The Motley Fool

SEPTEMBER 2, 2024

Becoming a professional fund manager isn't easy, but it turns out that beating the returns of some of the best fund managers in the world is. It's a quirk of stock market mechanics that makes a simple investment strategy far better than the average actively managed mutual fund. Image source: Getty Images.

Mutual Funds 246

Mutual Funds Funds Investing Shareholders 246

The Motley Fool

JANUARY 20, 2025

Mutual fund company Fidelity reports that as of the third quarter of 2024, over 540,000 participants in the workplace retirement plans it administers were sitting on million-dollar-plus stashes. Saving $3,000 per year in the same index fund for 35 years, however, would very nearly make you a millionaire. But don't sweat it.

Mutual Funds 130

Mutual Funds Accounting Funds Stock Market 130

The Motley Fool

APRIL 28, 2024

It would have been much better if I had bought a broad-based index fund, like SPDR S&P 500 ETF (NYSEMKT: SPY). Here's why I think beginner investors should do this instead of what I did. Still, I wasn't interested in an index fund back then. Still, I wasn't interested in an index fund back then.

Mutual Funds 246

Mutual Funds Funds Investing Exchange-Traded Funds 246

The Motley Fool

DECEMBER 20, 2023

Yes, you could buy a stock, but a better option will probably be an index-based pooled investment product, otherwise known as a fund. Of course, before investing, you should probably create an emergency fund (in a bank account, CD, or other easily accessible but super safe account) with three to six months of living expenses in it.

Mutual Funds 246

Mutual Funds Funds Investing Exchange-Traded Funds 246

The Motley Fool

APRIL 25, 2024

The Vanguard 500 Index ETF (NYSEMKT: VOO) is one of the most popular ETFs (exchange-traded funds) , and for good reason. Vanguard made a name for itself by offering low-cost index mutual funds and later expanded its popular offerings to ETFs. The nice advantage ETFs have over mutual funds is that they allow for intraday trading.

Mutual Funds 246

Mutual Funds Funds Exchange-Traded Funds Portfolios 246

The Motley Fool

SEPTEMBER 19, 2024

There's a far better way to go about it and the first step begins with focusing on the right type of investment; in this case, a single Vanguard index fund. Here's how I should have started when I was a beginner investor. The Vanguard Balanced Index Fund is the foundation you need to learn What should I have done? bond market.

Mutual Funds 246

Mutual Funds Funds Investing Exchange-Traded Funds 246

The Motley Fool

DECEMBER 5, 2023

Vanguard is a massive investment management company, offering mutual funds, exchange-traded funds (ETF), 401(k) plans, and many other financial products and tools. The company's founder, Jack Bogle, popularized low-cost passive investing through index funds. That's all well and good for some investors. Energy 4.8%

Mutual Funds 246

Mutual Funds Funds Exchange-Traded Funds Assets 246

The Motley Fool

FEBRUARY 24, 2024

Does it pay to keep funding your 401(k)? IRAs generally let you invest your retirement funds in individual stocks. With a 401(k), on the other hand, you're generally limited to a bunch of different funds, like mutual funds and index funds. The reason being limited to funds is problematic is twofold.

Mutual Funds 239

Mutual Funds Funds Accounting Assets 239

The Motley Fool

AUGUST 22, 2024

Where to invest your $1,000: a simple index fund So how, exactly, should you go about investing in the stock market with your $1,000 (or whatever sum you have)? Well, a simple, low-fee index fund is a fine choice -- perhaps one that tracks the performance of the S&P 500 index of 500 of America's biggest companies. Why index funds?

Mutual Funds 246

Mutual Funds Funds Investing Exchange-Traded Funds 246

The Motley Fool

AUGUST 31, 2024

Here are some shocking statistics via a recent report from the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) Investor Education Foundation: 21% of investors don't think they pay any kind of fee for investing. 38% of mutual fund investors think they don't pay any mutual fund fees or expenses.

Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) 235

Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Mutual Funds Hedge Funds Investing 235

The Motley Fool

OCTOBER 30, 2024

Not only did its stock plunge but now investors must also contend with one of the more promising tech growth stories getting derailed by alleged accounting irregularities. Unfortunately for investors, there's only one way to mitigate the potential consequences of such issues. million civil penalty in 2020.

Accounting 246

Accounting Investors Mutual Funds Exchange-Traded Funds 246

The Motley Fool

MAY 27, 2024

trillion in assets under management, Vanguard stands as an indomitable force in the mutual fund and exchange-traded fund (ETF) landscape. For many long-term investors, Vanguard's ETFs and mutual funds are the go-to choices, and there's a good reason why. These Vanguard funds are potent wealth creators 1.

Funds 246

Funds Mutual Funds Exchange-Traded Funds Capital 246

The Motley Fool

MARCH 19, 2025

And ironically, your highest-odds/best-payoff approach isn't trying to beat the market at all, but instead just aiming to match its performance by buying and holding simple index funds. And that's mattered more than most investors might imagine. investors actually underperformed the S&P 500.

