Investing

Best Online Brokers

Considering using an online broker for stock trading? Read our comprehensive buyers guide and consumer reviews to compare top brokers.

Best and worst cities for retirement in 2023

Why are Lincoln, St.Louis, Champaign, Des Moines and El Paso considered our top cities for retirement? It’s more than the cost of living.

What is the price to earnings (P/E) ratio?

P/E ratios help investors see if stock values are undervalued or overvalued. Learn how it’s calculated and how to use it for your investments.

What is a Roth IRA?

A Roth IRA allows you to make tax-free withdrawals in retirement. Learn how it works, how to open an account and what your contribution limits are.

Best Gold IRA Companies

Our top gold IRA companies include Noble Gold Investments, Patriot Gold and Orion Metal Exchange. Compare ratings and fees to find the best for you.

What is a mutual fund?

Mutual funds are a way to get instant diversification, which can help to minimize your investment risk. Learn what they are and how to purchase them.

What is a real estate investment trust (REIT)?

A REIT allows you to invest in real estate without having to actually own or operate it. Here’s how to decide if this investment is right for you.

What is a bond?

Bonds are loans from investors to corporate or government borrowers and are considered relatively low-risk. Learn how they work and how to buy them.

What is forex trading?

Forex refers to foreign currency exchange, such as switching U.S. dollars to euros. Learn how forex trading works as an investment strategy.

What is a 529 plan?

A 529 plan is a tax-advantaged investment account to help families save for their children’s education. Learn how it works and how to open one.

What is a dividend?

Dividends are cash or stock payments made by companies to their shareholders. Learn how dividends work and what the tax implications are.

What is a 401(k)?

A 401(k) is a tax-advantaged retirement savings plan, often with an employer contribution match. Learn how it works and how much you can contribute.

What are index funds?

Index funds are a group of securities within a single fund. They’re low-cost and passive, making them a popular investment option. Learn more.

What is a good investment?

A good investment needs to match your financial goals, risk tolerance and growth requirements. Learn how to identify good investments here.

Best investment apps for beginners

If you’re looking to get started investing, we’ve done some of the work for you and selected a few of the best investment apps for beginners.

What do financial advisors do?

Financial advisors help create long-term strategies for financial growth. Learn more about their role and how they help achieve financial goals.

What is an ETF? Learn about exchange-traded funds

An exchange-traded fund (ETF) is a basket of securities that tracks an underlying index. ETFs can contain investments such as stocks and bonds.

What is a financial planner?

Financial planners help their clients achieve their financial goals through investing, saving and debt repayment strategies. Learn more.

Best Life Insurance Companies

Research types of life insurance policies, provider coverage options and compare the best life insurance companies using hundreds of customer reviews. Top picks include Policygenius and Haven Life.

Best Financial Advisors

Compare the best financial advisors using consumer ratings and reviews in the official ConsumerAffairs buyers guide. Learn how to find the right advisor.

Best Bitcoin IRA Companies

Looking into investing in cryptocurrency? Read our guide, compare ratings and use verified reviews to find the best Bitcoin IRA companies.

Best Annuity Companies

Planning for retirement? Use our guide to find the best annuity companies. Learn about the types of annuities. Read verified reviews. Top picks include American Equity, Prudential and MassMutual.

Best Robo-Advisors

Our picks for the top robo-advisors include Betterment, Fidelity Go, Wealthfront and SoFi. Compare reviews and fees to find the best for you.

Best Crowdfunding Sites

Best Mutual Fund Companies

These mutual fund companies offer professional management and diversified portfolios across asset classes, which can help to minimize risk.

Best online stockbrokers for beginners

Ready to invest? It’s important to know all of your options. Here, we discuss online stockbrokers and which ones are best for new investors.

Find the best gold ETFs

Gold ETFs are a cost-effective option for gold investing. Learn more about this investment pathway, especially during market volatility.

