Investing Archives

Is Now a Good Time to Invest?

April 19, 2024 Steven Easler

Is now a good time to invest? It’s arguably the most common question that crosses investors’ minds when considering entering the stock market. The reality is, the stock market is inherently unpredictable. Attempting to time the market (market timing) is an incredibly challenging task, often proving to be elusive, if not entirely impossible, over the long term. Therefore, if you’re considering investing, the initial question shouldn’t revolve around the timing of the market. Instead, the primary focus should be directed towards defining the purpose of your investment.

Wall Street vs. Main Street: Yes, You Can Still Invest

May 5, 2021 Steven Easler

Wall Street vs. Main Street is a phrase used to describe the disparity between the average investor and the large financers. It emphasizes the idea that the “little guy” does not have the same advantages of the big Wall Street companies who are able to take advantage of the small investors. Another common metaphor used here is “David vs. Goliath.” However, don’t get discouraged when it comes to investing. There is opportunity in the stock market to reach your financial goals, no matter your level of expertise or resources behind you.

Speculation vs. Investing: 4 Rules if You Plan to Speculate

February 17, 2021 Steven Easler

There has been a lot of excitement in financial news recently that can elicit the desire to participate in speculative trading. There are always opportunities for speculation. Maybe it’s a highly anticipated initial public offering (IPO) from a popular company, or a hot stock tip from a co-worker. Whatever the opportunity is, you need to assess if it’s the right thing to put your money into. And you need to determine first, are you investing, or speculating?

How To Evaluate Your Investment Performance

January 6, 2021 Steven Easler

How do you know if your investments are performing well? One obvious measure is if you are making money. After all that’s why you invested in the first place. But there are other factors to consider. Are they performing as well as other investment options? Are your gains consistent year over year? What if your investments are down? Could you have done something different? What is a reasonable expected return?

What is Dollar-Cost Averaging? (And How it Can Help You Manage Investment Risk)

July 16, 2020 Steven Easler

Is now a good time to invest in the stock market? This is a common question for investors. The uncertainty and volatility of the stock market can make any investor nervous. And it does not matter if we are at record highs or experiencing a market correction or a bear market. The unpredictability is always there. The reality is, no one can predict the stock market. However, you can manage investment risk without predicting the markets with the investment strategy, dollar-cost averaging.

What Happens to Your Stock if the Company Files For Bankruptcy?

July 2, 2020 Steven Easler

Several publicly traded companies have filed for bankruptcy this year. Some names are quite familiar: JCPenney, Gold’s Gym, Neiman Marcus, J.C Crew, Hertz Corporation, and many more. What happens to the stock when a company files for bankruptcy? Do shareholders get any of their money back? If you own stock in a company that has filed for bankruptcy, your shares will most likely become worthless. Don’t expect to get any money back. Stock holders are the last in line to recover any assets. The good news is your loss is limited to your investment.

Managing Risk With Asset Allocation

April 15, 2020 Steven Easler

Investing, particularly in the stock market, involves risk. It is unpredictable and volatile. For the average investor, trying to time the market is not feasible. Instead, you can manage risk with the right asset allocation.

When the Stock Market Is in a Correction: Don’t Panic

March 11, 2020 Steven Easler

A correction is when the stock market has declined 10% or more from its recent high. It is measured by the major stock indexes such as the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA), S&P 500, and the NASDAQ Composite. For the investor who has never experienced one, a decline like this is nerve-racking. For those of us who have been through a correction before, it’s still nerve-racking. But don’t panic.

News Headlines and the Stock Market: What Should You Do?

January 27, 2020 Steven Easler

News headlines are full of tragic events, warnings of future catastrophe, and political drama. Turmoil in the Middle East, trade wars, terrorism, catastrophic weather, fraud, and more fill stories. It’s endless. You’ll also find ample opinions and predictions about how the stock market will react to these events and what you should do with your investments. Should you make changes to your investments based on what you hear in the news?

How to Invest Without Compromising Your Values: Socially Responsible Investing (SRI) and Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG)

July 29, 2019 Steven Easler

Everyone has his or her own values and vision of how the world could be a better place. For some,…

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