The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has charged the team behind Coindeal, a $45 million fraudulent crypto investment scheme. The regulator explained that the defendants falsely claimed that Coindeal would generate investment returns of more than 500,000 times for investors.

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced Wednesday that it has charged the creator of crypto investment scheme Coindeal and seven others in connection with the $45 million fraud.

Describing Coindeal as a brazen and far-reaching unregistered offering fraud conducted between at least 2018 and 2022, the securities regulator detailed:

Coindeal raised more than $45 million from sales of unregistered securities to tens of thousands of investors worldwide.

The SEC explained that creator Neil Chandran and promoters Garry Davidson, Michael Glaspie, Amy Mossel, and Linda Knott falsely claimed that investors could generate extravagant returns by investing in a blockchain technology called Coindeal that would be sold for trillions of dollars to a group of prominent and wealthy buyers.

However, the regulator said no Coindeal sale ever occurred and no distributions were made to investors. The defendants collectively misappropriated millions of dollars of investor funds for personal use, and Chandran used investor funds to purchase items such as cars, real estate, and a boat, the SEC wrote.

The securities watchdog also charged AEO Publishing Inc., Banner Co-Op Inc., and Bannersgo LLC for their involvement in the fraudulent crypto investment scheme.

Daniel Gregus, director of the SECs Chicago Regional Office, said:

We allege the defendants falsely claimed access to valuable blockchain technology and that the imminent sale of the technology would generate investment returns of more than 500,000 times for investors.

The director added: As alleged in our complaint, in reality, this was all just an elaborate scheme where the defendants enriched themselves while defrauding tens of thousands of retail investors.

In June last year, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) indicted Chandran on three counts of wire fraud and two counts of monetary transaction in unlawful proceeds in connection with the Coindeal crypto fraud scheme.

What do you think about the SECs action against Coindeal? Let us know in the comments section below.

A student of Austrian Economics, Kevin found Bitcoin in 2011 and has been an evangelist ever since. His interests lie in Bitcoin security, open-source systems, network effects and the intersection between economics and cryptography.

Image Credits: Shutterstock, Pixabay, Wiki Commons

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only. It is not a direct offer or solicitation of an offer to buy or sell, or a recommendation or endorsement of any products, services, or companies. Bitcoin.com does not provide investment, tax, legal, or accounting advice. Neither the company nor the author is responsible, directly or indirectly, for any damage or loss caused or alleged to be caused by or in connection with the use of or reliance on any content, goods or services mentioned in this article.

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LAS VEGAS, Jan. 06, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Connect Invest, an online investment company, increased all of the interest rates today on its short-note offerings following the recent Fed rate hike to provide investors with an opportunity to earn significant returns with short-term commitments and low investment minimums, starting at $500. Short notes allow investors to commit their money for short commitments with defined exit dates.

While interest rates have risen on savings and CD accounts, they continue to have a negative real yield as theU.S. inflation rate sits at 7.11%. According to theFederal Deposit Insurance Corp., the averagenational deposit rate for savings accounts is 0.3%, while the average for 24-month CD accounts is 1.06%.

Connect Invest offers an alternative investment vehicle that mitigates both market volatility and uncertainty while providing residual income through the form of monthly interest payments. "We view this uncertain time in the economy as an opportunity to offer unprecedented value to our clients," said Brandon Kelly, Vice President of Marketing and Operations at Connect Invest. "We look forward to serving new investors seeking stable residual monthly income during the term of their investment."

Previously, return rates for Connect Invest short notes six-month and 12-month commitments were 5.5% and 7.25%, respectively. The new rates are now 7.5% and 8%, respectively. The 24-month short note continues to pay 9%. Funds from all short note investments are used for purchasing first-position collateralized notes of various real estate projects. With access to over $500 million in collateralized projects, Connect Invest is constantly adding projects to the portfolio for continued diversification.

To learn more about Connect Invest, visit http://www.connectinvest.com/about-us/

About Connect Invest

Connect Invest is an alternative investment platform specializing in collateralized debt through real estate short-note investments. We offer short-term investments in real estate development projects that yield high returns monthly, with zero overhead and no account or maintenance fees. Our investments are determined based on the investor's risk tolerance, investment amount, and length of term. Available to both accredited and nonaccredited investors, all funds are used to fund a variety of real estate development projects throughout the country at various stages, including acquisition, development and construction. Investments start as low as $500, terms as short as 6 months, and interest earnings ranging from 7.5% to 9%.

