A day in the life of a broker or trader is an exciting and varied one. Find out how to decide between these two financial professions.

Writing down a thesis for every investment may seem almost too simple to be effective, but lessons from behavioral finance tell us that bias and fear of loss often cloud our views, even for the most disciplined investors.

Are you a portfolio hoarder, hanging on to poor performers and investments that no longer match your objectives? It's time to purge those investments and put that money to use to match today’s needs.

A mortgage is a loan used to purchase a home, where the property serves as the borrower's collateral.

For Canadian RRSP accounts, washing same-day trades and using money market funds to bridge the gap over a multi-day trading period saves investors the exchange fee and will help their bottom line while rebalancing securities. Read on to find out how to wash your trade.

A perpetual bond makes interest payments to the investor forever. This type of bond holds a certain appeal to both the issuer and buyer.

Huge companies may not be as infallible as previously assumed. Find out why bigger isn't always better.

STRIPS provide an alternative form of bond for fixed-income investors who need definite cash flows at specific times. Read the article to find out how.

The competition to become a financial planner is hot, and growing hotter. Find out the best way to preparing to land the CFP designation.

It's very important for every investor to learn how to calculate the bid-ask spread and factor this figure when making investment decisions.

This market-neutral strategy isn't for everyone. Read on to find out if it is for you.

Despite the recessions, citizens continue to take financial risks and spend outside of their means without fully appreciating the potential consequences for both themselves and the wider economy.

In today’s near-zero percent interest rate environment the old ways of investing for retirement no longer apply. Learn the sober reality of the fundamental changes we all need to make to ensure we don’t run out of money during retirement.

The temptation and perils of being over leveraged is a major pitfall of spread betting. However, the low capital outlay necessary, risk management tools available and tax benefits make spread betting a compelling opportunity for speculators.

Interest rates can be broken down into several subcategories that incorporate various factors such as inflation. Smart investors know to look beyond the nominal or coupon rate of a bond or loan to see whether it really fits their investment objectives.

While it may sound good in theory to attempt to mimic the investment style and profile of a successful institution, it is often much harder (if not impossible) to do so in practice.

Immunotherapy could radically change the treatment of cancer, and the revenue opportunities for pharmaceutical companies.

Because most states protect life insurance policies from creditors, most buyer questions come from the confusion created with ownership and beneficiary designations because of tax treatment. This is a rather complicated issue when it comes to life insurance proceeds, because there are two tax issues ...

Investors should look beyond the confines of the U.S. borders to diversify and maximize returns. ADRs are one way to diversify your portfolio and help you achieve better returns when the U.S. market is in a slump.

Sometimes, landing free money is as easy as asking. Find out how to get the most out of your 401(k) retirement plan.

The bid-ask spread is essentially a negotiation in progress. To be successful, traders must be willing to take a stand and walk away in the bid-ask process through limit orders.

Taking corrective action before your losses worsen is always a good strategy. Find out how to keep your capital losses small and let your winners run.

Your reasons for investing are bound to change as you go through the ups and downs of life. Setting goals is the first step in determining which investment vehicles are right for you.

Companies use M&As and spinoffs to boost profits - learn how you can do the same.

Many private companies prefer to stay private and find alternate sources of capital. Find out what firms have to gain by eschewing the windfall from a flashy IPO.

Your lifestyle, level of commitment and the trade-offs need to be carefully weighed.

The short squeezed strategy can be risky - but also very rewarding - for those who master it.

The inability to forecast future events can turn the markets upside down. Find out how to stay right-side up.

Thinking of buying a home? We look at the initial and ongoing costs, as well as the so-called benefits.

Here is a look at some of the major changes to FAFSA in 2013 and how they will affect students' financial aid.

Traders are only human; therefore, they are subject to psychological traps when they trade. Read how you can manage your emotions so that you can profit from your trading.

Accurately predicting the stock market’s opening moves can be a useful tool. If your projection is accurate, you have opportunity to profit. Of course, the first step is to correctly gauge the market direction. You also need to select an investment and successfully gauge the resulting impact the market’s ...

At some point in your life, you may have had to make a series of fixed payments over a period of time - such as rent or car payments - or have received a series of payments over a period of time, such as bond coupons. These are called annuities. The payment frequencies, or number of payments, and the ...

In the past few years reverse mortgages have been heavily marketed as the way to become debt, and worry, free. For some seniors a reverse mortgage makes sense, for other though this dream product can quickly become a nightmare.

Want to own a mutual fund that will double its reported return in the next six months? Chances are, you already do. Every equity mutual fund on the planet is about to report a big jump in its five-year performance. That’s not a prediction; it’s a mathematical certainty—unless the ...

Commodities markets, both historically and in modern times, have had tremendous economic impact on nations and people. Investing in commodities can quickly degenerate into gambling or speculation when a trader makes uninformed decisions. However, by using commodity futures or hedging, investors and business ...

Ever wondered what exactly a convertible bond does? Read the features of a convertible bond and learn how important the conversion factor is to you as an investor.

According to a study conducted by the Federal Trade Commission, one in four consumers identified errors on their reports that might affect their credit rating in 2013.

If a company decides to pay dividends, it will choose one of three approaches: residual, stability or hybrid policies. Which a company chooses can determine how profitable its dividend payments will be for investors - and how stable the income. Before we begin describing the various policies that companies ...

The art market is fickle, and there are no guarantees of profitability, but with a little legwork and forethought you can fill your home with images that may prove worthy investments down the line. Consider these tips for choosing fine art and identifying the Michelangelo from the macaroni.

You don't have to go to an office to make a great salary in the financial sector. Here are the top four highest paying financial jobs you can do from home.

The main purpose of equity valuation is to estimate a value for a firm or security. There are three primary equity valuation models: the discounted cash flow (DCF), cost and comparable approaches. The comparable model is a relative valuation approach and is explained in more detail below.

They don't call him "The Oracle" for nothing. Learn how Buffett comes up with his winning picks.

The Claritas Investment Certificate is likely to find growing acceptance as the new foundation-level education and ethics standard for the financial service sector internationally.

Inflation - defined as a sustained increase in the price of goods and services - seems to be inevitable. While rising prices are bad news for consumers, as it takes an ever-increasing amount of money to purchase the same basket of goods and services year after year, inflation can be quite profitable ...

Through an Initial Public Offering, or IPO, a company raises capital by issuing shares of stock, or equity in a public market. Generally, this refers to when a company issues stock for the first time. But as we will see below, there are ways a company can go public more than once.

Following the status quo will kill your financial practice. Find out the tips you need to follow to keep you a step or two ahead of the competition.