Timing the market, as it relates to trading and investing, requires a whole lot of luck. In effect, it means waiting for ideal market conditions, and then making a move to try and capitalize on the best market outcome. But nobody can predict the future, and it’s a high-risk strategy.
When seeing stock market charts and business news headlines, it can be tempting to imagine striking it rich by timing investments perfectly. In reality, figuring out when to buy or sell stocks is extremely difficult. Both professional and at-home investors make serious mistakes when trying to time their market entrance or exit.
Why Timing the Stock Market Doesn’t Work
Waiting to start investing could cost an individual thousands of dollars over their lifetime. It’s also important to know that by leaving money in a checking or savings account, a person is not protecting their money from inflation risk. That’s because the value of that cash in a checking or savings account erodes if the prices of goods and services increase.
Meanwhile, stock market timing is incredibly complex. Stock prices can be influenced by global macroeconomic events, political events in a country, developments in specific industries or companies, as well as the sentiment of investors as a collective.
Even professional investors struggle to “beat the market,” which often means simplifying trying to outperform a benchmark stock index. In fact, most investors can’t beat the market, and are likely better off sticking to index investing.
Fear and Greed in Investing
When investing, it’s also important not to let two key emotions – fear and greed – drive decisions. That means if the stock market is plummeting, investors may be fearful, but they can’t let those feelings push them toward a decision to sell. That could cause them to “lock in” losses. There’s even a Fear and Greed Index that investors sometimes use to make contrarian decisions.
Take for instance what happened during the 2008 financial crisis. After Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. filed for bankruptcy in September 2008, the stock market entered a tumultuous stretch. The S&P 500 finally bottomed on March 9, 2009. However, the index eventually regained all its losses in the course of roughly the next four years. Investors who had hung on likely may have recovered their losses.
Meanwhile, greed can cause investors to make poor decisions as well. For instance, during the dotcom bubble, investors bought into many newly public Internet companies without always doing the research. Some of these stocks weren’t even turning a profit, making their businesses vulnerable to going belly up. Ultimately, many at-home investors suffered losses when the dot-com bubble burst.
Of course there are no guarantees when it comes to investing. There’s always risk and volatility involved. However, one of the most tried and true methods for building wealth has been a buy-and-hold strategy when it comes to stock investing.
💡 Quick Tip: When people talk about investment risk, they mean the risk of losing money. Some investments are higher risk, some are lower. Be sure to bear this in mind when investing online.
Why It May Be a Good Idea to Invest Immediately
One of the most important predictors of your returns is the length of time you’ve invested in the stock market. While it’s difficult to predict what the market will do in the near future, an investor can get a better sense over the long term.
When an investor lets their money grow, it has the chance to weather short-term ups and downs and grow over time. On average, the S&P 500, often used as a market benchmark, has grown 7% a year after adjusting for inflation. That doesn’t mean a person can predict what will happen this year, or even in the next 10 years, but looking at long term trends can give them a better sense of market dynamics.
An individual might put off investing because they want to pay off all debts first or achieve other goals, like buying a house. In some cases, that might be true, like paying off high-interest credit cards or saving for a short-term goal, such as a three to six-month emergency fund.
But once a person has an emergency fund and is out of credit card debt, they should consider investing, even if they have a mortgage or student loan debt. Even if they’re only investing for retirement, it’s a good idea to start as soon as possible.
💡 Quick Tip: How to manage potential risk factors in a self-directed investment account? Doing your research and employing strategies like dollar-cost averaging and diversification may help mitigate financial risk when trading stocks.
Consider Investing as Early as Possible
The younger you are when you invest, the better the chances are that you’ll reach your financial goals. For example, imagine Person A invests $200 a month in a retirement account starting at age 25.
Person B invests the same amount starting at age 35. They both continue to add $200 a month to their account. When they both retire at age 65, Person A will have almost twice as much as Person B: $306,689, compared to $167,550, assuming a 6% rate of return, 2% inflation rate, and 15% tax rate.
That’s true even though Person A only contributed 33% more to her account. This is how compound interest grows investments, or the power of how earnings from one’s investments can continue to build wealth.
Percentage of Retail Investors in Stock Market
As mentioned, after the 2008 financial crisis, many people were reluctant to invest in the stock market. But in recent years, that’s changed. Retail investor participation in the U.S. stock market increased considerably in 2020 and 2021, for a variety of reasons.
As of 2023, retail inventors comprise about a quarter of all total trading volume in the stock market. That may change in the future, too, as younger investors – with quicker, easier access to investing tools, in many cases – look at getting into the markets.
