Stock Secrets

Natural resources are commodities, the raw inputs used to make everything we use, from intermediate goods to finished products. These resources are found in the earth among reserves yet to be extracted. Renewable resources are those with supply not diminished by use, including solar power, wind power and hydroelectric energy. Nonrenewable resources like fossil fuels

If you’re looking to invest in S&P 500 stocks, but don’t have the temperament to sift through and analyze the financial fundamentals of 500 individual companies, an S&P 500 Index fund or exchange-traded fund (ETF) can help you gain exposure to all those stocks—without the grueling analysis. The S&P 500 Index tracks the largest and

Money, whether it’s represented by a shell, a metal coin, a piece of paper, or a string of code electronically mined by computer, doesn’t always have value. Its value—currently estimated at around $420 trillion—depends on the importance that people place on it as a medium of exchange, a unit of measurement, and a storehouse for

Home Equity Loan vs. HELOC: An Overview Home equity loans and home equity lines of credit (HELOCs) are loans that are secured by a borrower’s home. A borrower can take out an equity loan or credit line if they have equity in their home. Equity is the difference between what is owed on the mortgage loan and the

If you can walk into a supermarket and find Costa Rican bananas, Brazilian coffee, and a bottle of South African wine, you’re experiencing the impacts of international trade. International trade allows countries to expand their markets and access goods and services that otherwise may not have been available domestically. As a result of international trade,

One of the biggest perks of homeownership is the ability to build equity over time. You can use that equity to secure low-cost funds in the form of a second mortgage—either a one-time loan or a home equity line of credit (HELOC). There are advantages and disadvantages to each of these forms of credit, so

For consumers, inflation means higher prices on goods and services, and a loss of purchasing power if their income fails to keep up. For investors, it means moving some of their money to assets that benefit from inflation or at least keep up with its pace. The following investments tend to fare well during periods

Smartphone maker Xiaomi Corp. filed for its initial public offering (IPO) in early May of 2018. The Beijing-based company, headed by co-founder and Chief Executive Officer Lei Jun, generates revenue through four primary business segments: smartphones, Internet of Things (IoT) and lifestyle products, internet services, and miscellaneous additional services and products. The company ambitiously anticipated an enterprise value of as much as $100

For people of a certain persuasion, it’s fun to make fun of Microsoft (MSFT). It’s outdated and occasionally bloated software. An operating system version so despised that most users refused to upgrade from its predecessor and instead waited for its replacement. A browser that once held 95% of world market share, no longer leads in

To some, it’s the greatest idea since price supports for agriculture: A government assumes its citizens’ healthcare choices, paying every cost and minimizing all guesswork. To others, it’s an infringement on individual human autonomy, the transference of private decisions about health to a taxpayer-funded bureaucracy.  Single-Payer Healthcare A euphemism for “government-run,” “single-payer” means that instead of every person

Chances are that you or someone you know has experienced a layoff at some point. No matter how stable and safe your career might seem, getting the so-called pink slip can happen to anyone. Indeed, the 2020 economic crisis and lockdown has been the epitome of unexpected. Nearly 21 million people were unemployed in May

In the United States, investing in real estate is a popular way to build wealth. Many people purchase homes and rent them out, earning income from the rent. In fact, individual investors own nearly 17 million rental properties today. Most investors purchase rental properties with home loans. If you own an investment property, you may

Artistgndphotography | E+ | Getty Images Company: Griffon (GFF) Business: Griffon operates through two segments. Consumer and Professional Products (“CPP”) conducts its operations through AMES. Founded in 1774, AMES is the leading North American manufacturer and a global provider of branded consumer and professional tools and products for home storage and organization, landscaping and enhancing

Roth IRA vs. Traditional IRA: An Overview Individual retirement accounts (IRAs) are tax-advantaged vehicles designed for long-term savings and investment to build a nest egg for one’s post-career life. While some IRAs are available through your employer, the two most common ones are designed for investors to use on their own. The first is the

U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren popularized the 50/20/30 budget rule in her book, All Your Worth: The Ultimate Lifetime Money Plan. The rule is to split your after-tax income into three categories of spending: 50% on needs, 30% on wants, and 20% on savings. This intuitive and straightforward rule can help you draw up a reasonable

When you read all those stories about the 1%—or even the top 5% or 10%—it may raise the question: How much money do you need to pull in to be in one of those groups? You’ll need at least six figures to count yourself among the nation’s top earners, according to data published by the Economic