Contact Information: Diana Calderon Marketing Director dcalderon@connectinvest.com

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Connect Invest, the industry's leading collateralized debt investment ... - GlobeNewswire

Jan. 5Could theLincoln Airportbecome a major cargo hub?

AColoradocompany is optimistic that it can, so much so that it plans to invest tens of millions of dollars to make that happen.

TheLincoln Airport Authorityon Thursday approved an agreement withBurrell AviationofAspen, Colorado, that gives the company the right to develop about 30 acres of property on the west side of the airport with the aim of transforming it into a hub for air cargo and other aviation-related industries.

The agreement includes a 30-year ground lease with options that could extend it to as long as 50 years. The lease allows Burrell to build on airport property at the south end of what's called the west ramp.

Burrell CEOJohn Carversaid the estimated $65 million investment, which does not include the cost of the ground lease with theAirport Authority, will occur over several years.

Carver said the company plans to focus on three industries as it seeks to boost the airport's nonaviation operations: air cargo handling, cold storage and distribution.

That could mean attracting air freight companies, logistics firms, food businesses and aircraft maintenance providers.

"I think we'll find the interest here to be pretty robust," Carver said.

Facilities would be built in phases, with two or three large buildings likely. Burrell is proposing up to 210,000 square feet of space. Carver said he believes the first tenants could occupy spaces as soon as 2025. At full build-out, he estimated the development could add anywhere from 180 to 350 permanent jobs with salaries averaging $60,000 to $80,000 a year.

The Lincoln Airportis one of about 20 Burrell is working with across the country, fromAlaskatoNew England. Most of them are in smaller cities like Lincoln.

The company already has announced plans for similar developments at airports inAlbuquerque, New Mexico;Baton Rouge, Louisiana; andColorado Springs, Colorado.

Carver said Burrell looked at the more than 5,000 commercial airports in theU.S.and used a filtering process to whittle it down to a few dozen it hoped to work with.

Among the things it looked for as it seeks to take advantage of the need to serve the growing e-commerce industry was proximity to large cities, a good highway network and an airport administration that has a forward-thinking approach.

Lincoln, Carver said, "checked all of those boxes."

"The Lincoln Airportis an ideal location to add to our portfolio," he said. "It provides a strategic presence in the heartland of America, with an airport that is accessible to other major transportation modes such as interstates and rail lines."

Lincoln Airport Executive DirectorDavid Haringsaid the agreement has nothing but upside for the airport. It gets rent from the ground lease and will eventually owns any structures Burrell builds once the lease term expires.

"This is kind of an easy deal for the airport," Haring said. "The heavy lifting is being done by Burrell."

"I'm really excited not just for the airport but for the community and all ofSoutheast Nebraska," he said.

Local and state leaders had nothing but praise for the deal.

"Landing this opportunity prepares Lincoln for yet another economic takeoff," MayorLeirion Gaylor Bairdsaid in a statement. "We're proud thatBurrell Aviationidentified our community as the location for the next project and look forward to supporting their exciting development at the Lincoln Airport.

NewNebraskaGov.Jim Pillen, who took office on Thursday, called the Burrell proposal "another example of business stepping up and investing in the future ofNebraska."

"I am excited about this opportunity and the growth it will bring to Lincoln," he said in a statement.

While the Lincoln Airport took a big hit during the coronavirus pandemic, losing more than half its passenger traffic and one of its two airlines, it has been making strides over the past couple of years, especially when it comes to improving its infrastructure.

The airport is in the midst of a $55 million terminal expansion and renovation project, the first phase of which it hopes to have done this spring. That phase will add gates, consolidate passenger screening and add new amenities.

The airport also, likely in the next two or three years, will start a project to rebuild its main runway, which is one of the longest at any commercial airport in theU.S.

Thanks to an agreement brokered by Sen.Deb Fischer, theNational Guard Bureauhas agreed to chip in to help pay to keep the runway at nearly 13,000 feet long, which is important because theFederal Aviation Administration, which covers 90% of the cost of most airport capital improvements, has said it likely wouldn't pay to rebuild a runway of that length.

