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 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 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 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: 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: Common stock is an investment in the ownership, or equity, of a corporation. Common shareholders are usually entitled to vote on the selection of directors as well as other important corporate matters. They expect a return on their investment from the dividends paid by the corporation as well as anticipated appreciation in the market value of the stock as the company prospers. The common shareholders are owners, and their right to corporate assets on liquidation is junior to   More...

Terms of Use Investors should always take the critical step of reading the financial statements of the companies they've invested in, or intend to invest in, because financial statements contain important corporate financial information that may not be readily apparent from news releases. Recently, some companies have put out press releases using so-called pro forma financial information to highlight what they claim are important portions of their actual financial reports. Investors should  More...

Terms of Use Mutual funds can be a good way for people to invest in stocks, bonds, and other securities. Why? Mutual funds are managed by professional money managers. By owning shares in a mutual fund instead of buying individual stocks or bonds directly, your investment risk is spread out. Because your mutual fund buys and sells large amounts of securities at a time, its costs are often lower than what you would pay on your own.

Terms of Use Most personal financial advisors recommend that investors maintain a diversified investment portfolio consisting of bonds, stocks and cash in varying percentages, depending upon individual circumstances and objectives. Since bonds typically have a predictable stream of payments and repayment of principal, many people invest in them to preserve and increase their capital or to receive dependable interest income. Whatever the purpose - saving for your children's college educa  More...

Terms of Use: Investors searching for relatively low-risk investments that can easily be converted into cash often turn to certificates of deposit (CDs) or share certificates. A CD/share certificate is a special type of deposit account with a credit union, bank or thrift institution that typically offers a higher rate of interest than a regular savings account. Unlike other investments, certificates are insured up to $250,000. Here’s how CDs and share certificates work: When you purchase one, yo  More...