Sometimes, it’s better to have a low guaranteed return than it is to take a big risk that might pay off (or might not). That’s the approach more people are taking amid tariffs and geopolitical tensions. Fixed index annuities offer guaranteed returns for their investors. The baseline interest is different for each annuity, but fixed index annuities have the potential…
Just because you don’t hear too much about low-priced stocks under $20 on Bloomberg Business, CNBC, or Fox Business, doesn’t mean you should ignore or avoid them. There can be tremendous potential in lower-priced stocks, and neglecting them can cost you. High-quality stocks that happen to be trading at below $20 often fly under the radar of Wall Street and…
It can be hard to invest in AI through stock picking alone. To do it well, you’d need a firm grasp of advanced technical concepts, deep insight into competitive dynamics, and a close eye on evolving global regulations. For the average retail investor, that’s a tall order. “We’re in the early stages of the AI cycle, and proper diversification is extremely important – be…
There’s no shortage of tax-sheltered investment accounts available to ordinary Americans looking to minimize their annual bill to the IRS. Some of the most popular options include workplace 401(k) plans, Roth IRAs and even health savings accounts (HSAs). Depending on the account, you might benefit from upfront deductions, tax-deferred growth or even tax-free withdrawals. But all three have one thing…
Wall Street analysts make new stock picks on a daily basis. Unfortunately, not all analysts and the stocks they pick are winners. Analyst opinions and ratings can vary significantly for a particular stock, making it difficult for investors to know which analysts to trust. Fortunately, WallStreetZen has implemented a system to track analyst stock picks based on average return, win…
Everyone tends to pay attention when big-name stocks make their initial public offerings (IPO). That’s in part because in hindsight, the debut of certain companies provides a life-changing investment opportunity. Consider Tesla Inc. (ticker: TSLA), which hit public markets in 2010 with a valuation of just $2 billion or so – and now, the company is worth more than $1 trillion.…
Down and discouraged for the first four months of the year, the U.S. stock market has bounced back in May. The benchmark S&P 500 is up 12.5% over the past month and is back in the black year to date, returning 1% as of the May 20 close. That doesn’t mean the stock market is fully recovered, as many threats…
Many investors take their lead from the so-called “smart money” in order to avoid market pitfalls and tap into outsized returns. This involves combing through analyst reports to see what the biggest shops on Wall Street are buying, and why. There’s no guarantee that even the “strong buy” stocks that are identified by market pros are going to go up,…
After back-to-back years of 20%-plus gains in 2023 and 2024, the S&P 500 is off to a sluggish start to 2025. Investors are dealing with a number of macroeconomic uncertainties, including a trade war, federal layoffs, slowing economic growth, high interest rates, and the possibility of stagflation. In other words, stock selection may be critical in 2025. The 10 best stocks…
The fiscal 2025 National Defense Authorization Act calls for $923.3 billion in U.S. military spending, up 4.1% from 2024 levels. The ongoing war in Ukraine; tensions between China and Taiwan; and conflicts between Israel and Iran, Hezbollah and Hamas may force the U.S. government to increase defense industry investment in the coming years, which could serve as a tailwind for…