The length of Lincoln's runway was apparently a factor that Burrell considered in whether to invest here, a point that Fischer highlighted in a statement.

"Thanks in part to my work to secure funding for the rehabilitation of the Lincoln Airport runway, one of the world's leading cargo carriers and logistics companies is now coming toNebraska," she said.

Reach the writer at 402-473-2647 ormolberding@journalstar.com.

On Twitter @LincolnBizBuzz.

___

(c)2023 Lincoln Journal Star, Neb.

Visit Lincoln Journal Star, Neb. at http://www.journalstar.com

Distributed byTribune Content Agency, LLC.

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Hundreds of companies pay dividends to their investors. Because of that, it can be hard to know which one to pick if you're looking to keep your portfolio holdings manageable.

Onedividend stockthat stands out from the crowded field isOneok(OKE 2.68%). Thepipeline companyoffers a unique investment opportunity amongS&P 500members. Here's what makes it so distinct.

Oneok stands out among stocks in the S&P 500:

Image source: Oneok Investors Relations Presentation.

There are around 500 companies in the S&P 500. However, only 380 have investment-grade credit ratings. That means they have the financial strength to weather an economic downturn. This characteristic could be important in 2023 if there's a recession.

Meanwhile, only 269 of those companies have largemarket capsof over $20 billion. Larger companies are more mature and stable, making them good portfolio anchors.

From that group, only 176 have high environmental, social, and governance (ESG)ratings of A or better from MSCI. In Oneok's case, it's an ESG leader with a AAA rating thanks to its strong corporate governance, lower carbon emissions, and health and safety standards. While it might seem strange to see a fossil fuel-focused company with such high environmental ratings, Oneok has helped lead the industry's efforts to reduce natural gas flaring in the Williston Basin by capturing this gas. It also provides the infrastructure to support renewable natural gas, helping prevent those methane emissions. Finally, the company aims to reduce its emissions by 30% by 2030. Because of that, it's making the energy sector much more sustainable.

From that group of sustainable, large-cap, investment-grade-rated companies, only 135 are on pace to grow their earnings per share by a 5% or greater rate over the next couple of years.

Finally, Oneok is the only company of that remaining group with a high-yielding dividend that it has never reduced. That track record of dividend stability is impressive, considering that many energy stocks have reduced their payouts in the past due to the sector's volatility.

Oneok has done more than maintain its dividend over the years. The pipeline company has steadily increased it over time. While it hasn't grown its payout every year, it has expanded it at a 13% compound rate since 2000.

The company should have the fuel to continue growing its dividend in the future. Its earnings continue to rise as it benefits from the $5 billion of expansion projects it completed in the recent past, setting it up to grow volumes and benefit from favorable commodity prices. Its earnings per share have increased by 13% over the past year. Meanwhile, the company expects its income to grow by more than 10% in 2023. Those rising earnings will supply Oneok with more money to sustain its dividend.

Further, as noted, the company has an investment-grade balance sheet. Leverage was a comfortable 3.8 times at the end of the third quarter, giving Oneok the financial capacity to invest in new expansion projects as opportunities arise while also continuing to pay its attractive dividend. The company funded nearly $900 million of capital projects through the third quarter to maintain and expand its energy infrastructure network.

Meanwhile, Oneok continues to seek new growth drivers that could give it the fuel to keep growing. For example, the company recently filed for a permit to build the Saguaro Connector Pipeline that would transport gas to the Mexican border for delivery to an export facility on that country's west coast. The company hopes to make a final investment decision on the project by the middle of 2023. Oneok has an excellent track record of completing expansion projects that help sustain and grow its dividend.

Oneok stands out among dividend stocks. It offers investors a unique blend of safety, size, sustainability, growth, and income. That compelling blend of features makes it a high-quality dividend stock that could anchor any income portfolio.

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UNITED STATES - SEPTEMBER 22: Jamie Dimon, CEO of JPMorgan Chase, testifies during the Senate ... [+] Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee hearing titled Annual Oversight of the Nations Largest Banks, in Hart Building on Thursday, September 22, 2022. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)

J.P. Morgan CEO Jamie Dimon probably summed up this weeks energy-related events best when he noted that we need cheap, reliable, safe, secure energy, of which 80% comes from oil and gas during an interview on CNBC. It was a week in which other major players, notably including management at Vanguard, appeared to acknowledge that reality.