The Takeaway
Timing the market is difficult, if not impossible, and involves trying to “time” trading or investing moves to coincide with an increase or decrease in the stock market. Nobody can tell what the future holds, so it’s generally hard to accurately pick the right investments at the right time. That’s not to say that some investors don’t get it right from time to time, but as an overall strategy, it’s likely not advisable.
If an individual is skittish about investing, their anxiety makes sense in light of the dramatic market ups and downs many have witnessed in the past two decades. But trying to time the market doesn’t work. Instead, investing in a diversified portfolio can be a good step toward building individual wealth.
Ready to invest in your goals? It’s easy to get started when you open an investment account with SoFi Invest. You can invest in stocks, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), and more. SoFi doesn’t charge commissions, but other fees apply (full fee disclosure here).
For a limited time, opening and funding an Active Invest account gives you the opportunity to get up to $1,000 in the stock of your choice.
SoFi Invest® The information provided is not meant to provide investment or financial advice. Also, past performance is no guarantee of future results. Investment decisions should be based on an individual’s specific financial needs, goals, and risk profile. SoFi can’t guarantee future financial performance. Advisory services offered through SoFi Wealth, LLC. SoFi Securities, LLC, member FINRA / SIPC . SoFi Invest refers to the three investment and trading platforms operated by Social Finance, Inc. and its affiliates (described below). Individual customer accounts may be subject to the terms applicable to one or more of the platforms below. 1) Automated Investing—The Automated Investing platform is owned by SoFi Wealth LLC, an SEC registered investment advisor (“Sofi Wealth“). Brokerage services are provided to SoFi Wealth LLC by SoFi Securities LLC, an affiliated SEC registered broker dealer and member FINRA/SIPC, (“Sofi Securities).
2) Active Investing—The Active Investing platform is owned by SoFi Securities LLC. Clearing and custody of all securities are provided by APEX Clearing Corporation.
3) Cryptocurrency is offered by SoFi Digital Assets, LLC, a FinCEN registered Money Service Business.
For additional disclosures related to the SoFi Invest platforms described above, including state licensure of Sofi Digital Assets, LLC, please visit www.sofi.com/legal.
Neither the Investment Advisor Representatives of SoFi Wealth, nor the Registered Representatives of SoFi Securities are compensated for the sale of any product or service sold through any SoFi Invest platform. Information related to lending products contained herein should not be construed as an offer or prequalification for any loan product offered by SoFi Bank, N.A.
Financial Tips & Strategies: The tips provided on this website are of a general nature and do not take into account your specific objectives, financial situation, and needs. You should always consider their appropriateness given your own circumstances.
Claw Promotion: Customer must fund their Active Invest account with at least $10 within 30 days of opening the account. Probability of customer receiving $1,000 is 0.028%. See full terms and conditions.
Investment Risk: Diversification can help reduce some investment risk. It cannot guarantee profit, or fully protect in a down market.
Gross Domestic Product, or GDP, is an economic measure representing the total value of all goods and services that a country or region produces in a specific time period, usually a quarter or a year.
The GDP of the United States was $26.49 trillion at the end of Q1, 2023, an increase of 1.3% over the previous quarter, according to the Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA).
GDP can serve as a quick, numeric shorthand for explaining a country’s economy’s trajectory, and investors can use it as a factor, along with market trends and other analysis, in making their investing decisions. It’s important for investors to know more than just the definition of GDP in order to have context about what the number truly means.
Calculating GDP
When calculating the GDP of a country, economists look at a wide range of factors, including: Public and private consumption, government spending, investments, growth in private inventories, construction spending, as well as the balance of foreign trade (exports minus imports).
The GDP formula can be complicated, so to enable comparisons, countries typically follow a set of internationally accepted guidelines, known as the 1993 System of National Accounts, created by the International Monetary Fund, the European Commission, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, the United Nations, and the World Bank.
In the United States, the BEA uses data collected by other federal agencies, including the Census Bureau, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and the Treasury. It also gathers information directly from private industry, including trade groups and companies that specialize in sales data for a wide range of products, from prescription drugs to cars.
💡 Quick Tip: Did you know that opening a brokerage account typically doesn’t come with any setup costs? Often, the only requirement to open a brokerage account — aside from providing personal details — is making an initial deposit.
Multiple Measures of GDP
There are several ways to measure GDP.
Real GDP
Real GDP is an inflation-adjusted measure of the value of the amount of goods and services produced by a given economy. This is the number typically released by the United States.
