The Best Real Estate Crowdfunding Sites

Investors now have access to real estate investments through crowdfunding sites. Although we cannot vouch for the accuracy or quality of the rankings, Consumerism Commentary evaluated more than a dozen to find the best real estate crowdfunding sites available today. It's a great list to start your investigation.

The Pros and Cons of Bond Laddering

Buying fixed-income securities of staggered maturities and holding for the long haul makes some sense, but it may not always be the best strategy

Investors See Largest Ever Decline in Fund Fees

Average fund fees decreased 8% in 2017, saving an estimated $400 billion. Score one for free markets, competition, and consumerism.

Why It Makes No Sense to Compare Dividend Yields to Bond Yields

Investors have a funny relationship with yield. Retirees tend to prefer an income-based strategy, even at the expense of total returns. Plenty of investors (and politicians) have a poor understanding of share buybacks.

Using Smart Beta in an Outcomes-Oriented Portfolio

Before incorporating strategic beta products in a client's portfolio, advisers must understand the challenges at hand and the desired outcome.

Socially Responsible Investing Doesn’t Make Sense – Except When It Does

If your portfolio doesn’t line up with your beliefs, you’re likely not very comfortable with your portfolio. If you aren’t comfortable with your portfolio, then it’s going to be a lot harder for you to stick it out when the markets get “choppy,” especially if that choppiness all seems to be heading down.

3 Questions to Answer Regarding Factor-Based Investing

Advisors are interested in using factors. But it takes a lot of due diligence to choose among the many products and implement them in portfolios.

Diversification: Don't Put All Your Eggs (or Money) in One Basket

If the amount of time the idea of diversification has stuck around is a testament to its worth, it is clearly invaluable to investors.

Why Investors Don't Understand Their Own Risk Tolerance

Fear is a much stronger emotion than greed. The moment investments turn south, everybody wants to know what's going on and why.

3 Steps Toward Building a Retirement Income Plan

Part 2 of three-part retirement income series. Switching gears from saving for retirement to turning that savings into a retirement paycheck is a tricky proposition. Taking these steps can help bring your income plan into focus.

Stock Fear? A Solid Income Plan Helps Keep Retirees Safe

Part 1 of three-part retirement income series. If your retirement income relies on the stock market, a plunge isn't just paper losses to you. Here's the income plan my wife and I use that takes the worry out of market volatility.

Setting the Record Straight: Truths About Indexing

In this paper, Vanguard researchers review the rationale for indexing’s efficacy, quantify the benefits of indexing to investors, clarify the definition of indexing, and explore the validity of claims
that indexing has an adverse impact on the capital markets.

The Power of Compounding

Does compounding matter to your investment returns? For sure! Your contributions matter, but it's the power of compounding that leads to a wealth snowball. Want proof? Just look at these numbers from Get Rich Slowly.

Here's What You Need to Know About 529 ABLE Accounts

If you're the parent of a special-needs child, the 529 ABLE account can be a valuable resource in helping your child thrive.

What Kind of Returns Has the Stock Market Generated?

Over the past 200 years, stocks market returns have outpaced every other kind of investment. But before you invest, you need to understand a couple of things.

Putting Monday’s Drop in Perspective

Monday was the worst day that the Dow Jones Industrial Average has ever had, at least in terms of points. That sounds scary, and it certainly wasn’t fun, but just like most big events, the Retirement Researcher puts the February 5th drop in perspective.

Top Performing Active Funds Can’t Seem to Stay on Top

Another argument for passive investing: The latest S&P Persistence Scorecard shows that less than 1% of top-quartile funds are likely to remain on top after five years.

Podcast: Should I Fire My Financial Advisor for Lack of Value?

Joshua Sheets discusses how to determine if your financial advisor is worth the expense (after answering question about front-loading 401(k) contributions).

18 Frequently Asked 401(k) Questions

We don't necessarily agree with #11, but here are some of the most commonly misunderstood things about the most common type of workplace retirement plan.

Should I Invest Part of My Bonus in My 401(k)?

A reader asks, "Should I elect to put my bonus into my 401(k)? I've heard conflicting advice, but I don't understand the downside." Morningstar responds.

