Understanding how different investments work is the first step toward profitable investing. The second is making sure you—and your mutual fund manager—always maintain the correct wealth-building mindset. To become the best possible investor you can, it is imperative to avoid...

For most individuals, another tax season has come and gone. If you filed for an extension, you have until October 15 to file. But how much does the typical American pay in taxes? According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average American household’s income is $76,664,...

Social Security is the proverbial third-rail of politics: it is an issue that evokes such passions that it is considered untouchable. Unfortunately, that mentality, among several factors, has put the Social Security system in a potentially precarious situation. As the Baby Boomer...

Naked put selling is equivalent to covered call writing in terms of where and how profits and losses are incurred. But it can be advantageous in terms of cost savings and potential reward. Talk to an investor who is involved in a covered call writing program about his doing some...

Every tax season there are countless articles about individuals being scammed by fake phone calls or emails that are supposedly from the IRS. To its credit, the Internal Revenue Service devotes a fair amount of resources to educate taxpayers on how to avoid falling victim to tax...

Advertised as a one-stop shopping, automatic-pilot retirement vehicle, life cycle or target date mutual funds have become increasingly popular. These funds are aimed at individuals seeking an all-in-one retirement fund to invest his or her retirement nest egg, with a target date...

Borrowing money through a margin account to purchase securities can be a profitable and wise investment strategy. But debt creates financial leverage: The money in a full payment purchase can instead be used as a type of down payment to buy a much larger block of stock. This means...

The term “yield” is thrown about often by the financial press and others. The trouble is that yield has many different meanings and implications for investors. This article will try and sort out some of the major differences. It will not, however, attempt to present mathematically...

When the Federal Reserve speaks, the world’s financial institutions listen, and for good reason. Fed policy drives not only global financial markets but also the policies of other central banks. Therefore, any insights into the Fed’s thinking are worth paying attention...