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Overview videos: The Ten Rules of Smart Investing for Beginners.
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(1:54)
Learn the Ten Rules of Investing For Beginners: start saving early, diversify your investments, minimize costs, stick to your plan!
(03:08)
The ABCs of Investing For Beginners using the alphabet as a tool to help you remember. A fun intro to investing.
(14:52)
Goal-based investment planning, with a safe retirement planning example. Don't strive for perfection. Put it in writing. It will improve.
(15:51)
Stocks are volatile, but you can control investment risk with asset allocation. It's your most important decision.
(4:59)
Investing 101 is to Diversify! Diversify! The market does not compensate you for risk that can be diversified away.
(4:58)
Don't attempt market timing. Nobody can consistently win . That's a loser's game. It's speculating, not investing.
(5:05)
Use index funds. Your goal is extreme diversification for lowest possible cost. So use passive funds (index funds).
(4:58)
Keep costs low! Use low cost index funds. Mutual Fund costs are the big reason investor returns are below average.
(5:00)
Investing for dummies: use tax-advantaged accounts. Defer taxable gains. Avoid high turnover funds.
(4:59)Keep it simple. Investing is important, but it doesn't need to be complicated. Ten rules help you keep it simple.
(4:53)
Stay the course. Choose the appropriate mix of stocks/bonds for your situation, then invest for the long haul.
Next we consider what assets to invest in. Stocks? Bonds? Real estate? Gold? This page will help you learn the important types of assets, or asset classes, how to allocate your investments, and then important information about investing in stocks and bonds. In addition to the videos listed on this page, you might also consider these commonly asked questions and answers:
- Common Questions about what types of assets (asset classes) to buy
- Common Questions about asset allocation
- Common Questions about investing in bonds
- Common Questions about investing in stocks
Select Video Tutorials about what assets to buy
All are excellent videos. The transcripts can help you make best use of your time.
Short videos about types of assets, or asset classes:
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(5:10)
Top performing asset classes change from year to year. Examining historical returns reveals why we need to be long-term investors rather than speculators.
(05:04)
A gold commodity investment is not an investment at all, it is price speculation. You are gambling on price movements. In the long-run, productive assets always win.
(12:42)
Gold funds are speculative investments. Instead of investing in a productive asset that will create value, you (gamble) the future price will be higher.
Short videos about asset allocation:
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(3:22)
Bonds can be safe investments. CDs, Bonds, and Bond Funds are critical to building an all-weather portfolio.
(2:50)
Asset allocation is your most important decision. Stocks are risky, and Treasury bonds make that risk palatable.
(3:46)
Bonds can be safe, low risk investments. So, bonds, CDs or bond funds are key to building an all-weather portfolio.
(5:24)
Bonds provide attractive investment diversification to stocks — are critical to building an all-weather portfolios.
(1:08:42)
Mr. Bogle shares long-term outlooks for stock and bond markets plus answers many questions.
Short videos about investing in bonds:
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(2:55)
Should you choose a money market fund or a bond fund? Or perhaps dividend-paying stocks? Learn how each of these differ in this episode of Bond Basics.
(4:56)
Certificate of deposit: better than a bond? Yes, Learn the advantage that CDs occasionally give small investors.
(6:13)
What are bonds? Bonds are simple interest-only loans. It's that simple! Learn what every investor should know about bonds and fixed-income securities.
(3:26)
Learn two very cool things about individual bonds and bond ladders in this episode—about fixed-income securities.
(5:05)
Should you own individual bonds or bond funds? Learn why the answer is easy in video about fixed-income securities.
Short videos about investing in stocks:
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(5:44)
History of the world stock markets reveals the most important lessons every investor should learn. World stock markets have behaved wildly for centuries.
(4:12)
We are attracted to spectacular stock market success stories. But, the first lesson to learn from market history is to have realistic market expectations.
(5:19)
All investing involves a degree of risk. Market volatility is inevitable, Higher expected returns requires more risk. Expect market volatility. Stay calm.
(5:35)
Forget about stock market timing. The mantra that wise experts share is the importance of time in the market, rather than timing the market.
(5:35)
The next lesson is Keep Investing Simple. Complicated products often don't work the way that you hoped. Keep it simple. And remember: costs matter!
(5:43)
The lessons that scream from every page of market history: diversify stocks! Only own the correct amount of stocks for you, and diversify stocks with bonds.
(5:04)
The best advice is to buy and hold. Re-balance once a year. Don't be tempted to tinker with your investment decisions. Simply buy and hold and re-balance.
(7:43)
Sensible investing lessons from stock market history: Be realistic. Stay calm. Don't try to time the market. Keep it simple. Diversify stocks. Don't tinker.
All are excellent videos. The transcripts can help you make best use of your time.
Category Personal Finance
Topic = Financial Freedom
This is for the topic Financial Independence—easier than you might think.
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Learn the many benefits of simple living with Vicki Robin, author of the NYT best seller: Your Money or Your Life.
Author Vicki Robin with insights about how to simplify your life, achieve greater happiness, and build community.
