As I’ve interviewed hundreds of people about money over the years – both people with money and those with not so much – there is always an obvious difference: The people with money are investors. What makes them different? Rather than simply spending every penny, investors use their money to acquire things that offer the potential for profitable returns, either through interest, income, or the appreciation of value. As you approach managing money, you’ll learn to devote your limited resources to the things with the largest potential for returns. That may be paying down debt, going back to school, or fixing up a two-family house. Of course, it may also mean buying stocks and bonds — either individually or as mutual funds or exchange-traded funds. Thanks to technology, the investing world offers enormous possibilities to anybody with a few bucks and an internet connection. It’s our job to help you filter out the noise, learn the basics, and make good investment decisions from
