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Plain-English investing for serious beginners.
Investing fundamentals, broker comparisons, and long-term strategy for serious beginners. No hype, no day-trading nonsense — just the basics done right.
Bond allocation in 2026: how much, what kind, and why
An honest look at bonds in 2026 — why they still belong in most portfolios despite the rough 2022–2023 stretch, how to size your allocation, and which bond fund types fit which investor.
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Latest guides
Our newest, most up-to-date research.
Emergency fund: how much to save and where to keep it in 2026
How to size your emergency fund correctly, where to keep it to earn real yield, and when it's okay to invest instead — a practical 2026 guide.
How to open a Roth IRA in 2026: a step-by-step walkthrough
A practical step-by-step guide to opening a Roth IRA in 2026 — who qualifies, which broker to use, how much to contribute, and what to invest in first.
Tax-loss harvesting: when it actually saves money (and when it doesn't)
A clear-eyed look at tax-loss harvesting in 2026 — how the wash-sale rule works, why most retail investors over-rate the savings, and the specific situations where harvesting is genuinely worth the effort.
Asset allocation by age: a 2026 framework that ages with you
How to set your stocks-to-bonds allocation by age and risk tolerance — and the simple rebalancing rules that keep your portfolio aligned through every life stage.
How to invest your first $10,000 in 2026
A step-by-step framework for investing your first $10,000 — what to fund first, which accounts to use, and the simple portfolio that beats most professional managers.
Three-fund portfolio explained: a 2026 starter guide
What the three-fund portfolio is, why it works for most long-term investors, and the specific funds most readers should actually use in 2026.