If you plan to do any serious investing, you’ll need to go through a broker. Full service brokers offer a variety of financial products, do extensive research for their clients and provide individualized investment advice, but all this service comes at a high price. Discount brokers are a less expensive alternative.
For those who prefer to save money by handling their own investments, a discount broker is the best option. But all discount brokers are not created equal. They offer different services, features and fees.
Here is some information and advice to think about when considering a discount broker.
Category: Basics
How to Choose a Discount Broker?
Wednesday, November 16th, 2011
If you plan to do any serious investing, you’ll need to go through a broker. Full service brokers offer a variety of financial products, do extensive research for their clients and provide individualized investment advice, but all this service comes at a high price. Discount brokers are a less expensive alternative.
For those who prefer to save money by handling their own investments, a discount broker is the best option. But all discount brokers are not created equal. They offer different services, features and fees.
Here is some information and advice to think about when considering a discount broker.
Tweak Your Portfolio in Case of Inflation
Monday, June 13th, 2011
One of the golden rules of investing is to stay ahead of inflation. Most investments are designed to offer returns that will not be eradicated by the average amount of inflation. But there are times when inflation is anything but average. When it is higher than usual, it can eat up the returns on low-interest investments.
The variability of inflation is one of the biggest reasons why investors are advised to diversify their portfolios. But in times of high inflation, there are other measures you can take for added protection.
Here are some ideas and advice to consider when inflation...
5 Investing Rules of Thumb to Live By
Monday, May 9th, 2011
What Are ETFs?
Tuesday, April 5th, 2011
What Are ETFs?
If you’ve spent any time over the past few years researching investment options you may have heard about ETFs. ETF stands for Exchange Traded Fund. They’ve gained enormous popularity and have become quite trendy.
As with any trend, it’s important to be cautious before jumping in – particularly when your money is potentially at risk. So let’s first look at what an exchange traded fund is. “Exchange Traded” means that it is traded just like a traditional stock. “Fund” means that it is a collection or group of investments, which can include stocks and bonds.
Generally the investments...
Measuring the Risk of Investment
Monday, March 14th, 2011
All investments come with some amount of risk. No investment is safe from potentially losses. For years, real estate was considered the only investment that would never go down, but even real estate has taken a hit over the last several years. Investing is risky business.
The key to choosing the right investment is to find the right balance between risk and return for your needs. Sitting down with an investment professional may be one of the best steps you can take to planning your financial future.
Here is some advice and tips for measuring the risk of investment.
Dollar Cost Averaging
Sunday, January 9th, 2011
The technique of using dollar cost averaging for investing means that consumers make regular investments (most often monthly) into an investment portfolio. It works as an alternative to investing large lump sums. This allows the cost of investments to be lower, in theory. A lower investment cost means that a consumer will see more potential profit from the investment.
The dollar cost averaging strategy can be used to begin investing small amounts over a set period of time. It also works to break up lump sums into smaller increments, reducing the amount of fear about a fluctuating market.
There are pros...
Establish An Investing Discipline When You Are In College
Tuesday, July 13th, 2010
Going to college and establishing what you want to pursue in the future is a great time in your life. The academic and social experiences during the college years are often unlike any others. But even though it seems like the last thing on a student's mind, making the right financial and savings decisions while in college now can impact on their adult life in a very positive way.
The investing discipline I'm describing here (although using traditional bank accounts) is what you need to start doing with stocks, mutual funds and other investments once you begin your working career....
Improve Your Investment Skills
Monday, June 14th, 2010
You work hard every day, so you want your money to work for you. Maybe you are accomplishing this with investments. But, everyone can get a little better. If you are looking for ways to increase your portfolio, improving your skills may be in order. Here is some advice on how to improve your investment skills.
Investing is an art that anyone can learn if they want to. Many follow the word of analysts and a financial adviser, but they can only take you so far. They can recommend, but the best fit for you will come from making your...
Minimizing The Risks Of Online Trading
Monday, May 24th, 2010
Are you interested in investing in stocks and other commodities? Trading online has become increasingly popular to help increase the size of your portfolio. But, there are risks with day trading. Here is some advice to help minimize the risks of online trading.
The form of online trading most people are interested in is day trading. Day trading can be rewarding if you know what you are doing. You are looking at the market from the standpoint of how stocks, bonds and commodities will change from the opening to the closing of the market on any given day.
Those who want...
Monitoring Your Investment Portfolio
Saturday, March 13th, 2010
So you have gotten with a professional investment counselor. They have given you advice on how to go about putting together your investment portfolio to best suit your needs. Now that you have laid out the money, how do you know what your stocks, bonds and other products are doing?
Investing is not a passive, one-time thing. After you go through the process of choosing where and how much to invest, that is only the beginning. Now the process of helping to manage that portfolio begins.
Remember when you were talking to your investment counselor? They probably asked you questions about...