3 Reasons We're Sick and Tired of Bitcoin

Sean Williams at The Motley Fools says it's time we took bitcoin off of its pedestal and paid attention to other cryptocurrencies.

5 Changes to Retirement Savings for 2018

The changes to retirement savings rules for 2018 are uniformly positive, so take advantage of them by cranking up your contributions in the year to come. The more money you save now, the more you'll have to indulge yourself with once you retire.

Beware of these Five Bitcoin Scams

We look at five bitcoin scams and how to protect yourself from fraud.

Dividend Aristocrats With 50+ Years of Payout Growth

Dividend Aristocrats are in a class of their own, but even within the elite club, these companies stand out as true income champions.

Infographic: What is an ETF?

This infographic breaks down the basics behind exchange-traded funds (ETFs), including how they work, what they can track, and their investing pros/cons. For long-term investors, utilizing asset allocation strategies, some of the benefits touted (e.g., jntraday trading, stop-loss orders) for ETFs are of little value.

When an HSA-First Strategy Makes Sense

According to Morningstar, employees should first max out contributions to their HSAs no matter their tax bracket, and once that's done, contribute to their 401(k) plans.

Risk Composure And The Stability Of Investor Risk Perception

Why risk composure rather may be the real predictor of who can stick to an investment plan, and whether we can measure risk composure and risk perception.

What Is a 401(k)? Here’s Everything You Need to Know Now

New to 401(k) plans and have questions? Here’s your answer — once and for all, and with all the details — to the question: “What is a 401(k)?”

This Giant Infographic Compares Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Other Major Cryptocurrencies

What's the difference between Bitcoin, Ethereum, Dash, Ripple, and Litecoin? This infographic breaks it all down, as well as many other key metrics.

Investors: Keep Your Guard up and Be Ready for a Bear Market

The good times have been rolling for so long that it's easy to forget the sting a downturn can deliver. Those close to retirement can least afford to be lulled into a false sense of security. Here's how to be ready for the next bear market.

The Worst Funds for Your 401(k)

Many 401(k)s have lousy options when it comes to investing your money. This article won't name names as far as the absolute worst investment options for 401(k)s, but it will give you the information you need to assess your 401(k) plan and figure out which of its available investment choices aren't worth investing in.

Present Value Of Different Bond Types Using Excel

To determine the value of a bond today—for a fixed principal (par value) to be repaid in the future—we can use an Excel spreadsheet.

Diversification: Don't Put All Your Eggs (or Money) in One Basket

If the amount of time the idea of diversification has stuck around is a testament to its worth, it is clearly invaluable to investors.

How Much Do You Need to Invest?

Whenever people talk about how much you should save for retirement, there’s a pretty good chance that they’ll start talking about your retirement “number,” or how much you are supposed to have saved up. Forget the rules of thumb and do some planning.

Dreaming You Can Get the Returns of Stocks Without the Risk? Dream On

Retirement income without the downside? Fixed indexed annuities can do some good things, but not as good as often advertised.

Why Companies Issue Bonds

When companies need to raise money, issuing bonds is one way to do it. A bond functions like a loan between an investor and a corporation.

Why and How to Invest in Dividend-Paying Stocks

When it comes to investing in dividend stocks, many investors turn to mutual funds or exchange-traded funds that offer access to dividend-paying companies across industries. Those who prefer to hold individual stocks might instead want to follow in the footsteps of famed investor Benjamin Graham, who favored companies with three attributes:

3 Retirement Accounts That May Be Better Than a 401(k)

The 401(k) is often considered the pinnacle of retirement accounts, but for many savers there's a better option waiting for them to claim it. Depending on your particular situation, a SEP-IRA, Roth IRA, or HSA may be a better place to store your retirement savings than a 401(k). Here's how to tell which of these accounts is the best fit for you.

The Return You Need

One of the most common mistakes I see retirees make is looking at a good return on a nearly risk-free investment and concluding that they would do better in the stock market because it has a higher long-term average return. This is a good opportunity to review liability matching.

Lower Future Returns: What's an Investor to Do?

Advisors, the financial press, and many personal finance bloggers have been calling for lower future returns for the better part of a decade now...without much accuracy. But let’s take it a face value – what are we to do now?