Mutual Funds 244

Mutual Funds Conglomerates Business Development Companies Stakes 244

The Motley Fool

DECEMBER 13, 2023

In October 2022, the Motley Fool surveyed 1,200 Gen Z and millennial investors to see what they were holding in their portfolios. And younger investors showed a clear preference for holding individual stocks rather than mutual funds or exchange-traded funds (ETFs). The results were somewhat surprising.

Assets 245

Assets Mutual Funds Investors Exchange-Traded Funds 245

The Motley Fool

JULY 22, 2024

Mutual fund company Vanguard Group reports that the average workplace-retirement account for clients aged 65 or older is only $272,588, while the median (or midpoint) balance for these folks is a much smaller $88,488. Given that time does most of the heavy lifting for all investors, this is no small detail. This might help.

Mutual Funds 246

Mutual Funds Accounting Funds Stock Market 246

The Motley Fool

DECEMBER 14, 2024

Palantir Technologies (NASDAQ: PLTR) stock investors got some good news to start their weekends. MicroStrategy operates as an enterprise software company, but most investors likely view it as a play on the price of Bitcoin since the company plows money into buying the cryptocurrency. On Friday at 8 p.m.

Investors 246

Investors Mutual Funds Exchange-Traded Funds Stock Exchanges 246

The Motley Fool

JANUARY 30, 2024

The Fidelity Wise Origin Bitcoin Fund (NYSEMKT: FBTC) followed close behind, reaching the milestone the next day. Additionally, bigger funds may be able to negotiate lower custodial fees for their Bitcoin holdings. (In More funds flowing into (and out of) an ETF means the shares are more liquid. and Bitcoin wasn't one of them.

Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) 246

Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Investors Mutual Funds Bidding 246

The Motley Fool

JANUARY 17, 2025

They also discuss why individual investors don't have to think in one year increments, finding companies that add real value to the world and how to use the market as a teacher. But even then, those funds rebalance on a regular basis. Hopefully, for me, stocks. Dave Smalco, the story I just told, Microsoft was just one of his holdings.

Investors 130

Investors Mutual Funds Stock Market Stock Market 130

The Motley Fool

JUNE 22, 2024

In many ways, Berkshire Hathaway is more like a mutual fund than a traditional company. If the way Berkshire Hathaway is run is the most important factor, much like it would be with a mutual fund, then you want to know a little more about CEO Warren Buffett. The key is to believe in the way the company is being run.

Mutual Funds 246

Mutual Funds Conglomerates Finance Financing 246

The Motley Fool

MARCH 28, 2024

Many investors were too nervous to dive in during this stretch, fearing renewed economic weakness was just around the corner. Exchange-traded funds (or ETFs ) make this much easier to do by sidestepping the need for stock picking. Technology Select Sector SPDR Fund Technology stocks have a bit of a reputation for being volatile.

Mutual Funds 246

Mutual Funds Exchange-Traded Funds Funds Stakes 246

The Motley Fool

JANUARY 23, 2025

Naturally, investors are focused on semiconductor companies like Nvidia , cloud companies like Amazon , and software companies like Palantir. However, many investors are overlooking one aspect of the technology: AI requires an incredible amount of power. Start Your Mornings Smarter! companies in the utilities sector.

Funds 246

Funds Mutual Funds Investing Shareholders 246

The Motley Fool

MARCH 23, 2024

Mutual fund giant Vanguard has officially crunched the numbers. Because the younger you are, the more time you have until retirement, and time is your biggest ally when it comes to building a retirement fund. Most actively managed mutual funds meant to outperform the overall stock market don't actually do so.

Mutual Funds 246

Mutual Funds Taxes Investing Accounting 246

The Motley Fool

MARCH 16, 2024

In fact, the best first pick for any first-time investor is an exceedingly simple one -- just plug into the overall market by stepping into the SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (NYSEMKT: SPY). Rather, the SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust is an exchange-traded fund (or ETF), which are just baskets of different securities.

Mutual Funds 246

Mutual Funds Exchange-Traded Funds Investing Prospects 246

The Motley Fool

SEPTEMBER 22, 2024

Retirement plan administrator and fund company Fidelity reports that about 2% of the 23 million participants in its workplace retirement plans have million-dollar-plus balances. Max out your "free money" Most employers that offer 401(k) plans also will contribute additional funds to match some portion of their employees' contributions.

