Get a fast introduction to index funds and learn how these popular investing vehicles can help balance your portfolio.

In the ever-evolving world of investment, index funds have emerged as a cornerstone for both new and seasoned investors. But ...

Q: After a succession of botched attempts at picking individual stocks, I am ready to try exchange-traded funds, which you and other commentators recommend so strongly. Can you suggest a reference ...

Just about any month is a good time to invest in an S&P 500 index fund. Doing so is like betting on the future success of the American economy. Many index funds sport ultra-low fees, too; below are ...

For retirees who are using income distributions from their investments to help cover living expenses, the small fees levied by index funds and ETFs ensure that more of those payouts flow to them.

Diversify your investment portfolio with the best ETFs to buy now. Discover the benefits of ETFs for broad market exposure and lower volatility.

When it comes to investing your retirement or college funds for the long term, few principles are now as widely accepted as the merits of low-cost index funds. Most big investment firms have now ...

Index funds simplify investing by bundling hundreds or even thousands of stocks into a single investment vehicle, effectively creating diversified portfolios. The Vanguard S&P 500 ETF returned 299% ...

Peter Gratton, Ph.D., is a New Orleans-based editor and professor with over 20 years of experience in investing, risk management, and public policy. Peter began covering markets at Multex (Reuters) ...

Index funds have long been hailed as the gold standard for long-term investing—offering low fees, market-wide exposure, and steady returns. Developed by Vanguard founder Jack Bogle, index funds don’t ...