Here’s What You Need to Know About 401(k) and IRAs

The differences between a traditional 401(k) and a Roth IRA. Since an increasing number of 401(k) plans offer a Roth option, the comparison could have been between those two options.

Returns Are Almost Never Average

When planning for the future, we tend to base our assumptions on past stock market returns. There's just one problem. Returns are almost never average. J.D. Roth closes article with sound advice about which numbers to focus on.

Is Your Stockpicker Lucky or Good?

There some actively-managed fund management groups with solid long-term results, including T. Rowe Price, American Funds, and a few others. However, the future long-term success of most managers is no more dependable than a coin flip, according to Victor Haghani.

How to Save for Retirement When You Have Student Loans

This study says you can’t use student debt as an excuse to not invest in the future. Here’s how to save for retirement — even with a ton of student loans.

Motley Fool Answers: What’s the Big Deal with Bitcoin?

Everywhere we turn people are talking about Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies. Maybe it’s because Bitcoin has increased in value by over 400% this year alone. So what is a cryptocurrency anyway?

10 Dividend Stocks for Retirement

In the search for yield, increasing numbers of retirees are turning to dividend stocks. Although some are not socially responsible choices, here are 10 that offer attractive yields and have been growing their dividends each year.

Principles for Successful Long-Term Investing

This is not an endorsement of J.P. Morgan's services, but it is a recommendation for their seven time-tested strategies for long-term investing. Every investor, or prospective investor, should read it.

ETF Investors Shouldn't Cry for Venezuela's Bonds

Almost every hard-currency emerging-markets debt exchange-traded fund owns Venezuelan bonds, but Morningstar says that investors in those ETFs shouldn't be overly concerned regarding the dire situation in that country.

Retirement Researcher Misses Mark on Commodities

Yes, commodities—and especially oil—can be very volatile. What author misses is that adding a small percentage of energy stocks to a portfolio can introduce a negatively-correlated asset that dampens overall volatility (standard deviation).

Psst, Millennials! Want An Extra $830K In Your 401(k)? Here's How

If you're a millennial, how would you like an extra $830,000 in your retirement account?

Our Analysts' 3 Favorite Real Estate Funds

Many investors turn to dedicated real estate funds, either to add a dose of diversification or if they are looking for income. Morningstar fund analysts highlight three of their favorite funds that invest in REITS.

Understand the return you need — not the one you want — to stay on course

The 'required return' can demystify and personalize the investing process. It can serve as both a guide for selecting the asset allocation that best suits an investor’s circumstances and a performance benchmark for assessing progress towards those goals.

3 Lazy Portfolio Recipes That Make Money

The author states that building a lazy portfolio is easy. We agree. We don't agree that "Lazy Investing" is the best approach for everybody. However, short of figuring out what is the optimal portfolio for you, it is better than many other strategies (for those willing to take the risks of owning stocks and bonds).

Don't Focus on Dividends Alone

"High-dividend portfolios didn’t perform better than the low-dividend-paying portfolios. But they were less volatile and exhibited lower sensitivity to the market risk premium (market beta)."

“Start investing when you’re in third grade.”

$1.9 billion. That's what Warren Buffet would be worth, today, if he had started investing at age 30. Perhaps the secret to his great wealth is not superior stock picking, but the power of time and compound interest.

IRS Announces Retirement Plan Limits For 2018

The Internal Revenue Service recently announced retirement contribution limits for 2018 adjusted for cost-of-living considerations.

Roth 401(k) Vs. Traditional: How To Choose Which Is Best For You

Most workers prefer traditional 401(k) accounts. Why do retirement experts advise certain workers to use Roth-style accounts?

Here’s how much more money you can put in your 401(k) in 2018

The contribution limit for 401(k) and other employer-sponsored retirement plans has gone up $500 for 2018, according to the Internal Revenue Service.

How to Invest At All-Time Highs

Stocks can’t continue to go up forever and rates can’t continue to go down forever so what are investors supposed to do?

