After a rollicking first quarter with the S&P 500 rocketing more than 7%, the time after March has been a confluence of things. As a whole, the market had gotten exceptionally overpriced, dulling buying spirits. Currently, ETFs (exchange-traded funds) seem a much better investment than stocks right now, because of their sheer diversity which will mitigate losses, on the whole, minimizing damages caused by plummets in individual equities. So, what strategy should one apply for the rest of the year? This article lists the best ETF stocks to buy for the year 2017: iShares Core Conservative Allocation ETF (AOK) Type: Asset Allocation (Conservative) Expense ratio: 0.25% The iShares Core Conservative Allocation ETF (AOK) is a conservative portfolio and one of many funds which act like a portfolio in a box. In most cases, asset allocation funds hold a mix of cash, bonds, and stocks to meet a particular investment strategy. The more conservative ones hold more bonds than stocks, and the latter will also be the value ones and not the high-risk ones. Asset allocation funds that are more aggressive will focus on the portfolio’s equity side, and not hold many bonds. AOK is invested 1% in cash, 32% in equities and 67% in fixed income securities.

Investing in the stock market can be rewarding and can be a quite a gamble at the same time, provided you have done your research. There are a number of things you should take into account before outing up that investment. Investing in stock is not just the only option for you, it’s one of the options amongst many other ways to consolidate your funds. You might get easily influenced by people who have been investing, to dump a significant portion of your hard-earned money into stocks. But you will have to take into account the return on your investment before you decide to dump everything in a market which can be very uncertain at times. It is advisable to branch out and spread your investments over a number of sectors instead of putting all your eggs in one basket. The risk factor is prominent in the stock market, this also depends on whether the investment is short term or long term. Short term investment is risky because it is not easy to make a profit in a couple of days or for that matter, just in a day. There are people who invest on a daily basis and cash out at the end of the day before the market closely to make a quick profit.

Looking to invest your funds in a way that combines security and good returns? Then CDs meet your investment criteria. A CD (Certificate of Deposit) is a savings certificate that has a fixed rate of interest, maturing on a fixed date. Generally issued by commercial banks, they are insured by FDIC (Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation) up to $250,000 per individual. The assured interest, combined with the safety net offered by FDIC, makes CDs an attractive investment opportunity. What Are The Benefits Of Investing In CDs? Security: Investors want security of the principal sum, and CDs meet this requirement. The biggest benefit of investing in CDs is their FDIC security. When you purchase a CD from a bank, they insure to the extent of $250,000. If you hold CDs with more than one bank, then each bank’s account is insured to the cap limit of $250,000. Quantifiable Returns: The best thing about CDs is that you know the returns your investment yields, as the rate of interest is fixed from the time of investment. This enables you to plan your cash flow. You can make a CD investment for a specific purpose, such as paying for your wedding or paying for your child’s education.

When it comes to investing in mutual funds, it is always smart to learn the fundamentals of choosing the best funds and focusing on building the portfolio for a long term. From starting the financial process, the selection and analyzing the portfolio, and taxation is needed to be known before investing. Below are five useful tips for investment in mutual funds: Investment based on goals To understand the objectives of the mutual funds, one must read all the scheme related documents. The objectives should align with the goals of investment. Also, the historical performance and the time horizon must be considered. Ensure that the scheme you invest in is a scheme that is likely to offer the best return in the specified time you aim for. Usually, equity mutual funds can be used for attaining the goals that are within 5 years. Diversify your investments In the longer run, small investments that are regular have proven to show better returns. One can invest in a Systematic Investment Plan (SIP), which enables one to invest monthly into mutual funds. This monthly investment plan helps in averaging the cost. One can also add more amount if one wants to surplus the investment. Risk tolerance One needs to know how much amount they can afford to risk before choosing the funds.

In recent years, alternate energy stocks have seen a large number of investments in the markets. Investing in oil stocks has become a great way to diversify your investment portfolio. Although these stocks come with their own set of risks, there are some safe stocks that offer you an excellent return for your money. In fact, here are a few top oil stocks that are currently grabbing everyone’s attention.  Chevron Corp Chevron is one of the widely known oil companies globally that aims to offer reliable and affordable energy solutions. Amidst the current oil chaos, Chevron is a high-yield stock to invest your money in. Recently, Chevron cut its management spending by 48% and its operating expenses by 12%. Most importantly, it discontinued its buyback program to make sure that its dividends of 6.1% do not get affected. Conoco Phillips Those looking for top oil stocks to buy should definitely consider this option. Based on production and proven reserves, this is one of the world’s largest E&P companies. This company is involved in the effective production of oil and natural gas through its innovative techniques. The stock has a payable cash dividend of $0.43 per share, and its previous closing was $39.27 , while its market cap was $42.6 billion .

