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?

The Business Cycle
How will you weather the ups and downs of the business cycle?

How to Conquer the World - 5 Financial Strategies for Savvy
Learn more about women taking control of their finances with this infographic.

Are Alternative Investments Right for You?
With alternative investments, it’s critical to sort through the complexity.
Inflation & Your Money
It's important to understand how inflation is reported and how it can affect investments.
The Great Debate Continues: Active vs. Passive
In investments, one great debate asks the question, “Active or Passive Investing: Which Is Better?”
Emotional vs. Strategic Decisions
Information vs. instinct. Are your choices based on evidence of emotion?
How Financial Professionals Are Compensated
Read this overview to learn how financial advisors are compensated.
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.
Mutual Funds vs. ETFs
Exchange-traded funds have some things in common with mutual funds, but there are differences, too.
View all articles
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.
What Is the Dividend Yield?
This calculator helps determine your pre-tax and after-tax dividend yield on a particular stock.
Taxable vs. Tax-Deferred Savings
Use this calculator to compare the future value of investments with different tax consequences.
Contributing to an IRA?
Determine if you are eligible to contribute to a traditional or Roth IRA.
How Compound Interest Works
Use this calculator to better see the potential impact of compound interest on an asset.
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
The Rule of 72
Do you know how long it may take for your investments to double in value? The Rule of 72 is a quick way to figure it out.
Finding the Balance
The sandwich generation faces unique challenges. For many, meeting needs is a matter of finding a balance.
The Cycle of Investing
Understanding the cycle of investing may help you avoid easy pitfalls.
When Markets React
When markets shift, experienced investors stick to their strategy.
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.
Investments
You’ve made investments your whole life. Work with us to help make the most of them.