Nominal GDP
Nominal GDP uses current market prices to compare countries’ GDP. It does not adjust values based on inflation. If a country’s output remains steady, but the value of what they produce changes, then its nominal GDP would change. That makes it much harder to compare GDP in two different time periods.
Purchasing Power Parity GDP
Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) measures GDP as adjusted for the differences in both local prices and local living costs. This metric allows economists to make more meaningful correlations from country to country about the impact of GDP on the people who live there.
Per Capita GDP
This breaks down the GDP by the number of people in a country’s population. As such, it shows the average output or income of each person in that country, and is often used to paint a picture of the relative wealth or poverty in a given country.
Recommended: 101 Investing Guide
What GDP Means for Investors
When the GDP makes the financial news, the number in the headline is usually a percentage, namely how much the GDP rose or fell in the most recent quarter. The standard definition of a recession is two quarters of consecutive declines in the GDP.
During a period of rising GDP, employment tends to increase because companies staff up for expansion. This means that more people have more income to spend. That creates more business, which keeps the growth cycle spinning. But when GDP is in decline, the opposite tends to occur, with fewer people working, and wages depressed, leading to a downward cycle.
While there is not a direct cause-effect relationship between the GDP and stock or bond prices, some investors use a strategy known as business-cycle investing to determine how to allocate their portfolio.
Recommended: Asset Allocation by Age
Equity Investors
Many stock investors prefer an economy where the GDP is steadily rising, since it often means a healthy economy and higher company earnings, which can boost the stock market. In contrast, a falling or stagnant GDP can be bad news for stock prices.
Bond Investors
Fixed-income investors may have a different view of GDP. That’s because GDP growth often comes with more borrowing by both consumers and businesses, which can create inflation. Inflation often leads to higher interest rates, which have the effect of driving down bond prices. With sinking GDP, the opposite tends to happen, resulting in higher bond prices.
The Takeaway
GDP is essentially an economic scorecard for a country. By understanding how a country’s GDP is changing over time, and how it compares to other countries, you can get a sense of its overall economic health. Investors can consider GDP trends when planning their investing strategy.
Ready to invest in your goals? It’s easy to get started when you open an investment account with SoFi Invest. You can invest in stocks, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), and more. SoFi doesn’t charge commissions, but other fees apply (full fee disclosure here).
For a limited time, opening and funding an Active Invest account gives you the opportunity to get up to $1,000 in the stock of your choice.
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SoFi Invest® The information provided is not meant to provide investment or financial advice. Also, past performance is no guarantee of future results. Investment decisions should be based on an individual’s specific financial needs, goals, and risk profile. SoFi can’t guarantee future financial performance. Advisory services offered through SoFi Wealth, LLC. SoFi Securities, LLC, member FINRA / SIPC . SoFi Invest refers to the three investment and trading platforms operated by Social Finance, Inc. and its affiliates (described below). Individual customer accounts may be subject to the terms applicable to one or more of the platforms below. 1) Automated Investing—The Automated Investing platform is owned by SoFi Wealth LLC, an SEC registered investment advisor (“Sofi Wealth“). Brokerage services are provided to SoFi Wealth LLC by SoFi Securities LLC, an affiliated SEC registered broker dealer and member FINRA/SIPC, (“Sofi Securities).
2) Active Investing—The Active Investing platform is owned by SoFi Securities LLC. Clearing and custody of all securities are provided by APEX Clearing Corporation.
3) Cryptocurrency is offered by SoFi Digital Assets, LLC, a FinCEN registered Money Service Business.
For additional disclosures related to the SoFi Invest platforms described above, including state licensure of Sofi Digital Assets, LLC, please visit www.sofi.com/legal.
Neither the Investment Advisor Representatives of SoFi Wealth, nor the Registered Representatives of SoFi Securities are compensated for the sale of any product or service sold through any SoFi Invest platform. Information related to lending products contained herein should not be construed as an offer or prequalification for any loan product offered by SoFi Bank, N.A.
Claw Promotion: Customer must fund their Active Invest account with at least $10 within 30 days of opening the account. Probability of customer receiving $1,000 is 0.028%. See full terms and conditions.
The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. (FDIC) looks to have found a way forward for the portfolio of affordable-housing assets it took over from failed lender Signature Bank.
In its announcement that it has begun the process to sell the $33 billion of commercial real estate loans from Signature, FDIC said it will create joint ventures with potential buyers of the approximately $15 billion in loans for multifamily residences that are rent- stabilized or rent-controlled.
