Investment | Baird's Elgin Office

Investing should be easy – just buy low and sell high – but most of us have trouble following that simple advice. There are principles and strategies that may enable you to put together an investment portfolio that reflects your risk tolerance, time horizon, and goals. Understanding these principles and strategies can help you avoid some of the pitfalls that snare some investors.

Bursting the Bubble

Tulips were the first, but they won’t be the last. What forms a “bubble” and what causes them to burst?

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Investments

You’ve made investments your whole life. Work with us to help make the most of them.

Five for Friday – March 13, 2026

Ross looks at rising oil prices, gives a sanity check on dedollarization, and shares new data on remote work.

The Business Cycle

How will you weather the ups and downs of the business cycle?

The Difficulty in Calling a Market Top

Trying to “time the market” is both highly risky and incredibly difficult.

5 Actions You Can Take in the Event of a Recession

Recessions might be inevitable – it doesn’t mean you need to take them lying down.

Five for Friday – January 9, 2026

As geopolitics rattle headlines, Ross offers a calming historical perspective and hopeful insights for the market in 2026.

Building Wealth in College

Start building your money and investment management skills in college with these practices.

All That Matters: 2025 Unwrapped

Mike and Ross unwrap gifts – and insights – from a year of market surprises and lessons learned.

Best-Performing Asset Classes

Bonds may outperform stocks one year only to have stocks rebound the next.

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Monthly Budget

Track your monthly income and expenses to get a clearer view of your cash flow.

Student Loan Payoff Calculator: Extra Payments Can Save You

See how extra payments toward your student loans could shorten your payoff timeline.

What Is My Net Worth?

Get a snapshot of your overall financial picture by calculating your total net worth.

College Savings

See how much you may need to save now to cover future college costs for your child.

Debt-to-Income Ratio Calculator

Calculate your debt-to-income ratio to understand how lenders may view your financial health.

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The Cycle of Investing

Understanding the cycle of investing may help you avoid easy pitfalls.

The Real Cost of a Vacation Home

What if instead of buying that vacation home, you invested the money?

Where Is the Market Headed?

We all know the stock market can be unpredictable. We all want to know, "What's next for the financial markets?"

What Smart Investors Know

Savvy investors take the time to separate emotion from fact.

The Business Cycle

How will you weather the ups and downs of the business cycle?

Are Alternative Investments Right for You?

With alternative investments, it’s critical to sort through the complexity.