James Leitz - EzineArticles.com Expert Author

The Best Way to Play the Stock Market[Investing:Stocks] Investors who play the stock market game and win don't agree on everything, but there are a few things most of them do agree on. Here's the best way to play the stock market based on the best advice I have run across over the past 35 years.
The 2 Worst Mutual Fund Mistakes You Can Make[Investing:Mutual-Funds] You can invest in mutual funds and make money on your own if you avoid 2 major mistakes that too many people make. Learn how to get started on the right track and what 2 major mistakes you must avoid.
Cover All the Bases With Mutual Funds[Investing:Mutual-Funds] Investing is like baseball in the sense that you must have a game plan when the going gets tough. Cover all the bases and put professional money managers on your side by investing in mutual funds. You just pick the right funds, and the pros do the rest to win the game for you. Here's your game plan.
The Best Time to Invest in Stocks[Investing:Stocks] Put away your calculators and software programs if you want to get the feel for stock market timing. You'll never beat the other players if you follow the herd.
Where to Invest in a Bad Stock Market[Investing:Stocks] When stocks are plunging and/or times are uncertain, it's time to get creative and find alternative investments that can deliver higher returns than you can get at the bank. In fact, smart investors invest in stocks and bonds, plus ALTERNATIVE investments...
3 Ways Investors Make Money in Stocks[Investing:Stocks] If you are relatively new to stock investing you may not really be aware of all the opportunities available to you. Investors can make money in the stock market three different ways, and can get leverage to enhance profits as well.
Stocks Or Bonds Or Mutual Funds - Which is Best For You?[Investing] Most investors should have money in both stocks and bonds. Not many are capable of or interested in managing a portfolio of individual securities. If this describes you, this article should help simplify your search for the best investment.
The Roth IRA is Uncle Sam's Greatest Gift to Investors[Investing:IRA-401k] Take advantage of Uncle Sam's generosity and put money aside for retirement in a Roth IRA. Where else can average folks grow a nest egg free from income taxes? Plus, make your life as an investor easier. Get valuable info here.
How No-Load Mutual Funds Work[Investing:Mutual-Funds] Do it yourself with no-load mutual funds and save thousands. Here's how they work and how to invest in them. It's easier and cheaper than you think!
Good and Bad Mutual Funds[Investing:Mutual-Funds] Most mutual funds offered by reputable fund companies or families have good intentions. It's in their best interest to perform well and beat their benchmarks. Others make a token effort to perform, and are more concerned with making big profits for the fund company. Here's how the business works, and how to separate the good from the bad.
Stocks Compared to Bonds[Investing:Stocks] To many folks stocks and bonds are like heads and tails, silver and gold. These are actually two entirely different investments, preferred by two different types of investors. Here we make things simple for you.
7 Keys to Mutual Fund Investing[Investing:Mutual-Funds] There are 7 basic things you should keep in mind when putting together a portfolio of mutual funds. Pay attention to these 7 key items, and you're on your way to successful investing.
Who Should Invest in Mutual Funds[Investing:Mutual-Funds] It's a shame that most Americans have heard about mutual funds, but few really understand them. Tens of millions of investors have money in these managed pools of investors' money, yet few of them really understand the investment options inside their fund family or 401k plan.
Stock Investing - Two Ways Investors Go About it & How to Beat Them[Investing:Stocks] There are two basic approaches to stock investing, the fundamental and the technical. Here's a down-to-earth comparison of the two, plus some tips on how to invest in stocks. How do experienced stock investors make buy and sell decisions? How can you do even better? Read on.
Pension Fund Nightmares[Investing:IRA-401k] Traditional guaranteed pension plans are again in trouble and are freezing benefits, or disappearing altogether. Put your retirement nightmares to bed and learn to manage your own pension plan. Make your 401k and IRA assets grow!
Make Small Investments and Big Profits in Oil, Gold, Or Real Estate[Investing] Make money when the price of oil, gold or real estate goes up, and do it the easy way! You can invest less than $500, or as much as you like. What happens when the price of these "hard" or tangible assets go up? Speculators with a ton of money get rich trading commodities futures contracts or otherwise leveraging their money to the hilt.
