Investments

Want to protect your portfolio from hidden risks and market surprises? Managing your investments is like tending a garden: you plant the seeds, nurture growth, and occasionally trim back the overgrowth.

I was startled to learn how low the scores were when people took a financial literacy test measuring basic money knowledge. It made me wonder—are my Raining Pennies blog posts too complicated?

Most people assume that investing in individual stocks is a surefire way to grow wealth over time. But stock market history tells a very different story.

Growing up, I was enamored with the TV game show Let’s Make a Deal. Contestants would often gamble what they had already won for the potential of something bigger and better, which reminded me of the phrase, “A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.

I’ll admit it—FOMO (Fear of Missing Out), a common sentiment in investing, has me reconsidering Bitcoin. With headlines about its incredible rise, surpassing $100,000 for the first time in December of 2024, and trillion-dollar asset managers throwing their support behind it, it’s hard not to feel the temptation to dive in.

These companies have driven a substantial portion of the index’s performance, raising questions about market concentration and future returns.

If you’re a homeowner, it’s tempting to rely on tools like Zillow to check your home’s value. But the truth about Zillow estimates is that their accuracy varies significantly depending on your city and whether the home is actively listed or off-market.

A few years ago, I came across an interview with Bill Gates, who recommended Principles (non-affiliated), a book written by Ray Dalio. In Principles, Dalio introduced the concept of all-weather funds (AWFs), designed to perform well across various economic conditions.

Investing can be a challenging endeavor, especially for beginners. Many investors make critical errors like chasing trends or failing to diversify properly.

Are you looking for a way to invest in the S&P 500 but worried about unpredictable market swings? Buffered ETFs protect your portfolio from market volatility and might be the perfect solution.

Options trading can seem daunting at first, but learning how to use call and put options can help you protect your portfolio and unlock new investment strategies. By understanding how these options work, you can mitigate risk and potentially generate income, all while maintaining control over your underlying investments.

In today’s digital age, safely accessing online financial accounts has become a necessity for many. With convenience comes risk, making it crucial to protect your personal and financial data from cyber threats.