Investing is like any field. If you want to get better at it, you need to learn. One way to do this is by staying on top of current trends by reading popular investment blogs. So whether you’re trying to up your game or just enjoy finance, here are five investing blogs that advisors should consider reading.
If you prefer hands-on advices for your investments, a financial advisor can walk you through specific options for your portfolio.
Target Audience – Experienced or informed investors
Seeking Alpha is one of the most well-established finance blogs out there. In fact, at this point, it has grown large enough that the site is beginning to move from “blog” to “news” status.
This has long been a trusted source for data, analysis, news and advice in the investment space. Specifically, as its name suggests, Seeking Alpha is targeted toward investors looking to beat the market. While anyone can read this site and get a lot out of it, the target audience is more sophisticated investors who are looking for deep dives and actionable insights.
Target Audience – Market Participants
Want to know how the big money sees things? Start here.
Most major firms have public-facing publications. It’s very common for law firms to opine on the current state of the law and consulting firms on the business environment. The same is true for financial firms; most publish at least occasional articles on the state of the market.
But while most investment firms have a blog, Goldman Sachs’ is one of the best. Here you can find deep-dive analysis and contemporaneous news commentary from the bank’s investors and thinkers. While not updated with the same frequency as more personality-driven sites, when Goldman does publish an article it’s usually worth a read.
Target Audience – Mid-Adult Investors
Millennial Money was started by investor Grant Sabatier to talk about his financial journey in his late 20’s and early 30’s. What began as a website dedicated to young adult money and financial independence has grown with its eponymous generation. Today, Sabatier and Millennial Money focus on the same themes, just for people who’ve hit their 30’s and 40’s.
If you’re mid-career, Millennial Money is written for you. With articles that focus on accelerating wealth, killing off student loans and achieving financial independence, this is an excellent point-of-view website. Just remember that this is much more personality oriented than something like Seeking Alpha or a Goldman article. That can make this a fun and useful resource, but take each writer’s perspective with a grain of salt.
Target Audience – Income Investors
Oddly, investing blogs often overlap with travel blogs in the story they like to tell. Typically personality-driven sites like The Dividend Guy or Millennial Money will upsell the founder’s story of personal independence and freedom. This is where they overlap with travel blogs, in that both tend to sell the idea of “I ditched the office and you can too.”
This isn’t a bad thing, but it’s worth remembering that these blogs are selling a story as much as an education.
Nevertheless, they can deliver a lot of education alongside that story. In the case of The Dividend Guy, this site focuses on income investing and dividends. If you are looking to build a passive income portfolio, this is a great site for both inspiration and information.
Target Audience – Financial Independence Investors
Financial Samurai aims for two overlapping audiences. Overall, the narrative of this site is financial independence. While most finance blogs write about this, what makes Financial Samurai stand out is the quality and thoroughness of its articles. Author Sam Dogen writes data-backed, informative articles that cover personal finance from top to bottom. As a result, not only does this site write about how to invest your money, it’s also filled with articles on how to get a raise, boost savings and maximize your finances overall.
At the same time, this site also has a heavy interest in real estate investment. Many investors who target financial independence tend to look for real estate investments, so the subjects overlap here. If you’re interested in long-term financial independence, FIRE or real estate investing, Dogen’s Financial Samurai is a good resource.
Bottom Line
Blogs can be an invaluable resource for education, advice or even simple interest. These five websites are great places to start if you want to keep up with current investing trends or learn more about investments.
Tips for Investment Planning
- A financial advisor can help you create an investment plan for your portfolio. SmartAsset’s free tool matches you with up to three vetted financial advisors who serve your area, and you can have a free introductory call with your advisor matches to decide which one you feel is right for you. If you’re ready to find an advisor who can help you achieve your financial goals, get started now.
- SmartAsset’s free investment tool shows how much your investment can grow over time. The calculator uses a fixed rate of return.
Photo credit: ©iStock.com/Prostock-Studio, ©iStock.com/Seeking Alpha, ©iStock.com/Goldman Intelligence, ©iStock.com/Millennial Money, ©iStock.com/The Dividend Guy, ©iStock.com/Financial Samurai, ©iStock.com/Natee Meepian