Stock market indexes are by far the most widely used tools in making investment decisions. But many investors take for granted what market indexes are and the many roles they play within their portfolio strategy and throughout the financial ecosystem. In this article, we’ll take apart the core structure of… ( Continue )
What are Wealth Advisors, Portfolio Managers and Traders
Like any natural habitat, the Wall Street ecosystem is populated with a wide array of forces interacting and competing with one another to ensure the greatest sustained benefit to themselves. This financial food chain includes everybody from the largest institutions down to the smallest retail traders and everybody in between.… ( Continue )
What are Portfolio Management and Portfolio Rebalancing?
One of the more opaque phrases thrown around in financial services is “portfolio management.” Although it might seem like a simple enough concept, those two words can act as a stand-in for anything from the assets you’ve invested in, to your overall strategy, all the way down to the people,… ( Continue )
5 things to know about the compensation of Financial Advisors
Do you know what financial products you’re invested in? Do you know why you should invest into them? Do you know someone you can trust to tell you how your investments should be? While you may think you know the answers to these questions, there is a lot developing below… ( Continue )
Are Smart Beta ETFs better investment?
With the precipitous flow of investments into passive index funds and exchange traded funds (ETFs), the vast majority of cash in the market is tied to the performance of broad-based market indexes like the S&P 500, the Nasdaq Composite or the Russell 2000. While most financial advisors are the ones… ( Continue )
Should you put money into REITs?
One of the least appreciated economic developments of the past decade of recovery from the 2008 financial collapse is the dramatic upswing in value of both commercial and residential real estate. According to the U.S. Census Bureau’s monthly home sales report, the average home price at the apex of the… ( Continue )
Should You Invest In Marijuana Stocks?
Marijuana refers to the plant scientifically known as cannabis; more specifically, three recognized species include Cannabis sativa, Cannabis indica and Cannabis ruderalis. The cannabis plant is a source of over 400 compounds, including 60 cannabinoids. Of the 60 cannabinoids, two in particular, delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) or dronabinol, and cannabidiol, are the… ( Continue )
5 Strategies To Continue Investing Into Retirement
Investing and saving for retirement is a hot topic in personal finance. Many advisors, bloggers, and influencers give hundreds of strategies on how to invest for retirement. However, many forget to mention how important it is to continue to build wealth during your retirement. Here are a few of the… ( Continue )
3 Factors that determines the value of Bonds
When bonds are traded in the secondary market, the price of the bond is influenced by the demand and supply of the bond. The other factors that affect the price are: Interest rates Bond price and interest rate share an inverse relationship. Interest rate in this case means the benchmark… ( Continue )
3 things you should know before you hire a financial advisor
Even seasoned investors don’t always take the do-it-yourself approach to saving for retirement. Sometimes, it may be worth it to seek out the advice of a trusted advisor to make sure you’re on track to retire. What’s A Financial Advisor? A financial advisor is a professional who, for a fee,… ( Continue )
9 Essential Terms to Know Before You Start Trading Futures
Part of your preparation in trading futures should involve learning able to speak and understand the language of the market. Arbitrage Some investors benefit from price discrepancies among different commodity futures markets. These investors analyze the prices of similar commodities in different markets and buy from the lower priced market.… ( Continue )
Should you invest in Commodities?
If you’re already an investor, commodity trading can serve to diversify your portfolio. Commodities can be anything from oil to gold or silver to coffee, sugar and wheat. Unlike certain investments, commodities can hold and gain value over time. They can also be less risky. You’re not buying an intangible… ( Continue )
How old should I be to start investing in stocks?
Investing in stocks is risk-fraught and it is not for the faint-hearted. Those of you imagining the lure of disproportionate profits who wish to introduce a young child to investing or take the plunge yourself might also have to brace for losing out big time if your bets go haywire.… ( Continue )
What are Bonds?
Though bonds as an investment class don’t generate the highest returns, they have their own appeal. They offer portfolio diversification, generate steady returns even in the face of a highly volatile investment environment, provide tax advantages and more. If you don’t know what bonds are and want to learn how… ( Continue )
Why People Invest in Stocks?
Why People Invest in Stocks Investing in stocks can be a good way to build wealth. Due to the magic of compound interest, a small initial investment can eventually grow to a treasure trove, if properly managed. For example, the world’s most famous investor, Warren Buffett started investing in equities… ( Continue )
What you should know about mutual funds and brokerage account
What is your brokerage account? Your brokerage account is an investment account opened with a broker or a firm that charges a commission or fee for buying and selling securities on your behalf. Opening an Account To open a brokerage account, fill out an application either at a brick and… ( Continue )