Stocks, bonds, mutual funds -- these are all typical investments with which nearly everyone is familiar. However, there are other investments available for investors who are looking for something less conventional. These investments are usually illiquid, harder to value, and potentially quite a bit riskier than conventional stock/bond investment strategies and in most cases are only available to “accredited” investors. But alternative investing may be a sound strategy for savvy investors who have the right professional guidance. Here's an overview of a few different alternative investment strategies.

Whether you're saving for something important or simply trying to cut down on unnecessary spending, a personal finance plan can help you achieve your goals. It allows you to see where your money goes and find ways to make it work harder for you. Here are some tips for making a personal financial plan for yourself or your family.

It can be difficult navigating a path through the tricky waters of investing, and one of the many obstacles to success lies in knowing when the best opportunity presents itself to enter the market. Volatility and economic uncertainties can conspire to disrupt even the most carefully constructed plans, but there is an investing approach which overcomes this problem: systematic investing.

4Thought Separate Accounts rank in top 25% for 7 out of 16 strategies offered and top 50% for 14 out of 16 strategies offered (As of 3/31/17)

Comprehensive Financial Planning – quite the austere topic. It sounds like a serious examination, or something painful. Comprehensive Financial Planning is a phrase your Investment or Financial Advisor may have thrown around at some point, or perhaps something you were told to think about. But don’t worry, it’s not as complicated as it sounds. It is a fancy way of saying, “Let’s go over your current finances and find out what areas we can help you improve on.” With that said, let’s break it down.  

A wealth of assets is the primary goal of almost everyone, from individuals to small businesses and large corporations. However, any financial advisor will tell you that it's never a good idea to invest all your money in one type of asset -- even cash. You've probably heard of asset allocation, and you may even have a general idea of what it means. But do you know how to make it work for your situation? This guide should help.

If you've started to dabble in the world of stocks and investments or are thinking about doing so in the near future, you'll want to have a better understanding of the various fees associated with working with an investment advisor. Of course, you're probably thinking that you can do without an investment advisor in order to avoid having to pay any fees, but even some of the savviest investors utilize an investment advisor.

Traditionally, investors' portfolios consist primarily of stocks and bonds. Experts view these assets as the backbone of an investment portfolio, which have historically paid off over time.