Custodians of self-directed IRAs will permit a broader universe of investments, such as real estate and unregistered securities. Because it is unlikely the custodian will investigate whether the unregistered security or promoter are legitimate, you can see why fraud promoters love self-directed IRAs.
If you are confident the S&P 500 will be 20 percent higher a year from now, you might think an exchange-traded fund (ETF) whose objective is to provide two times or even three times the return of the S&P 500 would be just the ticket to earn 40 percent (two times) or 60 percent (three times). You couldn’t be more wrong.
As summer and the golf season fade, this is a good opportunity to reflect and see if there are lessons from the game applicable to other areas of life, like investing.
A college education is one of life’s most important and costly investments. But what should college graduates do after they’ve earned their diploma to protect and enhance their return on this monumental investment?
If you were a Martian who just landed on Earth, you would be hard-pressed to tell from recent alarmist headlines that U.S. stocks had posted their best first half since 1999 and that most economic indicators were also improving.
Wouldn’t it be great if there were an online platform offering an easy and engaging way to sharpen skills and improve knowledge so your student can hit the ground running when school starts? Khan Academy fits the bill.
Many investors are unaware of the significant risk that seemingly “safe” bonds pose to their portfolios.
Soccer in the United States has exploded in popularity among fans and participants. With the Indiana University men’s team winning its eighth national title last December and the Indy Eleven professional team getting ready to compete next April, soccer is only going to get bigger here. Unlike regular-season games, tournament games can’t end in a […]
Facebook’s initial public offering on May 17, 2012, was the most highly anticipated IPO since Google’s in 2004. As we know now, Facebook’s $38-a-share IPO turned out to be a fiasco from the moment NASDAQ catastrophically botched the opening of trading.
I’m old school when it comes to investing, so it baffles me that some professionals consider a tweet important to the investment decision-making process. But those 140 characters can do real damage when improperly used.
Gold serves as a “fear index,” measuring investors’ level of fear and anxiety. Investors view gold as a store of wealth offering protection from inflation, credit defaults and economic Armageddon. Gold soared from $300 per ounce in September 2001 to $1,900 per ounce in September 2011. That’s no coincidence. September 2001 was marked by the […]
A number of academic studies have concluded narcissistic CEOs make poor choices that can cause the company and your investment to perish.
Investors fret about the stock market. The market has more than doubled from its low four years ago. Am I too late? There is still so much uncertainty, here and abroad. Are stocks too risky?
Veteran investing fans like me eagerly await the release of Warren Buffett’s annual letter to Berkshire Hathaway shareholders.
Have you ever wondered how and why the mutual funds your brokerage firm recommends or those that appear on your 401(k) plan’s menu of investment options were chosen?
While the concept of a mutual fund is beautiful in its simplicity, actually investing in one can be complicated.
Investors who heeded FDR’s advice—“When you get to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on”—were amply rewarded for staying the course.
We don’t waste time trying to anticipate events that are uncontrollable. Still, some highly experienced and skilled investors make unconventional predictions I think are worth noting.
In today’s era of 24/7 media bombardment, it can be easy to become overwhelmed by all the “expert” opinions out there.
In June 2010, Buffett joined Bill and Melinda Gates to announce the Giving Pledge—their effort to persuade the richest Americans to donate at least half their wealth to charity.
