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We help you make good financial decisions by tuning out the noise and focusing on just a handful of simple, core principles that have proved successful over time. Although they are simple, following them is not always easy.
If this is your first visit, begin at "Getting started" below.
Regular visitors may want to look at our new articles.
Getting started

For US investors:
- Getting started - Start here.
- Investment philosophy - Our investment principles.
- Investing start-up kit - A top-down approach to start investing.
- Investment policy statement - Identify your investment objectives and how you plan to meet them.
- Prioritizing investments - Choosing where to save your investing money, such as an employer's retirement plan or a savings account.
For non-US investors:
- Getting started for non-US investors - Start here.
- Investment philosophy for non-US investors - Our investment principles.
- Investing start-up kit for non-US investors - A top-down approach to start investing.
- Outline of non-US domiciles - Overview of topics specifically for non-US investors.
Personal finance

Personal finance covers not only investing, but day-to-day finances, budgeting, insurance, taxes, estate planning, and retirement.
For US investors:
- Personal finance planning start-up kit - Start here.
- Financial planning - The first thing you should do.
- Household budgeting - Understand how much you make and how much you spend.
- Emergency fund - Have cash on-hand for life's unexpected events.
- Insurance - Auto, home, medical
- Estate planning - Be prepared when bad things happen.
Retirement

Retirement is a major event in many people's lives. It is not only a lifestyle change, but a change in income and spending.
Planning for this life-changing event is important.

- Retirement planning start-up kit - Start here.
- Preparing for retirement - Steps you should take before retiring.
- Retirement policy statement - Lay-out your retirement plans and strategies.
From today's featured article
Tax-efficient fund placement is an issue facing investors holding assets in multiple accounts, both tax-advantaged and taxable accounts. The tax code recognizes different sources of investment income which are taxed at different rates, or, are taxed at a later time (tax "deferred"). An asset's tax efficiency (the impact of taxes on an investment) is affected by both its expected return and the tax rate on that return.
All investors must pay their legally required taxes. This article describes how to minimize taxes by placing investments appropriately in tax-deferred or taxable (pay taxes now) accounts. (more...)
This week in financial history
- 1690 - The (US) Massachusetts colony began circulating the first paper money on North America, printed to finance England’s war against France. Source: 3 February 1690: America’s first paper money is issued
February 8:
- 1971 - The National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotation (NASDAQ) begins trading, with median quotes for 2,500 over-the-counter securities. (Source)
- 2007 - The Wilshire 5000 Index closed above 16,000 for the first time in history. Source: Wilshire 5000
February 9:
- 1977 - At 1:30 a.m. the Vanguard board of directors, on a 7 - 4 vote, approved a no-load distribution plan for the Vanguard funds, thus ending load-fund distribution of the company's funds. Source: Robert Slater (1996) John Bogle and the Vanguard Experiment. McGraw Hill. p.97.
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Contributing to the wiki
If you would like to edit the wiki, you must first join the forum. Once you have joined, post your request in Join the Wiki!
Forum members are welcome to post suggestions in Suggestions for the Wiki.
Sister projects
Our Canadian sister site, Financial Wisdom Forum, and its wiki, finiki, the Canadian financial wiki, has a similar focus with many like-minded members, and you might also find this site interesting.
We also have a sister site in Spain, Bogleheads® España (en español).
