Investing

Volatility is back, and market swings can sometimes bring an uncomfortable surprise to investors—a margin call.

There are custom homes, custom cars and custom clothes. Now, there are even custom index funds. Non-traditional, or custom, index funds generally use more complex or targeted investing strategies than traditional index funds. Here’s what you should know before going custom.

Investments in digital assets, such as ICO tokens and cryptocurrencies, can involve significant uncertainty, as well as risks that are different from more conventional assets like stocks or bonds.

If you invest outside of a retirement plan, there are important findings in a new FINRA Foundation study that you should be aware of. The findings are interesting—but what’s really valuable is to ask some blunt questions about your own investment knowledge and behavior. Here are five key findings, and some questions you should ask yourself in light of the report’s findings.

Another school year has come to an end. For many parents, it’s a time when they realize that their child is one year closer to going to college, which, in turn, means it is a year closer to having to pay for higher education expenses. One way to save for college is to open and fund a 529 College Savings Plan.

Chances are, you’re more confident about your prospects for a comfortable retirement today than you were between 2009 and 2013, when retirement confidence was in the doldrums. According the recently released Retirement Confidence Survey, published annually by the Employee Benefit Research Institute, the percentage of workers very confident about having enough money for a comfortable retirement increased from 13 percent in 2013 to 22 percent in 2015, and leveled off at 21 percent in 2016.

Most business in the securities industry is conducted fairly, efficiently and in a manner that satisfies everyone involved. But problems can arise. If you believe that a sales person, brokerage firm or other industry professional has treated you unfairly, you can file a complaint with FINRA.

While automated investment tools may offer clear benefits—including low cost, ease of use, and broad access—it is important to understand their risks and limitations before using them.