The regulator said the move is part of its obligation to ensure that it helps preserve affordable housing “for low- and moderate-income individuals.” The majority of these loans are for properties in New York City.
FDIC said that it will retain “a majority equity interest” in the venture while the winning bidders will be tasked with the “management, servicing and ultimate disposition of the loans.”
“Operating agreement will provide certain requirements that facilitate the financial and physical preservation of these loans and underlying collateral,” it said.
A spokesperson at FDIC told Newsweek that the “joint venture transactions enable the FDIC to retain a majority interest while transferring day-to-day management responsibilities to private sector professionals who also have a financial interest in the assets and an obligation to share in the costs and risks associated with ownership.”
The decision by FDIC to want to preserve affordable housing for low-income residents comes at a time when rent in New York City has skyrocketed. Median rent in September in New York is a little over $3,700, which is 77 percent higher than the national median, according to real estate site Zillow, and has gone up by more than $200 from the same time last year.
There were fears by some New Yorkers that the assets could be sold to new owners that were more interested in squeezing profits out of the properties rather than maintaining their rent-controlled or rent-stabilized status, as reported by The City earlier this year.
In March, the New York Department of Financial Services shut Signature Bank down after its collapse in one of the largest bank failures in U.S. history and appointed FDIC as the receiver of the failed lender’s assets. Flagstar Bank, a subsidiary of New York Community Bank, took over the deposits and some assets of the former Signature Bank in a deal struck in March by the regulator.
The shift could help FDIC find buyers who might have been reluctant due to rent stabilization or rent control, according to The Real Deal, a real estate-focused news outlet.
But some analysts say the properties remain attractive, despite the high interest rates.
“Even in this environment, there are buyers of rent-stabilized buildings and lenders who make loans on them, because if the underlying properties are valued at cap rates near today’s interest rates, they would be very safe investments to own as a loan or as real estate in the case the loans are not performing,” Matt Pestronk, president and co-founder of Post Brothers, a real estate developer based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, told Reuters.
FDIC said the marketing for Signature Bank’s portfolio will occur over the next three months and the deals are expected to conclude by year’s end. The New York City-headquartered Newmark & Company Real Estate is advising on the sale.
Quadruple witching refers to the simultaneous expiration of four popular investment contracts, creating wild market conditions. Given its name, it may just be the spookiest day of the year for investors – sorry, Halloween! Quadruple witching day occurs on the third Friday in March, June, September, and December.
The last hour of those trading days is known as the “quadruple witching hour”, when many derivatives contracts expire, often creating volatility in the markets. That’s because there may be higher market volume on those days as traders either close out or roll over their positions.
What is Quadruple Witching Day?
Quadruple witching, or quad witching, is trader’s terminology for the four dates on the calendar when four kinds of options contracts expire: stock options, stock index futures, index options, and stock futures.
Each of the contracts has expiration dates that will match up each quarter, which is why quadruple witching, or quad witching, happens in the third, sixth, ninth and twelfth month of the year respectively. The expiration for these contracts happen at the same time in the day — the afternoon.
While events like quadruple witching may not impact how and when you invest (especially if you’re investing for the long term), they are a good reminder of the investment risks that any investing strategy or approach brings.
How much attention individual investors pay to witching day may depend on their investing philosophy and their time horizon. Since quad witching can result in short-term volatility, many passive investors may ignore them entirely. On the other hand, active investors who try to time the market and get in and out of trades quickly in the most advantageous manner, may use them to inform their strategy and consider buying or selling witching hour stocks.
💡 Quick Tip: If you’re opening a brokerage account for the first time, consider starting with an amount of money you’re prepared to lose. Investing always includes the risk of loss, and until you’ve gained some experience, it’s probably wise to start small.
Contracts Involved in Quad Witching
To understand quadruple witching, you have to first understand the different options contracts involved. Stock index futures, stock index options, single stock futures and single stock options are all derivatives, meaning their value corresponds to the value or change in value of an underlying asset. The underlying assets are either stock market indexes, like the S&P 500, or individual company stocks.
Options contracts give holders the right, but not the obligation, to buy or sell a stock at a certain price at a future date. Futures contracts are contracts to purchase shares of a given stock at a certain price in the future.
For indices, futures and options are contracts on the value of an equity index. Investors often use these either to hedge or make outright speculations on the moves of an index. All four derivatives are complex investments that involve risks when playing the market, and they’re more often used by professional traders and institutional traders than retail investors.
Recommended: Is it Possible to Time the Stock Market?
