3 tips for investing in gold

During financially stressful times, I like to turn to gold. It’s a safe bet in a down economy and its price doesn’t move with the price of other assets, diversifying your portfolio and keeping volatility at a minimum.

But some disagree with this strategy. Gold can produce great returns, but it can lose a lot of value relative to the dollar as well. But if you’re set on adding this…

What is your risk tolerance?

Over the holidays a friend asked me how I got my start investing, and how I decided how much money to risk.

The amount of money you should plunge into the market depends a lot on your risk tolerance. Here are some things you should take into consideration when deciding how much of your hard-earned savings you are willing to wager:

Three rules for safe investing

If you’ve watched the stock market in the last few years you’ve probably become a little squeamish about investing – it seemed like stocks were doing nothing but falling. Now, the market is starting to show signs of life, but is it the safest place to put your money?

Although stock market crashes can knock the socks off investors,…

High-rate checking account: an answer to low rates

Yields are going to stay low for a while – the Federal Reserve has promised to keep them low until the middle of 2013 in order to stimulate the economy. If you’re looking for a simple solution to low rates, investing in high-yield checking might be the answer.

For better yields, shop around

While the rates you’ll find might…

Portfolio management: taking home the prize

With the Federal Reserve set to keep interest rates low until the middle of 2013 and plenty of worry over European debt, many friends, family and clients have been asking me about how best to manage their portfolio. I won’t lie; investing isn’t easy in this rocky market. But by consistently reevaluating your portfolio – at least once…

Investing in ETFs: A cheat sheet

There are plenty of places you can put your money in the investment world. An ETF – exchange-traded fund – is just one of the many, but it can be a good choice if you’re just getting your portfolio off of the starting line.

What is an ETF?

An exchange-traded fund is an investment fund that includes stocks, commodities…

Strategy: Defensive investing

Friends and family often ask me about investment strategy and the best approach. I tell them that the best strategy is often to be on the defensive – especially in a volatile economy.

I naturally like low-risk investments – the kind you can sit on for a while without worrying about whether or not you’re going to lose your house. But I also understand that taking a little risk can…

Investing for beginners in their 20s

It’s never too early to think about building your portfolio. In fact, the earlier you get started, the better off you’ll be. It doesn’t matter if you have $100, $1000 or $10,000 – any amount of money help kick-start the power of compounding interest. With compounding interest, your money does the work…

Investing for retirement: A primer

Retirement investing can be a difficult task alone, but it’s even more challenging in a market with low yields. Even so, there’s no reason to wait to contribute to your 401(k), 403K(b) or 457 plan. Those in their 20s are at an ideal age to start saving, but it’s never too late for older folks either. Here’s a little guide to help you get started on putting away…

Investing: finding a financial consultant

The wide world of finance can be a complex game, and going it alone isn’t always the best play. When it comes to investment, it’s best to have a teammate. Think of an advisor as the coach of your financial team; you want them to be able to advise you on all aspects of the game. But you also…

Investing in stocks: picking a winner

Before we get started on stocks, let’s clear the air a little bit. If you’re just starting out in the investment world, stocks shouldn’t be the first place you look. Instead, you should be checking out mutual funds, ETFs and other low-risk ventures to diversify your portfolio. But if you’re all set in that area, let’s move on to stock investment.

Guidelines for investing with an RIA

Investing your money with just any old advisor isn’t hard to do. But if you want a consultant who is legally bound to provide you with the best investments for your particular situation, look for an RIA, or registered investment advisor.

RIAs agree to be regulated by the SEC and, therefore, are required to operate under a different standard than other consultants. They often come in the form of…

The skinny on savings bonds

In today’s market, safety isn’t as easy to come by as it once was – unless you’re talking about an FDIC insured money market account or certificate of deposit. But if you want better-than-average returns, investing in a money market account or CD probably isn’t the best option. When I want a decent…

Investing 101: Facts you should know

If the investing game were as easy as Warren Buffett makes it seem, a lot more of us would be millionaires – and I’d be a lot less worried about ways to save on the cable bill. But I learned quite a bit during my time on Wall Street, and one of the main lessons was that before…

Dodging investment fraud: Is it too good to be true?

With the economy in a slump, many people are desperate to find any sort of investment gem to make some money. But con artists are savvy to the mindset of the general public and prey on those that may go for an investment that sounds too good to be true. I’ve come across my fair share of swindles, and I’ve been lucky enough to duck before they hit my…