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Investing Basics

The foundational concepts that everything else builds on. Start here if you are new to investing or want to make sure the fundamentals are solid before going further.

All articles Retirement Accounts Investing Basics Tax Strategy Debt and Investing Stocks and Markets
Should you rebalance your portfolio during a market correction?

Should you rebalance during a market correction? Yes, if your mix has drifted past your threshold. Here is how it works, the honest risk, and what to do first.

How much should you have in an emergency fund?

Three to six months is the start, but the right number is personal. How to size it on essential expenses, when to hold nine to twelve months, and where to keep it.

How to choose your stock and bond mix (asset allocation)

Your stock-and-bond split drives most of your return and risk. How to set it from two inputs, time horizon and risk tolerance, plus the rules of thumb and a 3-question shortcut.

How and when to rebalance your portfolio

A strong first half quietly makes your portfolio riskier than you planned. What rebalancing is, when to do it, and three simple, tax-smart ways for beginners.

The mid-year money review: a 30-minute checklist

The first half is done. A seven-point, 30-minute check on your savings rate, emergency fund, allocation, debt, and goals, with clear action steps and what not to touch.

Dow vs S&P 500 vs Nasdaq: what the three big indexes actually mean

The Dow crossed 52,000 and Alphabet joined it. What each index measures, why they disagree, and the difference between an index and an index fund.

Should you invest when the market is at an all-time high?

The Dow just closed above 52,000 and the S&P 500 hit a record. Is it bad to buy at an all-time high? What the evidence says, plus the one honest caveat about valuations.

Bond yields just hit a one-year high: should beginners buy bonds now?

Yields jumped after the Fed. What bonds are, why price moves opposite to rates, the honest catch if the Fed hikes again, and the role bonds actually play in a portfolio.

Where to keep your cash when interest rates stay high

With the Fed holding rates high, cash can finally earn around 4%. How high-yield savings, money market funds, and Treasury bills compare, and where each kind of cash belongs.

Should you invest when interest rates are rising?

The Fed may hike rates again in 2026. What rising interest rates actually do to stocks, bonds, and your savings, and why a beginner's plan should barely change.

Can you invest in OpenAI or Anthropic?

OpenAI and Anthropic both filed to go public in 2026. Whether you can buy their stock yet, the honest indirect ways to get AI exposure, and the pre-IPO scams to avoid.

Is a market correction coming? What a beginner should actually do

Worried the market is about to crash? What a correction actually is, why nobody can reliably predict one, and the calm plan a beginner should follow when everyone is nervous.

SpaceX's first day of trading: what SPCX did, and the lesson hiding in it

SpaceX (SPCX) opened at $150, hit $176, and settled near $161 on its first day, up about 19%. What actually happened, why the day-one chasers got hurt, and the calm takeaway for beginners.

Should you buy a stock on its first day of trading?

SpaceX (SPCX) starts trading June 12. Should you buy a stock on its first day? What first-day IPO pops actually do, the index-fund twist, and a calmer plan for beginners.

How much of your income should you invest?

How much should you invest each month? The 15% rule, the 50/30/20 budget, why your savings rate matters more than your returns, and how to find the right number for your income.

Time in the market beats timing the market: what the data actually shows

Trying to time the market is a losing game. The evidence: the Buffett bet, why missing the 10 best days halves your returns, and why those best days happen exactly when panic-sellers have fled.

Should you buy the dip right now?

War headlines, a hyped IPO, a scary market drop, and everyone is asking whether to buy the dip. The honest answer for beginners, and why trading the news usually backfires.

What are dividend stocks? A beginner's guide

What dividend stocks are and how they actually work, in plain English: the dividend dates, yield, payout ratio, the types of dividend stocks, how they are taxed, and reinvesting with a DRIP.

ETFs for beginners: what they are and how to start

What an ETF is, in plain English: how exchange-traded funds work, how they differ from stocks and mutual funds, the main types, expense ratios, what to look for, and how to buy your first one.

Should you buy the SpaceX IPO? An honest beginner's guide

SpaceX is going public under SPCX at a $1.77 trillion valuation, with rare access for retail investors. Here is whether a beginner should buy at the IPO or wait, how much you can actually get, and the honest take on getting rich.

The best apps and tools to learn investing in 2026 (for beginners)

The best apps and tools to learn investing, organized by what you are actually trying to do: learn the concepts, practice risk-free, invest for real, and automate. Plus the apps to be careful with.

Are dividend stocks and ETFs worth it for beginners?

Dividend stocks and ETFs feel like free money. They are not. Here is what a dividend actually is, why total return is what matters, the tax drag, and when dividend investing does make sense.

Dollar-cost averaging vs lump sum: which is actually better?

Should you invest all at once or spread it out? Here is what dollar-cost averaging actually is, what the research says about lump sum, and why DCA still makes sense for most people.

Marvell, Jensen Huang, and the trillion-dollar call: should beginners buy MRVL?

Nvidia's CEO called Marvell the next trillion-dollar company and MRVL spiked over 30%. Here is what actually happened, what the company does, the bull and bear case, and how a beginner should respond.

Single stocks vs index funds: why most beginners should think twice

Picking individual stocks feels exciting and looks easy in hindsight. The evidence says most beginners are better off in index funds. Here is the full case, with the math, the psychology, and the rare exceptions.

How to start investing with $500 or less

You do not need thousands of dollars to start. Here is exactly what to do with $100, $250, or $500 in the right order, with the right accounts, starting today.

Index funds explained for people who hate finance

A single fund that owns every major company automatically, at almost no cost. Over 88% of professional fund managers underperform it. Here is how it works and which ones to use.

How much should you have in an emergency fund before investing?

Three months or six? The honest answer depends on your income stability, dependents, and how quickly you could replace lost income. Here is the framework for finding your actual number.

The order of operations for funding your investment accounts

The sequence matters more than the specific investments. Getting it wrong costs you tens of thousands of dollars over a career, quietly, without ever alerting you that something went wrong.