Cheap Stocks For Fun and Profit on a Budget[Investing:Stocks] Here's a strategy for playing cheap stocks called "penny stocks" for fun, with the potential for making big profits on a budget. First, open an account with a discount broker who charges $10 or less per trade if possible. Then, come up with your investment budget for the year.
An Investor Nightmare Waiting to Happen[Investing] In order to claw our way out of a scary recession, we've dropped interest rates to artificially low levels to stimulate the economy. What happens to our financial institutions and our pocketbooks when interest rates go back up?
How to Learn How to Invest[Investing] It may take some time and effort to learn how to invest successfully, but it can be done without too much sweat if you have a plan of attack. Here are some ideas to make the learning experience easier for you.
Mutual Funds to Avoid[Investing:Mutual-Funds] Mutual funds are a great way for most investors to invest in stocks, bonds and the money market. Some are better than others, and some should be avoided altogether.
Penny Stock Secrets Revealed![Investing:Stocks] In the late 1970's my wife and I made a game of buying penny stocks in mining companies and oil & gas companies. This was the rage at the time, and we made money at it! After all, if you only pay a few cents a share and get out at $2 or $3, you can make 1000% or more ... sometimes in a matter of weeks, or even days! Read on for the rest of the story.
The Best Way to Start Investing on Your Own[Investing] You can start investing with $200 a month or less on your own through automatic investment plans. In this article we spell it out for you. Plus, you can avoid commissions and sales charges as well.
Investing Versus Poker[Investing] It might take a while longer to learn how to invest vs. a game like poker, but over the long run the payoff will be worth your time and effort. Let's take a look at both games, and compare them.
My Secret Mutual Fund Investing Strategy Revealed![Investing:Mutual-Funds] As a financial planner I was probably a little over-cautious about making sure that my clients did not lose money. But then, rule number one was that clients don't like to lose money. So, I developed a mutual fund investing strategy that I never shared with anyone ... until now. I'll tell you how it works by way of a true story.
Mutual Fund Misconceptions[Investing:Mutual-Funds] Mutual funds are not investment alternatives to be compared to stocks, bonds, gold, or real estate. They are an investment vehicle, a way to invest in all of the above investments and more.
What Stocks Should I Own?[Investing:Stocks] You should first own stocks or stock funds that track the stock market. I'll tell you about them shortly. Then, if you want to invest in stocks and play the market, there are a couple of things you should know.
Basic Investor Guide to Stocks and Bonds[Investing:Stocks] Here's your real basic guide to understanding stocks and bonds, and how they differ from each other. An investor guide doesn't get more basic than this introduction to stocks and bonds.
How to Invest in Gold the Best Way[Investing:Mutual-Funds] Many average folks want to invest in gold, but do not know how to invest in it. The best alternative for many investors is to buy gold funds. These specialty mutual funds invest in gold stocks that track the price of gold, and are professionally managed at a reasonable cost to the investor.
An Introduction to Stock Options[Investing:Stocks] Here's my attempt to simplify stock options by way of an example. The subject confuses people, but options offer high profit opportunities to those who learn how to play the game. I hope this helps you get a handle on these derivatives that have become so popular.
The Best Bond Fund[Investing:Mutual-Funds] To find the best bond fund for most investors we go back to bond basics, and eliminate the losers. Read on. This article could save/make you thousands of dollars in the future.
Real Estate Vs Stock Investing[Investing] Investing for big gains is a game of buying low and selling high, in both real estate and stock investing. The difference is that in one game the buy decision is of greatest importance, and in the other the sell decision usually determines success or failure.
Annuities Made Simple[Investing:Retirement-Planning] The term "annuities" confuses people because it really has two different meanings. Formally defined, an annuity is a yearly payment made to an investor, usually on a monthly basis. However, in the world of investments, the word refers to a tax-deferred investment called a tax-deferred annuity, or simply a retirement annuity.
Real Estate Investing the Easy Way[Real-Estate:Investing] You can be invested in real estate without owning and managing properties, plus you can buy and sell your investment in seconds at a cost of about $10. Here's your simple how to invest investment guide to big profits without the hassle.
Why Index Funds Are Popular With Investors[Investing:Mutual-Funds] With index funds, what you see is what you get. There are few surprises and few disappointments. Have you ever made a good call on the direction of the stock market, and then picked the wrong stock or stock fund to invest in? This mistake can be avoided with index funds. Read on and get up to speed!
