The Short Answer

We dive into the process for adding companies and booting them from the iconic index.

Emerging markets are hot, and here are some benchmarks to ensure you don't go overboard.

Checking your funds' weightings is a good starting point, but don't stop there.

Many, but not all, brokerages offer dividend-reinvestment plans that charge no commissions.

What happens if you have to take money out of your college-savings plan for noncollege expenses? We've got the answer.

When the unthinkable occurs, the Securities Investor Protection Corporation steps in to help investors.

Make sure you know what all those credentials mean before seeking help with your finances.

There are factors aplenty to consider when choosing between a Roth IRA or 401(k) and a traditional IRA or 401(k).

Understanding the differences and similarities between these two popular indexing strategies can affect your portfolio planning.

Our online tool can help you decide what stock/bond mix and saving rate work best for you.

Sometimes seen as a tool for day-traders, exchange-traded funds are well-suited to the needs of the buy-and-hold set, as well.

The key difference comes when you take distributions.

We're setting the record straight on the TR, PR, and NR designations.

We tackle some common misconceptions about the popular college-savings vehicle.

Having multiple children entering college at the same time doesn't mean each shouldn't have his or her own 529 account.

Knowing financial aid rules is key given the rising cost of higher education.

UGMA/UTMA accounts offer tax advantages, but beware of pitfalls.

Options include cash gifts and funding a 529, but beware the financial aid impact.

Alternative indexing strategies--seen as a way to boost returns and manage risk--are generating lots of buzz.

In rare cases a fund's name and its category will be mismatched.

Here's why commodities investors need to know this term and its counterpart, backwardation.

We answer 529-related questions about college loans, study-abroad programs, and what happens to the money if you declare bankruptcy.

Using target-date funds as a benchmark can help you gauge your retirement portfolio's performance versus that of the pros.

Unhappy with your plan's age-based portfolio choices? Consider using pure-equity, pure-bond, or pure-cash offerings to supplement them.

Self-directed IRAs can hold real estate, private equity, precious metals, and other nonsecuritized investments, but transparency and fraud can be problems.

Morningstar.com's X-Ray tools can help investors determine which stocks make up the largest portion of their portfolios, and identify potential trouble spots.

The answer is more complicated than you might think.

We answer reader questions on maxing out Roth retirement accounts, the rules regarding aftertax contributions, and more.

Many states allow account holders to withdraw contributions shortly after making them, meaning you could get a tax break for adding money you plan to spend on college this fall.

They're not quite stocks, bonds, or cash, so our X-ray tools classify them as 'Other.'

Get answers about annual contribution limits, why company contributions can't be added to a Roth 401(k), and how your company's match compares with others.

Rolling-returns data provide a more comprehensive view of a fund's track record than other measures can.

The use of derivatives allows some funds to turn a key measure of interest-rate sensitivity on its head.

In most cases, a cheaper direct-sold plan will do the job, but there are exceptions.

Insider-transaction data can signal optimism or pessimism among company leadership, but investors must use the numbers wisely.

Make sure you know what all those credentials mean before seeking help with your finances.

Vanguard and Fidelity are among fund shops that don't offer the accounts to those beginning to save for educational expenses.

Using a retirement account to save for college invites many potential pitfalls.

More students with disabilities are attending college, making the need for financial planning even greater.

Yes, they offer protection against a rise in interest rates, but they also can add credit risk.

This statistical method is designed to help improve your odds of meeting your financial goals but is not without its flaws.

Following this rule of thumb might serve you well in case interest rates go up.

Consider the tax implications before adding a muni investment to your portfolio.

A fixture in many 401(k) plans, these funds offer low-risk savings at rates that beat money markets.

Each measure plays a key role in helping bond investors evaluate interest-rate risk, but duration is the more complex of the two.

Analysts use Morningstar's attribution metrics to help assess a fund manager's ability.

For those whose ordinary income falls below the 25% bracket, some or all gains might be tax-free.

Determining the net asset value of holdings that trade infrequently requires use of a special system.

Having multiple children entering college at the same time doesn't mean each shouldn't have his or her own 529 account.

Investors may switch methods used to calculate capital gains, with one big exception.