How Does Quadruple Witching Affect the Market?
Quadruple witching days are those four days of the year when these types of contracts all expire, those who bought contracts and choose to exercise them will receive their stock or cash, or they make additional transactions to take advantage of arbitrage opportunities.
This can lead to more buying and selling of shares than is typical for a given day or, especially a given hour. Increased volume can mean more volatility in the markets and the possibility of large swings during the day.
One reason these days can cause hiccups in the markets is that while certain positions expire, investors may want to extend them. This means they have to “roll” the bet in order to keep it active, potentially forcing other players in the market to buy or sell, especially if the market is already volatile or choppy.
For trades that involve the transfer or automatic buying of stock, like options trades on individual shares, the quadruple witching date can mean automatic buying up of shares to fulfill the options contracts, leading to spikes even if there is no “fundamental” reason for them.
Overall, volumes in options trades can go up on quadruple witching days, which can sometimes have knock-on effects on the price of the underlying assets involved in options contracts.
The Takeaway
Quadruple witching day occurs on the third Friday in March, June, September, and December. The last hour of those trading days is known as the “quadruple witching hour”, when many derivatives contracts expire, often creating volatility in the markets. That’s because there may be higher market volume on those days as traders either close out or roll over their positions.
Quadruple witching offers an opportunity to understand how market mechanics can affect actual prices, but it may not impact the strategy for most long-term investors. More experienced investors and traders may find profitable opportunities, however, as the markets enter a period of volatility.
Ready to invest in your goals? It’s easy to get started when you open an investment account with SoFi Invest. You can invest in stocks, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), and more. SoFi doesn’t charge commissions, but other fees apply (full fee disclosure here).
For a limited time, opening and funding an Active Invest account gives you the opportunity to get up to $1,000 in the stock of your choice.
Photo credit: iStock/Radachynskyi
SoFi Invest® The information provided is not meant to provide investment or financial advice. Also, past performance is no guarantee of future results. Investment decisions should be based on an individual’s specific financial needs, goals, and risk profile. SoFi can’t guarantee future financial performance. Advisory services offered through SoFi Wealth, LLC. SoFi Securities, LLC, member FINRA / SIPC . SoFi Invest refers to the three investment and trading platforms operated by Social Finance, Inc. and its affiliates (described below). Individual customer accounts may be subject to the terms applicable to one or more of the platforms below. 1) Automated Investing—The Automated Investing platform is owned by SoFi Wealth LLC, an SEC registered investment advisor (“Sofi Wealth“). Brokerage services are provided to SoFi Wealth LLC by SoFi Securities LLC, an affiliated SEC registered broker dealer and member FINRA/SIPC, (“Sofi Securities).
2) Active Investing—The Active Investing platform is owned by SoFi Securities LLC. Clearing and custody of all securities are provided by APEX Clearing Corporation.
3) Cryptocurrency is offered by SoFi Digital Assets, LLC, a FinCEN registered Money Service Business.
For additional disclosures related to the SoFi Invest platforms described above, including state licensure of Sofi Digital Assets, LLC, please visit www.sofi.com/legal.
Neither the Investment Advisor Representatives of SoFi Wealth, nor the Registered Representatives of SoFi Securities are compensated for the sale of any product or service sold through any SoFi Invest platform. Information related to lending products contained herein should not be construed as an offer or prequalification for any loan product offered by SoFi Bank, N.A.
Financial Tips & Strategies: The tips provided on this website are of a general nature and do not take into account your specific objectives, financial situation, and needs. You should always consider their appropriateness given your own circumstances.
Claw Promotion: Customer must fund their Active Invest account with at least $10 within 30 days of opening the account. Probability of customer receiving $1,000 is 0.028%. See full terms and conditions.
Mobile homes may be more affordable than traditional homes, but purchasing one still often requires a loan. However, the types of mobile home loans offered by each lender may vary. Many companies offer personal loans for mobile homes, while others offer a mortgage loan option for those who qualify.
To help you find the best mobile home financing, we looked at some of the best mortgage lenders and researched their loan offerings. Whether you’re interested in the best home equity loans or loans for investment properties, we looked into the best lenders for each situation.