Why ETFs Are So Popular[Investing:Mutual-Funds] ETFs have become very popular with investors because they offer advantages over both stocks and conventional mutual funds. Let me explain by way of a simple example.
The Best Time to Invest Money[Investing:Mutual-Funds] The best time to invest money is NOW...if you understand diversification and dollar cost averaging. Let's take a look at how simple investing can be.
6 Ways to Invest in an IRA[Investing:IRA-401k] An IRA is your personal retirement plan, an INDIVIDUAL RETIREMENT ACCOUNT. It is not some type of investment, but rather a type of account. Inside your IRA you can invest in a variety of ways. Here are 6 ways to go about t.
Mutual Funds Made Simple[Investing:Mutual-Funds] Investing in mutual funds is quite simple. Millions of Americans trust their money to these investor-friendly investments. Let's take a look at how things work when you invest in mutual funds.
How to Buy Mutual Funds[Investing:Mutual-Funds] Millions of Americans buy mutual funds by simply choosing them as an investment option in their 401k plan at work. How do people go about investing in mutual funds outside of their retirement plan?
Stocks and Bonds Made Simple[Investing] When the government wants to raise money, they can issue bonds and borrow money from the people. When corporations want to raise large amounts of capital (money), they can issue stocks or bonds. If they issue bonds they borrow money from investors, like government entities do. If they issue stocks they sell shares of ownership in their company, common stock.
Should You Invest in Mutual Funds?[Investing:Mutual-Funds] Bill Gates probably doesn't invest in mutual funds (funds), maybe because most of his money is tied up in Microsoft stock. Warren Buffet made his billions by managing investments, so he does not need their help, either. But, if you have money to invest and don't really know how to invest and manage an investment portfolio, you should consider investing in mutual funds. Millions of average investors do.
The Best Low-Cost Way to Invest in Stocks & Stock Funds[Investing:Stocks] This article will address how to invest from a practical standpoint. How do you actually invest in stocks the best way, and at the least cost? First we discuss how to invest in stocks, and then move on to stock mutual funds.
Investing - Your Ace in the Hole[Investing] Good times come and go, and so do jobs and opportunities. If you learn to invest you have an advantage that can help carry you through the bad times, like an ace in the hole in 5-card stud poker. Your age, education level or place of residence don't matter. If you know how to invest you are never out of business.
Mutual Fund Investing Do's and Don'ts[Investing:Mutual-Funds] Mutual fund investing is the way to go for most investors. There is never a bad time to invest in these investor-friendly investments, if you know the ropes. Here's a short investor guide of things to do or consider, and things not to do.
The Best Mutual Funds[Investing:Mutual-Funds] There are thousands of mutual funds and well over 100 mutual fund families to choose from. How does the average investor go about selecting the best mutual fund(s)? Here's a basic investor guide to help you eliminate the losers and focus on the best.
How to Turn $1000 Into $40,000 in One Hour[Investing:Day-Trading] Yes, you can make big money quick trading stock options. For those of you who have never stopped dreaming, read on as I take you through such a scenario. You can try this at home, but timing is everything. I should know, I started trading stock options when the game started in 1973.
Tax-Free Bonds & Bond Funds[Investing:Mutual-Funds] Municipal bonds offer investors income that is tax-free, exempt from federal income tax. Municipal bond funds are the easiest way to invest in them, and not pay income taxes on the dividends generated from these bonds. Consider three factors before you invest.
The Stock Market Made Simple[Investing:Stocks] You're driving to work in the morning with the radio on and hear the following. "Bears took control yesterday and sent the stock market down 200 points on fears of today's Fed decision. Some analysts feel stocks were over-bought and due for a correction." You roll your eyes and look for some music. What language are they speaking?
401k Investor Guide For the Clueless[Investing:IRA-401k] If you are clueless as to how to invest in your 401k plan, use this starter kit as a basic investor guide to get started on the right path. In your 401k plan you need to make two basic major decisions. First, how much to contribute each pay period. Second, how to invest. Consider this your basic investor guide to how to invest in your 401k plan.
