Read the following to get started:
Financial Risk (Or: You Can't Afford Not To Invest)
Financial Order of Operations
Tax-Advantaged Investing
Already have a financial advisor? Make sure you're not getting ripped off.
Does the stock market freak you out? Stop watching it.
This series of articles on Index Mutual Fund Investing summarizes what you need to know:
|| I. Speculation—II. Index Funds—III. John Bogle—IV. Vanguard ||
|| V. Moving to Vanguard—VI. Asset Allocation—VII. Maintenance ||
|| V. Moving to Vanguard—VI. Asset Allocation—VII. Maintenance ||
Once you've figured out the basics, calibrate your expectations with these Simulations of Historical Investment Returns and a discussion of Effective Annualized Returns.
Been there, done that, bought the t-shirt? Consider some Nontraditional Investments.
Is real estate all it's cracked up to be? Never assume!
Spreadsheets
Interested in simulating historical S&P500 returns? Make a copy of this.
All index funds offered by Vanguard, Fidelity, and Schwab in one place? Make a copy of this.
Investment Accounts
What types of accounts are you eligible to open, and what are their rules, advantages, and disadvantages? This page links to everything I've written on the topic.
(non-US reader? non-US investment plan resources coming soon!)
Roth IRA
The tax-advantaged (Roth) Individual Retirement Account.
Consider this plan if: you have earned income!
Consider this plan if: you have earned income!
401(k)
The employer-sponsored, tax-advantaged 401(k) annuity plan.
Consider this plan if: you work for a corporate employer!
Consider this plan if: you work for a corporate employer!
403(b)
The employer-sponsored, tax-advantaged 403(b) annuity plan.
Consider this plan if: you work for a public education or nonprofit employer!
Consider this plan if: you work for a public education or nonprofit employer!
457(b)
The employer-sponsored, tax-advantaged 457(b) deferred compensation plan.
Consider this plan if: you work for a public education, nonprofit, or government employer!
Consider this plan if: you work for a public education, nonprofit, or government employer!
TSP
The US Government's tax-advantaged Thrift Savings Plan.
Consider this plan if: you work for the government or are in the uniformed services!
Consider this plan if: you work for the government or are in the uniformed services!
Brokerage Account
The standard taxable brokerage account.
Consider this plan if: you've maxed out your other options or you're investing shorter-term!
Consider this plan if: you've maxed out your other options or you're investing shorter-term!
529 Plan
The tax-advantaged 529 Higher Education Savings Plan.
Consider this plan if: you're saving for or currently attending college!
Consider this plan if: you're saving for or currently attending college!