Motley Fool Answers: A History Of Market Crashes, Pt 3: The Dot-Com Bubble

Nerd is the new black (or really, green) in part 3 of our series on market crashes. Hundreds of dotcoms enter the Thunderdome that is the Information Age, only a handful survive. Morgan Housel from the Collaborative Fund joins us.

A History Of Market Crashes, Pt 2: The Energy Crisis and Black Monday

The Motley Fool makes two stops in their series on market crashes with the help of Morgan Housel of the Collaborative Fund. In this podcast, they take a look at the 70s during the energy crisis and Black Monday in 1987.

A History Of Market Crashes, Pt 1: The Great Depression

This October, the Motley Fool is kicking off a four-part series on market crashes with the help of Morgan Housel from the Collaborative Fund. First Stop: The Great Depression. What made it so great, anyway?

Contemplating Collectible Investments

If you took an average of the returns on all collectibles – which is practically impossible to do given some have little or no market to measure – it would be dismal compared to the S&P 500.

How To Create A Laddered CD Portfolio

Laddered certificates of deposit offer safe capital and predictable cash flow, while bringing simplicity to your portfolio.

Best Online Brokers of 2017

Consumerism Commentary lists their choices for the best online brokers for 2017. We are not sure how a robo advisor qualifies as a discount broker, but it's their list.

401(k): Roth or Traditional?

We are strong proponents of Roth, if your employer plan offers it. This article provides some arguments for traditional. As you read, ask yourself if you would rather pay tax on the mustard seed (Roth) or the mustard tree (traditional)?

The Forces Favoring Single-Family Rentals, And The Places That Feature Them

Although the easy ride is over, rentals remain a good investment. Still, investors now need to look more closely at the basics of the markets where they might put their money. As always with real estate, you can make a good or bad investment anywhere, but your odds are better if you're working in fertile ground.

Investing for the Average Joe

A growing number of "regular folks" are turning to an app called Stash. On You can start investing with just $5. The company's motto is "investing for real people."

What's Better for You; Stocks, Mutual Funds, or ETFs?

Vanguard will help you choose. Answer four simple questions that can help you decide which is right for you. Of course, there is always the option of all three!

Grow Your income with Dividend Growth Investing

A portfolio of companies that increase their dividends each year has outperformed the S&P 500 over the long haul...with less volatility. It is a strategy that offers the potential for inflation-hedged retirement income.

Should You Make IRA Contributions After 65?

Assuming you meet the income and age tests that apply to IRA contributions, the next question is whether those contributions are advisable. And if you're eligible for both types of contributions, which type is best?

Motley Fool Answers: 5 Reasons to Sell a Stock: It’s Not You, It’s Me

Sometimes you’re put in a position where you have to sell stocks—and breaking up can be hard. Motley Fool Answers discusses five reasons to sell stock and how to figure out which stocks to sell.

How To Turbocharge Your 401(k) Returns

Using a 401(k) is one key to boosting retirement confidence. Here's how to supersize that confidence.

Morningstar's Kinnel: 43 Fantastic Funds

Among actively-managed mutual funds, Morningstar's Russel Kinnel does a good job filtering out thousands of funds to come up with these 43. We especially like the criteria that a fund manager has over $1 million of his or her own money in the fund.

How to Pick the Perfect Investment Property in 9 Steps

Picking the right investment property can seem like an impossible task. These nine pieces of advice from a real estate expert will help you decide.

Infographic Compares Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Other Major Cryptocurrencies

What's the difference between Bitcoin, Ethereum, Dash, Ripple, and Litecoin? This infographic breaks it all down, as well as many other key metrics.

Little People Get Hedge Funds

But, do they really want them? Forbes takes a look at the returns, which are not so impressive.

Bitcoin Is The New 'Gold'

Global uncertainty is rising. Yet, gold isn’t rallying. Bitcoin, the new ‘gold,’ is.

12 Reasons Gold Is Better Than Bitcoin

One Bitcoin would set you back $4,425 at the time of writing. That's up from less than $600 a year ago, according to CoinBase. Is it a better investment choice than gold? This writer doesn't think so.

Should you Roll Over Your 401(k)?

Fees, investments, and advice are just some of the factors that investors should weigh when deciding about rolling over a 401(k), says Morningstar's David Blanchett.

