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John Bogle
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.
For US investors:
- 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
Understanding and avoiding behavioral pitfalls has a greater final impact on your investing success than any other factor. Because emotions and subsequent behavioral pitfalls often lead to miscalculating risk tolerance and asset allocation, you need to be aware of behavioral pitfalls before making asset allocation decisions.
"Your investing brain does not just add and multiply and estimate and evaluate," says Jason Zweig in his book, Your Money and Your Brain. "When you win, lose, or risk money, you stir up some of the most profound emotions a human being can ever feel."
— Jason Zweig (more...)
This week in financial history
- 1789 - The US Treasury Department was created by the First Congress of the United States. Source: History of the Treasury
- 1974 - The Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) enacted the Individual Retirement Account. Source: Individual retirement accounts
- 1998 - Walter L. Morgan, founder of the first balanced mutual fund in the U.S. died on September 2, 1998. Source: PRNewswire
September 3:
- 1929 - The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed at 381.17 reaching its peak prior to the October 1929 stock market crash. Source: American Experience: A Selected Wall Street Chronology
- 1988 - Trading in TOPIX (Tokyo Stock Price Index) futures started on the Tokyo Stock Exchange. Source: Tokyo Stock Exchange, Inc.
September 5:
- 1933 - Mexican Stock Exchange ( Bolsa Mexicana de Valores) was incorporated on September 5, 1933. Source: Mexican Stock Exchange
September 6:
- 2008 - Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are placed in conservatorship. Source: Timeline - Federal Housing Finance Agency
September 7:
- 2008 - The large U.S. mortgage Government Sponsored Enterprises, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, were declared insolvent and placed in conservatorship. Source: The 2008 money market crisis and Statement of FHFA Director James B. Lockhart, September 7, 2008.
September 8:
- 1873 - The failure of Jay Cooke and Co., financier of Northern Pacific Railroad, sets off a five-year depression. Source:Chronology of Economic, Political and Financial Events in United States of America
- 1916 - The Emergency Revenue Act established the federal estate tax. Source: Revenue Act of 1916
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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).
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