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Low-Cost Investment Ideas: Smart Ways to Grow Wealth When it comes to growing your wealth, many believe investing requires a significant amount of capital and that it'll be easier to save in the future (rather than today). However, we at The Prudent Speculator know that even modest sums can … Read more about Low-Cost Investment Ideas: Smart Ways to Grow Wealth

For many aspiring investors, the idea of building wealth can feel intimidating, especially when budgets are tight. However, the truth is that starting small is not only possible but also a prudent way to embark on your investment journey. By leveraging modern tools and investment vehicles, even … Read more about Investing on a Small Budget: Building Wealth Over Time

2025 Stock Market Outlook We would like to thank all who attended our 2025 Stock Market Outlook webinar with John Buckingham and wanted to offer a follow-up for questions during the Q&A session we were unable to get to in the allotted time. In case you missed the webinar, a complete … Read more about 2025 Stock Market Outlook Webinar Q&A Follow-Up

What Is the Santa Claus Rally? What Is the Santa Claus Rally? The Santa Claus Rally is a stock market phenomenon where stock prices tend to rise during the last five trading days of December and the first two trading days of January. This period has historically delivered positive returns … Read more about What is the Santa Claus Rally?

A Backdoor Roth IRA Conversion allows contributions to a Roth IRA, even for those who exceed adjusted gross income (AGI) limits for making direct Roth contributions. Qualified Roth withdrawals are entirely tax-free and required distributions can be delayed, making it an ideal inheritance … Read more about Why Should You Consider a Backdoor Roth IRA Conversion?

This BullExchange-Traded Funds (ETFs) have long been a popular choice for investors seeking diversification and ease of access to the markets. Traditionally dominated by passive strategies, the ETF landscape is witnessing a surge in actively managed ETFs, as highlighted in ETF.com's Global … Read more about Exploring ETFs and SMAs: Active vs. Passing Investing

This Bull Market had its second birthday on October 12 a d investors might be wondering if it might be too late to invest in a Bull Mar When it comes to stock investing, two popular strategies stand out: Deep Value Investing and Growth at a Reasonable Price (GARP) investing. Each offers … Read more about Finding Value or Growth at a Fair Price

This Bull Market had its second birthday on October 12 a d investors might be wondering if it might be too late to invest in a Bull Mar The Hidden Challenges of Passive Investing Passive investing is a popular strategy for wealth accumulation, especially with the rise of index funds and ETFs … Read more about The Hidden Challenges of Passive Investing

This Bull Market had its second birthday on October 12 and investors might be wondering if it might be too late to invest in a Bull Marke   This Bull Market had its second birthday on October 12 and investors might be wondering if it might be too late to invest in a Bull Market. What is … Read more about Is It Too Late to Invest in a Bull Market?

8 of the Best Investment Strategies for Young Professionals Young professionals are frequently faced with consequential financial choices and one may find themselves wondering what are the best investment strategies for young professionals to grow wealth in 2024? There's no magic formula and one … Read more about 8 of the Best Investment Strategies for Young Professionals

"Investors lost out on about 15% of the return their funds generated" proclaimed Morningstar in its just-released 2024 Mind the Gap study, which highlights the issue of investors inadvertently losing out on potential investor returns by making poorly timed decisions.   "Investors lost out … Read more about Morningstar’s Mind the Gap 2024: Reviewing Investor Returns

The historically turbulent September Scaries for stocks (the September to October period) have once again introduced a familiar dose of market volatility for investors.   In the world of investing, where every participant seeks to gain an edge, the pursuit of deep value often requires … Read more about Unearthing Hidden Gems: A Guide to Deep Value Investing

UBS released its 15th edition of the Global Wealth Report 2024, offering a comprehensive overview of global wealth from levels to distribution to mobility. UBS released its 15th edition of the Global Wealth Report 2024, offering a comprehensive overview of global wealth from levels to … Read more about Key Points from the UBS Global Wealth Report for 2024

The power of compounding returns (and compound interest) can help your portfolio grow faster than it would grow with contributions alone. One can expect the impact from compounding to be larger with longer time horizons. For example, if you invest $1000 at a 7% annual return, you’d earn $70 in … Read more about The Power of Compounding Returns and Compound Interest

Are you wondering about how to invest in uncertain times? It can be nerve-wracking and stressful, but abrupt changes to your asset allocations during times of market stress can quickly derail you from your long-term path to financial success. We were served a reminder recently when Japan’s stock … Read more about How Do I Invest in Uncertain Times?

We write frequently about the value of diversification. Many believe it’s the only free lunch in investing. We think it’s an almost-free lunch, as it requires a bit of work to setup and maintain, but the results can be helpful in keeping you on the path to achieve your financial goals. First, we … Read more about How Do I Diversify My Portfolio?