Adulting and the milestone purchases that define it

Explore the concept of “adulting” across Gen Zers and millennials to see which purchases qualify as significant milestones to each.

How to choose a financial advisor in 2023

Choosing a financial advisor can be one of the most important decisions in your life. Follow these steps to make an educated decision.

Financial plans amid the Great Resignation

Job-hoppers reflect on how prepared they were before making their leaps, and holdouts weigh in on why they haven't left their jobs yet.

What is an IRA?

IRAs are tax-advantaged investing tools, but there are a few types of IRAs. If you’re looking for flexibility, self-directed might be the way to go.

What is a gold IRA?

A gold IRA is a retirement account in which you can own physical gold. Learn more about what it is and whether you should invest in one.

What would happen to your family if you died?

What would happen to your family if you died? Read about how people are preparing for their deaths and how their plans impact their loved ones.

What is a Treasury bond?

U.S. Treasury bonds, or T-bonds, are a good fixed-rate option for those looking to mitigate market risk while earning reliable investment income.

Best Investment Companies

Compare investment companies based on reviews, minimums, rates and more. Top picks include Lear Capital, Edward Jones and Robinhood.

How to buy stock

Interested in investing in the stock market? We break down what steps to take and what you should be aware of before diving into stock purchases.

Types of life insurance

Learn about the different types of life insurance. See how term, whole, universal, variable and guaranteed life insurance policies compare.

How to invest in gold

Investing in gold is one way to diversify your portfolio and hedge against inflation. Here’s how to invest and minimize your risk.

How to buy silver

There are many ways to buy silver, including ETFs, mining stocks and mutual funds. Learn about silver products and investments with ConsumerAffairs.

How to trade gold in 2023

Trading gold can be a great way to diversify your financial portfolio. Learn more about the ways to buy, invest and trade gold with ConsumerAffairs.

Physical gold vs. ETFs (2023)

ETFs let you invest in gold without the costs and risk of physical gold. Learn more about physical gold and ETFs to see which one is right for you.

Gold vs. silver (2023)

Whether gold or silver is better for you depends on what you are looking for. Learn the differences between the two with ConsumerAffairs.

What are precious metals? (2023)

Precious metals are valued by investors, but not all metals are this rare. Learn more about precious metals and how to purchase them.

College planning for parents: how to save for your child’s education

Do your kids have a plan to be accepted to and succeed in college? Learn about the steps you can take to help your children prepare for college.

Spare change: Sharing finance knowledge from one generation to the next

We surveyed 1,000 Americans to compare popular financial advice Gen Z receives and seeks, as well as financial wisdom older generations have to share.

How long does it take to go broke?

We explore how long Americans could live on savings if they had no income. Which unexpected expenses might make Americans go broke sooner?

How would you describe your dream retirement?

Are you on track to get the retirement of your dreams? Check out the top tips from retirees to make sure you're not making a mistake that’ll cost you.

How to open a brokerage account: step-by-step instructions

A brokerage account is used to buy and sell securities like stocks, bonds and mutual funds. Here’s how to open one so you can start trading.

How to avoid a CD early withdrawal penalty

Certificates of deposit, or CDs, can be attractive savings vehicles as long as you understand the possible CD early withdrawal penalties. Learn more.

Annuity vs. IRA: What’s the difference?

Annuities and IRAs can both help you achieve your retirement goals, but they each come with their own advantages and disadvantages. Learn more.

Treasury bond rates: How often do Treasury bonds pay interest?

Banks typically pay interest monthly, while Treasury bonds have a longer gap between. Learn whether T-bonds are right for your investment portfolio.

Term vs. whole life insurance

Use our guide to compare cost, coverage and value of term life and whole life insurance to decide which policy type is right for you.

How does life insurance work?

You pay a premium in exchange for a policy that pays out to your beneficiary after your death. Learn more about how life insurance works.

How much do I need to retire?

Learn how to plan for retirement. This guide will break down expert advice, so you can figure out the best way to meet your retirement goal.