Investment | Roger Ruden

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.

Bull and Bear Go To Market

Learn about the difference between bulls and bears—markets, that is!

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The Business Cycle

How will you weather the ups and downs of the business cycle?

Mutual Funds vs. ETFs

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

Behavioral Finance

An amusing and whimsical look at behavioral finance best practices for investors.

Value vs. Growth Investing

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

Do Our Biases Affect Our Financial Choices?

Even the most seasoned investors have biases affecting their financial choices.

Investing with Your Heart

For some, the social impact of investing is just as important as the return, perhaps more important.

Understanding Equity Compensation

Net Unrealized Appreciation and how it affects tax responsibilities.

Inflation & Your Money

It's important to understand how inflation is reported and how it can affect investments.

The Anatomy of an Index

The S&P 500 represents a large portion of the value of the U.S. equity market, it may be worth understanding.

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Student Loan Payoff Calculator: Extra Payments Can Save You

See how extra payments toward your student loans could shorten your payoff timeline.

Monthly Budget

Track your monthly income and expenses to get a clearer view of your cash flow.

How Long Will Your Money Last?

See how long a lump sum of savings could last based on your withdrawal rate and return.

How Can I Save a Million Dollars?

See what it takes in monthly contributions and time to reach a million-dollar savings goal.

Student Loan Refinance Calculator

Compare your current student loan terms to a potential refinance to see if it makes sense.

Wedding Budget Calculator

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

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Bull and Bear Go To Market

Learn about the difference between bulls and bears—markets, that is!

Behavioral Finance

An amusing and whimsical look at behavioral finance best practices for investors.

It Was the Best of Times, It Was the Worst of Times

All about how missing the best market days (or the worst!) might affect your portfolio.

16 Wall Street Cliches in 60 Seconds

Pundits say a lot of things about the markets. Let's see if you can keep up.

Inflation and Your Portfolio

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

From Boats to Brokers

From the Dutch East India Company to Wall St., the stock market has a long and storied history.