How Do Share Buybacks Work? Stock Repurchasing Pros and Cons
How do share buybacks work? Learn why companies repurchase their own stock, and why buybacks make some shareholders leery.
Personal Finance Guides
Market Realist wants you to invest successfully with these how to guides on everything from how to use the latest trading platforms to how to invest in cryptos, funds, and other assets.
How Does SoFi Invest Work? Specific Features and Benefits
SoFi Invest offers active investing, automated investing, crypto trading, and IRAs through its online platform.
Is a Robinhood Instant Account Free?
Is a Robinhood Instant account free? What is Robinhood Instant? Get answers to frequent questions about Robinhood’s default account type.
Can the Dow Jones Index Actually Reach Zero?
Can the Dow Jones go to zero? Under what circumstances would the index fall to zero and what would happen?
Estate Tax Returns Won’t Be Filed for 99.9 Percent of Decedents in 2020
What is estate tax and who pays it? Very few Americans pay estate tax. Learn more about federal and state estate taxes and inheritance taxes.
CDs Offer Big Rewards — If You Follow the Rules
What are CDs? Learn more about this type of savings account and find out some of the best CD rates.
How to Increase Wealth by Investing a Small Amount of Money
Warren Buffett, who made all his wealth by investing also started small. Can you also invest a small amount of money and get rich?
E-Trade Versus TD Ameritrade: Comparing Investing Apps
How do E-Trade and TD Ameritrade compare based on investment options, fees, and usability? Here’s how they stack up.
What Is Nasdaq and How Does It Compare to the NYSE?
Nasdaq is an American electronic exchange where stocks are bought and sold through an automated network.
Alibaba Has Stopped the Sale of $536.2 Million in Fake Products
Are Alibaba products fake? Although the company has stopped the sale of $536.2 million in fake products, buyers need to know how to identify scams.
Dow Jones Versus S&P 500 ETF: Which Should You Choose?
ETFs and index funds have gained traction. Between the Dow Jones and the S&P 500 ETF, which should you choose for your portfolio?
What Are TD Ameritrade's Day Trading Rules?
TD Ameritrade, like other brokers, enforces strict rules when it comes to day trading. Let’s see what those rules are.
Mortgage Payment Breakdown: How Much Goes to Principal and Interest?
What do mortgage payments include? See this mortgage payment breakdown to learn more about principal, interest, homeowners' insurance, and property tax.
How Does Forex Trading Work and Is It Profitable?
Forex trading is the conversion of national currencies against one another. Is forex trading profitable? See what our analysts suggest.
CARES Act Temporarily Changes Retirement Withdrawal Rules
To weather the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, the CARES Act temporarily eased the retirement withdrawal rules. Let’s see how it works.
Estate Planning Checklist — What Documents Do You Need?
Your estate planning checklist should include your will, your living will, your power of attorney, and your HIPAA release authorization.
How to Get a Mortgage Without a Credit Score
It’s possible to get a mortgage without a credit score thanks to manual underwriting. Which lenders offer manual underwriting and what do they look for?
What Are the Best S&P 500 ETFs for Investors in 2020?
The S&P 500 is the most popular index with approximately $4.6 trillion of assets indexed to it. What are the best S&P 500 ETFs for investors in 2020?
What's the Difference Between an Investor and a Stakeholder?
Whether you're buying into a business or looking for someone to invest in one, it's important to know the difference between investors and stakeholders.
Investing in IPOs? Consider These IPO ETFs
You can invest in IPOs individually through your broker. You can also consider ETFs and mutual funds that invest in IPOs. What are the best IPO ETFs in 2020?
How Many Mutual Funds Should You Have in Your Portfolio?
Many investors wonder that how many mutual funds they should have in their portfolio. Is there really a magic number?
When Do Mutual Funds Update?
A mutual fund’s net asset value is updated once a day after the equity market closes. The value is usually updated between 4:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. ET.
How Are Mutual Funds, Hedge Funds, and Index Funds Different?
Mutual funds, hedge funds, and index funds are popular pooled investments. What should you choose for your portfolio?
How to Track Your Stimulus Check Payment in 2020
If you haven't received your first stimulus check, you can use some IRS tools to track your payment.
How to Pick the Best ETFs to Buy in 2020
ETFs are getting popular this year. What are the best ETFs to add to your portfolio in 2020?