Vicki Robin describes how frugal living is the key to get out of debt, maximize joy, and buy financial independence.
Vicki Robin introduces the new revised and updated edition in 2008, and expands on becoming financially independent.
Your Money or Your Life started a movement about getting your money and life energy in alignment with your values. Learn about the 9-step program.
(13:17)
Vicki Robin does an interview with Douglas Goldstein and explains the key points in her bestselling book: Your Money or Your Life.
Sub-Category = Types of Mutual Funds
The last series talked about what investments to buy and the importance of asset allocation. I said that your most important decision is how much to own in stocks, and how much in bonds. Your second most important decision is whether to hold these as individual stocks and bonds or to use mutual funds or exchange traded funds. Ultimately your decision should largely be determined by costs.
In addition to the selected videos on this page, you might consider checking the commonly asked questions and answers in these categories:
- Common Questions about investing with mutual funds
- Common Questions about investing with index funds
- Common Questions about investing with exchange-traded funds (ETFs)
Select Video Tutorials about Investing With Different Types of Mutual Funds
All are excellent videos. The transcripts can help you make best use of your time.
Short videos about index funds:
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(53:54)
Learn why passive investing with index funds is best investment strategy for most investors. (Video with experts)
(1:21:01)
Evidence that index investing is the winning strategy. Compelling argument for passive investing with index funds.
(2:16)
Learn what is index fund investing and how it differs from actively managed mutual funds. Learn why index funds are important for your investment portfolio.
(3:21)
Experts reflect on why indexing works and agree: it is largely due to costs. Simple math ensures low costs index funds must beat managed funds in long run .
(58:46)
John Bogle, advocate for ordinary investors, speaks in special interview about importance of Vanguard Index Funds.
(5:36)
Before costs, trading stocks is a zero sum game. When actual costs are considered, index funds always win in the long run. Learn what Zero Sum Game means.
Short videos about target-date funds that use index funds:
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(4:24)
Not all target date funds are index funds, but the Vanguard Target Date Funds are. Moreover, they are a fund-of-funds without an additional layer of costs.
(7:28)
A Target Date Fund is usually a fund of funds so it is important to find a Target Date Fund that doesn't have an extra layer of costs. Vanguard is example.
(3:39)
No fixed rules about how to choose target date funds. Start with when you'll retire, then consider the stock/bond ratio today. Adjust target date as nec.
(7:43)
Vanguard Target Date Funds set a high bar to compare against. They use low-cost index funds with no additional cost to manage this fund of funds.
Short videos about actively-managed mutual funds:
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(55:44)
Start your investing education by asking, "What are mutual funds?" They provide diversity with convenience and low-cost. There are good funds and bad funds!
(18:34)
Every investor must learn "What is a Mutual Fund?" Good mutual funds are broadly diversified and very low cost. The bad ones both speculative and expensive.
Short videos about exchange-traded funds (ETFs):
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(11:46)
What are ETFs? An alternative to mutual funds. This video is beginner's guide to what ETFs are, how they work, when to use them, and their drawbacks.
(4:32)
ETF Index Funds compete with traditional mutual funds for lowest annual cost. Both have pros/cons so it often boils down to transaction costs.
(4:25)
While ETF investing is fine for long-term investments, ETF investing invites rapid trading, market speculation, or gambling. This is what Bogle objects to.
(4:38)
John Bogle says the proper ETFs used in the proper way is just fine—just don't trade ETFs! The temptation is speculation and market timing—that's gambling.
(9:38)
To explain "What is an ETF?", part 1 of 3 looks at the most common type of mutual fund, the open-ended mutual funds.
(4:51)
To explain "What is an ETF?", part 2 of 3 helps you understand the different types of mutual funds by looking at a type that you will NOT need to buy: closed-ended mutual funds.
(5:01)
To explain "What is an ETF?", part 3 of 3 looks at a different way of purchasing an open-ended mutual fund—on the stock market. So, it's an Exchange-Traded Fund (ETF).
More for Learn How To Invest category.
Misc video tutorials
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(1:44)
For ordinary investors, to think and invest like Warren Buffett means extreme diversification for the lowest costs.
(0:50)
This quick, fun interactive video teaches you hot to recognize superior mutual funds and overcome common mistakes.
(5:03)
Use a simple planning tool to create a better personal financial plan. This one is called Flexible Retirement Planner.
(1:50)
The miracle of compound interest can convert a lifetime of small savings into a large comfortable retirement.
(4:21)
Starting with a sound financial lifestyle means living below your means. You need to save money before you can invest. Learn some tips to eliminate fees.
(4:32)
ETF Index Funds and traditional index mutual funds often compete for lowest annual cost (expense ratio). Learn how to figure out which is most cost effective for you.
(2:42)
I describe a free 9-step course to financial independence with integrity courtesy of the New Roadmap Foundation, Vicki Robin, and others.
(7:35)
Jennifer Howell interviews me about my book Why Bother With Bonds. This book explains why you need them and how to invest in them to build an all weather portfolio.
(8:48)
Warren Buffett explains why 99% of Americans should use extreme diversification, and why he does the exact opposite.
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