Our Top Picks for Best Mobile Home Loans
USDA: Best for rural areas Vanderbilt Mortgage and Finance: Best for a variety of loan options Manufactured Nationwide: Best for low credit scores ManufacturedHome.Loan: Best for good credit scores 21st Mortgage Corporation: Best for mobile homes within a community or park eLEND: Best for first-time buyers Guild Mortgage: Best for protection packages Caliber Home Loans: Best for veterans PenFed Credit Union: Best for high personal loan limits AmeriSave: Best for fast approval
Best Mobile Home Loans Reviews
100% financing with no down payment required
Low credit requirement
Income limits and geographic restrictions
USDA-guaranteed loans include a guarantee fee
Why we chose it: The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) offers Section 502 direct and guaranteed loans and Section 504 home repair loans. Most USDA loans offer 100% financing, requiring no down payment, and are intended to help low- and moderate-income households afford a home purchase.
USDA loans are offered through many of the lenders on our top ten lists, but buyers can also apply through the USDA Rural Development Loan program. These loans can be used to purchase, build, repair, or refinance a primary residence, including a mobile home, and you can borrow 100% of the home’s value, so there is no down payment.
Most USDA loans do not come directly through the USDA, but rather through other lenders, and the USDA backs and guarantees them. Borrowers who apply through third-party lenders will be subject to a guarantee fee, which, similar to mortgage insurance, is generally rolled into the total amount of your loan. USDA loans have some eligibility requirements, including a credit score of 640, a willingness to repay the mortgage and United States citizenship or legal permanent residency.
HIGHLIGHTS
Loan term
30 year
Min. credit score
None
Types of loans
USDA
Max. loan amount
Varies
Lengthy loan terms
Fast approval
Variety of loan options
Down payment required
Limited information available without application
Why we chose it: Vanderbilt Mortgage and Finance (VMF) has been around for almost 50 years and is a Berkshire Hathaway company and a partner with Clayton Homes. We included this company on our list because of the many types of loans it offers as well as its long-term financing and fast approval. The partnership offers loans to borrowers in all 50 U.S. states.
VMF loans are available for mobile homes and manufactured homes. They can also be used for home improvement and to upgrade your home’s energy efficiency through the eScore program. The company offers traditional home loans, FHA-backed loans, variable loans and fixed-rate loans. The company has six types of loans in total:
Pre-owned financing
Home upgrade loans
Land and home mortgages
Fresh start home loans
Portfolio home loans
Biweekly advantage loans
Loan values start at $10,001.00, except in Kansas, where the minimum is $25,001.00. Repayment terms vary, and loans are usually funded within three days of closing. Borrowers also have five options for making monthly payments: money transfer service, money order or check, phone, automatic payment or online payment.
The downside to VMF loans is that a down payment is required, and the company’s website provides limited information about its products and doesn’t post a minimum credit score requirement.
HIGHLIGHTS
Loan term
Up to 30 years
Min. credit score
Not posted
Types of loans
Traditional, FHA, variable, fixed
Max. loan amount
Based on credit score
Loans to borrowers in all 50 U.S. states
Good for those with low to fair credit
No down payment in some cases
No loans for homes in mobile home parks or on rented land
Lengthy closing process
Why we chose it: Manufactured Nationwide is a suitable option for those with low credit scores because there are different credit requirements depending on the desired loan. Borrowers must have a minimum credit score of 620 for VA loans, 640 for manual underwriting and 660 for conventional FHA loans. Down payment requirements vary based on the loan, but in some cases, you don’t need to put any money down.
Owned by The Federal Savings Banks, a federally chartered, veteran-owned organization, Manufactured Nationwide made the list because of its extensive work with government-backed, low-down-payment programs. The company lends in all 50 U.S. states and offers FHA, VA and USDA loans.
Loan terms are set at 15, 20 or 30 years, and it also offers competitive fixed rates guaranteed by government-backed programs. One such program enables consumers to borrow up to $3 million.
Manufactured Nationwide does have a lengthy closing process and doesn’t offer loans for mobile homes on rented land or in parks unless approved by Fannie Mae.
HIGHLIGHTS
Loan term
15, 20 or 30 years
Min. credit score
580
Types of loans
FHA, VA and USDA
Max. loan amount
$3 million
Option to finance mobile homes as a vacation property
Option to finance homes located in mobile home parks
Special programs for first-time home buyers
Website is not user-friendly
Interest rates aren’t posted
Why we chose it: A licensed nationwide mortgage broker, ManufacturedHome.Loan works with eLEND to offer competitive terms to borrowers. Those with higher credit scores may be able to access lower interest rates because the company offers a variety of borrowing options through eLEND.
Even those with low credit scores can borrow through the company’s government-backed programs like FHA and VA loans, and the company offers special programs for first-time home buyers. Loan maximums, interest rates and down payment requirements vary based on credit score.
