Investing: every guide we've published
Start with the basics, then go deep. Everything here is researched, sourced, and written to help you decide, not to sell you something.
Account Types
Brokerage Accounts: What They Are and How to Open One
A brokerage account is the front door to investing: stocks, funds, ETFs, all in one taxable account with no contribution limits. Here is how they work, what SIPC actually protects, and what to check before opening one.
Account TypeDividend Stocks: Getting Paid to Own Companies
Dividend stocks pay you cash for holding them. Here is how dividends work, what yield really tells you, the yield-trap mistake that catches income chasers, and how to use dividends sensibly.
Account TypeETFs Explained: Funds That Trade Like Stocks
Exchange-traded funds hold diversified baskets of investments and trade all day on an exchange. Here is how ETFs work, how they differ from mutual funds, and what to check before buying one.
Account TypeIndex Funds: The Boring Strategy That Beats Most Pros
An index fund buys the whole market instead of betting on winners, and charges almost nothing to do it. Here is how index funds work and why low fees are the most reliable edge in investing.
Account TypeRobo-Advisors: Automated Investing Without the Sales Pitch
Robo-advisors build and manage a diversified portfolio from a questionnaire, for a fraction of a human advisor's fee. Here is how they work, what they cost, and who should skip them.
Guides
Compound Growth: Why Time Beats Talent in Investing
Compounding pays returns on your returns, and over decades it does most of the work in any portfolio. Here is the mechanism, the math, and the habits that let it run.
GuideHow to Start Investing: The Order of Operations
Starting to invest is a sequence, not a stock pick: emergency fund, employer match, tax-advantaged accounts, then everything else. Here is the order and why it works.
GuideRisk Tolerance: Know Your Stomach Before the Market Tests It
Risk tolerance decides what mix of investments you can actually hold through a crash. Here is what it really measures, how to assess yours honestly, and how to build a portfolio that survives you.
GuideStocks vs. Bonds: The Only Allocation Decision That Matters
Stocks are ownership; bonds are loans. The mix between them sets your portfolio's risk and return more than any other choice. Here is how each works and how to think about the split.