Articles
A-Z List of Past Features

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4 Things to Look for in an Investment
New investors are often interested in purchasing a company's stock but don't know what to look for.  What constitutes a good investment?  Here are the four most important things you should require out of each of your holdings.

3 Fundamental Truths: Dealing with Losses
Falling stock prices are sometimes a hard pill to swallow - but long term investors shouldn't be concerned.  Learn the three fundamental truths about dealing with losses.

7 Rules of Becoming Rich, The
Learn the seven rules that are essential to become rich.

15 Terms Every New Investor Must Know
New to investing?  Read the list of the fifteen most important investing terms you can learn - and find out what they mean to your investments.

 

Analyze a Balance Sheet, How to: Investing Lesson 3
How many times have you flipped to the back of a company's annual report and found yourself blankly staring at the pages of numbers and tables?  You know that these should be important to your investing decision, but you're not quite sure what they mean or where to begin.  In Lesson 3, we're going to take our first major step towards changing that.  Smart investors have always known that financial statements are the keys to every company.  They can warn of potential problems, and when used correctly, help determine what a business is really "worth".  An investor who understands financial statements will never have to ask "is this company a good investment?".

 

Bonds 101: What They are and How They Work
Want to learn more about Bonds and Fixed Income Investments?  Learn why bonds are issued and how you can make money from them.

Bottom Line, The
Profits... they're what this whole game is all about. Although the term "fundamental" has become a popular financial buzzword, few investors understand what it means.  Here we spotlight one of the most important fundamentals of all - earnings.

Buying Stock without a Broker
If you want to invest, you have to open a brokerage account, right?  Wrong.    Most investors aren't aware of the options that are available when it comes to investing in stocks and mutual funds.  Although working with a qualified broker definitely has its advantages, it may be better in some cases to purchase stock directly.

 

Coffee Talk Directory
A graphical menu of past editions of Coffee Talk.

Coffee Talk Edition 1
Readers' Questions Answered.  How is stock price determined?  Where can I find information on a financial planner?  What does SMA value mean?     

Coffee Talk Edition 2
More Readers' Questions Answered.  What should I do with inherited money?  What is the difference between stocks and bonds?  What is the difference between a money market account and savings bonds? 

Coffee Talk Edition 3
In this installment of Coffee Talk, we cover annuities, mutual funds, foreign investments, income stocks, and investment research.

Coffee Talk Edition 4
Reader comments and rants, thrift institutions and Carl Icahn.

 

Dollar Cost Averaging
Many successful investors already practice dollar cost averaging, although few of them realize they do.  It is unquestionably the most effective way to put the odds in your favor, and in doing so, make your pocketbook a lot bigger.  Learn more about it here!

DRIPs: Dividend Reinvestment Programs
Think those $12 dividend checks don't matter? Think again. They could mean the difference between an average and a comfortable retirement.

 

HOLDRs: The Most Revolutionary Thing Since Mutual Funds
This new investment vehicle from Merrill Lynch allows you to diversify without the fees and headaches.  A must-read for new investors!

How to Become Wealthy
How you think about money can determine your success with it. Learn how to change the way you look at cash and start laying the foundation for your freedom today.

How to Research an Investment
Many people are ready to take the plunge and start researching their own investments.   The problem?  They don't know where to begin.  Everything you need to learn is found in this article.

 

The Importance of Liquidity - A Lesson from September 11th
After the September 11th attack on the Pentagon and World Trade Center, the American financial system was shut down for four days.  With stock exchanges closed and money markets, stocks, and mutual funds frozen, investors temporarily lost access to their cash and investments.  A year later, as we reflect on the tragedy, investors should remember one important lesson... you must have liquid assets.  Find out where your money is safe, and how you should set up an emergency fund.

In This Corner...
People are constantly wondering where to park their money when they don't see any investments that interest them.  In this article, we are going to look at two of the most popular ways of using excess cash, and discover just which one is superior!

Introduction to the Stock Market, An: Investing Lesson 1
Have you always wanted to know how to understand a company's annual report and financial statements?  In this series of lessons, we set out to teach you how to take the financial statements of a company and carefully analyze them to determine what the stock is truly "worth".  This allows you make better investing decisions by helping to avoid the costly mistake of purchasing a company when its share price is too high.  This lesson explains how a company issues stock for the first time. It also covers important concepts such as market cap, book value, and p/e ratio. If you've already read the lesson, you can take the Quiz.

Invest in What You Know
One of the biggest keys to successful investing is to only purchase shares of companies you know and understand. Find out how to find these businesses by going through your own laundry room, or listening to your kids.