ManufacturedHome.Loan is unique because it will finance a mobile or vacation home that is situated on leased land. The company finances and refinances both new and used mobile home purchases.
ManufacturedHome.Loan also offers chattel loans for mobile or manufactured homes that are not affixed to the land. For existing homes, terms are set at 23 years, and for new homes, terms are set at 25 years.
ManufacturedHome.Loan doesn’t post interest rates, so you’ll need to speak to a representative or fill out an application to request more information. Compared to the other sites we studied, the company’s website is somewhat less user-friendly.
HIGHLIGHTS
Loan term
Varies
Min. credit score
Not posted
Types of loans
FHA, VA, construction, 30-year fixed, 15-year fixed, chattel
Max. loan amount
Varies based on credit and income
Good for those with low credit scores
Financing available for new or used mobile homes
Available in most U.S. states
No prequalification option
Lengthy closing process when purchasing land
Why we chose it: 21st Mortgage Corporation stands out as a company that will finance both new and used mobile and manufactured homes on leased land. Loans are available to borrowers in every U.S. state except Alaska, Hawaii, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island.
21st Mortgage Corporation doesn’t require a minimum credit score, and down payments on property range anywhere from zero to 35%. If your credit score is below 570, a 35% down payment is required. Fortunately, this down payment can come in the form of land equity, trade-in, cash or any combination of the three.
Borrowers must have a debt-to-income ratio below 43% to qualify without providing additional documentation or a co-signer. The company will lend up to $16,000 for a mobile home property purchased through a retailer and $25,000 for refinanced properties or those purchased from another individual.
Borrowers can apply online, and the process takes approximately four to six weeks for home-only loans. If land is included in the loan, the processing time may take six to eight weeks.
One drawback to 21st Mortgage Corporation is that it does not offer a prequalification option, so you may not know how much you are authorized to borrow until you’ve already applied.
HIGHLIGHTS
Loan term
Varies
Min. credit score
No minimum credit score
Types of loans
Manufactured and mobile home refinances and loans
Max. loan amount
Varies
Assistance with down payments
Lengthy loan terms
Education programs for first-time buyers
For a mobile home loan, you must own the land
Higher minimum credit score
Why we chose it: eLEND provides loans for new homes, first homes, multi-family homes, investment properties and vacation homes. It’s a good option for first-time borrowers because the down payment requirements are low and the company educates borrowers about loans. eLEND also offers down payment assistance for those who need it.
One of the drawbacks to eLEND is that it only offers mobile home loans in rural zones, as determined by the USDA. The minimum credit score required is 620, but those with a score of 660 or above are eligible for more programs. Down payments can range from zero to 3.5% for those who qualify. Loan terms may extend up to 30 years. To be approved for a mobile home loan from eLEND, you must own the land your mobile home is located on or take out a personal property loan to purchase it.
HIGHLIGHTS
Loan term
30 years
Min. credit score
620
Types of loans
Refinance, investment property, multi-family, vacation and mobile homes
Max. loan amount
Varies
E-closing options
Seamless application and submission process
Variety of loans for investments, second homes and primary residences
Not available in all U.S. states
No home equity lines of credit or loans
Why we chose it: We like Guild Mortgage for its e-closing options, seamless application and submission process, and wide variety of loans for homes and investment properties.
Guild Mortgage offers robust protection packages for borrowers. The Homebuyer Protection program includes Credit Approval Protection, which protects those who are unable to close with a lender, offering up to $5,000 in lost earnest money and $1,000 for certain expenses. It also includes the Homebuyer Express guarantee, which provides a 17-day closing guarantee or the borrower will be reimbursed $500 in closing costs and a Lock and Shop program that locks in your interest rate for 120 days.
Minimum credit score requirements vary based on the type of loan. For VA or USDA loans, you must have a credit score of at least 540. For conventional loans, your credit score must be at least 620, and for jumbo loans, it must be at least 680.
Guild Mortgage works with more than 500 down payment assistance programs to provide support to first-time homebuyers with little savings. The drawback is that it isn’t available in all 50 U.S. states and doesn’t offer home equity lines of credit or loans.
HIGHLIGHTS
Loan term
Varies
Min. credit score
540 (varies by type of loan)
Types of loans
USDA, FHA, VA and conventional
Max. loan amount
Varies
Personalized team for U.S. military members
Down payment assistance programs
Variety of loan options
Interest rates aren’t posted
No home equity loans or lines of credit
Why we chose it: Caliber Home Loans provides a wide range of resources for U.S. military borrowers, including assistance to those who are lacking sufficient funds to make a down payment. The company offers both conventional and government-backed loans with fixed and variable interest rates.
