The Journal
Blog
Market insights and trading education from the Alpha Sentinel team.
Short-Term Versus Long-Term Capital Gains: Why Holding Periods Matter
Holding a stock for more than a year changes how its gain is taxed. Learn how short-term and long-term capital gains and holding periods work.
Expected Value for Investors: A Simple Framework for Uncertain Choices
Expected value in plain terms: how self-directed investors can weigh outcomes by likelihood and size to judge a decision, not just its result.
The Dow, S&P 500 and Nasdaq Compared: What Each Index Measures
The Dow, S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite each measure the market differently. Compare their size, weighting and makeup so headlines make more sense.
Triple Witching and Options Expiration: Why Volume Spikes on Certain Fridays
Triple witching falls on the third Friday of March, June, September and December, when several contracts expire together. See why volume surges.
International Diversification: Why Home Bias Matters
International diversification and home bias: why most investors hold mainly domestic stocks, what it risks, and how to think about allocation.
Factor Investing Explained: Value, Momentum, Quality and Size
Factor investing explained: what value, momentum, quality and size mean, what the research shows, and what tilting really costs you.
Active Versus Passive Investing: What the Evidence Says
Active versus passive investing: what long-run fund research shows about costs, persistence and behavior, and where each approach fits.
Index Funds Versus Individual Stocks: How to Weigh the Choice
Index funds versus individual stocks: a five-stage framework covering purpose, research hours, costs, tolerance and a core-and-satellite structure.
How ETFs Work: Creation, Redemption and Why Prices Track Value
How ETFs work: creation and redemption, why prices stay close to net asset value, when they drift, and how to trade one sensibly.
Thinking in Probabilities: A Better Way to Judge Investment Choices
Thinking in probabilities helps self-directed investors judge choices by process, weigh scenarios, size positions and track their own forecasts.
How to Run a Post-Mortem on an Investment Decision
How to run a post-mortem on an investment decision: reconstruct what you knew, separate luck from process, and leave with one change.
The Sunk Cost Fallacy in a Portfolio: Holding On Because of What You Paid
The sunk cost fallacy keeps investors holding a stock because of what they paid. Learn to spot it and build a stock alert routine for fresh reviews.