It is deceptively difficult to outperform an investment that just tracks the performance of the overall stock market, owning the entire market rather than only a few companies that you think are poised for impressive growth.

What is this action that is so devastating to investors’ future wealth? Simply this: going all out of the stock market.

That being said, news isn’t all bad. It can be incredibly useful. As investors, we need to find the balance between getting informed by the news and becoming influenced by it.

The feeling of contentment doesn’t kick in at some magical point after you’ve reached an elusive financial marker. It’s a mindset.

As much as I love stocks, I cannot deny that real estate packs one punch that stocks simply can’t deliver. So let’s talk about why real estate is an attractive place to invest money.

The stock market works because we humans – and particularly, we Americans, with our market-based capitalistic economy – push for newer, better, and faster ways to do things.

The two biggest building blocks for any investment portfolio tend to be stocks and bonds. Both are vital. And I want to convince you that both should be in your portfolio.

Timing is everything when it comes to stocks, but the odds are heavily stacked against anyone who tries timing the stock market.

The great news is that even just starting off with a small amount at a young age will make a big difference over time.

“Predictions are hard…especially about the future.”

There always feels like more you can or should do. But at some point, you must make a judgement call to jump off the financial treadmill...

Now, don’t get me wrong, I’m an advocate for spending responsibly. We shouldn’t hoard money.

Over several decades of talking to investors, watching them, and advising them, I’ve decided there are four investor types.

Investing in the stock market isn’t for the faint of heart. Stock investors periodically get blindsided by events that wreak havoc on their portfolios. There are things that come out of nowhere that collapse prices.

If you don’t have an estate plan in place right now, I urge you to make it a priority over the next month.

Wealth is all about planning for the years ahead, not today.

Yes, stocks will make you more money over time, but there is a place for bonds in your portfolio.

Anyone peering in on our financial lives would likely step back, scratching their head in confusion about the weird juxtapositions we personally think are normal.

But I must admit the stock market is my favorite asset class of them all. There are three reasons underpinning that preference.

But life is about trade-offs, and you must consider the dark side of what generational wealth can mean.