ETFs & Mutual Funds Compared[Investing:Mutual-Funds] ETFs and mutual funds both manage money for investors. They work differently, and you invest in them differently. Here's a basic investor guide to get you up to speed.
Invest to Get Tax Breaks[Investing] Average investors need all the tax breaks they can get, especially when they invest for retirement. All investments are not taxed the same. Consider this your basic investment guide to understanding the tax breaks available to most investors.
Why Learn to Invest?[Investing] Once you learn to invest, higher returns can change your life. Financial risk is involved in investing, but even cautious savers face risks that they may not be aware of. Let me show you some investing basics, facts and figures.
How to Invest in Growth Stocks[Investing:Stocks] Growth stocks offer investors great profit potential. When you invest in growth stocks losses can be high as well. Here are some basics as to how to invest, including when to sell.
The Best Time to Invest in Mutual Funds[Investing:Mutual-Funds] The best time to invest in mutual funds is NOW. These investment packages do not go in and out of favor like stocks or gold or other investments do. They have been the investment of choice for everyday investors for a good 40 years, because they offer investors a wide array of opportunities...in good times and bad.
Trading Stocks - Basic Investment Guide[Investing:Stocks] If the game of trading stocks is new to you, simplify your life by trading stocks called ETFs. Here's an investment guide that highlights the advantages.
Learn How to Invest For Retirement[Investing:Retirement-Planning] Uncle Sam is in debt up to his eyeballs and employers are cutting back on retirement plan benefits. Retirement planning now rests on the individual's shoulders. It's time to learn to invest for retirement. Here's how to invest and save money on income taxes.
What Moves the Stock Market?[Investing:Stocks] You don't need an MBA to get a handle on the stock market. Unless your instructor has plenty of "hands on" experience with stock investing, the class room is not the best place to learn stock market basics. It's important to gain "market sense", and this is best accomplished by studying the stock market itself. How can the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA or the DOW) be up 300 points one week and down 500 the next? What causes stock prices to fall 50% in less than two years?
Investing and the 800-Pound Gorilla - Future Interest Rates[Investing] Ignoring the threat that interest rates could rise in the future is like ignoring the 800-pound gorilla in the room. Ignore him if you like, but he can still squash you.
Basic Mutual Fund Investment Guide[Investing:Mutual-Funds] The vast majority of mutual funds can be placed into one of four categories. Here is a real basic investment guide to help you get a handle on just about every mutual fund investment out there.
Fine Tune Your 401(k) Plan[Investing:IRA-401k] Don't stress over the losses in your 401(k). Learn to manage your 401(k) plan assets when the going gets tough. Here's how to invest and make changes without taking heavy risks.
Investor Tips For Picking Stock Funds[Investing:Mutual-Funds] Informed investors who want to put their money to work to earn higher returns invest in stocks. Unless you are an experienced stock picker who really knows how to invest, your best option is to invest in stock funds. Unless you get investor tips from a real pro or pay for advice, picking stock funds to invest in is your job.
Stock Tips For Bargain Hunters[Investing:Stocks] What looks like a value stock may not be a bargain. Here are some stock tips for eliminating potential losers.
Money Market Funds Explained[Investing:Mutual-Funds] Money market funds are mutual funds that feature safety, high liquidity and current income or interest in the form of dividends. They are the safest of mutual funds, but have not been insured in the past by the government. Millions of folks have parked trillions of dollars in these funds as a safe place to sit while awaiting other investment opportunity. When the stock market scares investors they tend to move their assets to money market funds.
Are Mutual Funds Good Investments?[Investing:Mutual-Funds] Mutual funds are designed for you if you don't really know much about how to invest. Let me tell you why.
Investment Basics - Getting the Big Picture[Investing] Here's a real basic down-to-earth guide to investment basics. The big picture: you only have four basic choices, called asset classes. What follows is this author's simplification of the investment universe.
"Learn to Invest" Investor Quiz[Investing] If you want to learn to invest, start by taking this quick quiz. If you find yourself guessing, it's time to concentrate on learning investment basics and investing strategies. Your first investment lesson follows the quiz.
Basic Investor Guide to Ugly Bear Markets[Investing:Stocks] To get a handle on falling stock prices and the bear market of 2007-2009, let history act as an investor guide. Here's a comparison of some truly ugly stock markets of the not-so-distant past.
