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Investment Basics

The Fundamentals of Investing
Do you know what your financial goals are? Are they to save for retirement? Pay college tuition for your children? Buy a house? Plan an extraordinary vacation? It is important to get into the habit of saving – whether for the long term or short term – to secure a successful financial future. Prioritizing your goals, developing a time frame and understanding basic investment concepts can help you determine the best way to meet your financial objectives.

Keep in mind that the earlier you can start investing, the easier it will be to reach your goal. Let’s say, for example, you are considering how much you should save monthly to achieve a retirement goal of $1 million by age 65. The graph below illustrates the amount of monthly savings at various ages needed to reach your goal using a 7% hypothetical rate of return. Remember that results may vary as investing involves risk, fluctuating returns, and the possibility of loss.


Monthly Savings Needed to accumulate $1 million by age 65
The earlier you start investing, the easier it is to reach your goals.



Determining your financial goals
Below are some basic education materials that may assist you in determining your financial goals.

 



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Automatic Investing: A Strategy to Make the Most of the Market's Ups and Downs

Learn the potential advantages of dollar cost averaging, a historically successful investment strategy that entails automatically investing the same amount of money at a certain time interval, and of PNC's Planned Investment Program.
Understanding Mutual Fund Share Classes

Understanding the differences between share classes allows you to make a more informed decision when investing in a mutual fund. Learn more here.

Why Mutual Funds

Learn the benefits of investing in mutual funds, including professional management, convenience and diversification possibilities.
Understanding the Basics of Investing

Understanding basic investment concepts can help you make educated investment decisions. Learn fundamental principles of investing here.
Asset Allocation Brochure

Having a time-tested investment strategy, such as asset allocation, is key to planning for retirement. Learn why asset allocation matters.
How to Read a Mutual Fund Prospectus

Reading and understanding a mutual fund prospectus can be a daunting task. Learn the basics in just a few minutes.


GLOSSARY of financial terms
For a list of commonly used financial terms and definitions, click here.