Investment | Don Roork

Investing should be easy – just buy low and sell high – but most of us have trouble following that simple advice. There are principles and strategies that may enable you to put together an investment portfolio that reflects your risk tolerance, time horizon, and goals. Understanding these principles and strategies can help you avoid some of the pitfalls that snare some investors.

The Cycle of Investing

Understanding the cycle of investing may help you avoid easy pitfalls.

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Inflation and Your Portfolio

Even low inflation rates can pose a threat to investment returns.

Impact Investing or Philanthropy

This fun piece can help your clients explore the benefits of impact investing versus founding a philanthropy.

The Junk Drawer Approach to Investing

It's easy to let investments accumulate like old receipts in a junk drawer.

Estimating the Cost of College

This worksheet can help you estimate the costs of a four-year college program.

Value vs. Growth Investing

Among stock-market investors there’s long been a debate between those who favor value and those who favor growth.

Mutual Funds vs. ETFs

Exchange-traded funds have some things in common with mutual funds, but there are differences, too.

Emotional vs. Strategic Decisions

Information vs. instinct. Are your choices based on evidence of emotion?

Required Reading: The Economic Report of the President

The Economic Report of the President can help identify the forces driving — or dragging — the economy.

A Look at Diversification

Diversification is an investment principle designed to manage risk, but it can't prevent against a loss.

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The Power of Interest - How Long Will it take My Money to Do

Use the Rule of 72 to estimate how long it takes your money to double at a given rate.

Wedding Budget Calculator

Estimate total wedding costs and see how different choices affect your overall budget.

What Is the Dividend Yield?

Calculate the dividend yield of a holding and see what that means for income over time.

Taxable vs. Tax-Deferred Savings

Compare how the same contribution grows differently in taxable versus tax-deferred accounts.

How Compound Interest Works

Explore how compound interest can grow your money over time with this interactive tool.

What Is My Net Worth?

Get a snapshot of your overall financial picture by calculating your total net worth.

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What Smart Investors Know

Savvy investors take the time to separate emotion from fact.

Bursting the Bubble

Tulips were the first, but they won’t be the last. What forms a “bubble” and what causes them to burst?

Jane Bond: Infiltrating the Market

Agent Jane Bond is on the case, cracking the code on bonds.

The Junk Drawer Approach to Investing

It's easy to let investments accumulate like old receipts in a junk drawer.

Jane Bond: Scaling the Ladder

Agent Jane Bond is on the case, uncovering the mystery of bond laddering.

The Fed and How It Got That Way

Here is a quick history of the Federal Reserve and an overview of what it does.