36 Obvious Investment Truths

If you're worried about protecting against 5% corrections, you shouldn't be invested in stocks in the first place.

The $20 a month Trick!

Have a financial goal you're feeling bad about not working on? Just start by applying $20.00 a month towards it! It's only $20 and it feels GREAT!

When Should You Sell Your Investments?

Many of us understand the concept of buying low, but when do we sell high? Keep in mind your objectives, tax consequences, and Warren Buffet.

Best Online Brokers, 2017

Two firms land in a dead heat for first place in this year's rankings. Find the best broker for you.

Your Financial Life Is Complicated; Your Portfolio Shouldn't Be

The case for using simplified, ultra-well-diversified investment products is even stronger if you have something complicated going on with the rest of your financial life, either with your human capital or your total financial portfolio.

How Do TIPS Work?

Find out how TIPS—Treasury Inflation Protected Securities—pay interest, the mechanics of TIPS' principal adjustment, and the potential risks of investing in TIPS.

Managing Sequence of Return Risk

We have no control over the sequence of returns in the markets but here are some ways to manage this risk.

Review: This is how much fees are hurting your retirement

Fees are incredibly important. Almost everything in investing is completely unknown, and outside of your control. The markets are going to do what they are going to do. But you do control how much you

The Perils of Funds That Narrowly Target High-Yielding Stocks

Are you a retiree attracted to stocks paying high dividends? It is important to focus on an investment’s prospective total return, and not solely its yield, as higher yields often signal greater risk.

Are You Saving Like the Titanic?

Start saving now so you avoid a Titanic investment failure later! Remember:you can always work for money, but it's much better to let money work for you.

A Time and a Place for Actively Managed Funds

A time (falling markets) and a place (foreign markets) are both environments where actively-managed funds have generated better performance than passive index funds or ETFs.

10 Vanguard Funds for Your Income Portfolio

These 10 Vanguard funds offer low fees and intelligent strategies that will help you squeeze out the most income bang for your buck.

The Best Way to Invest in Real Estate

This article suggests that the best reason to buy REIT shares is the vast array of real estate sub-sectors they open up to individual investors. This may be true, and REITS can be useful when constructing a diversified portfolio. However, the author failed to discuss the risk factors. Shares in REITS fluctuate in value just like shares of other types of common stock.

The 7 Most Common 401(k) Mistakes to Avoid

Many Baby Boomers have failed to adequately prepare ready for retirement, but younger workers have a chance to do better ... if they make the most of their 401(k) plans.

Can You Live on $16,320 a Year?

That's what the average retiree receives from Social Security. How much can you accumulate to supplement it?
Maurie Backman shows you in The Motley Fool.

Want to Be Rich in Retirement? Follow These 7 Steps

Retirement was cited as the top savings priority by only 10% of millennials, lagging other goals. Although understandable, it is an expensive mistake.

Fund Manager Left? What Does It Mean for Performance?

Despite outflows following high-profile management changes, Morningstar finds that such a flux has no impact on fund performance.

The Ups & Downs of Leveraged ETFs

Wondering if a leveraged ETF makes sense? It can deliver huge gains. However, it can also magnify losses in a bear market.

401(k) Options when You Change Jobs

There is a lot going on when you leave a job. Whatever the reason for leaving, don't forget to take care of your 401(k) plan when making a change.

Financial Advice for Every New Grad

Don't cheat yourself out of $500,000. Getting started, now, can result in double the money, later. The Motley Fool shows you why.

Spread Your Wealth Across Differing Tax Features

The proper balance of taxable, tax-deferred, and tax-free assets can provide you with hundreds of thousands of dollars more in spending power.

Choosing Between Roth and Traditional IRA

Among other reasons, younger people view Roth IRAs as a hedge against the risk that tax rates and brackets will rise in the future. Why risk withdrawing money from a traditional IRA and getting taxed at the higher rates?

OregonSaves Program Begins July 1st

The program requires employers in the state that do not already offer a retirement savings plan to employees to automatically enroll employees in the OregonSaves program at 5% of pay.

New job? Don't forget your 401(k) at your previous employer

Rianka Dorsainvil, a financial advisor to millennials, explores all the 401(k) options available to people when change jobs.