Lets take a look at some of the biggest energy-related events of the week just past:

The Iowa Caucuses and EPA Biofuels Mandates The EPA rolled out new, beefed-up biofuels mandates the week after the Democratic National Committee proposed a plan to end the long reign of the Iowa Caucuses as the first presidential nominating contest on its calendar.

Since the EPA began to allow the blending of corn-based ethanol in with gasoline in 1978, voters have been treated to the quadrennial spectacle of every candidate for the presidency in both parties flying to Iowa to pledge their undying support for the practice of removing millions of tons of corn from the food chain each year to make motor fuels. That political imperative only became magnified after congress and then-President George W. Bush decided to turn the allowance of biofuels blending into a mandate in 2005.

Moving Iowa out of its long-time catbirds seat on the nominating calendar wont necessarily mean the end or even diminution of these mandates, but it would free up the candidates to tell us what they really think about them instead of just knee-jerking to support a controversial policy whose benefits are questionable.

Russian Oil Price Cap Produces Short-term Results The price cap on Russian oil exports jointly sought by the EU, the G7 and Australia made its debut Monday. The cap of $60 per barrel was implemented at a time when prices were already on a downward trend, and prices continued the slide, with Brent crude dropping by more than 11% by the close of Fridays trading to stand just under $77 per barrel.

EU logo with Russian flag on screen with EU Commission press release on mobile. EU Russian oil Price ... [+] cap, EU agrees $60 price cap on Russian oil. In Brussels, Belgium on 4 December 2022. (Photo Illustration by Jonathan Raa/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Given that the slide in prices coincided with several bullish factors, including Chinas rollback of many of its zero-Covid measures and a big drawdown in U.S. domestic crude stocks, the cap appears to have had its intended impact on global crude prices in the short term.

However, that could change once Russia announces a formal response. Markets rebounded slightly Friday when Russian President Vladimir Putin threatened a potential cut in supply, saying "As for our reaction, I have already said that we simply will not sell to those countries that make such decisions. We will think, maybe, even about a possible, if necessary ... reduction in production.

Should Putin decide to make that move, all bets will be off about the direction of oil prices in the longer-term.

Vanguard Pulls Out of ESG Coalition One of the worlds biggest ESG-focused investment firms, Vanguard, manager of more than $7 trillion in investor assets, announced Thursday its exit from an investor alliance (Net Zero Asset Managers, or NZAM) that seeks to force the de-carbonization of the western world, in part through the restriction of capital to fossil fuels-related projects.

In a report on the matter, Reuters attributes Vanguards exit to mounting pressure from Republican U.S. politicians over their use of environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors in picking and managing securities. If that is indeed the case, then this is another example of shifting political tides having consequences, despite the GOPs poor performance in the recently completed mid-term elections.

ESG-focused firms like Vanguard and BlackRock have come under increasing levels of pushback from Republican policymakers at the state level. In August, the Texas Comptrollers office cited both Vanguard and BlackRock as companies that discriminate against Texas oil and gas firms in their investment decisions. Ultimately, that citation could end the ability of either big investment houses to retain positions in the assets of various state-managed pension funds.

Other GOP-led states have taken similar actions. The Treasurer in one such state, North Carolina, went so far on Friday as to call on BlackRock CEO Larry Fink to resign or be removed due to his anti-fossil fuels advocacy.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 30: Andrew Ross Sorkin speaks with BlackRock CEO Larry Fink during the ... [+] New York Times DealBook Summit in the Appel Room at the Jazz At Lincoln Center on November 30, 2022 in New York City. The New York Times held its first in-person DealBook Summit since the start of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic with speakers from the worlds of financial services, technology, consumer goods, private investment, venture capital, banking, media, public relations, policy, government, and academia. (Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)

Unfortunately, Larry Finks pursuit of a political agenda has gotten in the way of BlackRocks same fiduciary duty. A focus on ESG is not a focus on returns and potentially could force us to violate our own fiduciary duty, said state Treasure Dale Folwell in a letter sent to BlackRocks board of directors.

The ESG movements capital denial efforts have contributed to the creation of a large and growing deficit since 2015 in adequate investments in finding and development of new reserves of oil and natural gas. Both Rystad Energy and Wood-Mackenzie issued reports in 2021 that estimated the deficit at between $400-$500 billion at that time.

