Investment
Investing should be easy – just buy low and sell high – but most of us have trouble following that simple advice. There are principles and strategies that may enable you to put together an investment portfolio that reflects your risk tolerance, time horizon, and goals. Understanding these principles and strategies can help you avoid some of the pitfalls that snare some investors.
What Smart Investors Know
Savvy investors take the time to separate emotion from fact.
5 Smart Investing Principles
Principles that can help create a portfolio designed to pursue investment goals.
Have A Question About This Topic?

Should I Invest in Gold?
Learning more about gold and its history may help you decide whether it has a place in your portfolio.

Bull & Bear Markets: A Timeline
This helpful infographic will define bull and bear markets, as well as give a historical overview.

The Junk Drawer Approach to Investing
It's easy to let investments accumulate like old receipts in a junk drawer.
Investing with Your Heart
For some, the social impact of investing is just as important as the return, perhaps more important.
How to Invest in LGBTQ+ Friendly Companies
This article allows those who support LGBTQ+ interests to explore the possibilities of Socially Responsible Investing.
Mutual Funds vs. ETFs
Exchange-traded funds have some things in common with mutual funds, but there are differences, too.
Four Really Good Reasons to Invest
There are four very good reasons to start investing. Do you know what they are?
Your Shifting Risk Tolerance
Time and market performance may subtly and slowly imbalance your portfolio.
Rebalancing Your Portfolio
Over time, different investments' performances can shift a portfolio’s intent and risk profile. Rebalancing may be critical.
View all articles
What Is the Dividend Yield?
This calculator helps determine your pre-tax and after-tax dividend yield on a particular stock.
Impact of Taxes and Inflation
Estimate the potential impact taxes and inflation can have on the purchasing power of an investment.
What Is My Risk Tolerance?
This questionnaire will help determine your tolerance for investment risk.
Contributing to an IRA?
Determine if you are eligible to contribute to a traditional or Roth IRA.
Saving for College
This calculator can help you estimate how much you should be saving for college.
Taxable vs. Tax-Deferred Savings
Use this calculator to compare the future value of investments with different tax consequences.
View all calculators
5 Smart Investing Principles
Principles that can help create a portfolio designed to pursue investment goals.
5 Smart Investing Strategies
There are some smart strategies that may help you pursue your investment objectives
View all presentations
What Smart Investors Know
Savvy investors take the time to separate emotion from fact.
Inflation and Your Portfolio
Even low inflation rates can pose a threat to investment returns.
The Fed and How It Got That Way
Here is a quick history of the Federal Reserve and an overview of what it does.
From Boats to Brokers
From the Dutch East India Company to Wall Street, the stock market has a long and storied history.
The Cycle of Investing
Understanding the cycle of investing may help you avoid easy pitfalls.
16 Wall Street Cliches in 60 Seconds
Pundits say a lot of things about the markets. Let's see if you can keep up.