Investor Guide to Trusting a Financial Planner[Investing] Finding a good financial planner you can both trust and afford is not easy. Here's your investor guide to finding one you can trust.
Alternative Investments For All Investors[Investing] Alternative investments can outperform U.S. stocks and bonds in bad economic times. Here's how to invest in this investment class and keep it simple.
Nightmare in Bonds and Bond Funds?[Investing:Mutual-Funds] Bonds and bond funds pay higher interest or dividends than you will find at the bank. Investing in bond funds also involves interest rate risk. There could be a nightmare waiting to happen on Bond Street.
Mutual Fund Cost of Investing ABCs[Investing:Mutual-Funds] Some mutual funds have low investor costs, and some do not. Mutual fund investing costs will vary, depending on the CLASS of a mutual fund. Class A, Class B, and Class C funds are most often sold to investors, and are discussed here.
Your Basic Stock Funds Investor Guide[Investing:Mutual-Funds] Millions of folks invest in mutual funds, stock funds being the most popular. Yet, many fail to get the big picture. If they lose money in a stock fund they tend to curse mutual funds in general as bad investments. This notion is far from the truth, so let's put things into perspective.
How to Invest If Clueless - Lifecycle Funds[Investing:Mutual-Funds] Don't sit on the sidelines just because you're clueless. Get started as an investor with balanced mutual funds, lifecycle funds. Then learn how to invest in your spare time.
Save Thousands on Mutual Fund Investments[Investing:Mutual-Funds] Mutual fund investments can hit you with heavy sales charges, high expenses, and extra fees. Or you can invest in mutual funds and save thousands with no-load funds.
Investment Basics For the Clueless[Investing] Once you have some basic investment knowledge you have taken the first step in learning how to invest. Here are five investment basics you need to get a handle on. Give them consideration before you make any investment decision. Don't invest clueless. Invest informed.
Investor Mistakes You Definitely Should Avoid[Investing] Investor mistakes happen and the big ones can kill you financially. If you lose half of your money, you need to double what you have left to get back to break even. Here we discuss the major investor mistakes, not the obvious. Call the following rules investing basics, or simply investor mistakes to avoid. The sorry thing about these investor mistakes is that some financial planners I have known not only embrace them, but they use them as sales tools, so beware.
Investing in Bonds in a Bond Fund[Investing:Mutual-Funds] Investing in bonds is easy when you buy a bond fund. Not to be confused with savings bonds, these mutual funds may be labeled as an income fund, because they offer investors higher income. Investing in bonds and bond funds involves risk, as bonds trade in the bond market and bond prices fluctuate.
Avoid Financial Crisis in Your Portfolio With Asset Allocation[Investing] Economic crisis and fear of a stock crash create difficult times for investors.You can avoid financial crisis in your personal investment portfolio through asset allocation. Diversify your investments accross the basic asset classes to fit your comfort level.
Investing in Mutual Funds - What, Who, When, Where, Why & How[Investing:Mutual-Funds] Investing in mutual funds offers numerous advantages. Most investors can benefit from professional management at a modest cost. There is a mutual fund available for virtually any investor need, and investing in mutual funds need not be complicated.
Investing Guide For the Clueless[Investing] A simple investing guide can get uninformed investors heading in the right direction. Managing money is a challenging proposition, especially for those folks short on investment knowledge. Here are a few tips for the clueless trying to get a firm grasp on investment basics.
How to Invest the Easy Way[Investing:Mutual-Funds] Learning how to invest is easy with target retirement funds. Simply buy them and hold them. Professional money managers make all of the investment decisions for you. The informed investor might want to take a closer look, however, as there might be more risk involved than you think.
Bear Markets and Bull Markets Simplified[Investing] Bear markets and bull markets are simply down trends or up trends in prices. Changing market trends are a fact of life for investors. The average investor can deal with them and prosper over the long term by maintaining a balanced portfolio of investments.
Learn to Invest Successfully[Investing] To be a successful investor you need to understand the nature of the investments commonly available to you. Then, learn to invest using investment strategies like asset allocation and portfolio rebalance. Avoid huge losses and improve long-term investment performance. A real-life investor example shows you how.