Your Emergency Fund May Be Too Big

Your Emergency Fund May Be Too Big
Emergency Fund

Common wisdom in the personal finance world is to have an emergency fund. We all explain how important it is to have a fund that is big enough, but we never talk about when your fund may be too big.

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Take The Cash or Reinvest

Take The Cash or Reinvest
Pan Am Stock Certificate

Dividend stocks are equity investments that pay cash to investors on a regular basis. Investors often have different goals when buying dividend stocks, but each investor must decide whether to reinvest the dividend or take the cash. [Read more...]

What is a Diversified Portfolio and How can I Build One?

What is a Diversified Portfolio and How can I Build One?
London Stock Exchange

Investment “experts” always tout the importance of a diversified portfolio. Today I am going to explain exactly what that means and how you can build your own diversified portfolio without paying an “expert” to do it for you.

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How to Save for Retirement if Your Company Doesn’t Offer a 401(k)

How to Save for Retirement if Your Company Doesn’t Offer a 401(k)
Future Investing

Everyone gets excited when they start a new job. New opportunities, new challenges, and new retirement plans. Unless there are not… Some jobs don’t offer a 401(k) or other type of retirement plan, but it is still very important to save for your future even if your employer is not helping.

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What is a Stock Split?

What is a Stock Split?
Jim Cramer Mad Money

A couple of weeks back, I explained what a share of stock represents. Today, I am going to explain another complicated investment scenario: stock splits.

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Lending Club Update – February, 2013

Lending Club Update – February, 2013
Lending Club Update – February, 2013

It has been a long while since my last Lending Club update. I am happy to share only good news as my social lending experiment moves forward.

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How to Start an IRA (or Roth IRA)

How to Start an IRA (or Roth IRA)
How to Start an IRA (or Roth IRA)

You always hear us finance bloggers telling you to invest for your retirement. We use big words like 401(k), 403(b), IRA, and Roth IRA, but usually assume you all know what they mean and how they work. Today, I am going to share the basics of what you need to know to open and fund an IRA or Roth IRA account.

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Am I Taking Advantage of all the Benefit Plans My Employer Offers?

Am I Taking Advantage of all the Benefit Plans My Employer Offers?
Am I Taking Advantage of all the Benefit Plans My Employer Offers?

We can make plans for side-income and income from hobbies all day, but unless we are self-employed full time, our employer is the source of our primary income. Your employer often gives you a lot more than that. Make sure you are taking full advantage.

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Getting Going on Retirement Savings

Getting Going on Retirement Savings
Getting Going on Retirement Savings

We all want the ability to retire at some point in our lives. While the definition of retirement may be different for some of us, we want financial freedom when we are older to do what we want.

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Investment Analysis: Valuing a Stock with Multiple Analysis

Investment Analysis: Valuing a Stock with Multiple Analysis
Investment Analysis: Valuing a Stock with Multiple Analysis

Lately, I have been a big fan of investing in low fee mutual funds and ETFs. It takes a lot less work and research to invest in funds than stocks. That doesn’t mean I don’t have any individual stocks though. There are many methods to value a stock, and a comparison to similar companies is an important part of the investor’s toolbox.

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Save Money on Your Investments

Save Money on Your Investments
Save Money on Your Investments

Not so long ago, in a city not so far away… I spent a fair amount of time picking stocks and trying to beat the market. I will be honest, I was pretty good at it. However, the time and effort it took did not always justify the effort. Over time, I have moved more toward investing in ETFs and mutual funds so I don’t have to worry as much about my money. With that change, though, came new costs and fees that I have to manage.

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