Being a better investor is not determined by portfolio size or by always investing in the latest “hot” stock. To become a better investor, you need an investment plan and the discipline to stick to that plan.

But there is more you can do. Our eight tips below will help you become a better investor.

A well-conceived and concise investment philosophy is widely held as crucial to investment success.

It may be even more important than an investment strategy, as your investment philosophy is the precursor of your investment strategy. Investment strategies may require adjustment with changing personal circumstances and market conditions, while your investment philosophy keeps you focused on your long-term objectives.

True or False: Investing in passively managed funds *always* costs less and is lower risk than investing in actively managed funds or portfolios. The correct answer is false – passive investing can be not always lower cost and lower risk, and in fact comes with its own set of risks.

You need to know about these passive investing risks before you choose to invest in index mutual funds or passively managed exchange-traded funds (ETFs) over actively managed funds or personalized investment portfolios. We highlight some of the most important passive investing risks you should know.

Volatile stock markets are a reality, but do not need to be a hindrance to building wealth over the long-term. Bloom Investment Counsel, Inc. is a Toronto-based independent investment manager who has been building wealth since 1985 through various market cycles for high-net-worth individuals, family offices, foundations, corporations, institutions, and trusts. In this article, we provide some suggestions help deal with investing during periods of stock market volatility even when there is no perfect way to foresee such periods, predict how long they will last, or predetermine the depth of decline they may cause.

Dividend yield on a stock means how much dividend income you will likely receive relative to the current price of the stock. It is the ratio of a stock’s annual dividend payment compared to its current price. However, dividend yield can, at times, be misleading to the average investor looking to invest in dividend-paying stocks. Learn more about dividend yields in this article.