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DIY Stock and Securities InvestingStock and securities investing is easier when you're receiving the right information. As a Certified Financial Planner® who owes a fiduciary duty to clients, I'm embarrassed by Wall Street's behavior.For many, the primary objective is to make more money off you. There's no higher duty offered or given. Through bloated expense ratios, advisor and account fees, misleading advertising, and more, your dream of financial independence can get dashed, or held back at best.So how does a motivated, hard-working person reach financial independence sooner than later? One way is through stock and securities investing, but only if you're getting the information you need to succeed. I'm here to help.Take ControlGiven your motivation, I recommend doing your own stock investing. I'll supply you with the unbiased conflict-free information you need regarding your choices. Then you can create customized investment plans using only the best tools, strategies, and accounts available. When I say best, I mean what's best for you.Managing RiskIf you're not effectively managing your risk, the consequences can be dire, especially during periods of high stock market volatility which seem to have become the norm.Risk can never be eliminated from a stock and securities investing plan. It can, however, be managed. My three risk management strategies, implemented with your risk tolerance and time horizon in mind will help you weather even the worst stock market downturns.High Investing ExpensesBesides managing risk, trust me when I say keeping your investment expenses low is fundamental to your success. It's my number 1 (of 5) tenet of successful stock investing. So how much are you paying? Too much if you've got fees for trades, loads, or the dreaded 12b-1 charge.Check the expense ratios of any funds in which you're investing. It should start with ".0," like in .04% or .08%. What if it's missing that zero, as in .4% or .8%? Or worse, what if it's got numbers to the left of the decimal point, like 1.5% or higher? You'll be surprised how much that extra expense robs you.Find Your Best RothAre you investing in the correct accounts? For longer-term goals like financial independence, retirement, and education, you've got to go all in on tax-advantaged accounts. I prefer the ones with a Roth option, given a future of higher taxes, inflation, and global uncertainty.Roth and other tax-advantaged accounts help you realize a higher after-tax return. Many accounts have features that give you an even bigger advantage, some of which you may not be aware of. Invest in a regular taxable account too: Just be sure you're optimizing your stock investing mix and not paying too much in taxes.Do It YourselfI hope you're receiving the right information. Unfortunately, it's been my experience that you're probably not. Exceptions do exist. There are a handful of investment firms, financial planners, and investment advisors that provide excellent stock investing products and guidance at a fair price, but they're few and far between.As you get to know me better through my writing, I hope you'll begin to trust what I have to say about stock and securities investing over what Wall Street preaches. Your financial future depends on it.Create a stock investing plan that will make incredible positive differences in your life and the ones you love. When saved and invested properly with a purpose, money can do that.It may be a lot easier than you think. Past financial transgressions have no bearing on your future success or failure. Get started now on your financial independence.

Roth IRA and 401(k)-Type Plan Options ExplainedInvestment vehicles like a Roth IRA and any employer-sponsored Roth option you may be offered should be part of your investment plan for financial independence. If you don't have an investment plan for financial independence, A Beginners Guide to Roth IRAs and 401(k)-Type Plans will help you come up with one that minimizes your risk and maximizes your profits.Do you have a Roth option in your 401(k), 403(b), 457, 401(a), or other defined contribution plan at work? If yes, fantastic! Not all employers offer a Roth option. (Some offer no option at all.) Take advantage, but you'll still want to open and fund a Roth IRA for a variety of reasons. Take advantage of all the tax breaks afforded you.Why? Everything else being equal, you'll earn a higher rate of return in tax-advantaged accounts than you would in regular taxable ones. As you invest over the years, returns are amplified by those advantages.These investment vehicles are the low-hanging fruit as far as your financial independence goes. You've got to max them out the best you can. Add low investment fees and a great stock and securities investing plan and you've created one of the most effective investing tools on the planet!Jumpstart Your ProsperityAre you a novice investor who's just getting started? Maybe you want to help your kids save, invest, and become more financially literate. A Beginners Guide to Roth IRAs and 401(k)-Type Plans provides the information and insight needed to reach those financial goals.Roth investments enjoy tax-free earnings. The longer your time horizon for investment, the more you'll benefit from tax-free earnings. As the years go by, you'll add traditional (pre-tax) and regular taxable account investments to the mix too. Learn how to integrate these multiple accounts into a single investment plan for financial independence, as well as optimally position them tax-wise.Over the Income Limits for Contributing to a Roth IRA?Think you can't contribute to a Roth IRA because you're over the income limits? Think again. In fact, you may be able to fund your Roth IRA on a yearly basis well above the contribution limits. Learn how to execute these perfectly legal conversions from a traditional IRA (backdoor Roth) and a 401(k)-type plan (mega-backdoor Roth).These Roth conversions may sound a little sneaky and underhanded, but they're totally legit, at least for now. In the past, Congress has tried unsuccessfully to outlaw these maneuvers, so take advantage while you still can!A Beginners Guide to Roth IRAs and 401(k)-Type Plans Answers All of Your Roth QuestionsAs a financial educator at corporations and universities, I get asked all kinds of Roth-oriented questions. I take pride in explaining even the most complex issues in easy-to-understand language. Here's a sampling:Can I tap my Roth IRA before age 59 1/2 without tax or penalty?My employer offers both a traditional and Roth option. Should I be making Roth or traditional contributions?Should I roll my old company plan into my present employer's plan or an IRA?My employer offers a Roth option: Why should I still invest in a Roth IRA?Are there any downsides to converting after-tax non-Roth contributions to my Roth IRA from my company's plan or from a traditional IRA?I'm interested in converting money to a Roth IRA. How much tax will I owe, and when is the best time to do it?Max Out Roth AccountsIn your quest for financial independence, start maximizing your earnings by adding Roth accounts to your investing lineup. Take control of your investing future. The best time to start is right now!