Topic

Investing 101

A collection of 35 posts

IVA Research

What Kind of Investor Are You?

How much should I allocate to stocks versus bonds versus cash? It’s a fundamental question most investors spend too little time on. Here’s how to find the answer that is right for you.

| 16 min read
IVA Research

Can Active Funds Clear the Tax Hurdle?

Index funds have become most investors’ default investment option for at least a couple of good reasons, including low tax exposure. But that doesn’t mean you should abandon active funds—some managers have delivered index-fund-beating returns even after taxes are accounted for.

| 18 min read
IVA Research

Avoiding Tax Bombs

Ignore a fund's turnover if you're trying to avoid a large capital gains distribution.

| 12 min read
IVA Research

Muni Bonds 101

There’s more to municipal bonds than just tax-free income. Before analyzing Vanguard’s tax-exempt bond funds—which are among the best around—let’s discuss the municipal bond market basics.

| 14 min read
IVA Research

Give Bonds Time | Bonds 101

Yes, rising interest rates knocked the stuffing out of bonds last year. But, if given time, bonds will recover. More than that, today's higher interest rates are a good thing for bond investors. It's inflation the fixed-income investor should fear.

| 12 min read
IVA Research

Bond Funds Own Bonds | Bonds 101

Have you ever wondered whether it's better to buy your own bonds or to invest in a bond mutual fund? Are you unsure whether you should be buying a taxable and a tax-free bond fund? This week, I'll help you answer those questions.

| 9 min read