There are many different tax-advantaged retirement accounts, but the alphabet and number soup can be confusing. Some of those account structures are available for workers in certain situations. For example, a private-sector worker generally has different qualified account options than a state government worker. Other types of accounts are available to self-employed workers, and some can be used in combination. Here’s…
Exchange-traded funds, or ETFs, are a convenient and cost-effective way for investors to own a diversified, professionally managed portfolio of securities. The basics of ETF investing are easy to understand, and they trade on all major exchanges just like shares of common stock do. Most dividend-paying ETFs distribute dividends quarterly, but not all of them. Many funds have elected to…
In 2023 and 2024, investors could’ve gotten along quite nicely if they’d just overweighted the tech sector. That hasn’t been the case in the early innings of 2025, with information technology clocking in as the single worst-performing of the S&P 500’s 11 sectors. In short, there is widespread uncertainty about the short- and mid-term direction of stocks, and no consensus on…
Real estate investments can be an excellent way to earn returns, generate cash flow, hedge against inflation, and diversify an investment portfolio. However, buying physical properties can be costly, difficult and risky for an individual. Instead, investors can buy shares of diversified real estate investment trusts, or REITs. REITs are public companies that own large portfolios of real estate and…
Tesla Inc. (ticker: TSLA) CEO Elon Musk, warming to his burgeoning political brand, is starting a new role in the Trump administration as the director of the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, the president’s budget-cutting task force. That high-visibility post will mean even more eyes will be locked on Musk-related stocks in 2025. Whether conflicts or issues with Musk and…
The energy sector has lagged the S&P 500 in the past year, but the International Energy Agency anticipates oil demand growth will accelerate in 2025. In addition, investors anticipate that President Donald Trump and his administration will support the energy sector with favorable policies. Stocks that are highly correlated to oil prices could generate big profits in 2025 and beyond. However, high…
There are thousands of public companies trading on the major exchanges. They are organized into 11 sectors and many individual industries. When making stock buying decisions, there are dozens, if not hundreds, of factors to consider. How is a retail investor to make sense of it all? How do you know which stocks to buy and which to avoid? Professional stock market…
The tech sector can be a fickle one. You can have years like 2022, when tech exchange-traded funds tumbled, immediately followed by a year they returned upward of 50%. While 2024 was not quite so kind, providing more modest returns in the range of 20% to 30% for many funds, the future may still be bright in 2025. But not…
In hindsight, some current market leaders appear to be obvious sure things. The reality is much more complicated, however, as these market-defining companies were not guaranteed to come out on top. When up-and-coming stocks first come out with their disruptive ideas or try to redefine how businesses operate, it is very much a leap of faith for early investors. The…
As much as President-elect Donald Trump believes that he can dictate terms to the rest of the globe, the realities of protectionism and a possible trade war are starting to hit home. First, other nations are taking actions of their own. Most notably, China has quickly issued preemptive tariffs and bans on the export of critical minerals to the U.S.…