Investing Fundamentals

Design a diversified portfolio aligned to goals, risk, and time horizon.

Asset Classes

Understand the building blocks of a balanced portfolio.

Equities

Growth potential with higher volatility over shorter periods.

Fixed Income

Income and stability from bonds and treasuries.

Alternatives

Real estate, commodities, and other diversifiers.

Cash

Liquidity and short-term needs coverage.

Risk Tolerance

Match allocation to comfort with volatility and time horizon. Use questionnaires to guide decisions.

Sample Allocations

ProfileStocksBondsCash
Conservative40%50%10%
Balanced60%35%5%
Aggressive80%15%5%

Investment Vehicles

Use low-cost funds and tax-advantaged accounts to compound returns.

Index Funds

Broad diversification with minimal fees.

ETFs

Flexible, tradable funds tracking targeted exposures.

REITs

Real estate exposure with income potential.

Tax-Efficient Investing

Place assets strategically across taxable, tax-deferred, and tax-free accounts to reduce drag.

Rebalancing Discipline

Rebalance annually or at thresholds to maintain target risk while minimizing costs.

Portfolio Tools

Estimate long-term growth and assess allocation suitability.

Future Value Estimator

Allocation Check

Use sample allocation targets to choose a profile aligned to time horizon and risk tolerance.

See Profiles

Frequently Asked Questions

Clear answers to common investing questions.

Lump sum historically outperforms on average, but dollar-cost averaging can reduce regret. Choose based on comfort and market conditions.

Annually or when allocations drift beyond 5–10% bands is a common practice. Rebalance tax-efficiently in retirement accounts when possible.

Build Your Portfolio

Align investments to your goals and time horizon.