The predictable outcome of that investment deficit has been rising costs for energy, regional shortages of both oil and natural gas supplies and shortages of the thousands of products made from petroleum, like fertilizers.

Exxon, Chevron Announce Strategic Plans Meanwhile, Big Oil giants ExxonMobil and Chevron rolled out new strategic plans Thursday that contemplate major increases in capital spending and share buyback programs.

I detailed ExxonMobils plans in a Friday story linked here. Chevron also plans significant additional investments in new oil and gas projects, planning for a $17 billion organic capital budget, up by more than 25% over the 2022 budget. The budgets for both companies include significant increases in capital for oil and gas projects and also for their respective low carbon business segments.

Jamie Dimon Hits the Nail on the Head All of the above leads to the statement made Tuesday by J.P. Morgan CEO Jamie Dimon on CNBCs Squawkbox program. If the lesson was learned from Ukraine, we need cheap, reliable, safe, secure energy, of which 80% comes from oil and gas, Dimon said. And that numbers going to be very high for 10 or 20 years.

That comment is consistent with the statement Dimon made during a September congressional hearing in which he was asked if he would pledge that his firm would stop investing in oil and gas projects. Absolutely not and that would be the road to hell for America, he said.

The world cannot hope to have reliable, safe, secure energy Dimon speaks to without the ability to invest adequate capital in major new projects. ExxonMobil and Chevron understand that, and apparently the management team at Vanguard is waking up to that reality as well.

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Dimon Highlights Need For More Oil And Gas Investment As Vanguard Bails On ESG Group - Forbes

BlackRocks top minds seem worried. Investment strategists at the worlds largest asset manager warned of a coming recession, stubborn inflation, and a new era that wont be so kind to investors in their 2023 Global Outlook released this week.

The Great Moderation, the four-decade period of largely stable activity and inflation, is behind us, vice chairman Philipp Hildebrand and a team of top executives wrote. The new regime of greater macro and market volatility is playing out. A recession is foretold.

Hildebrand and his team argue that the Great Moderationa period of low inflation and steady economic growthallowed stocks and bonds to flourish in a way that wont be possible moving forward.

For investors, this new economic era will require a fresh, flexible strategy that involves selective stock picking and more active portfolio management.

We dont see the sustained bull markets of the past. Thats why a new investment playbook is needed, they wrote. What worked in the past wont work now.

Three major regime drivers are set to keep inflation elevated above central banks targets, subdue economic growth, and make it more difficult for investors to turn a profit for years to come, according to BlackRock.

First, aging populations will shrink workforces and force governments to spend more to care for the elderly, causing worker shortages and reduced production.

Second, tensions between global superpowers signal that weve entered into a new world order, where globalized supply chains that once helped reduce the price of goods may be broken.

This is, in our view, the most fraught global environment since World War II, Hildebrand and his team wrote. We see geopolitical cooperation and globalization evolving into a fragmented world with competing blocs. That comes at the cost of economic efficiency.

Finally, a more rapid transition to clean energy will ultimately be inflationary unless a new stream of investment flows into carbon-neutral solutions.

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If high-carbon production falls faster than low-carbon alternatives are phased in, shortages could result, driving up prices and disrupting economic activity, they wrote. The faster the transition, the more out of sync the handoff could bemeaning more volatile inflation and economic activity.

BlackRock also broke down three themes to help prepare investors for the new normal in their 2023 forecast.

First, the asset managers experts argued that factoring in the damage done by central banks interest rate hikes and the risk of recession when evaluating stocks will be critical next year.

Equity valuations dont yet reflect the damage ahead, in our view, they wrote. We find that earnings expectations dont yet price in even a mild recession.

BlackRock doesnt like developed-market stocks, at least in the near term, because Hildebrand and his team believe the Fed wont save markets by slashing interest rates when a recession hits as they have in the past. Its the end of the so-called Fed put.

Central bankers wont ride to the rescue when growth slows in this new regime, contrary to what investors have come to expect, they argued. Thats why the old playbook of simply buying the dip doesnt apply in this regime.

Hildebrand and his team even went so far as to argue that central bankers are deliberately causing recessions by aggressively raising interest rates to fight inflation.

The new playbook calls for a continuous reassessment of how much of the economic damage being generated by central banks is in the price, they wrote. That damage is building.

