If you’re a typical investor, you’ll likely spend some 60 years of your life moonlighting as a money manager. You start with decisions about your first 401(k) plan, and you continue to and through retirement.
You are likely to face many challenges along the way. Young people who hold too little in stocks or fail to start saving early enough may hamper their finances for decades to come. Retirees face a bigger challenge: If they hold too much in stocks, a bear market could decimate their portfolios, but if they hold too little, inflation will quietly kill their purchasing power.
Best Investing Moves at Every Age
- Best Investing Moves When You're Starting Out
- Best Investing Moves for Young Families
- Best Investing Moves for Empty Nesters
- Best Investing Moves for Pre-Retirees
- Best Investing Moves for Retirees
In the links at left you’ll find advice for investors in five life stages—from those who are just starting out to those who have already retired. For each stage, we offer one or more portfolios, consisting mainly of our favorite mutual and exchange-traded funds, and we offer suggestions on how to reach your goals.
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At times, you may want to hire an expert to guide you. “There’s no magic net-worth number” that dictates when you need professional help, says Jared Snider, with the Oklahoma City office of Exencial Wealth Advisors. But if you find that the complexity of your finances has sprawled beyond what you can manage, you may want to hire a pro.
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Dow Adds 646 Points, Hits New Highs: Stock Market TodayIt was "boom" for the Dow but "bust" for the Nasdaq following a December Fed meeting that was less hawkish than expected.
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5 Types of Gifts the IRS Won’t Tax: Even If They’re BigGift Tax Several categories of gifts don’t count toward annual gift tax limits. Here's what you need to know.
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The 'Scrooge' Strategy: How to Turn Your Old Junk Into a Tax DeductionTax Deductions We break down the IRS rules for non-cash charitable contributions. Plus, here's a handy checklist before you donate to charity this year.
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The Most Tax-Friendly States for Investing in 2025 (Hint: There Are Two)State Taxes Living in one of these places could lower your 2025 investment taxes — especially if you invest in real estate.
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Bond Basics: Zero-Coupon Bondsinvesting These investments are attractive only to a select few. Find out if they're right for you.
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Bond Basics: How to Reduce the Risksinvesting Bonds have risks you won't find in other types of investments. Find out how to spot risky bonds and how to avoid them.
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What's the Difference Between a Bond's Price and Value?bonds Bonds are complex. Learning about how to trade them is as important as why to trade them.
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Bond Basics: U.S. Agency Bondsinvesting These investments are close enough to government bonds in terms of safety, but make sure you're aware of the risks.
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Bond Ratings and What They Meaninvesting Bond ratings measure the creditworthiness of your bond issuer. Understanding bond ratings can help you limit your risk and maximize your yield.
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Bond Basics: U.S. Savings Bondsinvesting U.S. savings bonds are a tax-advantaged way to save for higher education.
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Bond Basics: Treasuriesinvesting Understand the different types of U.S. treasuries and how they work.