5 Reasons to Invest Rather Than Pay Off Debt

What does one do when faced with the decision to either invest their money or use it to pay off long-standing debts?

Video: Why Save for Retirement when You're Young?

You may not earn a lot of money as you begin your career, but there’s one thing you have more of than richer, older folks – time. With time on your side, saving for retirement becomes a much more pleasant (and exciting) affair.

Want Financial Independence? Start Investing Early.

Warren Buffet had an epiphany one day when he was 11 years old. He discovered the eighth wonder of the world. It can make hundreds of thousands of dollars difference in your own portfolio.

Why the World's Billionaire Investors Buy Precious Metals

Billionaire investors like Ray Dalio are stocking up on gold. Here's the ideas and strategies on gold from four elite investors, and what we can learn.

Get an Extra $100K of Income by Boosting Retirement Savings by 1% of Salary

Many people think there's little they can do to improve the financial health of their retirement. They may be wrong. Investing even small amounts can make a big difference if started a young age.

Five Companies Comprise One-Third of S&P 500 Returns – Is This the Death of Diversificatio

Year to date, about one-third of the S&P 500 Index’s total return is from five companies. Could this mean the death of diversification?

Reframing the Concept of Risk

Investors are constantly fighting the last war by trying to hedge out risks after they’ve already occurred. Short-term fears often disrupt the most well-intentioned long-term plans. Most normal investors don’t pay attention to the financial markets until something bad happens. Then they’re all ears and looking to do something, anything to allay their fears.

How to Select a Financial Advisor

What is a fiduciary? Learn why it is important to your financial well-being. Find an advisor with the best fee structure. Look before you leap from your 401(k) to an IRA rollover.

How Fund Companies Stack Up | April 2017 | Morningstar

Dodge & Cox, Vanguard, and American Funds have the highest percentages of rated funds that are Gold as well as more than three-fourths of their rated funds earning medalist status. These firms are well positioned to deliver strong results.

Do Bonds Provide Diversification Benefits?

Some people say they don't. Bob French, Chartered Financial Analyst, shows how they do in this article by providing convincing evidence.

Podcast: What Is Risk and How Much Can You Handle?

What you think your risk tolerance is, and how you act when the stock market drops 20-50 percent, may not be the same. Morgan Housel shares some of the most dangerous terms financial pundits and experts use all the time.

Active vs. Passive Investing: Why This Is the Wrong Debate

WSJ Wealth Expert Peter Lazaroff writes that you can be highly active using index funds and very passive using active funds.

The Magic of Compounding Interest

Millennials can take full advantage of compound interest. The most valuable asset younger people have is time. When you combine it with compound interest, great amounts of wealth can be accumulated.

Almost 75% of Americans Have This Major Retirement Regret

It's true that missing out on even a few years of retirement plan contributions can have a significant impact on your long-term savings. But while you can't go back and change the past, as long as you're still working, you can aim to compensate by ramping up your savings while you still have a chance.

Just Getting Started? Here's How to Invest $500

Be sure to have set aside some cash reserves, first. When you have $500 beyond what's in your emergency fund, here are some options.

Can a Health Savings Account Double as a Retirement Investment?

You may know that an HSA is an account that lets you use tax-free money to pay some of your medical and health expenses. On top of that, the HSA is not too much different than a Traditional IRA.

Guaranteed Investments Are Not Always Safe

Money in the bank is risk-free because it's guaranteed, right? Well, your principal is guaranteed, but your purchasing power isn't. You need to know that there are different types of risk—inflation being one of them. Invest accordingly.

What Is Index Investing? Part 1

Index investing has become quite popular. If you're not investing in index funds, you might even feel left out. If you don't understand what indexing really means, Bob French at Retirement Researcher breaks it down for you.

What Is Index Investing? Part 2

Everyone has heard of the S&P 500 and Dow Jones, but what’s the difference between the two? And which one should you trust?

How Does the Bogle Model Compare with the Yale Model?

College endowment funds have access to the best and brightest minds in the world of investing. Can you compete with them? Perhaps, if you invest in index funds.

Remember When Indexing Meant an S&P 500 Fund?

