Brady Porche

1 month ago | money.usnews.com | Tony Dong |Brady Porche

Morningstar, a leading investment research firm, recently published an eye-opening report titled, "15 Funds That Have Lost the Most Value for Shareholders Over the Past Decade."The analysis covered both exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and mutual funds, examining which products have done the most damage to long-term investor wealth. Unsurprisingly, the worst offenders were mostly leveraged or inverse funds, which are notoriously volatile and typically designed for short-term trading.

1 month ago | money.usnews.com | Wayne Duggan |Brady Porche

From Feb. 19, 2020, to March 23, 2020, the S&P 500 dropped from 3,386.10 to 2,237.40, losing 33.9% of its value. The global outbreak of COVID-19 understandably rattled financial markets, triggering economic shutdowns and widespread fears about the virus's impact. Related: Sign up for stock news with our Invested newsletter. Fortunately, the S&P 500 recovered to new all-time highs by August 2020 and is now up about 150% from its COVID lows.

1 month ago | money.usnews.com | Tony Dong |Brady Porche

The first three months of 2025 have been marked by higher-than-expected market volatility, with investors navigating a surge in uncertainty. As of March 17, the CBOE Volatility Index (VIX) – often called Wall Street's "fear index" – hovered around 22, after hitting a 2025 peak of 27.9 a week earlier. The VIX is calculated based on S&P 500 index options prices, reflecting the expected volatility over the next 30 days.

Jan 9, 2025 | money.usnews.com | Tony Dong |Brady Porche |Wayne Duggan

Like regular stocks, preferred stocks also possess the potential for share price appreciation, albeit to a more muted degree.Getty ImagesAside from the usual dividend stocks, high-yield bonds and real estate investment trusts, income-hungry investors can also turn to preferred stocks, which are hybrid securities that offer traits of both common stocks and bonds.

Nov 14, 2024 | money.usnews.com | Kate Stalter |Brady Porche

Key Takeaways: Investors seeking safety will find many instruments with low volatility, but not without some risk. High-yield savings accounts and money market funds offer liquid options for short-term savings. Certificates of deposit and Treasurys provide relatively safe, fixed-income options. Corporate bonds and preferred shares carry risk, but are reliable income generators. Investors often need to keep some money aside for a specific purpose, such as a new vehicle or home repairs.