Top 7 Financial Magazines Traders Should Read - Article (2024)

Reading financial magazines is one effective way to keep you updated with the latest news in the market. The following are 7 magazines recommended for beginners.

Many people might tell you that experience is the best teacher. In this case, you can open a demo account and carry out some trading practices there. But even so, in order to trade effectively, it's critical to stay updated with what's happening in the market.

One of the best ways to improve your knowledge is by reading financial magazines. These magazines can cover a wide variety of topics, including trading, investing, money management, and financial news.

Unfortunately, the print industry is not doing particularly well these days because many publishing and media companies have decided to hold their print products and went straight to digital. So, are physical magazines still worth reading?

The answer is yes. Financial magazines are able to provide a range of topics that may go beyond online financial articles. They offer deep insights, solid reporting, and unique stories that are easy to digest, even for complete beginners. On top of that, reading physical publications is often considered to be more convenient as there are no annoying ads that often pop up on financial news sites. It can bring a sense of calmness to its readers and a perfect break from your daily digital overload.

In comparison, digital articles are free and highly accessible. You simply need to search topics on the search bar and hundreds of articles will show up. The downside to this, however, is that sometimes, the quality of the content is not on-point as most online writers focus more on optimized keywords and flashy headlines. Thankfully, this is not the case with financial magazines because going viral is simply not their goal. Writers can go deep on various topics without having to worry about views or algorithms.

So, if you're looking for high-quality content full of useful and reliable information, digital or physical financial magazines are the best answer. Just try reading or subscribing to at least one publication and read regularly to see the benefits. Here are some of the best recommendations to get you started.

1. Barron's

Barron's is one of the best financial magazines dedicated to investing, unlike some other magazines that also feature world news and general business. Every week, Barron's highlights a central cover story that typically features a specific company or industry. Each issue is packed with at least five investment ideas for individual stock traders. There's also a weekly profile of an investment manager, an interview with a CEO and an asset manager, and an editorial commentary.

In each edition, you'll find a pullout section called "Market Week". It talks about news-driven analysis from the previous week and features multiple trading ideas for various markets. There are also lists of closing prices of active stocks, ETFs, mutual funds, commodities, bonds, etc. In addition, it includes many economic data points and the line-up for upcoming corporate conference calls, along with the dates and times for each call.

In summary, every issue of Barron's is full of ideas and basically everything you need to make a good investment. You'll get plenty of information that could help you improve your skills and generate bigger money. The subscription cost is $14.99 per month or $179 for the whole year for both the printed and digital editions.

2. The Economist

The Economist is a well-respected magazine that covers a bunch of international economic news and current events. The company has been operating since 1843, providing great insights and information in its weekly issues. Every edition contains many in-depth articles about various topics, including economics, business, politics, science, world news, technology, and more.

In a single piece, you can get multiple perspectives about various events and industries that may affect your portfolio performance. This is a huge advantage for traders, especially those who take a keen interest in international events and the impact of technology on many aspects of day-to-day lives. Interestingly, all articles are written anonymously and they are open to any critical responses in order to improve the content quality and standpoints on each topic.

In addition, there's an option to subscribe to both printed and digital editions. If you choose this package, you'll get an entire magazine in print and audio every Friday.

See also: Articles on Trading Plan and Strategy

3. Kiplinger's

Kiplinger's is a top recommendation that provides financial advice for individuals and businesses alike. Its weekly edition contains useful tips on various subjects, such as how to save money, manage debt, pay taxes, and even how to choose retirement plans. It also provides information on current events in the financial world.

Moreover, the magazine has a section called Kiplinger's Tax Letter that contains information on how to handle taxes and investments legally. There's also a new email service called Kiplinger's Alerts, which delivers practical advice straight to your computer or smartphone. Apart from being a monthly magazine, Kiplinger's also offers a host of newsletters on a weekly basis.

All in all, the magazine is a great choice for all types of investors. It is straightforward and easy to read, providing useful insights to improve your trades and investments. The subscription cost is also quite affordable – only $95.40 for 12 monthly issues.

4. Bloomberg Business Week

If you're looking for business news and commentary, Bloomberg Business Week is undoubtedly one of the best options on the market. It can be a great alternative to the Wall Street Journal, which mostly talks about daily news.

In a nutshell, Bloomberg Business Week provides great insights into business and management, as well as the latest economic and political news that may affect your investment portfolio. Apart from the regular printed edition, you can also choose to subscribe to the web-based magazine or tablet membership. Regardless of the package you choose, you will get access to Bloomberg Television live streaming, which is available online and on the Bloomberg app.

The only downside is the relatively high subscription cost compared to other publications. For the digital-only package, you'll need to pay $34.99 each month ($1.99 for the first 3 months) or $299 for the whole year. As for the full package (digital and printed edition), you'll need to pay $399 per year. However, considering the quality of the contents, the subscription price is still worth every penny, especially if you're an active trader.

5. Forbes

Forbes magazine is a well-known source of information for financial news and updates. Most of the content focuses on successful leaders in business and finance. In fact, Forbes is known for its famous lists and rankings of the wealthiest individuals and companies in America, such as the Forbes 400. So, the magazine basically highlights businesses, entrepreneurs, and startups that are expected to make a big change in the future. Apart from that, the magazine also talks about other topics such as economics, investing, marketing, technology, science, and law related to the financial world.

Forbes also offers investing newsletters, which are sent straight to your email, and a new digital network designed for female entrepreneurs called Women@Forbes. As for the subscription cost, you'll need to pay $49.99 per year for a total of 9 printed issues.

6. Investor's Business Daily

If you're looking for an information-packed magazine, Investor's Business Daily is certainly a great choice. The magazine covers various investment topics, including research, education, investment advice, and market reports. As the name suggests, the contents are published daily.

Initially, you can get a printed edition every day, but recently they changed their policies so that readers can only get one physical copy every week. However, you can still access their daily issues every day on their website.

All in all, the magazine is suitable for both beginners and experienced investors. You can get the weekly printed copies for only $36.95 per month ($20 for the first 2 months). The magazines contain loads of market news and investment ideas that can be helpful for your investment plans. Additionally, you can also make use of their webinars and other educational resources to improve your investing knowledge.

7. Technical Analysis of Stocks & Commodities (TASC)

If you're not a huge physical reader, you can try subscribing to digital magazines only. TASC is known as one of the oldest financial journals out there that offer in-depth articles suitable for intermediate to advanced traders and technical analysts. It includes articles on various trading aspects, like chart patterns, market analysis, technical indicators, and strategies. Apart from that, the magazine includes interviews with successful traders as well as reviews of trading books and software.

As for beginners, TASC provides articles about new techniques and indicators to analyze the markets. Sometimes, the magazine provides codes for various technical analysis packages such as MetaStock or TC2000, so you can try them with your own indicators and strategies. Overall, it is a very well-written and insightful magazine for traders.

It's recommended to start with a one-year subscription, which costs $89.99. Apart from getting new issues every month, you'll also get complete access to the entire digital library and all downloadable content dating back to 1982. So, if you like trading and you are interested in technical analysis, TASC magazine is definitely worth subscribing to.

Final Thoughts

Financial magazines offer information and analysis that you won't get anywhere else. If you want to bring your trading skills to the next level, try subscribing to at least one financial magazine and read regularly.

As explained in above, each magazine focuses on different things, so make sure that you pick publications that match your needs. For instance, if you're interested in technical trading, subscribe to TASC. But if you want to get personal financial advice, Kiplinger's can be the better choice.