After years of underperformance versus equities, it may be time to look to the bond market for steady income as a recession looms.

Fixed income finally offers income after yields surged globally, Hildebrand and his team wrote. This has boosted the allure of bonds after investors were starved for yield for years.

They recommended investors look to investment-grade credit and short-term government bonds, but warned to avoid long-term government bonds owing to rising debt levels and higher inflation.

In the old playbook, long-term government bonds would be part of the package as they historically have shielded portfolios from recession. Not this time, we think, they wrote.

Year-over-year inflation, as measured by the consumer price index (CPI), likely peaked in June at 9.1%. And some CEOs and money managers argue that its set to come down fast.

But BlackRock has a different point of view.

Even with a recession coming, we think we are going to be living with inflation, Hildebrand and his team wrote. We do see inflation cooling as spending patterns normalize and energy prices relentbut we see it persisting above policy targets in coming years.

In this higher-inflation environment, they recommend inflation-protected bonds and avoiding stocksat least in the near term.

More volatile and persistent inflation is not yet priced in by markets, we think, they warned.

This story was originally featured on Fortune.com

More from Fortune: Rishi Sunaks old hedge fund boss paid himself $1.9 million a day this year Meet the 29-year-old teacher with four degrees who wants to join the Great Resignation How much money you need to earn to buy a $400,000 home Elon Musk wanted to punch Kanye West after deeming the rappers swastika tweet an incitement to violence

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BlackRock says throw out your old investment playbook, were headed for a new regime of greater macro and market volatility - Yahoo Finance

In investing, sometimes simpler is better. Investing doesn't have to be complicated, nor should it be. It doesn't take hours of research or technical analysis to put together a solid portfolio; oftentimes, a handful of well-diversified funds will do the trick. Here are three investments I would lean on if I had to invest $20,000 from scratch today.

TheS&P 500is an index that tracks the largest 500 public U.S. companies bymarket cap. It's the most followed index and is often used to gauge how the overall stock market is performing. The S&P 500 is a good investment because it gives investors almost instant diversification, access to blue chip stocks, and less risk than investing in an individual company. It's a three-for-one you can't go wrong with.

I would put most of the $20,000 toward the S&P 500, investing $12,000 in the Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO -0.73%). The Vanguard S&P 500 ETF is one of the cheapest ETFs available (0.03% expense ratio) and has returned over 13.5% since its inception in September 2010. Past results don't guarantee future performance, but you can be sure its returns will closely track the overall market over the long term.

There's a reason Warren Buffett is a huge proponent of the S&P 500: It's effective. He even told CNBC that buying a low-cost S&P 500 fund "makes the most sense practically all of the time." Countless people have become millionaires by simply investing in the S&P 500 over time. When in doubt, let it lead the way.

High-risk, high-reward applies to different types of investments (stocks vs. bonds, for example), but it also applies within stocks. Larger companies are less prone to volatility and market downturns because they tend to have more resources at their disposal. Smaller companies are generally riskier and more susceptible to broader economic conditions, but their size means there's more room for growth -- and returns for investors.

The Russell 2000 tracks the smallest 2000 companies in the Russell 3000 and is widely considered the primary benchmark for small-cap stocks. What the S&P 500 is for large-cap stocks, the Russell 2000 is for small-cap stocks. It's diversified and covers every sector imaginable. If I were starting from scratch, I would invest $3,000 into the Vanguard Russell 2000 ETF (VTWO -1.23%) because of its comparably low expense ratio (0.10%) than other Russell 2000 ETFs.

Like all major indexes, it's been a rough 2022 for the Russell 2000, but that was to be expected. Small-cap stocks usually take more of a hit during bear markets, but they often outperform large-cap stocks in the early stages of a bull market. You don't want the bulk of your portfolio in small-cap stocks, but you should have some exposure.

One of the key pillars of a good investment portfolio is diversification. Part of having diversification includes investing in companies with different market caps, different industries, different growth potential, and different locations globally. If you only invest in U.S. companies, you're limiting yourself and missing out on quality investments that could provide good returns.

International markets are generally divided into two categories: developed and emerging. Developed markets typically have more advanced economies, better infrastructure, established industries, and higher living standards. Conversely, emerging markets typically have lower incomes, younger capital markets, and less-stable economies.