What’s the Long-Term Capital Gains Tax Rate in 2020?
The long-term capital gains tax rate applies after one year of holding the asset. What’s the long-term capital gains tax rate in 2020?
Do Investors Pay Taxes on Dividends and Reinvestments?
In the U.S., dividend taxes vary based on the classification. Our analysts break down dividend and reinvestment taxes based on the current tax rates.
How Dividends Are Taxed, Qualified Versus Non-Qualified
How dividends are taxed and how much tax you have to pay on your dividend income depends on the dividend classification and the total taxable income.
What’s the Capital Gains Tax Rate for Individuals in 2020?
Capital gains are a form of direct tax and are profit on the sale of an asset—movable or immovable. What’s the capital gains tax rate for individuals in 2020?
Who Is an Accredited Investor According to the New SEC Rules?
The SEC amended the definition of “accredited investor.” We’ll see what it includes now.
Special Purpose Acquisition Companies Gain Popularity Amid COVID-19
A special purpose acquisition company is formed to raise investment capital through an IPO and merge with another company.
Is MoneyGram Safe and Are the Fees Worth It?
Being smart with your money is more important than ever. Is MoneyGram safe and are the fees worth it?
Can Stocks Go Negative and What Happens When Prices Fall to Zero?
Can stock prices go negative? Learn how to distinguish the market value and book value. What's the difference between the price and value?
Airbnb IPO Could be a ‘Steal,’ But How Do You Buy In?
Wondering how to buy an IPO? Learn more about the IPO process now that Airbnb’s initial public offering and other hot-ticket IPOs are on the horizon.
Is Cash App a Legit Mobile Payment Service?
Cash App is a peer-to-peer money transfer service that allows users to receive and send money instantly. Is Cash App legit?
How Mutual Funds Work — A Guide for Beginners
Mutual funds provide investors with a packaged security of different investment asset classes.
Does PayPal Report Income to the IRS?
PayPal is an effective tool for personal and small businesses, but do they report income to the IRS?
Unsettled Funds on Robinhood: How to Access Them
Unsettled funds on Robinhood arise from bank deposits or stock sales that haven’t been fully completed as required by SEC regulations.
What Companies Are Worth Trillions? Apple Keeps Breaking the Mold
Apple was the first U.S. company to achieve a valuation of $1 trillion. The company passed $1 trillion on August 2, 2018.
How Do Futures Markets Work and What Time Do They Open?
Looking at the stock markets, there are futures contracts on the index as well as individual stocks. How do futures markets work and what time do they open?
What's a Reverse Stock Split, and Is It a Good Thing?
A reverse stock split is a reduction in the number of a company’s shares outstanding in the market. Is it good for investors?
How to Make Money During a Recession
People still have expenses during the recession. So, how do you make money during a recession when job losses are rampant?
American Express’ Platinum Card Offers Luxe Rewards, But Is It Right for You?
Which American Express credit card is the best? It depends on what rewards and benefits you’re seeking. Check out some top contenders.
Online Tools Help Homebuyers Figure Out How Much House They Can Afford
Wondering how much house you can afford? Learn about the online calculators at your disposal and the 28/36 rule of thumb that experts recommend.
Credit Karma’s Free Credit Reports Helped Make It a Startup Worth $7.1 Billion
See how accurate Credit Karma’s credit reports are, how its credit monitoring works, and what reviewers say about its savings accounts.
What Is Stock Liquidity and Why Should You Care About It?
As an investor, you have several considerations to make before buying into a stock. Stock liquidity is one of them. What is stock liquidity, you ask?
What Are Dow Jones Companies and What Is Their Weight?
The Dow Jones components have changed 60 times since its formation. See what our analysts say about Dow Jones companies and their weight in the index.
Which Companies Are Due for a Stock Split in 2020?
Some tech stocks are getting too expensive for retail investors. After Tesla and Apple, other U.S. companies might be due for a stock split in 2020.
What are Fractional Shares?
If you're looking to buy fractional shares safely, then this guide is for you. So, what are fractional shares, anyway?
U.K. Enters Recession: How Is Recession Different From Depression?
The U.K. has entered into recession for the first time in 11 years. It's the latest country to be officially in recession amid the COVID-19 pandemic.