Simple investing is about getting educated on the basics of investing. So you can learn how to invest and make more money with the money you already have.
For example, a common misconception about investing is that you need to go to school to learn how. And you need a whole bunch of money. Not true. Learning how invest is about understanding the basics, and starting with a small sum of money.
These simple investing articles from FTP will educate and teach you how to take the money you already have and start making more.
Many years ago (many, many) when I started my first “real” job out of college I had the opportunity to contribute to a 401(k) plan. I was young and at the time was more focused on my new paycheck, rent, entertainment systems and of course having a cool car – you know the really important […]
If you’re new to investing and want to understand how to evaluate a company’s stock, this short video will show you how to research a stock using Yahoo Finance. Yahoo finance is a great tool to use for researching and evaluating investments. The best part about Yahoo Finance is that most of the tools are […]
Updated for tax year 2019. For tax year 2019 the contribution limit for Traditional IRA and Roth IRA accounts is $6,000. If you are over the age of 50 you can make an additional catch-up contribution of $1,000. The deadline to file 2019 taxes is Wednesday April 15, 2020. Throughout the year, but most […]
It’s one of the main reasons most people don’t start investing. The perspective that in order to start investing you need a lot of money. This misconception inevitably adds to the confusion surrounding investing so for most the topic becomes an afterthought when it comes to managing their finances. However, I can tell you from past […]
Have you asked yourself the question, do CDs automatically renew? The answer is yes! However, do you know how a CD’s automatic renewal policy could cost you a lot of money? Understanding your certificate of deposit (CD’s) maturity date could save you money by avoiding a penalty. I discuss Certificate of Deposits in my […]
If you think investing in mutual funds is hard to do, you’re not alone. It’s a common misconception that mutual funds are tough to understand. Or to start investing in one you need a whole bunch of money. The reality is that mutual funds are one of the easiest ways to start investing. This […]
Robo-advisors and automated investing platforms are becoming one of the most popular ways to start investing. It’s estimated that there are currently over 100 robo-advisor and automated investing platforms operating in the United States. If you’re new to investing and finding all the terminology a bit confusing you’re not alone. You may find yourself […]
One of the greatest misconceptions surrounding investing is that it requires a large sum of money to get started. And typically that misunderstanding is then followed by fear. The fear that if you invest all your hard earned money, you risk losing it due to a downturn in the market. However, if you’re new to […]
I participate in a number of online question and answer forums that cover a host of personal finance topics. In general, individuals write in requesting answers to their topic and everyone else chimes in with their perspective. Over the last couple of weeks, there were a couple of instances where the topic of discussion […]
I opened my first online brokerage account over 10 years ago. It was through my local bank. They were offering 100 free trades a year if I linked my checking account with their brokerage services. I had always wanted to open a brokerage account online, so I took advantage of the opportunity. I hadn’t […]
If you’re looking for a simple way to track your investments, Yahoo Finance provides an easy way to set up your own investment portfolio. In this short video, I will show you how to track stocks and mutual funds using Yahoo Finance. Why Create an Investment Portfolio? In general, there […]
Let me guess, you’ve been watching real estate house flipping shows on cable TV? I bet they’re like the ones I used to watch before I flipped houses. They make it look so easy to do, and they always make a profit. Do they? Now you’re curious if the reality of flipping a house […]
There are a number of ways to invest and make money in real estate. For example, you could: Buy a home and rent it out as a vacation property. For instance, as a way of generating passive income. Purchase a house or apartment complex and rent it out for residential living. Acquire a foreclosure […]
I have always been interested in the subject of passive income, specifically how to create passive income opportunities – to some degree, you might say I‘m a bit obsessed. Why? because I believe it’s an important aspect of building wealth – kind of like having a 2nd job you don’t have to show up […]
Certificates of Deposit or CD’s are offered by most financial institutions (banks, credit unions…) as a product to provide you with interest rates that are generally higher than a traditional savings account. Unlike a savings account where you can move money in and out of the account, CD’s will require you to commit to […]
If you’ve never considered managing your own investments, or pondered the thought of trying to comprehend the world of investing, it’s probably because of two main reasons. First, all the jargon, cryptic terminology, opinions and investment solutions make the subject confusing. So confusing you may not be sure where to even begin. Or maybe it’s […]
It’s probably the single most important mathematical concept to understand about investing. The effect compounding interest or a rate of return has on your money over time. It’s important because it can significantly change your perspective on how much money you invest, where you invest and how soon you should start. When I was […]
For most the term investing can often conjure up images of complex algebraic math equations – i.e. the jargon feels too complex to understand. Navigating all the different options and opinions can feel like you’re walking through a maze. You’re not sure which way to go. The reality is investing and the retirement planning […]
Do you find understanding the math associated with investing complicated or maybe a bit “fuzzy”? A bit like understanding algebra or geometry back in high school for the first time. If you’re like most individuals understanding the relationship between the money you have, investing it and then determining how much money you can make can […]
The time value of opportunity is the ability to recognize money saving or money making opportunities (events) that will benefit you over the course of a lifetime. The key word being recognize. For example, in relationship to vehicle insurance. Most think of vehicle insurance as a single annual occurrence. You pay your premium every year […]
Do you want to learn a simple way to start investing? Here is one perspective on how to think about investing. I call it the “Bucket Strategy” If you’re new to investing or considering the possibility of starting, one of the most challenging aspects of the world of investing is to be able to […]
Guest Post Provided by: Andrew Altman w/ Slick Bucks Automated investing solutions can invest small amounts of money for you at a time. From very small investments that trickle out of your account to investments that round up all of your transactions (thereby investing your spare change), these apps make it easier for you to […]
What is an Exchange-Traded Fund (ETF)? ETF is an acronym for Exchange-Traded Fund and is another type of investment vehicle or security. ETFs were created in the early ’90s as a means of providing investors with the ability to purchase a set of “pooled” investment resources – like stocks and bonds. In […]
If you’re interested in trading stocks and earning dividends. Then it’s important you understand what DRIP means in relationship to stocks. DRIP is an acronym for Dividend Reinvestment Plan. DRIP is a plan offered by some corporations that allow shareholders of their stock to reinvest the dividends earned into purchasing […]
.. A target date fund is a mutual fund that has been created with the specific goal of providing an investment portfolio. The portfolio is based on how long you have until retirement. Target date funds typically contain an assortment of stocks and fixed income securities, like bonds. These types of funds use a […]
Who is Morningstar? Morningstar is a highly respected independent research firm based out of Chicago, Illinois. The company was founded in 1984. Morningstar provides a host of investment products and services available for both novice and experienced investors. Their Morningstar rating scale is a popular method for evaluating mutual funds. […]
Does the world of investing sometimes seem like a Rubik’s Cube? Simple Investing is the third eBook in the Filling The Pig personal finance series of books. It provides the next step for creating financial independence by teaching you how to make sense of the investment landscape, so you can make more money with […]
Mutual Funds can be a challenge to understand and research simply because there are so many. How to Research a Mutual Fund is a short video that will provide you with seven key variables to use to initially evaluate a mutual fund. This video uses the Dividend Growth Fund (PRDGX) managed by T. Rowe […]
I was having lunch with a friend of mine the other day and we were discussing my next book Filling The Pig – Simple Investing. We were discussing the subject of how much money you need to have to start investing, specifically in stocks. His perception was that you needed a good chunk of […]
Do you know what a dividend is? A dividend is a distribution of a company’s profits to shareholders of their stock. Dividend payments are a means of rewarding investors for their ownership in the company. If you own shares of ABC Company stock and ABC Company makes a profit the […]