Researching individual U.S. companies can already be time-consuming for most people, and adding in the international element (local economy, political climate, etc.) doesn't make it any easier. That's why investors should consider investing in a total international ETF, which can double the diversification by exposing them to developed and emerging markets.

Take theVanguard Total International Stock ETF(VXUS -0.15%), for example, which contains 7,985 companies spanning the following regions:

This is where I'd invest the remaining $5,000.

Stefon Walters has positions in Vanguard Index Funds-Vanguard S&p 500 ETF and Vanguard Star Funds-Vanguard Total International Stock ETF. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Vanguard Index Funds-Vanguard S&p 500 ETF and Vanguard Star Funds-Vanguard Total International Stock ETF. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

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How I'd Invest $20,000 Today If I Had to Start From Scratch - The Motley Fool

It's important to prioritize the investment merits over any potential tax benefits when making portfolio adjustments, Fidelity's Munro said.

For many Canadians, taxes might not be top of mind until March or April when the income tax filing deadline approaches.

But there are a number of investment tax credits and breaks that need to be executed before the end of the year in order to take advantage of them when the April 30tax-filing deadline rolls around.

"An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Because in April, there's no opportunity to take advantage of these. It's too late," Michelle Munro, director of tax and retirement research at Fidelity Investments, told Yahoo Finance Canada in a phone interview.

"I know December is already a busy time, it's the end of year, holidays, what have you, but thinking about it can potentially save you thousands in taxes come April, depending on your situation."

Here are Munro's top three tax tips to take advantage over the next few weeks.

Tax-loss selling is one of the best ways investors can save on their tax bill, Munro says.

After a volatile year in the markets, it's time to balance out gains and losses to maximize tax efficiency.

"Think about how that fits into the whole picture and think about your portfolio, as well. Do you want to be hanging on to this investment for the long term? And if it doesn't really fit into your portfolio, think about how you can take advantage of this loss," she said.

She emphasized, however, that the investment merits of selling any holdings should take priority over any potential tax benefits.

Tax-loss selling is when an investor sells a security at a loss to offset capital gains and reduce the taxes owed. The trade must be settled before the end of the calendar year for it to count towards the 2022 tax year, so investors need to execute any such trades by Dec. 28 where there is a trade plus two-day settlement period.

Once losses have been applied to the current tax year, any excess losses can be carried back for up to three taxation years or carried forward indefinitely to offset future capital gains.

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Munro says it's relatively straight-forward to carry back losses for those that use electronic tax filing systems.

The one crucial aspect about tax-loss selling to remember is the superficial rule. It dictates that the investor must not have purchased the same or identical security within 30 days before or after triggering the loss. This rule applies across all of the investor's accounts, any corporations they control, or their spouse, otherwise Canada Revenue Agency will deny the loss.

She notes, on the contrary, if the investor is looking to re-balance and trigger a capital gain, it might be worth selling the security in 2023 to delay the tax bill to 2024.

It's the season of giving and any investor considering donating to a charity might want to donate securities in-kind rather than cash, Munro says.

To reap any tax benefits for security in-kind donations, they need to be made to a registered charity (the CRA has a list of eligible organizations on its website), and a donation receipt needs to be issued.

The tax benefits of donating securities in-kind are a "double bonus," she says.

"The gain associated with those donated units is eliminated on your tax return. And the individual gets a donation receipt for the fair market value of those donated securities."

On the first $200 worth of donations, there's a federal tax credit of 15 per cent. Any donations above that threshold are subject to a tax credit of 29 per cent, or 33 per cent in certain situations.

Despite the word "savings" being in the name, Canadians should maximize the use of their Tax-Free Savings Accounts as investment accounts, Munro says.

"Longevity is increasing, which means that the time in retirement is also increasing. And having a long-term investment focus for your TFSA. Think of your TFSA as a complement to your RRSP," she said.

Contributions to a TFSA are not tax-deductible unlike RRSP contributions, but any capital gains and investment income earned are not subject to tax when withdrawn.

One extra tip to consider: If an investor thinks they will need to take money out of their TFSA next year, it's better to withdraw the money in Dec. 2022 so the contribution room will be added back to their limit come Jan. 1, 2023, Munro says.

Otherwise, any contribution room from withdrawals in 2023 won't be added back until 2024.

