Have you been thinking about investing in precious metals or checking out some gold/silver futures? If you have, you’re not alone. Gold has been a consistently popular investment over the years (sometimes, it’s even more valuable for its investment qualities than its material uses). Other metals like silver, copper, platinum, and palladium are also quite popular for … Read more
The Motley Fool is a company that’s been around forever in internet terms. It was started in 1993 with the goal of helping to educate people about money so they could lead happier lives and be richer. The Motley Fool’s main branch is located in Alexandria, Virginia, and today it has more than 700 employees … Read more
Tech stocks are seeing a lot of traction right now, and it’s easy to understand why. Tech is what’s keeping the world and markets from crumbling down, and we can expect tech stocks and companies to lead the way over the next few years. The thing with tech stocks, however, is that everyone wants to … Read more
Exchange-traded funds are an excellent choice for many types of investing. However, they’re not a catch-all where they’re perfect for everyone or every situation. Also, when deciding ETFs are right for you, there are certain things that you should not do with them. Not avoiding these pitfalls can become expensive or at the very least, … Read more
Investing in the stock market used to have a much higher barrier to entry than it has today. It’s impressive to see how much the markets have been democratized over such a short period. Investors big and small can now trade assets in real-time with very little starting capital and with nothing but a laptop, … Read more
An ETF is an exchange-traded fund that is traded on the stock exchange. ETFs can hold a variety of investments like bonds, stocks, commodities, and even real estate via holding REITs (real estate investment trusts). They are similar to mutual funds in concept but work very differently. Exchange-traded funds are also an excellent choice for portfolio diversification … Read more
There are many investment platforms available today, and there are advertisements daily for new ones, it seems. With novice investors seeking opportunities to get started, it can become a little overwhelming to begin building a portfolio. But, let’s face it, you aren’t retiring on interest from a money market account. Two platforms have made it their … Read more
401(k) rollovers can be confusing, and kind of scary. You’re moving large sums of money from one account to another, and you’re doing everything you can to avoid messing up and landing a huge tax bill. I get it. In 2019, I did my very first, and hopefully only, 401(k) rollover! I learned a lot … Read more
With free trading apps like Robinhood and effortless investment options like Betterment, more and more people are interested in investment. It doesn’t take long before you run into something called an “ETF” or “Exchange-traded Fund.” So, how are ETFs and individual stocks the same and different? Which one is “better?” We’ll attempt to answer those … Read more
In early 2019, I left my traditional job and needed to roll my 401(k)s over. Yes, I had multiple. I had a traditional 401(k) and a Roth 401(k). Since 2017, I’ve been using Betterment as my primary investment broker. I have accounts with Schwab, Robinhood, and Ally Invest as well, but I like how easy … Read more
Betterment is a Robo-advisor service that offers both financial planning advice as well as brokerage services. They also have plans that provide access to their Certified Financial Planners. Depending on your needs, they have pricing for many services, which we cover here. But how much does Betterment charge for their fees? That all depends on … Read more
I want to make the smartest decisions possible when it comes to my investments. Undoubtedly, you’ve seen all the different offers from brokers like TD Ameritrade, Schwab, Fidelity, eTrade, and probably dozens more. I’ve been through that, and I’ve used and continue to use many of them. Then I learned about Robo-advisors and decided I … Read more
For 2018, try a less traditional resolution by exploring stock investing. It’s never been easier to get into the market. Easy-to-use trading platforms and an abundance of information and training materials have removed most barriers. We’re experiencing record-breaking market performance. We’re at a moment of “I should have invested, yesterday.”. The typical resolutions and goals can take a back … Read more
It’s no secret, dividend stocks are in high demand for the income they generate, but what is stopping you from dividend investing? Today, we’re going to discuss why you should invest in dividend stocks for your income plans. Dividend investment is attractive for multiple reasons: They are passive income. Dividends are generally taxed at a lower rate, … Read more
Updated 03/18/2017: Added more details and updated our passive income experiment with new results! In 2009, we wanted to test some of our theories on passive income, but we wanted to do it differently than creating a stock portfolio and leaving it. We settled upon the idea of writing articles for a website and watching the … Read more
For many of us, the stock market and all of its technical intricacies is an entirely foreign concept. The mind-boggling jargon and brash, risk-taking characters associated with the stock market are enough to make many conclude ‘nope, not for me’. However, strip away the buzzwords and the gambling mentality, and the trading industry is far … Read more
Thinking about the future? If so, you’ll probably have made plans for your retirement. You may be part of a workplace pension plan, set aside a little money each month in a savings fund or, to try and get the most from your money when you’re ready to leave work, have an annuity. Although broadly … Read more
Investing can be a scary task for someone new to the world of finance. But despite what some Wall Street experts will tell you, many investment concepts are actually easy to grasp. With just a bit of study, it is possible for a newbie to understand the basics. In this article, we will examine some … Read more
Investing in dividend paying stocks is great for your portfolio, and this article will provide the basic terms you need to know about dividends- explained. Dividend Fundamentals Perhaps you are thinking of investing in a business that has proven to be financially rewarding to its shareholders, or you are seeking avenues to invest your hard-earned … Read more
When it comes to making investments, financial advisers will often ask you whether you’re interested in capital growth or income. Now we all know what they mean by this question, but it is a misleading one for most people. The fact is that if you’re enjoying index-beating capital growth by a distance, you really won’t … Read more
Investing in stocks, funds, and public companies for maximized dividend returns takes a certain amount of savvy and strategic positioning on the investor’s part. It is characterized by some amount of risk and variables, but also wise decision-making, planning, and the ability to look at market trends and anticipate where the market is heading, whether short-term or … Read more