The magnetized needle of a conventional compass wants to align with Earth’s magnetic field—helpful, unless you’re near the poles, where the field tugs straight downward, rendering magnetic compasses ...

Toni is a points and miles enthusiast who has been leveraging loyalty programs to travel around the world (for nearly free) with her husband and their four young children. She’s passionate about ...

Investopedia contributors come from a range of backgrounds, and over 25 years there have been thousands of expert writers and editors who have contributed. Gordon Scott has been an active investor and ...

Adam Hayes, Ph.D., CFA, is a financial writer with 15+ years Wall Street experience as a derivatives trader. Besides his extensive derivative trading expertise, Adam is an expert in economics and ...