Practical Investing
A Simple Portfolio Is All You Need
A Simple Portfolio Is All You Need
It’s possible to build wealth with only a few funds—or even just one.
October 4, 2021
Check Out Your Stock's ESG Report Card
Check Out Your Stock's ESG Report Card
A sustainability report offers insights into progress toward environmental, social and corporate governance goals.
August 27, 2021
Make a Shopping List for Stocks
Make a Shopping List for Stocks
Identifying candidates to buy before a market sell-off can help you execute a buy-the-dip plan.
July 29, 2021
Know When to Sell a Stock
Know When to Sell a Stock
The decision to sell isn't easy. Use our guide whether you're taking profits or tossing a loser.
June 25, 2021
Yes, You Can Have Too Much Cash
Yes, You Can Have Too Much Cash
A sizable hoard is comforting but could crimp long-term portfolio gains.
May 27, 2021
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Anatomy of a Stock Trade: What Happens After You Click “Buy”
Anatomy of a Stock Trade: What Happens After You Click “Buy”
While trades are now commission-free to most consumers, a lot of money is still being made on penny-level differences in the process.
December 24, 2020
Keeping an Eye on Future Returns
Keeping an Eye on Future Returns
Here’s what experts see ahead—and way ahead—for the performance of stocks and bonds.
October 19, 2020
Give Your Portfolio Some Shine
Give Your Portfolio Some Shine
With a weaker dollar and inflation stirring, it could be a good time to diversify with a little gold.
September 30, 2020
Understand the Major Indexes
Understand the Major Indexes
“The market” has many proxies, but there are important differences among them.
June 24, 2020
Stocks: Look to Market Breadth for Direction
Stocks: Look to Market Breadth for Direction
Will stocks as a whole advance or retreat? Sometimes it’s a question of who is buying what.
June 5, 2020
How to Read an Annual Report
How to Read an Annual Report
Focusing on the highlights can tip you off to important trends.
April 3, 2020
What Drives Stock Returns?
What Drives Stock Returns?
Hint: It’s more than just company profits.
March 5, 2020
Picking Stocks? Your Brokerage Can Help
Picking Stocks? Your Brokerage Can Help
Online brokers have beefed up investor tools and research.
January 30, 2020
4 Reasons to Sell a Mutual Fund
4 Reasons to Sell a Mutual Fund
Buy-and-hold is a great investing approach, but sometimes you just gotta let go.
December 27, 2019
How to Buy the Right ETF
How to Buy the Right ETF
Hundreds of ETFs debut every year. Use this guide to spot the good ones.
November 26, 2019
5 Ways to Slice the S&P 500
5 Ways to Slice the S&P 500
What started as a plain-vanilla fund concept now comes in many flavors.
October 3, 2019
Be Smart About How You Trade Stocks
Be Smart About How You Trade Stocks
Giving your broker the right order can help you get the best price.
August 30, 2019
Tap Into Market Sentiment Before Investing
Tap Into Market Sentiment Before Investing
Find out what the herd thinks, then head in the other direction.
August 5, 2019
How to Stay the Course in Rocky Markets
How to Stay the Course in Rocky Markets
The best returns come from time in the market, not timing the market.
July 3, 2019
How to Break Up With Your Stock
How to Break Up With Your Stock
Why would you kick a stock to the curb? You first need to remember why you bought it in the first place.
April 4, 2019
The Practical Investor Packs It In
The Practical Investor Packs It In
Our Practical Investing columnist, Kathy Kristof, says goodbye to her readers.
March 26, 2019
What I Learned When Stocks Tanked
What I Learned When Stocks Tanked
Our Practical Investing columnist, Kathy Kristof, invests in a “smart” index fund that hasn’t proven all that bright through the recent dark days of t…
January 31, 2019
Why I Still Love Apple
Why I Still Love Apple
The tech giant’s share prices have gotten pummeled lately, but its business still has staying power.
January 3, 2019
The Upside of a Market Downturn
The Upside of a Market Downturn
When share prices stumble, you can take advantage of buying opportunities.
November 29, 2018
I Dump a Loser to Raise Some Cash
I Dump a Loser to Raise Some Cash
Currency risk hurt one of columnist Kathy Kristof’s holdings — giving her one good opportunity to offset capital gains.
November 1, 2018