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.

Featured Video

What Can a Million Dollars Buy You?

$1 million in a diversified portfolio could help finance part of your retirement.

The Junk Drawer Approach to Investing

It's easy to let investments accumulate like old receipts in a junk drawer.

Earnings for All Seasons

Earnings season can move markets. What is it and why is it important?

The Business Cycle

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

• Articles

  All That Matters: The Next Bear Market

  The next bear market is inevitable – will you be prepared?

  In the Markets Now: Averages and Roller Coasters

  The S&P 500's average annual return has been 10% for a century...but that's almost never how it feels.

  In the Markets Now: Selloff Summary for April 21, 2025

  Stocks dropped precipitously on concerns for the future of Fed independence and trade war persistence.

  In the Markets Now: What the Rate Cuts Mean

  After much anticipation, the Fed has finally begun to lower interest rates. Here's what that means.

  ESG Under the Microscope

  Baird’s John Taft and Chris Merker on how ESG is evolving and what investors should watch for.

  The Road to November: Election Insights from Strategas

  Head of Policy Research Dan Clifton breaks down how to analyze the upcoming presidential election, and what it means for you.

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• Calculators

  Debt-to-Income Ratio Calculator

  Calculate your debt-to-income ratio to understand how lenders may view your financial health.

  Monthly Budget

  Track your monthly income and expenses to get a clearer view of your cash flow.

  Student Loan Payoff Calculator: Extra Payments Can Save You

  See how extra payments toward your student loans could shorten your payoff timeline.

  College Savings

  See how much you may need to save now to cover future college costs for your child.

  What Is My Net Worth?

  Get a snapshot of your overall financial picture by calculating your total net worth.

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• Videos

  Finding the Balance

  The sandwich generation faces unique challenges. For many, meeting needs is a matter of finding a balance.

  What Can a Million Dollars Buy You?

  $1 million in a diversified portfolio could help finance part of your retirement.

  What Smart Investors Know

  Savvy investors take the time to separate emotion from fact.

  Should You Invest in Exchange Traded Funds?

  There are thousands of ETFs available. Should you invest in them?

  From Boats to Brokers

  From the Dutch East India Company to Wall St., the stock market has a long and storied history.

  Bursting the Bubble

  Tulips were the first, but they won’t be the last. What forms a “bubble” and what causes them to burst?

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