Investment | Bryan Vaughn, CFP®, CPA

Investing should be easy – just buy low and sell high – but most of us have trouble following that simple advice. There are principles and strategies that may enable you to put together an investment portfolio that reflects your risk tolerance, time horizon, and goals. Understanding these principles and strategies can help you avoid some of the pitfalls that snare some investors.

What Smart Investors Know

Savvy investors take the time to separate emotion from fact.

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It Was the Best of Times, It Was the Worst of Times

All about how missing the best market days (or the worst!) might affect your portfolio.

A Taxing Story: Capital Gains and Losses

Understanding how capital gains are taxed may help you refine your investment strategies.

Finding the Balance

The sandwich generation faces unique challenges. For many, meeting needs is a matter of finding a balance.

Bull & Baird: 7 Sins of Investing

Mike guides us out of bad investment habits and toward a better mindset for long-term wealth-building.

Want To Invest in Real Estate?

Consider these five tips before adding an investment property to your portfolio.

All That Matters: War and the Stock Market

Mike and Ross unpack how wars really move the markets.

In the Markets Now: 2,026 Things for 2026

Ross has fun with numbers and dishes a wealth of good information for investors to know as we head into 2026.

You've Made Your Career Move - Now What?

With a little planning, you can avoid leaving money on the table as you switch jobs.

All That Matters: 250 Years of American Optimism

Mike and Ross explain why American resilience, innovation and optimism remain powerful forces for long-term investors.

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The Rule of 72

Do you know how long it may take for your investments to double in value? The Rule of 72 is a quick way to figure it out.

Should You Invest in Exchange Traded Funds?

There are thousands of ETFs available. Should you invest in them?

What Smart Investors Know

Savvy investors take the time to separate emotion from fact.

Finding the Balance

The sandwich generation faces unique challenges. For many, meeting needs is a matter of finding a balance.

Jane Bond: Infiltrating the Market

Agent Jane Bond is on the case, cracking the code on bonds.

Jane Bond: Scaling the Ladder

Agent Jane Bond is on the case, uncovering the mystery of bond laddering.

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Articles

In the Markets Now: The Selloff

Ross takes a closer look at the market’s recent volatility and finds that the fundamentals tell a different story.

All That Matters: Post-Election Roundup

Mike and Ross hash out the election: Were their predictions true? Why is the market up? Where do we go from here?

In the Markets Now: Soft Landings and Bull Markets

The current bull market is set to enter its third year. What are the real risks facing investors?

Surprising Upsides in a Down Market

In a perfect world, the stock market would only go up. However, even down markets can benefit investors in unexpected ways.

All That Matters: Rambling and Gambling

How should investors respond to the recent tariff news? And what do online gambling companies have to do with investing?

A Primer on Dividends

A company's profits can be reinvested or paid out to the company’s shareholders as “dividends."

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Videos

The Business Cycle

How will you weather the ups and downs of the business cycle?

What Can a Million Dollars Buy You?

$1 million in a diversified portfolio could help finance part of your retirement.

The Cycle of Investing

Understanding the cycle of investing may help you avoid easy pitfalls.

Jane Bond: Infiltrating the Market

Agent Jane Bond is on the case, cracking the code on bonds.

Bursting the Bubble

Tulips were the first, but they won’t be the last. What forms a “bubble” and what causes them to burst?

Should You Invest in Exchange Traded Funds?

There are thousands of ETFs available. Should you invest in them?

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