With stock markets down sharply today,  what better time to  feature the views of investment author and blogger Mark D. Wolfinger. He believes “options are the best risk-reducing investment tools on the planet.”

Mark Yamada’s firm PŮR Investing Inc. puts together portfolios of exchange-traded funds (ETFs) for investors (see previous post for his  ETF screener tool). One thing unique about their approach is the use of “risk budgeting” to select asset allocations.

Regulators and legislators in the U.S. currently have lifecycle funds under the microscope and may be making changes to address some irregularities that have come to light.

How should children be taught the virtues of saving and investing? What I often see is parents purchasing shares in one or two companies making things children know and enjoy -– such as Disney or Nike. That will supposedly capture their interest and generate discussions around the dinner table. I also ...

Could the stocks of U.S. exporters be the next asset class to invest in -- as the typically delayed impact of falling real exchange rates is felt? The U.S. dollar has depreciated approximately 25% in real terms (exchange rates adjusted for inflation) since early 2002. That would seem to be ...