Brian O'Connell

Contributor

About

Brian O’Connell is a freelance writer based in Bucks County, Penn. A former Wall Street trader, he is the author of the books CNBC’s Creating Wealth and The Career Survival Guide. His work has appeared on TheStreet.com, US News, CBS News, Fox Business, MSN, Motley Fool, and other major business media platforms.

10 months ago

Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities: What Are TIPS?

Treasury Inflation Protected Securities, commonly known as TIPS, are bonds issued by the U.S. government that offer protection against inflation, in addition to modest interest payments. “For investors who prioritize preserving the purchasing power of their cash, TIPS can help...
12 months ago

Saving For Medical Expenses With An HSA

Health savings accounts (HSAs) let you save money to cover the cost of a wide range of qualified medical expenses. HSAs offer a trio of tax advantages, and you can invest money saved in an HSA in markets for better...
2 years ago

What Is A Reverse Merger?

There’s more than one way to take a company public. A reverse merger—also known as a reverse takeover or a reverse initial public offering (IPO)—is an alternative strategy private companies use to make their stock available to the general public....
3 years ago

What Happens When The Fed Cuts Interest Rates?

Bubble economy. Crisis. Recession. These terms have become all too familiar to Americans over the last decade and a half. When maladies like these begin to undermine the U.S. economy, it’s the job of the Federal Reserve to jump in...
3 years ago

What Is Fiscal Policy?

Fiscal policy is part of the financial infrastructure that helps keep the economy running like a well-oiled machine. While the fiscal policy you’re most familiar with is probably the taxes that you pay on every paycheck or purchase, fiscal policy...
3 years ago

What Are Angel Investors?

Angel investors are individuals who offer promising startup companies funding in exchange for a piece of the business, usually in the form of equity or royalties. While figures vary on an annual basis, as recently as 2017 angel investors put...
3 years ago

What Are Closed-End Funds? How Do They Work?

Closed-end funds are investment vehicles that bear a passing resemblance to mutual funds and exchange-traded funds (ETFs). All three fund types are pooled investments that sell shares to investors and use the proceeds to build a broadly diversified portfolio of...
3 years ago

The True Cost Of Investing: Opportunity Cost

Whether it means investing in one stock over another or simply opting to study for a big math exam instead of meeting a friend for pizza, opportunity cost pervades every facet of life. That’s because each time you choose one...
3 years ago

ChFC: What Is A Chartered Financial Consultant?

For money-minded consumers who need advanced financial planning services, a chartered financial consultant (ChFC) could be a great place to start. While ChFC may be less well known than the certified financial planner (CFP) designation, advisors who earn it actually...
3 years ago

Asset Management: Get Expert Help To Manage Your Money

Asset management is a giant business. In 2019, the top 500 largest asset managers worldwide oversaw $104.4 trillion worth of assets, according to Thinking Ahead Institute by Willis Towers Watson. These stratospheric numbers might make the term asset management seem...