Mutual Funds 231

Mutual Funds Accounting Funds Stakes 231

The Motley Fool

AUGUST 26, 2024

Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) are one of the best ways investors can build wealth. These funds are a lot like mutual funds with a key difference: You can trade them on the open market just like a stock. One of the most successful and largest fund managers is Vanguard, which offers 86 ETFs that hold $2.8

Exchange-Traded Funds 246

Exchange-Traded Funds Funds Mutual Funds Stock Market 246

The Motley Fool

MAY 11, 2024

This year was notably different than past years, however, and that might be enough to keep some investors on the sidelines. In many ways, Berkshire Hathaway is more like a mutual fund than a traditional company. Meanwhile, the mutual-fund-like nature of the stock suggests that there's probably no particular rush to buy.

Mutual Funds 246

Mutual Funds Public Companies Shareholders Funds 246

The Motley Fool

SEPTEMBER 10, 2024

That's according to data compiled by mutual fund company and retirement plan administrator Vanguard in its 2023 look at all of its plans' participants. Nevertheless, it needs to be said that time is an investor's top ally. And in most cases this fund will do just fine. How you've invested this money is also a factor.

Mutual Funds 246

Mutual Funds Accounting Investing Active Investors 246

The Motley Fool

NOVEMBER 21, 2024

Investors hoping to benefit from the AI boom are focused on technology companies. And investors can position their portfolios to benefit from AI-driven demand for electricity by buying shares of the little-known Vanguard Utilities ETF (NYSEMKT: VPU). That means the index fund moved 72 basis points (i.e.,

Funds 246

Funds Mutual Funds Investing Shareholders 246

The Motley Fool

JUNE 19, 2024

One of the drawbacks of 401(k)s, in the eyes of some investors, is that they tend to offer a limited menu of investment choices -- perhaps just a dozen or so mutual funds or exchange-traded funds (ETFs). As long as your 401(k) offers one or more low-fee funds that meet your needs, you can be all set.

Accounting 246

Accounting Mutual Funds Taxes Exchange-Traded Funds 246

The Motley Fool

JUNE 3, 2024

In particular, people with net worths of $1 million or higher tend to have more of their money in the following: Stocks/mutual funds Real estate Business interests Those in the $10,000 and $100,000 tiers invest in those, too, but not nearly as much. He found that nearly half (49%) followed what he coined the "saver-investor" path.

Hedge Funds 246

Hedge Funds Mutual Funds Investing Venture Capital 246

The Motley Fool

NOVEMBER 26, 2023

Professional fund managers get paid a lot of money to take charge of billions of dollars in assets for investors. Anyone can outperform 92% of active fund managers over the long run, and they don't need any special insights into the market to do so. Consider that the stock market is largely controlled by institutional investors.

Funds 246

Funds Mutual Funds Investing Education 246

The Motley Fool

SEPTEMBER 8, 2024

Here's a rundown of three beaten-down S&P 500 dividend stocks you may want to consider scooping up before a bunch of other investors decide to do the same. The stock soared in the wake of a wave of online shopping, but the return of in-person shopping since 2022 has affected investor sentiment.

Mutual Funds 245

Mutual Funds Exchange-Traded Funds Prospects Management Fees 245

The Motley Fool

APRIL 22, 2024

The emergence of spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) has opened up a new avenue for investors to enter the cryptocurrency market without the complexities of managing crypto wallets and navigating exchanges. Not to mention, my employer only allows access to those funds once a person is no longer employed by them.

Mutual Funds 245

Mutual Funds Exchange-Traded Funds Accounting Taxes 245

The Motley Fool

JULY 16, 2024

Let's start at the very beginning A very good place to start When you read, you begin with A-B-C When you sing, you begin with do-re-mi -- lyrics to Do Re Mi If you're a beginning investor, you should also start at the beginning -- perhaps with this A-B-C: Apple , Bank of America , and Costco. Why invest in an S&P 500 index fund?

Funds 227

Funds Investing Mutual Funds Accounting 227

The Motley Fool

FEBRUARY 12, 2025

It may also not be your optimal way of building wealth anyway, if the subpar stock-picking performance of most mutual fund managers is any indication. One of several index funds meant to mirror the S&P 500 index (SNPINDEX: ^GSPC) -- which reflects roughly 80% of the U.S. Where to invest $1,000 right now? What gives?

Mutual Funds 219

Mutual Funds Investing Exchange-Traded Funds Hedge Funds 219

The Motley Fool

SEPTEMBER 27, 2024

Minimize your investment fees Most 401(k)s give you a choice between a variety of mutual funds or index funds your employer chooses. Most mutual funds charge expense ratios , which are listed as percentages in your prospectus. Index funds are a great low-cost investment option if they're available to you.

Mutual Funds 244

Mutual Funds Accounting Assets Taxes 244

The Motley Fool

MAY 11, 2024

investors are collecting today from the S&P 500 index. And yet investors looking for down-and-out stocks with high yields will still like what Realty Income (NYSE: O) , Franklin Resources (NYSE: BEN) , and Hormel Foods (NYSE: HRL) have to offer. That notably includes exchange-traded funds and so-called alternative investments.

Mutual Funds 243

Mutual Funds Exchange-Traded Funds Asset Management Assets 243