The Journal
Blog
Market insights and trading education from the Alpha Sentinel team.
Matching Investments to Goals: Short, Medium and Long Horizons Explained
Short, medium and long time horizons change how much fluctuation your money can handle. See how to sort your goals into each and review them yearly.
Understanding Trading Windows and Blackout Periods for Corporate Insiders
Corporate insiders often face trading windows and blackout periods around earnings. Learn how they work and how to plan your calendar around them.
Joint or Separate Accounts? How Couples Can Organize Their Investment Accounts
Joint, individual or both? A practical way for busy couples to give every account a purpose, map who owns what, and keep both partners informed.
A Portfolio Routine for Before and After a Long Trial
A multi-week trial leaves little room for your own finances. Settle what you can before it begins and review everything in order after it ends.
When to Claim Social Security: Key Trade-Offs for High Earners
Five trade-offs that shape when to start Social Security, from survivor benefits and taxes to how the claiming age fits the rest of your portfolio.
How to Transfer Accounts Between Brokerages Without Triggering Taxes
Moving a brokerage account does not have to create a tax bill. Six steps cover in-kind transfers, retirement accounts, basis records and timing.
Teaching Teenagers About Investing: A Practical Guide for Busy Parents
A twenty-minute weekly routine helps busy parents teach teenagers about investing: three core ideas, a small account and one question at a time.
What Past Market Crashes Teach About Recovery Time
What past market crashes teach about recovery time: why timelines vary, why causes matter, and why preparation beats prediction.
Getting a Second Opinion on Your Portfolio: What to Ask a Professional
How to prepare for a portfolio second opinion: choosing the right reviewer, what to bring and the questions that reveal how a professional works.
Working Capital and the Current Ratio: A Quick Liquidity Check
How working capital and the current ratio test short-term liquidity, why context matters, and how to read a balance sheet in minutes.
How the S&P 500 Is Built and What Membership Means
The S&P 500 is chosen by a committee and weighted by size, not a simple list of the 500 biggest firms. Here is how it works.
Preparing for Tax Season: Brokerage Forms Every Investor Should Expect
Which brokerage tax forms to expect, why corrected versions arrive, and how to organize the paperwork before you or your preparer sit down.