Investing in Municipal Bonds
Tax-free municipal bonds can be a great investment for those in higher tax brackets. Read this quick and easy-to-use guide to find out if they are something you should consider adding to your portfolio.

Investor's Manifesto, The
Just what makes an investor?  All true investors exhibit certain traits, beliefs and characteristics.  This is a compilation of those attributes in what I call "The Investor's Manifesto" - not only will they help you make the most of your money, they'll help you enjoy your life.

 

Love & Money
Relationships and Investing are both complex subjects - mixing the two can sometimes be a recipe for disaster.  Here's what you should (and shouldn't) do with your money when you are seriously involved with someone else.

 

Margin 101: The Key to Fast Riches or Playing with Fire?
You've heard the story of glory... and the story of loss.  Now find out what the hype is all about, and whether margin is something your portfolio needs.

Mistakes Every Investor Should Avoid
Avoid Being Your Portfolio's Worst Enemy

Mutual Funds 101
What they are and how they can make you money.  Learn the basics of mutual fund investing.

Mutual Funds Under $100
Looking for funds with low initial minimum investments?  You can find them here.

 

Pay for Retirement with an Egg McMuffin and a Cup of Coffee
How many times have you swung by McDonalds on your way to work for a cup of coffee and an Egg McMuffin? It may seem like small change, but the $3 a day it is costing you to buy your breakfast can fund your retirement.

Pay Off Your Debt or Invest?
Should you pay off your debt or invest your money? It's one of the most important questions you will ever ask yourself about your finances.  Here you can find the rules for deciding what will be best for your pocketbook as well as your peace of mind.

Pay Yourself First
Money is like water - it expands to fill the container you put it in.   If you don't have an objective goal in place for your finances, you no doubt reach the end of each month and find you have pilfered everything you had left after your bills and living expenses were paid.  You vow that next month will be different, but it never is.  With this strategy you can avoid all that - and grow your net worth.

P/E Ratio: The Key to Understanding Value
The Price to Earnings ratio was popularized by Benjamin Graham over half a century ago. Learn how this powerful yet simple tool can make you a better investor.

 

Recession 411: What it is and How it Should Affect Your Investment Strategy
Learn what a recession is and how it can affect you in this four-part article.

Rejoice in Market Corrections? Absolutely!
True fortunes are built during economic depressions and recessions. Learn how they may be the greatest gift your portfolio can ever receive.

Rule of 72, The
Compound interest has more power to multiply your portfolio more than any other financial principle or tool. Learn how to use it and what interest rate you will need to secure in order to make your assets grow at the rate you want.

 

Socially Responsible Investing
Are your investments supporting causes you disagree with?  Find out if your stocks and mutual funds are paying for causes you disagree with.

Stock Buybacks - Shareholder Golden Eggs
Share repurchase plans are the golden eggs of shareholder value.  Learn how they increase the value of your stocks, and when managements should and should not use them.

 

Teach Your Teen Financial Responsibility
Face it. In a few years, your teen will be on their own. One of the biggest advantages you can give him or her is a basic education in finance. Here are six lessons you should instill while they are still under your roof.

 

Understanding a Bear Market
If you've only begun investing within the past few years, you may not be aware of what a bear market is.  Get the low down on what it is - and how it should change the way you invest.

 

Valuing Cyclical Stocks
Cyclical stocks can go from generating breath-taking profits one year, to devastating losses the next. Find out how an investor should value them to help ensure you never overpay again.

 

What Perks!
Ah... Corporations. You've got to love them!   Very few beginning investors are aware that many companies work overtime trying to find ways to make their shareholders happy.  Whether you're thinking about investing in stocks for the first time, or just adding to your current holdings, here's a list of seven companies that provide perks and discounts to their favorite customers... the stockholders!\

Where to Begin: Investing 101
Ready to open an account and start investing today? The sooner you get started, the sooner you are on the road to financial freedom. Read our Investment 101 feature to find out how to put your money to work immediately.

Why Stocks become Over / Undervalued: Investing Lesson 2
Now that you know how the stock market works, we are going to take a closer look at the individual factors that cause wild fluctuations in stock prices.  Understanding this concept will help you to take advantage of the manic-depressive behavior that sometimes seems to affect your portfolio.  The last part of Lesson 2 will focus on explaining Ben Graham's famous metaphor "Mr. Market".

Worldcom's Magic Trick
Most investors don't understand how a company as large as Worldcom could hide $3.8 billion in expenses. The answer lies in CFO Scott Sullivan's treatment of capital expenditures and the accrual method, one of the basic principles of accounting.