- What Is the Volcker Rule, and How Does It Work?
The Volcker Rule was established following the Great Recession of the late 2000s and early 2010s. Essentially, the law stops depository banks from making risky and speculative investments with customer deposits. Furthermore, it prohibits banks from owning and investing in… read more…
- The Dodd-Frank Act Explained (and How It’s Changed)
The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, commonly known as Dodd-Frank, was passed in 2010 in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis. The Obama-era law aimed to prevent another financial meltdown. It increased regulation of the financial industry… read more…
- SIPC vs. FDIC: Understanding Key Differences
Whether you’re saving money in a bank account or investing it in the market, you want some reassurance that it’s safe. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) and the Securities Investor Protection Corporation (SIPC) ensure banks and other financial institutions,… read more…
- How to Invest in Airbnb Without Owning Property?
Airbnb, which literally started with an air mattress in San Francisco, has now become arguably the biggest thing in hospitality. This app and website reached a level where many people run entire businesses, particularly in communities with lots of tourism.… read more…
- 5 Things to Invest in When a Recession Hits
When the market is soaring, it’s easy to forget that what goes up can also come down. But economic slowdowns tend to be cyclical, which means that another recession is in the future. Whether it’s fast-approaching or still a ways off, it’s… read more…
- How Do Employee Stock Options Work?
Stock options are something most people have heard of, but you might not know exactly how they work. In brief, stock options are a type of alternative compensation that some companies, including many startups, offer as part of their package… read more…
- How to Invest $100,000
If you’re looking to invest $100,000, you have a lot of options, and what you decide to go with can affect what kinds of returns you earn. You could also invest in real estate, or put some of the money… read more…
- What Is a Good P/E Ratio? Is High or Low Better?
P/E ratio, or price-to-earnings ratio, is a quick way to see if a stock is undervalued or overvalued. And so generally speaking, the lower the P/E ratio is, the better it is for both the business and potential investors. The… read more…
- How to Open a CD Account
Certificates of deposit (CD) accounts allow depositors to earn a guaranteed interest rate in exchange for keeping their money in the account for a predetermined length of time. These accounts can have higher interest rates than those on traditional savings… read more…
- Congress Votes to Ban This Investment From Your 401(k): Here’s Where You Can Still Find It
ESG investing is a big trend. Citigroup is doing it. JP Morgan is doing it. Deutsche Bank is doing it. But a faction in Congress wants to make sure your retirement plan can’t do it. ESG investing stands for Environmental,… read more…
- You Can Now Make Money Making Fun of Jim Cramer
In the world of television commentators, few inspire more venom among certain portions of the internet as CNBC’s Jim Cramer. He was harshly criticized in the aftermath of the 2009 credit crisis, and he’s still frequently called out for his… read more…
- Why Now Is the Time to Take a Second Look at Active Stock Investing
Passive investing has been steadily growing in popularity thanks to the proliferation of low-cost index funds and exchange-traded funds (ETFs). Investors who opted for this hands-off approach were rewarded over the course of the most recent bull market, which spanned… read more…
- Now May Be the Time to Reduce Your Exposure to Emerging Markets
Prospects in 2023 for emerging market stocks to do as well as they did in 2022 may be dimming. Financial planning firm Facet recently advised clients that it is reducing their allocation of emerging market equities to 5% from 10%. The move,… read more…
- How Capital Gains Distributions Work
During tax season, did you receive a 1099-DIV form that showed you received a capital gains distribution? If so, you may owe taxes on the money. A capital gains distribution is a payment from a mutual fund or ETF for… read more…
- Torn On How To Spend Your Refund? This Investment Offers Low-Risk And Inflation Protection
As tax season continues, many individuals are anticipating receiving a tax refund — and figuring out what fun item or experience they’ll splurge on. As much fun as a new ATV would be, though, it might be smarter to invest… read more…
- Angel Investing vs. Venture Capital
Angel investors and venture capitalists tend to operate in the same circles. While both invest in startup companies and new technologies, they’re otherwise very different. An angel investor is generally an individual looking to invest their own money in a… read more…
- What Is a Tax Lien Certificate?
If a homeowner doesn’t pay their property taxes, the government can put a tax lien on their house. An unpaid tax lien can result in the homeowner losing their house through foreclosure. But did you know that tax liens can… read more…
- How to Invest in Index Funds
If you would like to invest in a financial asset with low operating costs, exposure to the broad market or a market sector and lower taxes, an index fund might be for you. You will find that you can use… read more…
- Fidelity vs. Charles Schwab
As investing platforms, Charles Schwab and Fidelity make for a very apples-to-apples comparison. Both are long-standing brokerage houses with a history of financial management, personal advising and retail services. Both have introduced online trading platforms in the form of apps… read more…
- Roth IRA vs. Mutual Fund: Key Differences
Investing is a key component of any plan to build wealth. And when shaping that plan, it’s important to consider two things: what to invest in and where to keep that money. A mutual fund, for example, is a popular… read more…
- Morningstar Says This Overlooked Asset Could Break Out in 2023
In the world of investments, perhaps none are less flashy than municipal bonds. If stocks and corporate bonds are the steak and roasted potatoes of your investment plate, municipal bonds are more like steamed brussels sprouts. But this overlooked asset… read more…
- Keep These Tax Changes in Mind in 2023
Tax season is well underway once again. For those who got an early jump and already filed their 2022 taxes, it’s never too soon to start thinking about your tax plan for 2023. While filers shouldn’t expect a whole lot… read more…
- What Is an Equity Stake in a Business?
Equity stake refers to the amount of ownership of a company owned by a person, organization or group of owners. It’s usually expressed in percentage terms, with 100% equity stake indicating complete ownership. Owning an equity stake in a company… read more…
- Biden Wants Stock Buybacks to Be Costlier for Companies: What It Means For Investors
Stock buybacks are a boon to investors, but they’ll often rile up the more general public, as they are seen as companies prioritizing shareholders over workers and customers. President Joe Biden clearly seems to think so, as he announced during… read more…
- BlackRock Sees Opportunities in the Metaverse
One of the hottest topics in the world of technology in the past few years has been the Metaverse — a virtual world where people from all over can interact. While there remain serious questions about how exactly people are… read more…