Brian Baker, CFA

Former Senior Writer, Investing and Retirement

15

Years of experience

EXPERTISE

Investing
Wealth management
Behavioral finance
Stock analysis and valuation

EDUCATION

CFA Institute
Bachelor of Arts, Finance, Michigan State University
Master of Science, Journalism, Northwestern University

Investing can be intimidating, but following some basic principles can put you on the path to achieving your financial goals.
— Brian Baker, CFA

Brian Baker, CFA, covered investing and retirement for Bankrate. He previously worked in equity research at Diamond Hill Capital Management and is a CFA Charterholder. His work has appeared online in various publications including MarketWatch, Fortune, the Omaha World-Herald, the Minneapolis Star Tribune, The Detroit News, MSN and Yahoo Finance. He also serves on the Investment Task Force for the Society for Advancing Business Editing and Writing.

Prior to joining Bankrate, he covered mergers and acquisitions for MLex Market Insight in Washington, D.C. Baker is passionate about helping people make sense of complicated financial topics so that they can better plan for their financial futures.

Readers can rely on his articles to learn more about a variety of investing topics such as how to start investing, investing through mutual funds, when to sell a stock and how investors can manage their emotions.

Baker’s passion for investing developed in college after reading about the success of long-term investors like Warren Buffett and Charlie Munger.

Investing can be intimidating, but following some basic principles can put you on the path to achieving your financial goals.
— Brian Baker, CFA

Brian's Picks

senior woman at desktop computer in home office

4 MIN READ

How much should retirees have invested in the stock market?

Retired? Here’s how to think about your asset allocation

Warren Buffett display at 2025 Berkshire Hathaway annual meeting.

4 MIN READ

Warren Buffett to step down as Berkshire Hathaway CEO: 5 takeaways from the annual meeting

Five key takeaways from Warren Buffett at the Berkshire Hathaway annual meeting.

Image of a person holding a mobile phone that showing a stock performance graph with Buy and Sell buttons at the bottom of the screen.

4 MIN READ

5 strategies to build confidence while investing in the stock market

Want to feel more confident about investing? These tips can help.

Brian's latest articles

How much should retirees have invested in the stock market?

Retired? Here’s how to think about your asset allocation

4 min read May 23, 2025
What is a cash balance plan and how does it work?

Here’s what savers should know about cash balance plans.

2 min read May 22, 2025
Highest dividend stocks in the S&P 500

These stocks have the highest dividend yields in the S&P 500.

3 min read May 21, 2025
Fractional shares: What are they and how do I buy them?

Here’s how to start investing with small amounts using fractional shares.

2 min read May 20, 2025
How to find an old 401(k) account: Best ways to track down your lost or forgotten funds

Not sure where those old 401(k) accounts went? Here’s how to track down your lost funds.

3 min read May 14, 2025
Annuity vs. IRA: What’s the difference?

Not sure about the difference between an annuity and an IRA? We’ll tell you what you need to know.

5 min read May 13, 2025
How ‘unretiring’ to go back to work can affect your Social Security benefits

Heading back to work after retiring might hit your benefits check.

6 min read May 12, 2025
IRA loans: Can you borrow from your IRA?

Unexpected events may leave you short on cash. You can’t borrow from IRAs, but there are ways to tap funds early.

4 min read May 12, 2025