Warren Buffett refers to Benjamin Graham's The Intelligent Investor as one of the most important investing books to have ever been written. In this seminal work, the father of value investing distinguished between two types of investors: the enterprising investor and the defensive investor. … Read more about Are You an Enterprising Investor or a Defensive Investor?

Thematic investing, which involves investing in companies aligned with specific, forward-looking themes such as artificial intelligence, renewable energy, or healthcare innovation, has captured the imagination of many market participants. However, as with any investment approach, it’s essential to … Read more about Thematic Investing: A Value Investor’s Perspective

In the ever-evolving world of stock investing, two primary methodologies stand out for evaluating stocks: technical analysis and fundamental analysis. While both approaches have their merits, fundamental analysis often provides a more robust framework for assessing long-term investment … Read more about Fundamental Analysis versus Technical Analysis

  Factor investing is an investment strategy that involves targeting specific drivers of returns across asset classes. We offer several reasons why you might consider using factor investing as an individual investor. Factor Investing Investors often employ strategies that … Read more about Factor Investing as an Investment Strategy

We would like to thank all who attended our Ask-Me-Anything (AMA) webinar with John Buckingham and wanted to offer a follow-up for questions during the Q&A session we were unable to get to in the allotted time. In case you missed the webinar, a complete replay is available for Members and … Read more about AMA with John Buckingham: Webinar Q&A Follow-Up

Value stock investing is a strategy that involves selecting stocks that appear to be trading for less than their fair value. It was popularized by Benjamin Graham and David Dodd in the 1930s and further advanced by Warren Buffett and others. Below, we offer a selection of academic and real-world … Read more about Cases for Value Stock Investing

  Investing in stocks has become increasingly accessible, thanks to online brokerage platforms that cater to both novice and experienced investors. Still, each platform offers unique features, benefits, and drawbacks that have specific upside and downside. It’s important to assess which … Read more about Top 3 Most User-Friendly Online Brokerage Platforms for Stock Investors

We think there are many top investment strategies for 2024, including a few that span beyond this year. Indeed, we’ve been investing professionally since 1977 and write The Prudent Speculator, an educational newsletter and website dedicated to keeping investors on the path to success with their … Read more about Top Investment Strategies for 2024

“It's far better to buy a wonderful company at a fair price, than a fair company at a wonderful price.” - Warren Buffett Value investing is a timeless investment strategy that involves searching for undervalued stocks trading below their intrinsic value. This approach has been championed by … Read more about Ten Value Stocks to Consider Buying

  Investing in stocks can be a great way to invest your money and build wealth over time. Investing in the stock market is a long-term game, and success often requires patience, discipline, and a long-term perspective. But if you’re new to the stock market, you might be feeling overwhelmed. … Read more about Setting Up a Stock Portfolio for Beginners

  An Introduction to Value Investing: A Time-Tested Formula for Investing in Stocks Value investing put simply is the hunt for investment bargains, not unlike buying merchandise at the grocery store or mall. At its core is the notion that the price of a thing is distinguishable from … Read more about Value Investing and The Time-Tested Approach for 45+ Years

Elevated inflation and rising interest rates commanded most of investors’ attention over the past year, with proclamations from Jerome H. Powell and his colleagues at the Federal Reserve often the catalyst for volatile gyrations in asset prices. Those moves were generally in the negative direction … Read more about 7 Stock Market Charts to Kick Off 2023: Equities, S&P 500 Price Return, Growth Valuations and more

Oil titan John D. Rockefeller once quipped, “Do you know the only thing that gives me pleasure? It’s to see my dividends coming in.” While paying a dividend is not a hard criterion for every stock included in the portfolios my team and I manage at The Prudent Speculator, I continue to find … Read more about In Dividends We Trust – 3 Healthcare Bargains With Payout Increases

Market history dating back to 1927, per data from Professors Eugene F. Fama and Kenneth R. French, shows that Small-Company stocks have enjoyed terrific long-term returns of 11.8% per annum. Even better, the Professors show that inexpensively priced stocks (i.e. Value) have enjoyed a 13.1% … Read more about 2 Prudent Speculator Small-Mid Cap Bargains – Acuity (AYI) & Hasbro (HAS)

In a bygone era, bankers operated by what was once known as the 3-6-3 Rule: collect deposits at 3 percent, lend them at 6 percent and be on the golf course by 3 PM. More than a decade of low interest rates following the Great Financial Crisis seemingly upended this dictum and heightened regulation … Read more about Low Interest Rates: A Return To The Golden Age Of Banking? Two Small-Cap Bargains

In this post, we offer two value stock picks. No doubt, it has been a tough go of it for corporations, their stock prices this year and stock pickers. Higher interest rates and fears of recession have led folks to bail on stocks no matter their valuations. Market participants have decided that the … Read more about Everything but the Kitchen Sink: Foot Locker (FL), FedEx (FDX)

