Episode 34: Investing vs. speculation

As markets continue their bumpy ride, some investors are looking to make back losses during the potential upswings – possibly taking on some excessive risk. In this episode of Everyday Wealth™, Jean Chatzky is joined by wealth planner Andy Smith to discuss the differences between speculation and investing, and how a wealth planner can help mitigate your risks. They also discuss whether it’s better to lease or buy a car in the current economy, and later in the episode, Dr. Wei Hu, vice president of financial research at Edelman Financial Engines, joins Jean and Andy for Investing Sense, where they talk about mental reference points that impact investing. 

This show is pre-recorded, and any callers are prescreened.

Ms. Chatzky and Ms. O’Brien receive cash compensation for acting as hosts of the Everyday Wealth radio show and podcast and for related activities and therefore have an incentive to endorse Edelman Financial Engines and its planners.  That compensation is a fixed sum paid on an annual basis; and reimbursement for certain expenses.  The amount paid each year does not vary, is not based on show content or any results-dependent factors (e.g., popularity of the show).

Investing strategies, such as asset allocation, diversification or rebalancing, do not ensure or guarantee better performance and cannot eliminate the risk of investment losses. All investments have inherent risks, including loss of principal. There are no guarantees that a portfolio employing these or any other strategy will outperform a portfolio that does not engage in such strategies. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

Dollar Cost Averaging does not assure a profit or protect against a loss in a declining market. For the strategy to be effective, you must continue to purchase shares in both up and down markets. As such, an investor needs to consider his/her financial ability to continuously invest through periods of low-price levels.

An index is a portfolio of specific securities (common examples are the S&P, DJIA, NASDAQ), the performance of which is often used as a benchmark in judging the relative performance of certain asset classes. Indexes are unmanaged portfolios and investors cannot invest directly in an index. Past performance does not guarantee future results. 

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