Learn the language of investing
Plain-English explainers on funds, ETFs, IRAs and the metrics behind smart investing decisions.
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What is an “Exchange Traded Fund” or an “ETF”
What is an ETF? An ETF is a form of index fund from standpoint of its goal: To provide a…
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What is a “Stock?”
What is a “Stock?” It is a share of a company/business held by an individual or a group. Businesses raise…
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Differences between ETFs and Mutual Funds
Differences between ETFs and Mutual Funds The price of an ETF varies during the course of trading day while Mutual…
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What is a Mutual Funds?
What is a Mutual Fund? Mutual funds rely on a professional investment expert to actively manage investments on behalf of…
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What Is a 529 Plan?
What Is a 529 Plan? A 529 plan is a college savings account that’s exempt from federal taxes as long…
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What is an IRA?
What is an IRA? IRA or Individual Retirement Account is a savings account with big tax deferral making it an…
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What is a 401(k) or a 403(b) Plan?
What is a 401(k) or a 403(b) Plan? A 401(k) (or 403(b)) is a tax-deferred retirement savings plan sponsored by…
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Alternate Assets
Alternative asset investments include venture capital, private equity, hedge funds,Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs), Commodities as well as real assets…
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Value Stocks and Value Mutual Funds
Value stock companies are the companies that are fallen out of favor by the market however they still have good…
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Growth Stocks and Growth Mutual Funds
Growth stock companies have demonstrated better than average gains in earnings in recent years and also are expected to continue…
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Growth Stock and Value Stock
Growth and value are two styles in stock and stock based mutual fund investing. Growth investors invest in companies that…
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Market Cap and Mutual Funds
Mutual funds that invest in company stocks are categorized as Large Cap, Mid Cap, or Small Cap funds. Thus a…
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Diversification and Market Capitalization
It is hard to predict when the financial market will favor large cap, mid cap, or small cap stock companies,…
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Small Cap Stocks
Small Caps are the companies with market caps that are less than $2 billion. Most of them are young companies…
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Mid Cap Stocks
Mid Caps are the companies with market caps that are between $2 billion and $10 billion. They tend to be…
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Large Cap and Mega Cap Stocks
Large caps are typically defined as companies with market caps that are $10 billion or higher. Mega caps, part of…
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Market Capitalization
Market capitalization or market cap is calculated by multiplying the company’s outstanding shares by its stock price per share.