Following another ugly market week, the average U.S. stock is now trading in Bear Market territory. Of course, such was also the case in 2020 and 2018 and 2016 and more than a few other periods throughout market history. Such is the hardship that must be endured to achieve significant long-term … Read more about 2 Ports In The Storm: GILD And BMY Offer A Haven In A Turbulent Market

Bank stocks have been surprisingly weak this year with the KBW Bank Index off as much as the S&P 500. I don’t think the punishment fits the crime and I believe the big selloff creates an intriguing buying opportunity. It was nice to see a prominent bank stock analyst echo what I have been … Read more about 3 Undervalued Bank Stocks To Buy Now

I understand that stocks historically have been far more volatile than bonds, so it makes sense that the financial press will focus on the losses with headlines like Dow Falls Sharply As Rate Worries Linger during the downturns. However, we are puzzled by upbeat language such as Yields Climb on … Read more about 3 Undervalued High Yielding Stocks – In Dividends We Trust

Mark Twain purportedly said, “History doesn’t always repeat, but it often rhymes,” so it would make sense to look at what transpired in the equity markets the last time inflation was rearing its supposedly ugly head as it is today. Indeed, Jerome H. Powell saw fit to invoke the name of Paul … Read more about 3 Stocks That Could Benefit From Powell Channeling Volcker

Interested in how to avoid the Trump rollercoaster by investing long-term? Forbes editor, Rich Karlgaard, attended the latest Forbes Cruise for Investors and walked away with 9 central themes: emerging markets, dividends part 1, dividends part 2, U.S energy boom, incredible shrinking intelligence … Read more about How To Avoid The Trump Roller Coaster By Investing Long-Term

John Buckingham appeared on the WSJ MoneyBeat with Stephen Grocer, Spencer Jakab, and Chris Dieterich on March 9, 2017. He discusses the investing with AFAM Capital, and the 40th anniversary of The Prudent Speculator newsletter, which is March of 1977, and his very own 30th anniversary with the … Read more about Value Investing With AFAM Capital’s John Buckingham

Bloomberg Markets Radio 01/12/2017       Bloomberg Markets Announcer: Global business news 24 hours a day at Bloomberg.com, the RadioPlus mobile app, and on your radio. This is a Bloomberg business flash. Charlie Palette: From Bloomberg World headquarters I’m Charlie … Read more about Bloomberg Markets: Buckingham on ‘Surprising’ Market

John Buckingham was one of seven investors featured in Bottom Line Personal's article titled “The Shrewdest Money Moves You Can Make In 2017.” John believes that under the Trump administration, U.S. economic growth will be stimulated. He always favors dividend-paying stocks and thinks that some drug … Read more about The Shrewdest Money Moves You Can Make In 2017

John Buckingham was interviewed on CNBC following the election results. He thinks that we will get a pro growth administration during the Trump presidency. He thinks that long-term investors should be adding money to their portfolios. Like Warren Buffet, he believes that in 3-5 years and 20-30 years … Read more about Will U.S. equities continue heading up?

The following is a transcription of Carol Massar and Cory Johnson interviewing John Buckingham on Bloomberg Radio covering Buckingham's method of picking stocks. The interview took place on October 18, 2016 in New York. Highlights from interview There will always be a market for individual … Read more about Is Individual Stock Picking Dead? Buckingham Responds

10/25/16: John Buckingham, Chief Investment Officer at AFAM Capital, appeared on CNBC discussing the recent surge in mergers and acquisitions. He thinks that  the low cost of financing and the need to grow their top-line and bottom-line in a slow growth environment impact this recent activity. John … Read more about John Buckingham on CNBC

John Buckingham discusses oil on CNBC. He says that supply and demand have a great deal to do with oil prices. The demand side seems to be supply but some of the supply has been an issue, but has been curtailed lately. He thinks oil goes up in the long run and does have exposure to it (as of May 17, … Read more about Where are oil prices heading?

John Buckingham appeared on CNBC on May 10, 2016. John likes biotech stocks like Gilead and Amgen because they are trading at attractive valuations. If Hillary comes to power we will see what happens with the possibility of price controls and increased regulation. John already owns a sufficient … Read more about Pro: Impossible to successfully time the market

On April 13, 2016 John was interviewed on CNBC. At the time, John and team saw opportunity in dividend-paying stocks with interest rates at a low. Companies have been focused on rewarding shareholders via dividends, and General Motors was one example of this. According to John, the "new" GM is in … Read more about GM, Mosaic are top stock bets: Investor

John Buckingham was featured on a 1/29/16 CNBC segment discussing the value of various U.S. sectors. Gilead and Amgen were favored due to their earnings outlook. He also favored the financial sector such as Prudential Financial and had exposure to energy stocks. "We try to diversify the risks of one … Read more about It’s Been a Market of Stocks and Not a Stock Market

