Whether you’re just arriving here directly from Index Funds or you’ve read through the basics of investing and decided you want to take the easy way after all, no problem—target date funds are the easiest investment choice you’ll ever need to make.Target date funds are my favorite investment of all because they embody the 85 Percent Solution: not exactly perfect, but easy enough for anyone to get started—and they work
We’ve all heard stories about investors who consistently beat the market. There are books about them, conferences dedicated to them, and YouTube videos made about them. It’s no secret that there are investors out there who have beaten the market consistently for years. But what we don’t know is how they do it: What stocks do they invest in? How much risk do they take?Warren Buffett, for example, has produced
Life isn’t just about target date funds and index funds. Lots of people understand that, logically, they should create a well-diversified portfolio of low-cost funds. But they also want to have fun investing. If you feel this way, sure, use a small part of your portfolio for “high risk” investing—but treat it as fun money, not as money you need.I set aside about 10 percent of my portfolio for fun
Let’s be honest. Nobody really loves managing their money. I’d rather be using my money, like by taking a food tour in Tokyo or a weekend ski trip with friends. Basically, I’m always on the lookout for ways to spend less time and get better results. I’ve taken pains to research investments that don’t take lots of time to maintain and also pay off. That’s why I urge you to
Asset allocation is the process of dividing your investment portfolio into different asset classes, or groups of investments. Each group offers unique characteristics that are defined by risks and returns.Here’s what typical investors’ asset allocations—remember, that’s the mix of different investments—might look like as they get older. These figures are taken from Vanguard’s target date funds.These allocations are just general rules of thumb. Some people prefer to have 100 percent
You’ll see each of the different types of Stocks and Bonds; and how they differ from each other. Note that because of their complicated structure, REITs, “real estate investment trusts”—which are types of investments that let you invest in real estate through a single ticker symbol, just like a stock—don’t neatly fall into any of these categories.Now that we know the basics of the asset classes (stocks, bonds, and cash)
There are a lot of great money columnists out there. In this article, I’ll be sharing three columnists who I think do a great job relating their discipline to aspects of investing and personal finance. They each offer different perspectives and have strengths in different areas. I would consider them must reads if you are interested in improving your finances. Writes one of the most interesting blogs on psychology and money out
The fact of the matter is that you’re unlikely to find a better-performing fund or an investor who can consistently beat the market. Why, then, are some funds so alluringly compelling? It’s simple—some managers do beat the market (short-term), and many investors are lucky. However, they rarely, if ever, continue to do so consistently. In this article, you’ll learn how to beat financial experts, so you won’t have to hire
Credit cards can be a great asset if used properly, but they can also leave you in financial issues fast. Many people have credit card debt and don’t even realize it. Here’s how you can review your credit card bills to unearth opportunities for improving your finances.I used to do a weekly five-minute review of all the charges on my card. If I took no action, my credit card reached
I was talking to an acquaintance in Toronto when she told me she had just moved from Sydney and was trying to find a job. She bemoaned how difficult it was to find work and I nodded along sympathetically. Then she said:“It’s hard. I wish that something would just fall into my lap.”Whoa, hold on.I noticed that she specifically used “fall into my lap” to underline this wistful expectation or hope
