Thinking Outside the Stocks

Acing Tricky Questions

Regardless of how offbeat some interview questions may sound, most employers have their own hidden reasons for asking them. The way you react to a question can actually score more points with the interviewer than the answer you give.

Make Your Pick for Next Contest

It's time for Sunday Journal's 41st Investment Dartboard contest, so fine-tune your stock-picking skills.

How to Revive Your 529 Investments

For investors in 529 plans, whose investment income is tax-free if the money is used for qualified college expenses, the past few years have been especially rough.

• Coverdell Account Changes

The Hedge Fund Lurking in a 401(k)

Be warned, retirement savers: Your target-date mutual fund might be acting more like a hedge fund.

Is It Time to Scrap the P/E Ratio?

With the vaunted price/earnings ratio losing its mojo as a market gauge, investors are seizing on better ways to value stocks.

Downside Protection Has Downsides

Fixed-indexed insurance products, commonly called "equity-indexed annuities," offer the promise of protection on the downside combined with a guaranteed minimum upside. Do they deliver?

Futures Funds Flounder

Previously limited mostly to institutions and wealthy individuals, managed-futures funds have proved an awkward fit for the mom-and-pop mutual-fund world.

A Simple Mix of Funds Can Pay Off

A 50/50 mix of stocks and bonds across three index mutual funds or ETFs often performs better than more aggressive strategies and provides some shelter from risk.

• Podcast: Benefits of a Simple Retirement Portfolio

Bruised Quant Funds Seek a Human Touch

Computer-driven mutual funds, chastened by poor results and a wave of redemptions, are striving to become a little more like people in their investment decisions.

• Read the full report.

At Citigroup the Hits—and Misses—Keep On Coming

Real-Estate Funds Offer Shelter

A Hot Fund Design Turns Cold

The Next Journal Report: Energy

Look Inside Country ETFs