John Buckingham was featured in Barron's discussing dividend-paying stocks.     Click here to read the article. … Read more about Dividend Stocks Lose Some of Their Edge

John Buckingham, CIO of AFAM Capital, says the Fed will likely raise interest rates in December after Fed chair Janet Yellen said a rate hike "sometime later this year" would be appropriate.           Click here to view the video. Learn more … Read more about John Buckingham on CNBC: December is when the Fed will raise interest rates

Just do it already, says Matthew Tuttle, Tuttle Tactical Management, in discussing the wait for a rate hike; and John Buckingham, AFAM Capital, shares his reaction.           Click here to view the video. Learn more about the Prudent Speculator … Read more about John Buckingham on CNBC: My ETFs love what the Fed did: Pro

John Buckingham was quoted on CNBC Power Lunch on September 18, 2015.           Click here to view the video. Learn more about the Prudent Speculator Newsletter here. … Read more about John Buckingham on CNBC: Expect “very healthy rally” in Q4

Dissecting Tuesday's market action, with John Buckingham, Al Frank Asset Management, and CNBC's Bob Pisani.           Click here to view the video. Learn more about the Prudent Speculator Newsletter here. … Read more about John Buckingham on CNBC: Dow erases last week’s decline

John Buckingham appeared on CNBC Asia on August 5, 2015.           Click here to view the video. Learn more about the Prudent Speculator Newsletter here. … Read more about John Buckingham on CNBC Asia: Not Going to Lose Sleep over Fed Liftoff

John Buckingham is mentioned on CNBC Power Lunch on June 25, 2015.           Click here to view the video. Learn more about the Prudent Speculator Newsletter here. … Read more about Power Play: Value Amid Market Volatility

John Buckingham discussed US stocks pare gains on Dow Jones Business News. "If we're going to see enough economic strength to warrant the Fed becoming something less than super accommodative, we're going to see substantial gains in corporate profits..."       Click … Read more about John Buckingham featured in Dow Jones Business News- U.S. Stocks Pare Gains

"...Then in all likelihood stock prices are going to be higher."- John Buckingham     Click here to read the article. Learn more about the Prudent Speculator Newsletter here. … Read more about John Buckingham featured in Morningstar: U.S. Stocks Pare Gains Ahead of Fed Decision

This Wall Street Journal feature of John Buckingham covers U.S. Stocks and Bonds buoyed by the Fed. "Officials indicate pace of rate increases later this year may be slower than previously expected..."- WSJ     Click here to read the article. Learn more about the … Read more about John Buckingham featured in the Wall Street Journal- U.S. Stocks, Bonds Buoyed by Fed

"While Greece is a small economy, a "Grexit" could cause tremendous market dislocation in the short run, says John Buckingham, Chief Investment Officer of AFAM Capital."- CNBC Asia           Click here to view the video. Learn more about the … Read more about John Buckingham on CNBC Asia: Will Markets Lose Sleep Over Greece?

John Buckingham, CIO of Al Frank Asset Management Austin, discusses the recent rally on Wall Street and explains why a correction is unlikely.           Click here to view the video. Learn more about the Prudent Speculator Newsletter here. … Read more about John Buckingham on CNBC Asia: Remain overweight on US stocks

Even if there are weather distortions, weak growth in the first quarter suggests that a rate hike needs to be later this year or early 2016, says John Buckingham, CIO of Al Frank Asset Management.           Click here to view the video. Learn … Read more about “Fed rate hike not “on the immediate horizon”

John Buckingham, CIO of Al Frank Asset Management Capital, is worried about the impact of a stronger dollar on corporate profits, but says lower earnings expectations may not be all that bad.           Click here to view the video. Learn more … Read more about Gearing up for US Q1 earnings season

John Buckingham, chief investment officer at Al Frank Asset Management, says the first-quarter results from Corporate America is unlikely to see "tremendous surprises" and advises investors to focus on earnings guidance.           Click here to view the … Read more about John Buckingham featured on CNBC Asia discussing his stock picks and Q1 earnings

The S&P 500 set a new record, while the Dow closed above 18,000 for the first time this year. The Dow is now tantalizingly close to a new all-time high. Even the Nasdaq is approaching the 5,000 mark -- a record it hasn't reached since March 2000.     Click here to read the … Read more about John Buckingham quoted in CNNMoney.com

John Buckingham CIO of AFAM Capital, says an interest rate hike in the U.S. is a positive sign that the economy can stand on its own. Watch Buckingham on CNBC at the link below.           Click here to view the video. Learn more about the Prudent … Read more about John Buckingham featured on CNBC discussing when the Fed will raise interest rates