Stocks? Bonds? Cash? Where should your money be invested? Over the last few decades it has become commonplace to talk about stocks and bonds from a fixed-allocation perspective. This approach to portfolio management has become ingrained in our society; however, it is a very dangerous way to approach investing.
If you’ve done your homework and are aware of the risks of owning bonds, then you might have heard the argument that you can eliminate interest rate risk by owning individual bonds and holding them to maturity. Let’s explore whether or not there is any truth to this line of reasoning.
When it comes to fixed income investing, there are two options available to investors. You can own individual bonds, or you can purchase shares of a bond fund. Both options have unique advantages and disadvantages that make them suitable under certain conditions.
Target-date funds have increased in popularity during recent years as a result of investors continually searching for easy, one-size-fits-all solutions to manage their money. But just how appropriate are these funds for the average investor? The answer may surprise you.
Jim Cramer’s Actions Alerts Plus is a subscription service offered through TheStreet.com. It allows investors to trade alongside Cramer as he makes investment decisions for his charitable trust stock portfolio. With over 70,000 paid subscribers, the service appears to be very successful. But just how well has the Action Alerts PLUS Portfolio performed over time? And how does Model Investing stack up?
Over the last few years a number of automated investment services, known as robo-advisors, have opened their doors. These services are designed to provide ordinary investors with sophisticated portfolio management at a fraction of the cost of a traditional financial advisor. Their growing popularity has caused a stir in the investment community, but just how good are these robo-advisors?
If you’ve ever worked with a financial planner or investment advisor, there’s a good chance you’re using an investment strategy known as strategic asset allocation. While you may not know it by that name, you’re probably familiar with how it works. What you may not be of aware of, however, are how recent changes in financial markets have made this approach to investing more dangerous than ever before.
The age-old idea of not having all your eggs in one basket is considered timeless wisdom, but could it be working against you? In truth, diversification is a double edged sword. The benefit that it provides comes at a mighty cost. When it comes to investing, most individuals aren’t aware of the hidden price they pay for this so-called “free lunch.”
Investing is very much a mental game. It requires an intellectual toughness and fortitude that is not only uncommon, but very difficult to develop. In this article we discuss the mental resilience that investors need to cultivate in order to stomach the fluctuations that come with being a successful investor.
Regardless of whether you’re a seasoned investor, or someone just getting started, it often helps to review the most basic fundamental principle that underlies all of investing: compounding. If you truly understand the power of compounding, then you recognize that beyond any other force, it is time that exerts the greatest influence on your investment portfolio.
