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Beginner Guide

Entry points. Each of these assumes no prior knowledge and answers one question completely, rather than covering everything shallowly.

11 articles

A veteran value investor, representing valuation discipline
StocksBeginner Guide

The P/E Ratio: What It Tells You, and the Four Ways It Lies

Using a P/E ratio well is one of the most common valuation jobs, and one of the most misused. Here is what it actually measures, the four ways it lies, and what to check alongside it.

August 1, 2026 · 4 min read
Comparing brokerage account options
PlanningBeginner Guide

How to Choose a Broker: The Six Things That Actually Matter

Choosing a broker is one of the duller money jobs, and one of the ones that actually protects your returns. Here is what to check in an hour, before the app design talks you into anything.

August 1, 2026 · 5 min read
The cycle of market emotions from optimism through despair and back
BehaviourBeginner Guide

The Behaviour Gap: Why Investors Earn Less Than Their Own Funds

Earning what your own fund returns is one of the hardest jobs in investing. Here is why the average holder underperforms the fund, and the structural fixes that actually work.

July 29, 2026 · 5 min read
Chart breaking a diversified portfolio into stocks, bonds and cash
PlanningBeginner Guide

Diversification: What It Actually Protects You From (And What It Doesn't)

Building a diversified portfolio is one of the most repeated jobs in investing, and one of the most misunderstood. Here is what it actually protects you from, what it does not, and how to check you have it.

July 11, 2026 · 5 min read
A piggy bank in a life ring, representing an emergency cash reserve
PlanningBeginner Guide

The Step Before Investing: How Big Should Your Emergency Fund Be?

Building a cash reserve before you invest is one of the least exciting money jobs, and one of the ones that actually keeps a portfolio intact. Here is how to size it, where to keep it, and when to stop.

July 8, 2026 · 5 min read
Calculator and growth chart illustrating the Rule of 72 for compound interest
Beginner GuidePlanning

The Rule of 72: A One-Line Way to Estimate How Money Grows

Feeling what compounding actually does is one of the hardest parts of thinking about money. Here is the one-line estimate, when it is accurate, and why it is also a warning about debt.

July 3, 2026 · 5 min read
A trader at a stock exchange terminal watching rate-sensitive markets
MarketsBeginner Guide

How Interest Rates Move the Stock Market, Explained Simply

Watching a central bank announcement move your portfolio is one of the more unsettling parts of investing. Here is what a rate actually is, why stocks react, and what is worth doing about it.

June 29, 2026 · 5 min read
Retired couple representing the long-term payoff of a workplace 401(k) match
RetirementBeginner Guide

The 401(k) Match: The Free Money Most People Leave on the Table

Claiming your employer match is one of the highest-return decisions in a paycheck, and one of the easiest to skip. Here is how it works, what vesting means, and where it sits against everything else.

June 28, 2026 · 5 min read
A fund manager speaking at an investing conference
Funds & ETFsBeginner Guide

ETFs vs. Mutual Funds: What Actually Sets Them Apart

Choosing between an ETF and a mutual fund is one of the first wrapper decisions a new investor makes. Here is what both actually are, what differs, and which to pick.

June 26, 2026 · 5 min read
Someone opening a brokerage account on a phone to invest their first $100
Beginner GuideFunds & ETFs

How to Start Investing With Your First $100

Starting with $100 is one of the most misunderstood first steps in investing. Here is why it is enough, where to put it, and how to turn it into a habit rather than a one-off experiment.

June 25, 2026 · 5 min read
Coins stacked steadily over time representing dollar-cost averaging
BehaviourBeginner Guide

Dollar-Cost Averaging: Why It Works Even When the Market Doesn't

Sticking to a fixed investing schedule is one of the hardest habits to keep when the news gets loud. Here is what dollar-cost averaging actually is, when it helps, and how to make it automatic.

June 21, 2026 · 5 min read