Riba explained: Understanding ‘interest’ in Islamic finance
What do we really mean when we use the Arabic term riba? The literal translation of the word is “increase, addition or growth,” though it is often translated as “usury.” English speakers typically understand usury as the charging of an exploitative interest rate. But riba refers to any excess value in transactions that our Sacred […]
2019 Investment Outlook
Wow, last year was a real kick in the gut for investors. Things were looking great until October when the wheels fell off and several indices entered bear market territory. Should we expect more of the same in 2019? Here’s our conversation with Azzad Ethical Fund portfolio manager Christian Greiner, CFA® on January 15, 2019. […]
Have you heard of a Roth 401(k)?
You’re probably familiar with traditional 401(k) plans, and we hope you know about Roth IRAs as well. (If not, check out these 5 things you should know about Roth IRAs). But did you know there’s also a Roth 401(k)? Basically, a Roth 401(k) is a 401(k) account to which you can contribute either pre-tax dollars, […]
Please stop worrying about the Dow. You’re not invested in it.
For more than 122 years, the Dow Jones Industrial Average has been viewed as America’s leading stock market index. Retail investors sitting in front of their computers to seasoned Wall Street veterans rely on the Dow to provide a glimpse of the health of the U.S. economy and the strength of its stock market. The […]
How to double your investment return every six years
Does the idea of doubling your money sound like a get-rich-quick scam? Well, maybe it’s not quick, but there is a method that will show you how long it should take you to double your money with your investment return. It’s called the rule of 72, and it can be applied to any type of […]
The Bitcoin bust of 2018
If you thought investing in stocks was bad in 2018, be glad you stayed away from Bitcoin. While stock market investors are still nursing their wounds from a down year in 2018, Bitcoin investors were devastated. The cryptocurrency has fallen considerably from the dizzying heights it reached in December 2017. As of this writing, Bitcoin […]
What should you do now that the Fed has raised rates again?
In mid-December, the Federal Reserve raised interest rates again, contributing to some of the whipsaw volatility we saw at the end of the year. As an investor, you may be wondering what you should do now. Consider these three things: Review your portfolio Does your asset allocation still match your time horizon, risk tolerance, and […]
What to make of last quarter’s market volatility
Recent market volatility is a reminder that there are risks to investing. Given that markets has risen over the past 10 years without a major pullback, a downturn is a normal and healthy part of market movements. Without corrections, markets can become overvalued and bubbles can form. Concerns about an economic recession, however, are still […]
5 tips for tax-smart charitable giving in 2018
U.S. tax law has changed since you filed your federal taxes for 2017; the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act takes effect for 2018 tax filings. Since charitable giving is one of the few deductions that wasn’t eliminated or capped, donations to registered nonprofits are one of the best ways to reduce tax payments for taxpayers […]
GCC nations, Islamic debt assets to receive billions as region diversifies from oil
Debt markets in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries have historically been unable to qualify for inclusion in emerging-market fixed income indexes or any other major fixed income index, which has resulted in lost investment in the region. But that’s all about to change. Next year, GCC countries are slated for inclusion in the prominent J.P. […]
