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.

The Real Cost of a Vacation Home
What if instead of buying that vacation home, you invested the money?

5 Smart Investing Principles
Principles that can help create a portfolio designed to pursue investment goals.

What Can a Million Dollars Buy You?
$1 million in a diversified portfolio could help finance part of your retirement.

Required Reading: The Economic Report of the President
The Economic Report of the President can help identify the forces driving — or dragging — the economy.

It Was the Best of Times, It Was the Worst of Times
All about how missing the best market days (or the worst!) might affect your portfolio.
Don’t Be Your Own Worst Enemy
Emotional biases can adversely impact financial decision making. Here’s a few to be mindful of.
You Would Rather Be...
Are you a thrill seeker, or content to relax in the backyard? Use this flowchart to find out more about your risk tolerance.
TIPS for Inflation
If you are concerned about inflation and expect short-term interest rates may increase, TIPS could be worth considering.
The ABCs of Zero Coupon Bonds
Understanding some basic concepts may help you assess whether zero-coupon bonds have a place in your portfolio.
Do Our Biases Affect Our Financial Choices?
Even the most seasoned investors have biases affecting their financial choices.
Mutual Funds vs. ETFs
Exchange-traded funds have some things in common with mutual funds, but there are differences, too.
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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.
How Compound Interest Works
Use this calculator to better see the potential impact of compound interest on an asset.
Taxable vs. Tax-Deferred Savings
Use this calculator to compare the future value of investments with different tax consequences.
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.
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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
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Behavioral Finance
An amusing and whimsical look at behavioral finance best practices for investors.
Inflation and Your Portfolio
Even low inflation rates can pose a threat to investment returns.
The Junk Drawer Approach to Investing
It's easy to let investments accumulate like old receipts in a junk drawer.
From Boats to Brokers
From the Dutch East India Company to Wall Street, the stock market has a long and storied history.
Should You Invest in Exchange Traded Funds?
There are hundreds of ETFs available. Should you invest in them?
Jane Bond: Infiltrating the Market
Agent Jane Bond is on the case, cracking the code on bonds.