Whether you inherited a large holding, exercised options to buy your company’s stock, sold a private business, hold restricted stock, or have benefited from repeated stock splits over the years, having a large position in a single stock carries unique challenges. Even if the stock has done well, you may want

        What are stocks? Stock equals ownership A stock represents a share of ownership in a business. When you hold one or more shares of stock in a company, you actually own a piece of that company. Your percentage of ownership will depend on how many shares you hold in relation to

        What are bonds? Bonds, sometimes called debt instruments or fixed-income securities, are essentially loans. Corporations often raise money by issuing bonds in addition to selling stock. Governments often use bonds to pay for their ongoing operations or specific projects, such as highways or new construction. The borrower (the bond issuer) typically

        What is risk? In general Risk is all around us, and we all take risks every day. Some people consider driving a car risky. Others don’t seem to mind driving but don’t like flying in an airplane–even though statistics show you’re far more likely to die in a car than in

        Bonds are a popular investment vehicle for those who are looking for a steady stream of income.  One of the most important factors to consider when investing in bonds is the issuer. The issuer of a bond can have a significant impact on its performance. Let’s explore the various types of

        What is asset allocation? One of the most important decisions for your investment portfolio is your choice of asset allocation. Asset allocation simply means determining how much you should invest in each of a variety of asset categories, such as equities, cash or cash alternative investments, bonds, real estate, foreign securities,

        Introduction A bond is a type of fixed-income debt instrument issued by a governmental entity or by a private or publicly traded company. When analyzing a bond, you should examine the interest taxation, maturity, rating, yield, and call features. Interest taxation For many people, the first consideration in buying a bond

        Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) have become increasingly popular since they were introduced in the United States in the mid-1990s. Their tax efficiencies and relatively low investing costs have attracted investors who like the idea of combining the diversification of mutual funds with the trading flexibility of stocks. The proliferation of ETF choices

        ETFs: growing in diversity Though individual investors have not been investing in exchange-traded funds as long as they have mutual funds, there is already a long menu of possibilities from which to choose. The following is a sample of broad categories of exchange-traded funds, though as the industry grows, new types

        What is investment tax planning for mutual funds? Investment tax planning for mutual funds involves utilizing the tax rules that may help enhance your after-tax return on mutual fund investments. In order to help enhance the return on your investment in mutual funds, it is important for you to know how