Articles & Analysis

Markets, explained like you asked a friend.

Calculator and growth chart illustrating the Rule of 72 for compound interest
Beginner GuideAnalysisJuly 3, 2026 · 4 min read

The Rule of 72: A One-Line Way to Estimate How Money Grows

A simple piece of mental math that estimates how long it takes an investment to double, using nothing but a calculator and the number 72.

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Bitcoin coin representing cryptocurrency as a portfolio holding
CryptoStrategy

Bitcoin in a Long-Term Portfolio: How Much Is Reasonable

Bitcoin's volatility and its low correlation to stocks make it a genuinely different conversation than a typical fund. Here's a level-headed way to think about sizing it.

July 1, 2026 · 5 min read
Declining market chart representing a recession or economic downturn
StrategyAnalysis

Recession-Proof Investing: What Actually Holds Up When Markets Drop

No investment is truly recession-proof, but some hold up far better than others. Here's what actually tends to happen to different assets during a downturn, and why.

June 30, 2026 · 4 min read
Interest rate figures representing central bank monetary policy
AnalysisNews

How Interest Rates Move the Stock Market, Explained Simply

Why a decision made by a central bank hundreds of miles away can move your portfolio in an afternoon, and how to think about rate changes without overreacting to them.

June 29, 2026 · 4 min read
Retired couple representing the long-term payoff of a workplace 401(k) match
RetirementBeginner Guide

The 401(k) Match: The Free Money Most People Leave on the Table

How an employer 401(k) match actually works, why not claiming the full match is an instant, guaranteed loss, and how to make sure you're getting every dollar of it.

June 28, 2026 · 4 min read
Cash payouts representing dividend income from stock holdings
DividendsStrategy

Dividend Investing 101: Building an Income Stream That Grows

How dividend investing actually works, what yield really measures, the trap of chasing the highest number, and how to build a stream of income that grows over time.

June 27, 2026 · 4 min read
Trading screen displaying ETF fund data
ETFsAnalysis

ETFs vs. Mutual Funds: What Actually Sets Them Apart

Both pool your money into a diversified basket of investments. The real differences are in how you trade them, what they cost, and how they're taxed.

June 26, 2026 · 4 min read
Someone opening a brokerage account on a phone to invest their first $100
Beginner GuideIndex Funds

How to Start Investing With Your First $100

You don't need thousands of dollars to start. Here's exactly how to turn your first $100 into a real, working investment account, step by step.

June 25, 2026 · 4 min read
Roth IRA vs. Traditional IRA: Which One to Open First
RetirementBeginner Guide

Roth IRA vs. Traditional IRA: Which One to Open First

The real difference between a Roth and a Traditional IRA isn't complicated: it's a bet on whether your tax rate today is higher or lower than it will be in retirement.

June 23, 2026 · 4 min read
Coins stacked steadily over time representing dollar-cost averaging
Beginner GuideStrategy

Dollar-Cost Averaging: Why It Works Even When the Market Doesn't

What dollar-cost averaging actually is, the math behind why it smooths out a bumpy market, and how to set it up so you never have to think about it again.

June 21, 2026 · 4 min read
Stock market chart display representing top-performing index funds
Index FundsAnalysis

The Best Performing Index Funds of the Last Decade (2026 Update)

VOO, QQQ, VTI, SCHD and VGT compared over ten years: what $10,000 became, what each fund actually holds, and which one fits which investor.

June 20, 2026 · 2 min read
Government building representing congressional stock trade disclosures
StocksNews

Why Everyone Watches Politician Stock Trades (And How to Do It Legally)

The STOCK Act makes congressional trades public. Here's how disclosure tracking works, why Pelosi's portfolio became a meme, and what the data actually shows.

June 12, 2026 · 2 min read
Skyline of established corporate headquarters representing blue-chip companies
StocksAnalysis

Blue-Chip Stocks: The 10 Long-Term Holdings That Built Portfolios

What makes a stock 'blue chip', the ten classics from Apple to Home Depot, and the three tests any long-term holding has to pass.

May 28, 2026 · 2 min read
News coverage imagery representing the market impact of the war in Ukraine
NewsAnalysis

How War Affects Your Investments: Lessons From February 24, 2022

When Russia invaded Ukraine, markets repriced in weeks: defense and energy up, Russia-exposed banks and utilities destroyed. The playbook, with data.

May 10, 2026 · 1 min read