Best Investment Magazines

The Economist, Bloomberg Businessweek, and Money made the cut—but so did these other four must-read investment magazines.

Ever feel like you're racing to keep up with the investing world?

Markets constantly shift, trends emerge, and new opportunities appear every day. For entrepreneurs, access to trustworthy and relevant information is essential for making informed decisions.

Check out several top publications that consistently deliver valuable investment insights without the fluff.

7 Best Investment Magazines

Whether digital or print, the best investment magazines offer a deeper understanding from seasoned finance writers, market analysts, and industry experts. These voices break down complex topics and spot emerging trends others might miss.

Let's start with a publication known for its wide range of perspectives and international scope.

The Economist: For Global Coverage

Format: Digital and print
Frequency: Weekly digital and printed edition

For a comprehensive view of the global landscape, many turn to The Economist, which seamlessly weaves together economics, business, finance, and even politics. "The World This Week" section is particularly valuable for looking beyond the local market.

At the same time, the Economist doesn't just report the news worldwide—it digs deeper into various topics.

Take its 2023 piece "How the young should invest," for example. Instead of just throwing investment tips, it walked readers through the historical context. It also showed where things might be heading and offered actionable advice.

Furthermore, The Economist's coverage extends to cultural and scientific developments. Its special reports often delve into subjects like climate change or technological innovation. They offer insights that are both broad in scope and deep in analysis.

Bloomberg Businessweek: For a broader ecosystem

Format: Digital and print
Frequency: Monthly print edition

Let's talk about Bloomberg Businessweek—a heavy hitter in the investment world for good reason. It's read by top investors, CEOs, policymakers, and professionals in finance for its forward-thinking journalism, which is crucial especially when it comes to investing.

On "The Interview Issue" published in 2016, it featured Q&As with business icons like Carlos Slim. The diverse voices provided rich insights into future directions in business, technology, culture, and societal norms.

Often, the magazine creates iconic covers to frame its narrative and hard data. That same year, Jeff Bezos posed like a superhero, partially clad in an Amazon box. It's quirky yet symbolic of Amazon's expansive growth and venture into new territories.

But what gives Bloomberg Businessweek the edge? Its integration with Bloomberg's vast ecosystem. This includes a range of services like Bloomberg Terminal and Bloomberg Intelligence, making for content that's more current and data-driven than others.

Money: Best for novice investors

Format: Digital access to website
Frequency: Weekdays
Fee: Free

True to its name, Money is all about helping you manage your money. It has articles on money-saving tips, investing wisely, planning for your retirement, and getting out of debt.

Think of it as your friendly guide to financial literacy. It breaks down complex financial concepts into understandable terms. If you're new to investing, Money.com's beginner guides to stocks and bonds can help you get your feet wet without feeling overwhelmed.

That said, Money.com may not be the best source of in-depth stock analysis or technical trading strategies. While it's great for the basics, it doesn't quite match the detailed investment coverage you'd get from paid financial publications.

Barron's: For Deep Dives

Format: Digital and print
Frequency: Weekdays (digital), Saturdays (printed edition)

Since 1921, Barron's has been doing one thing and doing it really well: diving deep into financial markets and investment strategies. When Barron's speaks, Wall Street tends to listen.

Instead of quick market updates, Barron's takes the long-form route of journalism coupled with spot-on commentary.

In a cover story entitled "Why the Widening Wealth Gap Is Bad News for Everyone," it highlighted the issue of income inequality in the US. It went beyond surface-level stats, examining historical data, trends, and future projections on wealth distribution.

And here's something investment pros look forward to every year: the Barron's Roundtable. This is where top investors like Mario Gabelli and Scott Black reveal their best stock picks for the year. When these veterans share their insights, you can bet many traders are taking notes.

Kiplinger's: For Average Readers

Format: Digital and print
Frequency: Monthly

Like Money.com, Kiplinger's isn't trying to teach you complex Wall Street strategies. Instead, it's centered on what usually matters to most people, which is providing smart ways to manage money.

As a reader-friendly magazine, Kiplinger's has mastered the art of breaking down financial topics into bite-size knowledge.

When it tackles big subjects like "Three Ways President Trump Could Impact the Economy," Kiplinger's serves them up in clear, digestible information. This helps you find exactly what you need without getting lost in financial jargon.

