The Journal
Blog
Market insights and trading education from the Alpha Sentinel team.
Qualified Versus Ordinary Dividends: Why the Tax Treatment Differs
Qualified dividends are taxed at capital gains rates; ordinary dividends are not. See what separates them and what to check on your 1099-DIV this year.
The Net Investment Income Tax: What High Earners Should Know
The net investment income tax adds 3.8% for some high earners. Learn which income counts, where the thresholds sit, and why timing matters before year-end.
The Wash-Sale Rule Explained: What Triggers It and How It Works
The wash-sale rule can disallow a loss you claimed if you buy a substantially identical security within 30 days. Here is what triggers it and how it works.
Asset Location: Which Investments Belong in Which Accounts
Asset location decides which investments sit in taxable, tax-deferred and tax-free accounts, and it can change what you keep after tax. Here is the logic.
Municipal Bonds and Tax-Equivalent Yield for High Earners
How municipal bond interest is taxed, how tax-equivalent yield is calculated, and where the comparison with taxable bonds can mislead a high earner.
Mental Accounting: Why You Treat Bonus Money Differently Than Savings
Mental accounting explains why a bonus feels different from savings, though a dollar is a dollar. Learn six ways it shapes choices and how to counter it.
REITs Explained: How They Work and How Their Income Is Taxed
REITs explained: how real estate investment trusts earn rent, pay out income, and how that income is taxed. Know the rules before the first distribution.
Energy Stocks: How Commodity Cycles Shape Company Results
Energy stocks follow commodity cycles that decide revenue, costs, and spending. Learn how each part of the energy sector responds and what to read first.
How Banks Make Money: A Primer for Investing in Financials
How banks make money comes down to lending spreads, fees, and credit losses. Learn the model before you own financials and read an earnings report.
Reading the Technology Sector: The Business Models Behind the Tickers
The technology sector is not one business. Learn the business models inside it, and what drives each one, before the next headline moves your holdings.
Industry Analysis With Porter's Five Forces: A Primer for Investors
Porter's Five Forces analysis lets investors judge an industry's structure before judging a company. Here is how to apply it to what you already own.
What Does a Delayed Stock Quote Mean? A Plain-English Guide for Investors
What does a delayed stock quote mean? See how a 15-minute delay works, who it affects, and how stock alerts work with delayed prices. Read on.