Conservative investors have been frustrated in recent years because low interest rates have left guaranteed instruments yielding virtually nothing. And while rates will undoubtedly rise again at some point, guaranteed instruments will never outpace inflation. This creates a dilemma for many investors who seek a decent return on their money, but don’t want to risk losing their [...]

5 Low-Risk Investments That Offer High Returns is a post from the Money Crashers personal finance blog.

In addition to having been a professional or semi-professional musician throughout my entire adult life, I’ve also served as a life insurance advisor and retirement planner for other musicians. Unfortunately, I have found that most musicians are not very savvy at financial planning. The harsh reality is that being an artist does not exempt you [...]

Financial Planning Guide for Musicians & Performing Artists is a post from the Money Crashers personal finance blog.

If you’re a buy and hold, long-term investor looking to build a portfolio, exchange-traded funds (ETFs) are worth a look. They have a number of advantages over mutual funds, and you can buy ETFs that focus on nearly any market you can imagine. However, before investing, it’s important to understand ETFs. Learn how they differ from mutual [...]

What Is an ETF – Exchange Traded Funds Definition, Types, Pros & Cons is a post from the Money Crashers personal finance blog.

Many investors want to diversify their holdings in order to limit their exposure to risk. However, most individual investors cannot afford the fees and commissions necessary to take large positions in a number of individual securities. Fortunately, they can take advantage of mutual funds. There are a number of benefits to mutual funds, though it [...]

What Is a Mutual Fund – Definition, Types, Pros & Cons is a post from the Money Crashers personal finance blog.

Preferred stock is one of the two types of stock issued by corporations seeking to bring in capital. As with common stocks or bonds, the money that is received from the sale of these shares goes into the company coffers in return for the issuance of the shares to the shareholders. Although preferred stock does [...]

What Is Preferred Stock vs. Common Stock – Definition, Pros & Cons is a post from the Money Crashers personal finance blog.

Oil makes the world go round, and there’s no sign of that changing any time soon. Petroleum remains in high demand, as it is an efficient way to generate both BTUs (British Thermal Units, a measure of energy) and kilowatt hours. Petroleum also has a multitude of uses in industry, as it can be used as [...]

How to Invest in Oil Wells & Gas – Investment Opportunities is a post from the Money Crashers personal finance blog.

Many types of mutual funds are primarily designed to pay income to investors in various forms. Some income funds invest in bonds, while others derive income from mortgages or stocks that pay dividends, such as utility and preferred offerings. Another class of income fund also exists: the floating rate fund, also known as a prime [...]

What Are Floating Rate Funds – Pros & Cons and Examples is a post from the Money Crashers personal finance blog.

Military members are accustomed to significant challenges. Combat tours, deployments, and frequent transfers are just a few of the difficulties they face on a frequent basis. Perhaps because of this stress, many military members experience significant struggle when it comes to getting ahead financially. A recent FINRA study reveals that despite a regular paycheck, military members [...]

Investing Strategies for Active Duty Military Members is a post from the Money Crashers personal finance blog.

Whether your retirement is fast approaching or decades away, it is likely that you do not spend much time pondering what will happen when you stop working. Unfortunately, many people are unable to retire when they’d like to because of their financial situation. With careful planning, you can avoid this predicament. Planning ahead for retirement allows [...]

How to Prepare and Plan for Retirement is a post from the Money Crashers personal finance blog.

If you are a stay-at-home spouse, it seems unfair that you can’t build up a retirement account in your name. After all, one of the requirements of opening an Individual Retirement Account (IRA) is that you need earned income. For those who stay home, though, this is actually a myth – and one that could cost you. [...]

What Is a Spousal IRA – Rules, Eligibility & Benefits is a post from the Money Crashers personal finance blog.

Is your mutual fund advisor stringing you along with a lie? Are you getting the facts, or a skillfully staged show full of smoke, mirrors, and misdirection? If you decide to invest in mutual funds, it’s very important to do your research and not blindly follow your advisor’s advice and claims. Here are some of [...]

7 Common Lies Told by Mutual Fund Managers and How to Avoid Them is a post from the Money Crashers personal finance blog.

In less than two decades time, the Internet has changed our lives immeasurably. Among altering nearly every other aspect of our lives, from shopping, to communication, to receiving news, the Internet has affected the way business has evolved. Many established businesses and start-ups have made millions off of the Internet, and many more hope to [...]

History of the Dot-Com Bubble Burst and How to Avoid Another is a post from the Money Crashers personal finance blog.

Credit rating agencies have been around for the better part of the 20th century, and have played a key role in the financial world by providing ratings on the creditworthiness of bonds and other debt instruments. These ratings are invaluable tools for investors looking to get a better sense of whether a debt instrument is [...]

History of Credit Rating Agencies and How They Work is a post from the Money Crashers personal finance blog.

Millions of employees save for retirement by deferring a portion of their compensation into an employer-sponsored, tax-deferred savings plan. The majority of these are known as qualified plans and fall under the jurisdiction of ERISA guidelines, which means they are subject to certain limiting requirements. For example, these requirements can pertain to the type and [...]

Non-Qualified Retirement Plan – Definition, Benefits & Examples is a post from the Money Crashers personal finance blog.

Standard and Poor’s (commonly known as S&P) is one of the most prominent financial intelligence companies in the world. S&P is a division of the McGraw-Hill Companies and has more than 150 years of experience providing financial services to investors worldwide. Though the firm provides a number of financial research services, they are most widely known for [...]

What Is S&P? Understanding Standard & Poor’s Credit Ratings is a post from the Money Crashers personal finance blog.

While at work, many of us dream of having time off to fill our days vacationing, playing golf, and relaxing with loved ones. But when retirement comes, we may actually find that we miss the work! There are myriad reasons to continue to work after retirement: it can help you stay physically and mentally healthy, [...]

8 Best Job Ideas for Retirees & Seniors is a post from the Money Crashers personal finance blog.

From the time that traders gathered under a buttonwood tree on Wall Street until the 1970s, stockbrokers were known primarily as salespersons who got rich by recommending stocks and bonds to wealthy speculators. And while many brokers still do this today, the role of stockbrokers has evolved and expanded considerably over the past few decades. Those [...]

How to Become a Licensed Stockbroker – Career Challenges & Rewards is a post from the Money Crashers personal finance blog.

The complex world of options trading can provide knowledgable investors with quick profits, regular income, and protection against losses. Unfortunately, many investors are lured by the quick-profit potential and choose to merely dabble with these instruments without knowing what they’re doing. This often leads to substantial losses. In order to mitigate this effect and better [...]

Options Industry Council (OIC) – Options Trading Education is a post from the Money Crashers personal finance blog.

Millions of securities transactions of all types and sizes take place every day in the United States. You may invest in mutual funds through your 401k at work, or engage in derivatives trading through your online brokerage account. Fortunately, a plethora of information is available to you regarding your transactions and investments. The financial firms with whom you [...]

What Is FINRA – History and Rules for Arbitration & Mediation is a post from the Money Crashers personal finance blog.

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is a regulatory agency that oversees a major segment of the economy along with the IRS, the Consumer Protection Bureau, and the Federal Trade Commission. Specifically, the SEC oversees “Wall Street” where market activity is measured in the trillions of dollars and intersects with virtually every other facet of the economy. Thousands [...]

U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) History & Fraud Cases is a post from the Money Crashers personal finance blog.