Most of the financial advice you see focuses on telling individuals what they need to do to be a success in retirement. Read more
Investment
Why Most Stocks Are Stinkers
A handful of stocks is responsible for virtually all the gains in the stock market since 1926. The rest…
4 Types of Investments to Avoid
This column, like most articles about investing, usually tells you where to put your money—which stocks, bonds, sectors or asset classes are likely to yield superior returns in the future. What the pundits typically ignore is where not to put your money. Which investments should you shun? But I take up the challenge and identify four categories that you should avoid.
Wall Street: This Market Is ‘Weird’
The bull-minded optimists that gravitate toward Wall Street are herded and fed by the major investment banks and brokerages, which because of their commission-based business models, try to encourage broad participation in the financial markets. No surprise then that most Wall Street analysts and brokers tend to find the silver lining in everything. Stocks rising? Better buy now before it’s too late. Stocks falling? Great, buy more because shares are on sale.
Beware Fake Stock News
Hundreds of articles contain false information that is planted, the SEC says.
Where to Invest for the Rest of 2017
Bull markets become trickiest to navigate just when they start to look easy. Lately, this one has been a breeze. Investors in U.S. stocks have gotten more than a year’s worth of gains in six months, with Standard & Poor’s 500-stock index returning 12.5% since last November’s election, far ahead of the long-term annual average of 10%.
Best Index Funds for Investors
Decisions can be difficult when you’re faced with too many choices. Take, for instance, index funds. Investors looking for a good, passively managed U.S. stock fund have morethan 600 distinct mutual funds and exchange-traded funds from which to choose. More than 85 are tied to Standard & Poor’s 500-stock index in some fashion or another.
8 Cheap Stocks for a Pricey Market
In a market obsessed with sexy, fast-growing technology companies, a better long-term strategy may be to look for wallflowers. Wall Street’s rally this year has been led by the tech world’s most storied franchises, including Amazon.com, Apple and Facebook. That has dimmed investors’ interest in many other companies, particularly those that are short on glamour or that face challenges reinvigorating their own growth.
3 Dangerous Investing Mistakes to Avoid
We all make mistakes. But making mistakes with your money can haunt you for a lifetime. Here are three of the most dangerous mistakes investors make – and how to avoid them.
Beware of Vipers in the Financial World
Getting good, ethical financial advice is imperative as you work toward retirement, and, unfortunately, that’s not a given. Here are three red flags that your adviser may be doing you a disservice.