If you're a novice investor -- or you're looking to brush up on a specific investing concept -- this is the place to start. We've tailored this section to give you the foundation you need to start making wise investment decisions. We'll show you the basics of investing theory, introduce you to the concept of risk management and get you familiar with the major asset categories: stocks, mutual funds and bonds. We'll also tell you what you need to know about taxes and investing so you can avoid giving too much of your nest egg to Uncle Sam.

Why It Works  In this section: Overcoming Inertia The Power of Compounding The Odds Are in Your Favor Investing may seem like a glorified form of gambling, but we've got a secret for you: Unlike Vegas, the odds are stacked in your favor. This set of three interactive lectures will explain why. Risk vs. Reward  In this section: Risky Business? Time vs. Risk The Stock Market Chamber of Horrors     Look Out Below     The Waiting Game     Sorry, Wrong Numbers     The Wall Street Water Torture     Monday Nights at Denny's Defense Is the Best Offense There's no avoiding it: Risk and investing go hand-in-hand. But the truth is, investing wisely is often less risky than not investing at all. This four-part series will explain how you can manage risk to maximize your rewards. Stocks  In this section: Taking Stock What Is a Stock Anyway? How Stocks Behave The Large Caps The Road Runners Foreign Stocks Technology Stocks How Much is This Stock Worth? Trading on Margin Options 101 Advanced Courses     The SmartMoney Approach     It's All Relative     Digging Into the Numbers Stocks go up. Stocks go down. We all know that much. But to make money in stocks, you have to understand what drives their behavior and use it to your advantage. This course will take you from start to finish. Mutual Funds  In this section: $7 Trillion and Counting What Exactly Is a Mutual Fund? Style Search     Index Funds     Company Size     Investment Strategy     International Funds     Sector Funds     Bond Funds     Money Market Funds Cost Control Closed or Open End? Exchange-Traded Funds Advanced Courses     Welcome to the Monkey House     7 Steps to Picking a Good Fund     SmartMoney Fund Screens Diversification, professional management -- mutual funds have a lot to offer. But picking the right one from the more than 8,200 available is no easy task. This course will show you how mutual funds work and how to choose intelligently. Bonds  In this section: Who Needs Bonds? What Exactly Is a Bond? When Price Goes Up, Yield Goes Down Risk vs. Reward: How Bonds Behave Types of Bonds Bonds Vs. Bond Funds Advanced Courses     Building a Bond Strategy     Smoothing Out the Ride     Laddering Your Bond Portfolio     Bonds or Bond Funds     So You Wanna Be a Bond Trader You've heard the mantra: When prices go up, yields go down. Don't worry, you're not the only one who finds it confusing. This course will have you talking "coupon rate" and "face value" in no time. Other Investments  In this section: CDs: Low Risk, Low Return Does Anybody Really Need Annuities? What Is a 'Stable Value' Investment? Stable-value funds, annuities, CDs. You're bound to be pitched these investment options. Some are good, some aren't worth it. This course will explain which are which. Taxes and Investing  In this section: The Taxing Side of Mutual Funds The Magic of Retirement Accounts The Dreaded Capital Gains Tax Before you put your money to work, there are some key tax issues to consider. This course will walk you through the magic of retirement accounts, the bane of capital gains and what you need to know about mutual funds and taxes.