The economy is more volatile and investors need to be cautious. There are bound to be under-performers and over-performers. The following are promising mutual funds that you can invest in this year. Vanguard 500 Index Fund: A broad index fund, this has a low expense ratio of 0.16 and requires a minimum investment of $3000. Fidelity Nasdaq Composite Index Fund: Also a broad index fund with an expense ratio of 0.29, you need to have a minimum initial investment of $2500. With the economy in a mature phase, growth stocks are poised to be clear winners. With investments in large cap growth stocks more than half of the funds holdings are in information technology. Vanguard HealthCare Fund: A sectoral fund with an expense ratio of 0.36, the minimum investment required is $3000. With the healthcare sector receiving a boost after presidential victory, this is one fund to watch this year. About 15% of the fund’s exposure is in biotech stocks, with the rest in healthcare equipment, tech, and managed healthcare services. Fidelity Select Banking Fund: With an expense ratio of 0.79 and a minimum initial investment of $2500, this fund is a definite gainer. Financial stocks have become more popular post victory.

Planning for retirement doesn’t have to be a chore, in fact, it can be made downright easy. With a good investment firm, a business jargon won’t be a hassle anymore. If you are new to the world of investments, and looking for options that can help you secure and save money for the future, then you must take a good look at these 3 investment firms. They’re all well known for their customer service and solid returns, and are presented in no particular order. Betterment If you’ve got an old, orphanized 401(k) plan lying around somewhere, you can let Betterment take care of it. They consider factors like your age, your retirement date and your personal investment goals. After providing the necessary details, all the other aspects of the investment solution is handled by Betterment. If you want someone to take care of your IRA (Investment Retirement Accounts) for you, then they can do that as well. Good investment firms today can work with minimal paperwork; that’s something this firm can offer you. The company also optimizes your investment options based on your risk preferences; their customer service is known to be exceptional and hassle free. Fees are low, and most procedures are automated.

A strong equity performance has been the trend with oil stocks in the market most of the time, and investing in stocks of oil companies is considered a good bet these days. Indeed, analysts are of the opinion that 2017 is the year to invest in oil stocks, or if you already have been dabbling in oil stocks, to increase their share and quantum in your portfolio. This is, in part, thanks to OPEC’s decision to reduce the oil output by over 1 million barrels a day, as well as non-OPEC countries that produce oil pledging to reduce their oil output by half a million barrels. So, why is this so important and so relevant? Well, oil output and production are decreasing, but the same cannot be said for consumption, and global patterns suggest that oil consumption is only continuing to rise. So, this means in the quite future, investing in oil stocks will bring a windfall. It may happen in the quite near future or it may take some time, so think of you are in this for very short term gains or if you have holding capacity before choosing to invest in oil stocks. However, the windfall, when it comes, should be a good one.

Retirement is one aspect of our lives that needs to be thoroughly planned so that we can lead a smooth and peaceful life when unemployed with no bumps. So, it is important that one starts saving up right from the time one is employed and saves up a part of his income. One such retirement plan is the 401k which helps you save your income and comes along with certain benefits. However, there are various types of 401k plans available in the market and it is important for one to carefully choose a plan that would meet their needs and requirements and fit them perfectly. The best choice of mutual funds for 401k plans would be the ones with low expense ratios, with funds which are actively managed, and good long-term track records. Here are some of the best 401k investment companies: Vanguard 500 Index (VFINX): This company has an expense ratio of about 0.14% which would mean about $14 for every $10,000 invested annually. The minimum initial investment required would be $3,000. It would be a smart choice to make to choose this company as it is a low-cost, passively managed stock fund and invest in about 500 of the biggest companies in the US.

Retirement is one of the aspects that one is supposed to plan thoroughly and absolutely make sure that in a time with no employment all the needs and requirements are made with no difficulty in the process. And for this purpose, there are several retirement plans available in the market which allow you to save up your income with various benefits involved. However, most of the conventional options deal with investments in stocks and bonds. There are several other options for retirement plans where you can invest in specific objects such as precious metals like gold. Although, it is important that you secure your hard earned money and make sure it reaches you when the time comes and this would need a thorough knowledge of the investments you are making and the expectations you would set, whether it is gold options trading, buying gold coins for investment or any other option. Here are some of the best gold IRA companies: Advantage Gold: This company is known for having one of the best customer services and experience in this industry. They have a full-service IRA department and provide a fully insured storage. Equipped with a team of leading gold IRA experts, this company focuses on educating their clients on the kind of investment they would be making and all the particulars.

No matter what people say that money doesn’t matter but at the end of the day, it is money which saves us from unexpected situations. Wealth won’t gather just by earning it; you need to learn investment wealth management. The best way an individual can learn management is by understanding what the market has to offer to him/her. Here I will be giving insights on how to invest your hard earned money for financial independence in future. Wealth management offers you an overall review of what is your current state and what you need to do, where to invest your money so as to gain profit in the long run. Wealth management provides comprehensive insight into your financial health. It ruthlessly shows where you stand and allows you to plan on your expending your money- where to invest and where to save. Also, it gives a comprehensive analysis of retirement plans and insurance policies you choose. Need a stepping stone for kick-starting your dream? Well, wealth management helps you in setting realistic goals. Comprehensive management serves as a boundary to your goals and plans. You will learn how to build strategies and achieve your business model. The difference and gap between your goal and your current financial condition are necessary.