The GoogleFinance function on Google Sheets is a great tool for investors looking to build portfolio tracking spreadsheets or do stock analysis inside their own spreadsheets. I use the GoogleFinance function in Google Sheets for all kinds of analysis and tracking. It’s one of my favorite tools I use online. Using the GoogleFinance function for […]
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How to make money as a teen
Earning money as a teenager opens the door to a first taste of independence. Having some pocket cash can give teenagers the freedom to make decisions about saving and spending. Learning how to make money as a teen is just the starting point, however. Coupling this lesson with other personal finance lessons such as budgeting, […]
How often does the S&P 500 hit an all-time high?
The S&P 500 all-time high and how often the index hits a new all-time high is a really fascinating data point that is an important data point to remember as you consider long-term investing. The S&P 500 hits a new all-time high only 5% of days that the stock market is open for trading. This […]
Is a share repurchase program (or stock buyback) good for investors?
Corporations can buy back shares of the stock they previously issued. Buybacks – corporations can call them a share repurchase program – have the potential to serve both corporate and shareholder interests, though the practice has been controversial and the benefits aren’t always apparent. Common stock repurchasing volume is enormous in the U.S. Repurchases by […]
3 reminders to stay the course in an inflationary boom environment
Inflation typically refers to an economic environment in which prices are increasing and the purchasing power of your money is decreasing. If you pay attention to financial news media, inflation is referenced near constantly, but there’s typically arguments on all sides about whether or not to expect increasing inflation. Today, in early 2021, interestingly, it […]
How to track the status of your stimulus check
Everyone is talking about the latest round of stimulus checks that have begun to be distributed by the Federal government. Are you looking for how to track the status of your stimulus check? The IRS began sending out payments connected to the third stimulus check on March 12. You can use the IRS’s “Get My […]
Freelance journalist guide: Get more work & earn more money
Being a freelance journalist today is both good and bad. There has never been more opportunity for someone willing to go out on their own as a freelance journalist, but with the increased supply has come increased competition. Knowing how to navigate this world, find consistent work and be paid well requires having a plan […]
Some of my favorite long-term stocks are on sale
I mostly do index funds, but I do own a few individual names. For me to own an individual stock, it’s got to have an outsized opportunity. If it’s just a value stock or a dividend stock, well, I figure my index funds own those names to a sufficient degree. Why own them individually? As […]
Would portfolio rebalancing have saved you from the 2020 coronavirus crash?
Recently a reader emailed me saying he would have enjoyed some specific examples of how various portfolio rebalancing strategies have performed in the past. This email came after the reader read our article on How often and when should you rebalance your portfolio? In that article, we discuss some potential portfolio rebalancing strategies. You can […]
Why Netflix stock (NFLX) is heading over $600
Back in late 2018, I wrote a 15 page report on why Netflix stock was a great buy and was heading much higher. While most of what is in that report is still valid, I find the end of the report the most interesting to look back on. In the end of the report, I […]
Titan Invest: Why you should consider creating an account today
Titan Invest is a company that jumped into the roboadvisor offering world albeit with a slightly different twist than what most consider to be a typical roboadvisor offering. I joined Titan Invest in 2020 mostly out of curiosity. I’m a bit of a stock market junkie and found the clean design, marketing and details of […]
Everything you need to know about custodial accounts
What is a custodial account? Custodial accounts refer to savings account or investment accounts at banks, mutual fund companies or financial institutions where a parent or guardian is in control of the account despite the account being owned by the minor (someone under 18 or 21 years of age). Custodial accounts are commonly used by […]
What is a good Sharpe ratio? How important is it?
Netflix (NFLX) is a classic example of the value of the Sharpe ratio and a great investment story. By the end of 2002, the year NFLX went public, the company had over a million subscribers and its stock closed at a split-adjusted $0.71 price. At the end of 2019, it had 167 million subscribers and […]
Rate of Return: Everything you need to know about calculating investment returns
Rate of Return: Everything you need to know about calculating investment returns Investors often start out thinking that calculating rate of return is quite simple, but as they begin to calculate returns in more and more scenarios, they begin to see some cracks in how simple they thought it would be. In reality, rate of […]
Everything you need to know about cryptocurrency index funds
For much of the last decade, bitcoin and the world of cryptocurrency has evolved from a strange digital currency favored by hackers, nerds and shady characters to a mainstay on the global financial system. As the price of bitcoin is many times more than it was years ago and as more and more financial products […]
The best index funds to own in 2021
2020 was an unusual and difficult year in many respects. A global pandemic led to economic recession and market turmoil, but the stock market rebounded mightily from its March 2020 lows, and investors are rightfully asking where should they put their money in 2021? What are the best index funds to own in 2021? There […]
A complete guide to the best index funds
A complete guide to selecting and understanding the best index funds What are the best index funds for your portfolio? It seems like a simple enough question, but properly answering it requires a deeper dive into the subject matter. While the huge brokerages such as Charles Schwab, Fidelity and Vanguard continue to offer investors more […]
The best Fidelity index funds for your portfolio
While Vanguard pioneered the low-cost, index funds approach to investing, companies such as Fidelity have largely caught up to the offerings of Vanguard and now enable investors to easily build quality portfolios using the best Fidelity index funds. These Fidelity index funds have low fees and provide baskets of diversified holdings within. Portfolios that utilize […]
Disney Dividend: Analysis, amount and payout schedule
Disney (DIS) investors have long praised the Disney dividend that is paid on a semi-annual basis for shareholders, but have recent moves by the media and entertainment conglomerate put the Disney dividend in a more “back seat” position? As Disney positions itself for the next era of media and entertainment consumption, the company has made […]
Understanding SIPC insurance and how investors use it
SIPC insurance is an extremely important level of protection for investors, yet few investors know much about it. Everyone wants to ensure their assets are protected from losses. While you can’t guarantee that you won’t lose money in the stock market, you do have other ways of keeping your portfolio safe from other risks. Insurance […]
What are the best sports betting stocks?
Sports betting stocks have been in the news quite a bit in 2020 for multiple reasons. First, the sports betting industry has been on fire in the U.S. ever since the Supreme Court struck down the law preventing sports betting back in 2018. The 1992 law had previously prohibited states from authorizing sports betting activity […]
Apple Dividend: Analysis, amount and payout schedule
The Apple dividend is a relatively minor part of being a shareholder in Apple (AAPL), one of the world’s largest company. The company has documented incredible growth over the last decade, fueled mostly by its iPhone business, and the company continues to find ways to deliver value to shareholders. While the Apple dividend is just […]
Understanding disinflation and why it matters to investors
Disinflation is a term you may have heard used in the financial news, especially on topics related to broader economic trends and interest rates. When an economy is experiencing disinflation – or the slowing of price – it means the rate of inflation is slowing. As you’ll learn below, disinflation may sound like a negative […]
The minimum variance portfolio and why investors might consider it
A minimum variance portfolio seeks an allocation that is able to withstand stock market crashes as a result of acknowledging the limitations of standard measures of risk. Does the minimum variance portfolio make sense for you as an investor? It depends on a number of factors, but even if you opt for more traditional portfolio […]
Understanding profit margin and its different types
Profit margin is an excellent gauge for how well a company is performing, both compared to its own past performance and its peers’ performance. Essentially, this metric is a measure of profitability. Investors and businesses, as well as lenders, often use look to profit margin to help them asses how well the company is being […]