So instead of saying monetary policy, for example, it might explain it as trying to cool down an overheating economy when the Federal Reserve raises interest rates. That way it's easy to understand because Kiplinger's speaks your language.

Investor's Business Daily: For stock analysis

Format: Digital and print
Frequency: Weekly Print Edition
Fees: IBD Digital + Print: Auto-renews at $41.95/mo. after the initial introductory period or $389/yr.^[5]

Investor's Business Daily (IBD) is a financial news powerhouse known for its distinctive approach to identifying high-growth potential stocks. While it covers stock markets, international business, finance, and others, it's got something special.

Heard about CAN SLIM? It's IBD's investment strategy to identify stocks with the potential for significant price increases. Developed by its founder William O'Neill, CAN SLIM stands for the following seven characteristics:

1. Current earnings
   
2. Annual earnings
   
3. New products or management
   
4. Supply and demand
   
5. Leader or laggard
   
6. Institutional sponsorship
   
7. Market directions

IBD's daily content, including stock charts, analyses, and editorial pieces, often emphasize CAN SLIM. Its proprietary stock lists like the IBD 50 also use this criteria. Other lists featured regularly are IBD Sector Leaders, Big Cap 20, and Stock of the Day.

The Financial Times: For expert investors

Format: Digital and print
Frequency: Monday-Saturday

Subscription	Regular Fees (Seasonal discounts may apply)[7]
Trial offer	$1 for 4 weeks, auto-renews to $75/mo.
Standard Digital	$45/mo. or $429/yr
Premium Digital	$75/mo. or $719/yr.
Print	$75.00 per quarter. Introductory offer available.

Often cited in academic and professional discussions on finance, Financial Times (FT) is a true heavyweight in financial journalism for over a century. This pink paper has seen it all, from market booms to global crashes, and yet it's still leading the pack.

Have you checked out its flagship investment column Lex? Do if you want a sharp, on-point analysis of companies and markets. Whether you're curious about tech stocks, commodity trends, or the latest in sustainable investing, FT dives deep into each.

Then, there's FT Alphaville, a blog that keeps things casual but doesn't skimp on the meat. It often shares market trends before they hit the mainstream, so it's like getting market insights from your smartest friend working at Wall Street.

Now that your choices have been pared down to the best, read on for a few more things to guide your pick.

How to Choose the Best Investment Magazines

A good investment magazine typically combines key elements to be both informative and valuable to readers.

Here are some considerations:

• In-depth analysis
  Detailed breakdowns of market trends, economic indicators, and investment strategies help you understand complex financial landscapes.

• Relevance
  This is important especially when eyeing investment opportunities. The magazine should keep its finger on the pulse of what's happening and what their readers care about.

• Readability
  Complex ideas should be explained very well without oversimplifying information.

• Diverse perspectives
  One-sided opinions aren't helpful. Having different analysts or schools of thought, like value investing vs. growth investing, can offer a balanced view.

• Value for money
  Many good investment publications aren't free, so the content should justify its cost.

Alternatives to Investment Magazines

Looking for other ways to stay on top of the investing world? Here are options across different formats and platforms:

1. Online financial news websites like Yahoo Finance, Investing.com, or blogs such as Motley Fool, to name a few.
   
2. YouTube channels that provide investment tips and financial education, like Graham Stephan and ThePlainBagel.
   
3. Investment books that teach investing strategies and market behavior, such as "The Intelligent Investor," a classic written by Benjamin Graham.
   
4. Investment newsletters like Seeking Alpha and Morningstar for stock picks.
   
5. Investing apps such as Acorns and Robinhood.

These alternatives offer insights on investment and related topics.

Methodology

We didn't just randomly grab names off the internet. Instead, we did our homework and actually read several featured articles to see if they delivered solid, trustworthy content.

Don't be surprised to see some websites and newspapers mixed in with traditional magazines. We believe that the format matters less than the quality of insights you're getting.

In addition, we paid attention to their subscriber numbers, too. Think about it—when people are willing to open their wallets for a subscription that isn't exactly cheap, it's pretty telling.

Bottom Line

Finding the best investment magazine can be a cornerstone in building financial literacy. Kiplinger's and Money are ideal for beginners dipping their toes in the investment world.

Meanwhile, Barron's and Financial Times' data-driven information help seasoned investors make confident investment choices.

The journey to becoming a savvy investor is always evolving. With the help of the right publication, you can avoid pitfalls while seizing investment opportunities you would have missed otherwise.

References