Best Finance Magazines

In a market that's constantly changing, knowledge is power. Reading the best finance magazines can help you stay on top of the market and anticipate which assets will appreciate in value. There is a seemingly endless number of magazines focusing on investing, finance, and business strategies.

The rise of digital media has given a platform to a new wave of financial writers and advisors as well, offering would-be investors more options than ever before when it comes to reading material. Which finance magazines are worth your time? We've put together a list of the six most informative financial magazines on the market, along with some tips and tricks for finding your favorite.

Quick Look: The Best Finance Magazines to Read Right Now:

• The Economist
• Investor's Business Daily
• Money
• Inc.
• Barron's
• Bloomberg Businessweek

How to find a great financial magazine

There are more financial and investment magazines on the shelves than any one person could ever read in a lifetime. How can you tell which one is the best? Look for magazines that are:

• At your level of understanding. Each magazine has a different audience — some are aimed at seasoned trading professionals, while others focus on teaching beginners the skills and strategies they'll need to start managing their investments. The best education comes when you challenge yourself, but if you choose a magazine that is written leagues above or below your skill level, you’ll have wasted time and effort.
• Authored by the professionals. Professional authors are proud of their accomplishments and love to brag in their bylines. Check the bottom of a few articles for blurbs offering more information on the authors and use your search engine of choice to see where else authors of the magazine are published. If you can't find any information, chances are good you aren't learning from primary sources.
• Focused on your interests. The best magazines focus on a particular niche. Read a few sample articles online to ensure that the magazine's content aligns with your financial interests.

1. The Economist

Residing at a unique intersection between finance and politics, The Economist has gained nationwide notoriety as one of the longest-running economic publications. Founded in 1843, The Economist prides itself on reporting from a comprehensive and politically-neutral perspective. Filled with insightful commentary on market movements, foreign and domestic politics, and how inside business operations will affect the bottom-lines of shareholders. The Economist also places heavy emphasis on showing connections between politics and economic movements, making it particularly useful for forex trading investors and those who invest in stocks outside of the United States. Don't have time to read on your way out the door? The Economist also creates YouTube videos that succulently condense the most important news stories into bite-sized videos — like this one covering YouTube's recent power-struggle between balancing creators' freedoms of speech and the interests of advertisers.

Get it on Amazon

The Economist print edition: $45 per month The Economist Kindle edition: $12.99 per month

2. Investor's Business Daily

Investor's Business Daily is an in-depth publication perfect for serious investors who already have a grasp on the basics. The magazine employs a team of market analysts who not only report on the daily movements of the domestic market but also offer predictions and commentaries on how investors should interpret these shifting signals. Don't expect any fluff pieces or filler — Investor's Business Daily's simple online layout and no-nonsense editorials make it popular amongst investing professionals. As its name implies, the magazine releases a new issue every day, making it one of the most comprehensive and up-to-date resources on our countdown. Investor's Business Daily used to send out a daily physical copy to your doorstep, but times have changed, leading the company to focus more on digital distribution. Daily e-reader downloads are available for most devices, and Investor's Business Daily also offers subscribers one physical copy a week with additional stories, editorials, and analyses.

Get it on Amazon

Investor's Business Daily Kindle edition: $5.99 per month Investor's Business Daily print edition: $272 per year

3. Money

Money aims its content at men and women who are interested in casual finance tips and tricks. You won't find hard-hitting insights and scorching political analyses within the pages of Money, but you will find casual editorials and features that are as fun to read as they are informative. Money is aimed at working professionals and older consumers who are looking to skip the technical jargon and cut straight to the news they can use. Common topics you'll see covered include saving for retirement and saving for a child's college education, increasing property values through home improvements, and making small investments. The magazine also frequently features information on improving credit and avoiding common financial scams. Money is published monthly and is a perfect choice for the consumer who is looking to dip his or her toes into the world of financial education for the first time.

Get it on Amazon

Money Kindle edition: $14.99 per year Money print edition: $14.95 per year

4. Inc.

If you own a business, Inc. magazine will quickly become one of your go-to resources when paving your path to growth and success. Aimed at small business owners, Inc. frequently features useful tips and strategies for business owners to better handle their cash flow, manage secondary investments, and save more money when tax season rolls around. One of Inc.'s reoccurring segments is the Inc. 500, which is a list of the fastest-growing businesses in the United States — perfect for business owners looking to size up the competition. The magazine also consistently features interviews with Inc. 500 CEOs, where the men and women who are changing the economy share insider tips on how to start, expand, and lead a business. These interviews are often also shared on its YouTube channel. One of Inc.’s most notorious discussions, with Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban on overcoming prejudice, offers a quintessential look at the straight-to-the-truth interview style that the magazine values. Inc. is published weekly and offers both digital and physical copy subscription plans. In a culture that lionizes the startup, Inc. is the perfect choice for business owners who want to focus on financial tips they can use in their day-to-day operations.

Get it on Amazon

Inc. Kindle edition: $12.99 per year Inc. print edition: $9.97 per year

5. Barron's

Barron's is a weekly financial magazine that's considered to be one of the most respected periodicals in the world of investing. Barron's skips the general world news and editorials that are found in other magazines and goes straight to the technical details of the businesses and industry trends that wield the most influence over the world's economy. Every issue focuses on taking an in-depth look at a single entity or enterprise and offers expert interviews, charts, and diagrams to help you make your own decision on the movement of the subject that week. One of the crown jewels of Barron's is the "Barron's Picks and Pans" segment of the magazine's website, which offers real-time updates to the stocks that the magazine writes about (both favorably and unfavorably) and makes suggestions on which ones to "pick" and "pan." When used in conjunction with the magazine's weekly installments, it can be a powerful tool for both expert traders with years of experience and new investors looking for a way to learn the ropes.

Get it on Amazon

Barron's Kindle edition: $12.49 per month

6. Bloomberg Businessweek

Bloomberg Businessweek is aimed at the politically-savvy reader who is particularly interested in what's going on in the international market. The magazine prides itself on providing information on global cultural and political happenings and does an efficient job of connecting movements in the market to social changes. Bloomberg Businessweek is an excellent resource for new financial investors who want to strengthen their grasp on the current political climate. One of the qualities that make Bloomberg Businessweek particularly unique is the number of subscription plans it offers. The magazine is published weekly, and you can get it delivered as a physical copy, a web-based subscription or a tablet-accessible version that can be read offline. Perfect for the investor on-the-go, Bloomberg Businessweek has remained a staple of economic and cultural news since its founding in 1929.

Get it on Amazon

Bloomberg Businessweek Kindle edition: $59.99 per year Bloomberg Businessweek print edition: $12.00 every three months

Final thoughts

Your goals will heavily influence which sources you find useful. If you're a professional investor looking for day trading advice, you'll find the interviews and thinkpieces found in Inc.'s pages to be tiresome. If you're a college student looking to build up your credit or pay down a student loan, the technical analyses reported by Investor's Business Daily will be frustrating to comprehend at best and downright useless at worst. Finance magazines that align with your needs and interests can be a powerful tool. What experts deem the most informative finance magazines may not suit your personal taste at all.  Read the finance magazine's mission statement and gloss through a few sample articles online before buying a subscription.