Marc Lichtenfeld

After 18 years in the business, you'd think nothing could amaze me. But every time some clown upgrades or downgrades a stock or puts out a research note that moves the share price, I'm surprised.

Self-help guru Tony Robbins is incredibly successful. Forbes estimates his net worth to be $480 million. However, if he ignored his own advice, he'd probably be worth a lot more.

The choices we make are directly connected to our financial well-being and, more importantly, our happiness.

There have been quite a few hot IPOs this year. Alibaba and GoPro to name just a couple. But the real money was made before these companies even went public.

When things get bad, people - even experts - make definitive statements based on fear. When the market has been strong for a while, the same thing happens, but then it's based on greed and the feeling that stocks will never go down again.

Many investors are still shy from the drubbing they took in 2008 or feel that it's too late to get into the market now. That kind of scared thinking is going to cost them.

One of the most malicious investor rip-offs is the pump and dump, and it can be perfectly legal if done right. However, there are ways to identify a scam before you invest and lose money.

Some people think things are getting a bit frothy in the tech world. And, in some ways, the concern about a new tech bubble is understandable.

Trying to trade based on the whims of Vladimir Putin, a Ukrainian separatist armed with a rocket launcher, or Hamas terrorists is a fool's game.

Kids very often model the behavior of their parents, good or bad. And that's true for a variety of subjects-financial behavior, personal relationships, and dealing with stress are some of the more prominent ones.

Recently, many Wall Street strategists and technicians have pointed to signals suggesting the market is about to sell off. While there's no way to predict when it will happen, you should prepare.

Investing scared does not make any sense, especially for long-term investors. Despite the occasional bubble or risky valuations, stocks still go up over the long term.

Although this bull market is getting mature, it is not ready for the rocking chair. In fact, it could still have a long way to run before people stop making money.

It's too late for 2013's taxes, but there are things you can do to ensure that Uncle Sam doesn't take more than his legal share this year.

For many sources of financial information, their agendas aren't clear. Be careful who you listen to and take the time to find the ones you deem trustworthy.

The slide in emerging markets triggered a selloff in biotech stocks - a classic example of quality stocks getting punished for being in the wrong sector at the wrong time.

If you're going to keep one New Year's resolution, let it be that you will be a disciplined investor. That way you will harvest all of the market's bounty you're entitled to.

As we head into the end of the year, the markets are likely to be wild and crazy. But stick with tried and true market wisdom and your portfolio will endure through the ages.

Few things about investing are more frustrating than being "right" about a stock but not making any money because you sold it. But there are steps you can take so that you stop getting shaken out of stocks too early.

There is a program being talked about right now that seems so socialist you'd think Karl Marx is applauding in his grave. And it has nothing to do with President Obama.

When things get dicey, it's natural for investors to feel scared and want to sell stocks that are falling. But remember what history (and Warren Buffet) has taught us.

Very few of us have a parent or role model who looked 60 years into our future. Using perpetual dividend raisers to get some income today and an even larger "paycheck" for your heirs later.

Long-term investors should not get caught up in the day-to-day market noise. You will make money as long as you don't panic in the face of a sell-off.

The naysayers will continue to say that Europe is too dangerous to invest in, but those who can look at the data and recognize when to go against the herd will realize it may be time to get interested in Europe again.

According to a survey, 63% of investors don't know how rising interest rates will affect their portfolios. They should, though, because rates are climbing fast.

Investing can be incredibly complex. And that's not an accident. But if you have the interest to do it yourself, it would be nuts to pay anyone thousands of dollars per year to do something you can probably do better yourself.

Nearly half of Americans outlive their assets and die with no money. However, that doesn't mean investors should consider risky opportunities. Instead, there's a simpler and more effective way to generate income.

The key to being wealthy is not just to get paid a lot from your job - although that certainly helps. What you do with the money you have is what truly creates wealth.

Biotechs have soared in the last few weeks. Investors should consider putting their money to work in this sector, and there are a few ways to play the possibility that the index will go higher.

It feels like every news story these days is about the government intruding on our lives. Fortunately, there's a way income investors can keep their hard-earned money out of government coffers and it has nothing to do with IRAs or 401(k)s.