Key Takeaways The rising stock market is one factor enticing firms to do secondary public offerings Secondary public offerings, also called follow-on offerings, have reached their highest levels since 1996 Share prices may fall after both dilutive and non-dilutive secondary offerings With the stock market repeatedly hitting new highs, companies are filing for initial public […]

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Key Takeaways Mutual funds present investors with an efficient means of holding a large, diversified basket of assets The mutual fund universe offers a varying range of opportunities and risks; choose carefully Understanding your financial goals, engagement levels, and risk tolerance is key to selecting a suitable mix of mutual funds So, you’ve decided your […]

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Key Takeaways Diversification is both the attraction and Achilles’ heel of conglomerates GE and Berkshire Hathaway are among some famous old-school conglomerates Amazon represents the vanguard of modern conglomerates Is it fair to think of conglomerates like General Electric (GE) and Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A) (BRK.B) as the original mutual funds? In general, a conglomerate company […]

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Key Takeaways The Federal Reserve’s fiscal policy and low interest rates are likely to stay in place for some time The central bank’s dual mandate is to keep inflation intact and achieve maximum full employment Although sometimes cryptic, the Fed does communicate its policy intentions  “Don’t fight the Fed.” It’s an old adage made popular […]

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Key Takeaways Understand what buy, sell, and hold analyst ratings mean  Know how to read analyst ratings and translate them into something meaningful Tools that can help investors analyze the big picture in depth and breadth may be more useful than standard stock ratings When analysts rate a stock as a “buy” or “sell,” that’s […]

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Key Takeaways Publicly traded companies are required to regularly report financial information in filings to the SEC SEC filings are freely available and can provide investors with valuable insights into a company’s financial health The 10-K, one of the most impactful SEC filings, includes a few critical sections investors should study Publicly traded companies, whatever […]

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Key Takeaways Social trading can be an informative way to invest, as long as you approach it with caution Know when consensus in opinion among forum participants starts resembling herd mentality Understand there isn’t always safety, let alone wisdom, in numbers In late January, we saw some quiet and underperforming stocks unexpectedly rise in value […]

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Key Takeaways Learn how exchange-traded funds (ETFs) can potentially offer diversification and income  Understand the risks and potential tax consequences of ETF investing Take your investment objectives, risk tolerance, and time horizon into consideration as you research ETFs Doing a little shopping for your portfolio this season? Perhaps you should consider exchange-traded funds (ETFs) as […]

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Key Takeaways Investment advisors and broker-dealers operate under different regulations Broker-dealers typically must get your approval before buying securities Investment advisors can buy and sell on your behalf without approval for each transaction New regulation coming soon from the Securities and Exchange Commission Broker-dealers and investment advisors can both play a crucial role in their […]

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Key Takeaways Consider the potential advantages of starting early as you pursue your financial goals You don’t need much to start investing in a managed portfolio Essential Portfolios lowered its investing minimum to $500 for clients who set up automatic recurring deposits Nearly 40% of millennials claimed they would’ve started investing earlier if not for […]

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