In 1975, John Bogle, the founder of Vanguard, introduced the world’s first index fund. These simple funds buy stocks and match the market (more precisely, to match an “index” of the market, such as the S&P 500), versus the traditional mutual fund, which employs an expensive staff of “experts” who try to predict which stocks […]

Investing is a personal thing that can be really rewarding if you do it right. But what does “doing it right” mean? Is there really a “right” way? And how do you even get started if you’re considering investing in a new asset class or method of investing? In this article, we’ll tackle the basics […]

There are a lot of great money columnists out there. In this article, I’ll be sharing three columnists who I think do a great job relating their discipline to aspects of investing and personal finance. They each offer different perspectives and have strengths in different areas.  I would consider them must reads if you are […]

We’ve all heard stories about investors who consistently beat the market. There are books about them, conferences dedicated to them, and YouTube videos made about them. It’s no secret that there are investors out there who have beaten the market consistently for years. But what we don’t know is how they do it: What stocks […]

The fact of the matter is that you’re unlikely to find a better-performing fund or an investor who can consistently beat the market. Why, then, are some funds so alluringly compelling? It’s simple—some managers do beat the market (short-term), and many investors are lucky. However, they rarely, if ever, continue to do so consistently. In […]

Credit cards can be a great asset if used properly, but they can also leave you in financial issues fast. Many people have credit card debt and don’t even realize it. Here’s how you can review your credit card bills to unearth opportunities for improving your finances. How I Checked My System In The Early […]

Pressmaster / Shutterstock.com Editor’s Note: This story originally appeared on The Penny Hoarder. A few years ago, I was invited to participate in a focus group. I visited in-person along with about 15 other people. For two hours, we vented all of our feelings about the ways a particular health insurance company interacts with its […]

I was talking to an acquaintance in Toronto when she told me she had just moved from Sydney and was trying to find a job. She bemoaned how difficult it was to find work and I nodded along sympathetically. Then she said: “It’s hard. I wish that something would just fall into my lap.” Whoa, hold […]

Here’s the exact system I use to spend only 90 minutes a month managing my money. If you haven’t already set up your Conscious Spending Plan, I recommend doing that first. CATEGORIES OF SPENDING Use these as guidelines for your spending and tweak as necessary. Fixed Costs: Rent, Utilities, Debt, etc.  50/60% of take-home pay […]

fizkes / Shutterstock.com How much money you have has very little to do with how wealthy you feel. That’s backed up by a new report called “Everyday Wealth in America” from wealth management firm Edelman Financial Engines. It surveyed more than 2,000 people from all net worth brackets, with an emphasis on upper-middle-class earners who […]