Terms of Use Define Your Goals This knowledge article is part of a series of knowledge articles aimed to help you define your roadmap to savings and investing. To review the table of contents for the articles, click here . What are the things you want to save and invest for … A home? A new car? Your education or that of a child? A comfortable retirement? The needs of your parents? All of these goals will cost money. To make sure that you will have enough money when you need it, follo  More...

Terms of Use Need some help finding the right path for your financial future? You've come to the right place. We've put together an itinerary that takes in all the basics for your journey to learn more about saving and investing. Traveling down the right road to achieving financial well-being is one of the most important trips that you'll ever make in life. Y ou don't have to be a genius to do it … and you don't have to be rich … you just need to hit the road   More...

Terms of Use: Make A Financial Plan Figuring Out Your Finances This knowledge article is part of a series of knowledge articles aimed to help you define your roadmap to savings and investing. To review the previous knowledge article in this series, click here . To review the table of contents for the articles, click here . You can never take a journey without knowing where you're starting from, and a journey to financial security is no different. You'll need to figure out on paper your current s  More...

Terms of Use Determine Your Risk Tolerance This knowledge article is part of a series of knowledge articles aimed to help you define your roadmap to savings and investing. To review the previous knowledge article in this series, click here . To review the table of contents for the articles, click here . You are approaching the half-way point in your journey to saving and investing. This is a good point to make sure that you understand some key concepts: Savings Your savings are usually put i  More...

Terms of Use Research analysts study publicly traded companies and make recommendations on the securities of those companies. Most specialize in a particular industry or sector of the economy. They exert considerable influence in today's marketplace. Analysts' recommendations or reports can influence the price of a company's stock—especially when the recommendations are widely disseminated through television appearances or through other electronic and print media. The me  More...

Terms of Use Preference shares, more commonly referred to as preferred stock , are shares of a company's stock with dividends that are paid out to shareholders before common stock dividends are issued. Preferred stock has a preference over common stock usually both in the payment of dividends and the distribution of assets. In the event that a company is liquidated, preferred stock owners have a priority over the common shareholders in receiving the liquidation proceeds. Unlike common  More...

Terms of Use Bonds are financial instruments where a bond issuer , such as the US federal government or a company, is borrowing money. Essentially bonds are just loans. Bonds purchasers, called bondholders , can be individuals, companies and governments. When you buy a bond you are loaning the bond issuer money. Interest payments are made to bondholders based on the rate, payment frequency (monthly, quarterly, annually, etc.) and for the term (6 months, 1 year, 10 years, 30 years, etc.)   More...

Terms of Use: This knowledge article is part of a series of knowledge articles aimed to help you define your roadmap to savings and investing. To review the previous knowledge article in this series, click here . To review the table of contents for the articles, click here How To Pick A Financial Professional Are you the kind of person who can go solo on the journey of saving and investing? Do you have a firm command of your investment choices and how to go about making them? Maybe you&#  More...

Terms of Use Never invest in a product that you don't fully understand. Consult information sources such as business and financial publications. Information regarding the fundamentals of investing and basic financial terminology can be found at your local library. Ask your sales representative for the prospectus, offering circular, or most recent annual report – and the Options Disclosure Document if you are investing in options. Read them. If you have questions, talk with your   More...

Terms of Use: This knowledge article is part of a series of knowledge articles aimed to help you define your roadmap to savings and investing. To review the previous knowledge article in this series, click here . To review the table of contents for the articles, click here . How To Avoid Problems Choosing someone to help you with your investments is one of the most important investment decisions you will ever make. While most investment professionals are honest and hardworking, you must watch ou  More...