Leave it to Wall Street to create endless ways to repackage indexes to have something new to sell. Do we need more indexes—and EFTs that invest in them—than actual stocks?

The Case for Stocks in a Retiree's Portfolio

Owning stocks can provide a needed inflation hedge for retirees. Mixing in a laddered bond portfolio can protect against sequence risk during the early years of retirement.

Use Dividend Investing to Boost Your Wealth

Dividend investing is one way to build an income-generating portfolio during your working years. By the time you retire, it will help you achieve your income goals. In addition, reinvesting the dividends allows you to take advantage of dollar-cost averaging.

The One 401(k) Move That Guarantees A Higher Return

Let's say you invested $100,000 over 30 years at a conservative 5-percent annual rate of return. With a 0.70-percent annual expense ratio, you'd have $350,000 after three decades, but you will have lost $82,000 to fees and foregone earnings.

7 Dividend Stocks With Yields That Grow Like Weeds

Not many people are suited for investing directly in individual stocks. For those who are, a strategy of owning stocks in companies with a history of regular dividend increases helps them build a portfolio of increasing income. A growing dividend stream can pay off during retirement.

13 Companies For Long-Term Investors

Dividend growth investing is a very simple but effective wealth building strategy.
The Dividend Growth Investor reviews a list of dividend increases with at least a ten-year streak. The 13 companies that met the criteria are listed here.

The Best Funds for Your 401(k)

Holding a passive index of stocks usually outperforms an active approach. That's why you should have these three index funds in your portfolio.

Are Annuities Good Investments?

Is an annuity a good investment? For some, the answer is "yes," for others, it is "no." The best use of an annuity is to protect against longevity risk (running out of money because you live too long). There are other issues to consider.

My Appreciation of Annuities Has Grown

Dirk Cotton has always believed that life annuities can play a critical role in many retirement plans but his appreciation for them has increased over the years. For anyone who is on the fence about life annuities, he shares some different perspectives that may help you decide.

Are You Getting Pitched a Ponzi Scheme?

Don't get suckered into a Ponzi scheme. Know the red flags to look out for and you can save thousands of dollars...and many hours of sleep.

History of US Bear & Bull Markets Since 1926

Although past performance is no guarantee of future results, looking at the history of the market’s bull and bear markets helps to gain a fresh perspective on the benefits of long-term investing.

Podcast: Put Values-Based Investing to Work in Your Portfolio

Motley Fool Answers explores the growing trend of values-based investing including how to evaluate the environmental, social, and governance impact of publicly-traded companies.

Best Online Brokers for Small Investors and Beginners 2017

Get Rich Slowly compiled a chart of some of the most well known and best reviewed online brokerages for new investors.

Think Global to Avoid the Shrinking U.S. Stock Market

The number of publicly-traded U.S. stocks is shrinking at the same time their market cap expanded vis-a-vis foreign markets.

A Pension-Style Retirement Product for Your 401(K)

Retirement experts, the media, and others have lamented the decline of defined-benefit pension plans. 401(k) participants can create a pension-like source of retirement income by using a portion of their assets to buy a longevity income annuity.

7 Ways to Catch Up on Retirement Savings

Haven't saved enough for retirement? You need to do all that you can to build your nest egg. Here are seven ideas to boost your retirement income.

ETF of ‘fallen angels’ delivers lofty returns

The VanEck Vectors Fallen Angel High Yield Bond ETF, which celebrated its fifth anniversary of trading on Monday (April 10, 2017), has emerged as one of the standouts of the fixed-income ETF space.

A Wave of Millennial Home Buyers Is Forming

Millennial home buyers are going to send ripples through the real estate market if they can pare down debt and save money for a down payment.

An Asset Allocation Strategy for Retirees

Wade Pfau, Ph.D., CFA, takes a look at valuation-based asset allocation.

How to invest in alternative assets (e.g., real estate, gold) in your IRA

Certain IRAs will allow you to invest in things like IPOs and mortgages held for investment. Here’s what you need to know.

What is short selling?

It's a paid article, but still a good explanation of short selling for those not familiar with it. Schwab's explanation includes example scenarios of how short selling can play out.