Risk vs. Volatility

As an investor, you often hear news stations talking about "risk" and "volatility" when referring to the markets. In casual conversation, these terms may be used interchangeably, leading some investors to believe that they are the same thing. However, even though there is a correlation between risk and volatility, they are very different concepts, and investors should[...] Continue reading

What Is Diversification?

Diversification is a very important factor that is used to lower the risk inherent in a portfolio. There are many different types of diversification that can be utilized. Each method can be used by itself or alongside the other methods to limit risk and volatility and create more predictable returns. Diversification is a tradeoff. In exchange for steadier returns and a[...] Continue reading

Broker-Dealer vs. Registered Investment Advisor (RIA)

Written by: Bill Engel, CFP® | Senior Vice President What Is a Broker-Dealer? A broker-dealer (BD) is a firm that buys and sells securities for its own account on behalf of customers. BDs act on behalf of customers in their brokerage capacity by buying and selling securities for them. They act as a dealer when buying securities for their own account. BDs provide[...] Continue reading

Active vs. Passive Management

Written by: Denny Baish | Senior Investment Analyst When choosing how to invest their assets, investors can choose one of two main strategies: active management or passive management. These strategies are very different and may result in vastly different investment performances. Understanding the difference can be crucial to picking the right strategy based on your[...] Continue reading

What Is a Mutual Fund?

Mutual funds are essentially a collection of money compiled from multiple investors. The money is pooled together and professionally managed and invested in things like stocks and bonds according to the investment objectives of the fund itself. Each fund has its own investment objectives and risks as outlined in the prospectus. You can choose the mutual fund that fits[...] Continue reading