Michelle Zadikian is a senior reporter at Yahoo Finance Canada. Follow her on Twitter @m_zadikian.

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It's not too late to take advantage of these year-end investment tax tips - Yahoo Finance

Investors should always remain aware of their risk tolerance, which becomes increasingly important as your position sizes grow and the stakes become larger. You might invest $500 differently than, say, $50,000.

But you don't have to completely ignore the investment strategy that got you to that point; you can invest to grow your wealth while minimizing the risk of severe volatility. Finding the highest quality stocks should be your goal, and here are some great stocks to consider, especially for those with large position sizes.

Technology conglomerate Alphabet (GOOG -0.94%) (GOOGL -0.94%) dominates the internet; its Google search engine conducts 92% of the world's internet searches, a fantastic stat because it shows that no company on earth has been able to set up a notable competitor in any market. It's about as close to a monopoly as you can get. Additionally, its video platform YouTube has become one of the world's largest media sources; it's the world's second-most-visited website, just behind Google.

Alphabet generates tons of profitable revenue by selling ads to its internet audience; the company's done $282 billion in revenue over the past year, and $62 billion of that (22%) becomes free cash flow, profits that Alphabet can add to its financial war chest. The company holds $116 billion in cash against just $12 billion in debt. Finding such a large and dominant business with robust financials is hard.

GOOG Revenue (TTM) data by YCharts.

Investors can feel confident putting their money into such a steady company. Plus, it's not like Alphabet can't keep growing; analysts believe the company's earnings-per-share (EPS) will increase by an average of 11% annually over the next three to five years. Shares are down 37% from their high in this bear market, its largest drawdown ever. That seems like a great buying opportunity for one of Wall Street's most fundamentally solid stocks.

Investing $50,000 into a dividend stock can produce some solid dividend streams, and telecom giant AT&T (T -0.16%) is an excellent option for maximizing your passive income. AT&T is the largest wireless carrier in the United States, with approximately 45% market share. The company's financials have improved dramatically since it shed its entertainment business to focus solely on telecom. The company's dividend yields 5.8% at the current share price.

T Payout Ratio data by YCharts.

AT&T is a former Dividend Aristocrat; it cut its dividend as part of its restructuring to free up more cash to pay down debt. This has provided a lot of relief to AT&T's financials, which should ensure a more reliable dividend moving forward. The current dividend payout ratio is more manageable at 58% of earnings,and AT&T's dividend should only become safer as the balance sheet sheds debt. AT&T's telecom business should also remain reliable in a recession. Most consumers pay their phone bills like a utility because of how much a smartphone does nowadays (social media, bills, banking, etc.).

AT&T's wireless business is picking up new customers at a healthy rate in 2022, which could be another clue that AT&T's business is trending upward. Analysts believe the company's EPS will grow by an average of 3% annually over the next three to five years. That won't impress your friends, but you don't need a lot of growth for AT&T to keep raising its dividend.

Global semiconductor company Texas Instruments (TXN -1.19%) makes analog chips that go into countless electronic devices. It's the world's leading analog chip supplier, with approximately 19% of the market in 2021. That translates to revenue totaling just over $20 billion over the past four quarters. Additionally, Texas Instruments is very profitable; about $0.29 of every revenue dollar ends up as free cash flow.

The company's strong margins have made Texas Instruments an excellent dividend stock; investors can get a 2.8% dividend yield today, and management has increased the payout for 19 consecutive years. The dividend payout ratio is 47%, which leaves plenty of room for growth for this (potential) eventual Dividend Aristocrat.

TXN Revenue (TTM) data by YCharts.

Semiconductors are the building blocks of technology, so chips should remain in demand as new technology like autonomous vehicles, the Internet of Things (IoT), and automation continue growing over the coming years. These opportunities should translate to growth for Texas Instruments; analysts are looking for EPS growth averaging 9% annually over the next three to five years. The stock has held up well in 2022, down just 14% from its high. But at a price-to-earnings ratio (P/E) of 18, the stock is still cheap compared to its median P/E over the last decade of 21.

Suzanne Frey, an executive at Alphabet, is a member of The Motley Fool's board of directors. Justin Pope has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Alphabet and Texas Instruments. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

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The Best Stocks to Invest $50,000 in Right Now - The Motley Fool

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