Investing Basics Articles
Dollar-Cost Averaging Versus Lump-Sum Investing: Which Builds More Wealth?
March 2026 by Gregg S. Fisher
In a test of rolling 20-year periods since 1926, lump-sum investing outperformed dollar-cost averaging 73% of the time.
March 2026 by Gregg S. Fisher
In a test of rolling 20-year periods since 1926, lump-sum investing outperformed dollar-cost averaging 73% of the time.
Steadily Building Wealth Through Dollar-Cost Averaging and Value Averaging
November 2025 by Cynthia McLaughlin
The discipline of investing regularly over extended periods regardless of market conditions can offer significant long-term benefits.
November 2025 by Cynthia McLaughlin
The discipline of investing regularly over extended periods regardless of market conditions can offer significant long-term benefits.
Time on Your Side: How Compounding Grows Small Amounts Into Big Wealth
June 2025 by Cynthia McLaughlin
By understanding how compounding works, starting early, reinvesting earnings and staying consistent, you set yourself up for success.
June 2025 by Cynthia McLaughlin
By understanding how compounding works, starting early, reinvesting earnings and staying consistent, you set yourself up for success.
A Beginner’s Guide to Goal-Based Investing
November 2024 by Omar Beirat
Setting clear investing goals is the foundation of any successful financial plan.
November 2024 by Omar Beirat
Setting clear investing goals is the foundation of any successful financial plan.
How to Start Saving for Retirement
September 2024 by Anine Sus
Retirement will likely be your longest-term financial goal—the earlier you begin thinking about retirement, the better off you will be.
September 2024 by Anine Sus
Retirement will likely be your longest-term financial goal—the earlier you begin thinking about retirement, the better off you will be.
Tracking the Market's Expectations for Interest Rate Hikes
March 2022 by AAII Staff
A measure we follow to gauge expectations for monetary policy is the CME FedWatch Tool.
March 2022 by AAII Staff
A measure we follow to gauge expectations for monetary policy is the CME FedWatch Tool.
Online Exclusive: Understanding Risk-Adjusted Returns via the Sharpe Ratio
February 2022 by Matthew Bajkowski
When comparing the performance of two securities, funds or portfolios, investors must consider risk-adjusted returns to see if they are being adequately compensated for the risk they are assuming.
February 2022 by Matthew Bajkowski
When comparing the performance of two securities, funds or portfolios, investors must consider risk-adjusted returns to see if they are being adequately compensated for the risk they are assuming.
Online Exclusive: Stock Order Types Explained
November 2021 by Matthew Bajkowski
For most individual investors who are following a buy-and-hold strategy, there are three basic order types that will cover the majority of your stock trades and allow for control over execution.
November 2021 by Matthew Bajkowski
For most individual investors who are following a buy-and-hold strategy, there are three basic order types that will cover the majority of your stock trades and allow for control over execution.
Online Exclusive: Defensive Versus Cyclical Stocks
October 2021 by Matthew Bajkowski
The profitability of cyclical stocks is tied to the status of the economy, while defensive stocks tend not to lose their value during downturns.
October 2021 by Matthew Bajkowski
The profitability of cyclical stocks is tied to the status of the economy, while defensive stocks tend not to lose their value during downturns.
Getting a Start With Dollar-Cost Averaging
October 2020 by Charles Rotblut
Dollar-cost averaging and value averaging allow investors to ease into the market over time, which reduces timing risk.
October 2020 by Charles Rotblut
Dollar-cost averaging and value averaging allow investors to ease into the market over time, which reduces timing risk.
Determining the Appropriate Level of Risk for You
August 2020 by Charles Rotblut
To help you identify your tolerance for risk, we’ve developed this worksheet as part of The AAII Way, a process for creating a comprehensive plan that can be your investing guide.
August 2020 by Charles Rotblut
To help you identify your tolerance for risk, we’ve developed this worksheet as part of The AAII Way, a process for creating a comprehensive plan that can be your investing guide.
Defining Your Investing Goals
July 2020 by Charles Rotblut
The first step to creating a comprehensive investing plan is to define your goals and cash flow needs. We’ve created a simple worksheet to help you organize your thoughts.
July 2020 by Charles Rotblut
The first step to creating a comprehensive investing plan is to define your goals and cash flow needs. We’ve created a simple worksheet to help you organize your thoughts.
A Process for Creating Your Own Investing Plan
June 2020 by Charles Rotblut
Our goal is to give you a framework to think through the various aspects of investing—from your goals to monitoring and reviewing your portfolio and investment profile. Introducing AAII’s new project.
June 2020 by Charles Rotblut
Our goal is to give you a framework to think through the various aspects of investing—from your goals to monitoring and reviewing your portfolio and investment profile. Introducing AAII’s new project.
Choosing Between Mutual Funds and ETFs
February 2012 by Charles Rotblut
The decision to own a mutual fund or an exchange-traded fund (ETF) is dependent on a variety factors.
February 2012 by Charles Rotblut
The decision to own a mutual fund or an exchange-traded fund (ETF) is dependent on a variety factors.
How Your Buy and Sell Orders Get Filled
May 2011 by Charles Rotblut, Chris Nagy
The type, size and timing of an order to buy or sell a security impacts if, when and at what price your transaction gets filled.
May 2011 by Charles Rotblut, Chris Nagy
The type, size and timing of an order to buy or sell a security impacts if, when and at what price your transaction gets filled.
Your Order Please: A Guide to the Different Ways to Buy and Sell Securities
April 2004 by John Deysher
Understand the most common stock order types, such as market orders, not-held orders, fill-or-kill orders, as well as day orders and good-til-canceled.
April 2004 by John Deysher
Understand the most common stock order types, such as market orders, not-held orders, fill-or-kill orders, as well as day orders and good-til-canceled.
The 10 Fundamental Axioms for Effective Retirement Investing
May 2003 by William P. Dukes
These principles provide the critical cornerstone for making decisions. When any of the axioms are violated, you risk being derailed from the ultimate objective of accumulating a more-than-adequate fund for retirement.
May 2003 by William P. Dukes
These principles provide the critical cornerstone for making decisions. When any of the axioms are violated, you risk being derailed from the ultimate objective of accumulating a more-than-adequate fund for retirement.