Buy low, sell high.  At least, that’s the theory.  While the U.S. stock market has climbed 15% in 2012, investors have collectively withdrawn $60 billion from stock mutual funds.  Just more evidence of undisciplined investor behavior.

While the conventional wisdom suggests a “don’t just sit there, do something” approach to investing, nothing could be further from the truth.   New data from USA TODAY and online portfolio tracker SigFig show investors who actively trade their portfolios do far worse than those with a buy-and-hold approach.  The takeaway?  Don’t just do something, sit there.

Q: How do exchange rates impact international stock returns?

Facebook’s looming initial public offering will mint a new generation of Silicon Valley millionaires on a level not seen since 2004, when Google went public. In this Portland Business Journal guest column, Vista’s Dougal Williams explains why Facebook’s new rich would be wise to learn an investment lesson from their Silicon Valley neighbor.

Q: What’s your take on Employee Stock Purchase Plans? I have an opportunity to participate in my company’s ESPP, but don’t quite know the details of how they work. Should I participate?