Many say hedge funds will cause the next market meltdown. Strange, other folks say the funds provide the market with greater efficiency and lower volatility. One thing’s certain: Hedge funds have become an integral part of financial markets. So are they good, evil, or a bit of both? And is their explosive growth just a fad [...]

Diversification is an essential investing principle. It protects a portfolio from being seriously affected by negative events isolated to only a few stocks. In this article, we take a look at diversification that ventures into an international level, looking at its benefits and the different types of international investments available to the average investor. Why International? Most investors tend [...]

A Safe Haven for Your Money This difference is the reason behind the first main advantage of bonds: investing in debt, in general, is safer than equity. The reason for this is the priority that debt holders have over shareholders. If a company goes bankrupt, debt holders are ahead of shareholders in the line to [...]

Does an 18% yield sound attractive to you? If so, you may want to consider investing in the wonderful world of junk bonds. As you can see from the accompanying graph, high yield bonds now pay north of 18% a year. The yields have shot up in recent months as a sickening economy has increased [...]

Many of us would love to become landlords — that is, if it weren’t for those darn tenants. Every prospective landlord hears stories about deadbeat tenants who skip town without paying the rent. And even if you have good tenants, the life of a property entrepreneur isn’t easy. Nothing takes the shine off a potential [...]

If you’re still avoiding emerging markets, it’s time to rethink your position. Yes, these markets can be volatile, but if you want to benefit from the growth of the global economy, you can’t avoid up-and-coming countries. One good reason to pay attention to these upstart economies is their sheer size. The four biggest of the [...]