investing

Hamilton Nolan · 07/21/14 09:31AM

A new study finds that a mere 0.07% of mutual funds were able to stay in the top 25% of funds for the past five years in a row. This is the zillionth piece of evidence pointing to the fact that you, the average jerk, should just buy cheap index funds and leave them alone.

Financial Advisors Fight For Their Right to Rip You Off

Hamilton Nolan · 06/13/14 10:10AM

If you have ever needed a clear, simple demonstration of the fact that the financial advisory industry is, to a large extent, a hustle designed primarily to soak you for as much money as possible, here it is.

Hamilton Nolan · 06/02/14 11:50AM

Bidding on a single lunch with Warren Buffett currently stands at $350,300, and will go much higher—two years ago, the price was $3.46 million (which goes to charity). Here, we'll save you $3.46 million: "Buy index funds."

Hamilton Nolan · 05/15/14 02:16PM

Hedge fund manager David Tepper warned yesterday that the stock market is "dangerous right now," and advised against betting on its rise. Today, the markets are down sharply. And that's how David Tepper made $3.5 billion last year.

Hamilton Nolan · 04/22/14 04:42PM

David Einhorn, one of America's most prominent hedge fund managers, is betting against hot tech stocks, saying "There is a clear consensus that we are witnessing our second tech bubble in 15 years."

How to Make a Hedge Fund Ad

Hamilton Nolan · 02/21/14 12:09PM

Hedge funds, sophisticated financial vehicles using strategies that can—whether the market is up or down—enrich hedge fund managers, are now allowed to advertise to the public. Problem: they suck at it. Can we help them?

Hamilton Nolan · 01/29/14 05:18PM

Stocks fell a cool 190 points today, after falling by similar amounts both Thursday and Friday of last week. Is now the time to buy? Is now the time to sell? Is now the time to stand idly by, ignoring the unknowable short-term fluctuations of finance? Perhaps.

What Is Obama's Magical New Retirement Plan?

Hamilton Nolan · 01/29/14 03:02PM

Most Americans have scant hope of saving enough money to support themselves in retirement. In his State of the Union speech last night, president Obama proposed a new retirement plan for workers called "myRA." It's not an IRA. It's not a pension. What the fuck is it?

Magic Beans Still the American Investment of Choice

Hamilton Nolan · 01/02/14 02:54PM

Last year, the stock market rose to its all-time high, where it still sits. The S&P 500 index was up almost 30%—the best performance in decades. Still, most Americans view stocks as an inferior investment to magic beans.

Hamilton Nolan · 12/30/13 04:17PM

The best-performing stocks of 2013: Tesla, Netflix, Best Buy, and Twitter. Hurry up and invest in these high fliers as they fly higher and higher and higher, and never lower!

Hamilton Nolan · 12/06/13 05:33PM

Our condolences to all the high fee-paying hedge fund investors out there. Better luck next year.

Hamilton Nolan · 11/21/13 05:14PM

At the same time that vast majorities of investment professionals say that bubbles are forming in parts of the stock market, Americans are pouring more money into the stock market than they have since the first tech boom. Don't worry though baby, they'll pull out in time ;).