… read more…
- How to Use ETFs for Tax-Loss Harvesting
Investing can be tricky to master and one thing it’s important to do is balance your profits against your losses. Selling off stocks or other securities for a profit can actually cost you money if you have to pay a substantial… read more…
- What Is Value Investing?
If you’re new to investing, you may not have settled on a particularly investing strategy. While experts say that many people can get away with investing in low-fee index funds rather than trading stocks in individual companies, some people enjoy deciding which company shares to buy. These active investors tend to self-identify as either growth investors… read more…
- 4 Ways to Minimize Capital Gains Taxes on Investments
Investing can yield big returns, but it comes with a price. When you sell off investments and realize a profit, Uncle Sam expects you to pay taxes on your earnings. These are called capital gains, and they come in long- and short-term variations. These could mean a much bigger tax bill if you’ve had a… read more…