Caliber Home Loans has a special in-house team dedicated to helping members of the U.S. military and provides personalized customer service to those utilizing VA loans. The company has branches throughout the U.S. as well as a mobile app that keeps you updated during the borrowing process.
The drawbacks to Caliber Home Loans are that it doesn’t offer home equity loans or lines of credit and that its current interest rates are not posted on its website.
HIGHLIGHTS
Loan term
Varies
Min. credit score
620
Types of loans
USDA, VA, FHA, adjustable, fixed, jumbo, refinance and purchase
Max. loan amount
Varies
Available to any eligible borrower in the U.S.
Loans funded in as little as one week
Terms ranging from 12 to 60 months
Payments only reported to one major credit bureau
Must maintain a member savings account
Why we chose it: PenFed offers personal loans with a limit of up to $50,000, a high amount for those who choose to use this type of loan to finance a mobile home. It also has various types of loans available: FHA, jumbo, adjustable rate mortgage, conventional fixed, VA and Power Buyer loans. The credit union also provides a home equity line of credit, refinancing options and VA Interest Rate Reduction Refinance Loans.
The second largest credit union in the nation, PenFed was formerly only available to members of the U.S. military but is now open to any eligible borrower. In order to qualify for a loan, borrowers must also maintain a member savings account with PenFed.
Most of the personal loans offered by PenFed have terms of 12 to 60 months. If you qualify for a mortgage loan to finance a mobile home, no down payment is required. Flexible income and credit requirements make it easier for first-time homebuyers and those with no credit to qualify for a mobile home loan.
If you are looking to improve your credit, PenFed may not be the best option because it only reports payments to one major credit bureau.
HIGHLIGHTS
Loan term
Up to 30 years
Min. credit score
Lenient credit requirements
Types of loans
FHA, VA, jumbo, conventional fixed, adjustable rate and Power Buyer
Max. loan amount
Varies
Simple, user-friendly application process can be completed on your mobile device
Variety of loan products and types
No home equity loans
Not available in New York
Why we chose it: If you plan to finance your mobile home with a personal loan, AmeriSave offers approval in just minutes, zero origination fees, fixed rates and loans from $5,000 to $50,000. AmeriSave has a simple, user-friendly application process that can be completed from any mobile device.
AmeriSave offers some of the best mortgage refinance and purchase loans with adjustable and fixed rates. Government-backed loans like VA, USDA and FHA loans are also available in every U.S. state except New York. Cash-out refinances are available, but home equity loans are not.
HIGHLIGHTS
Loan term
Varies
Min. credit score
620
Types of loans
Fixed, adjustable, FHA, VA, USDA, purchase, refinance
Max. loan amount
Varies
Ads by Money. We may be compensated if you click this ad.Ad
Other companies we considered
New American Funding
Offers both adjustable and fixed-rate loans
Offers programs to assist Black and Latino borrowers
Must apply to see fees
Not available in Hawaii
Founded in 2003 and based in California, New American Funding offers home loan options to borrowers in all U.S. states except Hawaii. Borrowers can choose between adjustable and fixed-rate mortgages, and the company has programs to assist Black and Latino borrowers.
Why it didn’t make the cut: New American Funding doesn’t disclose its fees until after you’ve applied for a mortgage.
Rocket Mortgage
Offers a variety of types of loans
Entire process is completed online
No USDA loans or home equity loans
No in-person service option
Formerly known as Quicken Loans, Rocket Mortgage was founded in 1985 and is the largest mortgage lender in the U.S. Borrowers benefit from a completely digital experience and access to jumbo, fixed-rate mortgage, refinance, VA, FHA, ARM and conventional loans.
Why it didn’t make the cut: Rocket Mortgage doesn’t offer USDA loans or home equity loans. There is no option for in-person service, so borrowing is more challenging for those who prefer a personal touch.
Mobile Home Loans Guide
Main things to know before choosing a mobile home loan
The type of loan you need will largely depend on your income, credit score, the lender you choose and the amount you want to borrow. For some borrowers, a personal loan may be sufficient, while others may opt for a mortgage loan to finance a mobile home. In most cases, a mortgage loan is preferable to a personal loan because the loan amounts are higher, the repayment terms are longer and the credit requirements are more flexible.
Before applying for a mobile home loan, consider doing the following:
Check your credit score: If it’s less than 600, research ways to raise your credit score.
Save for a down payment: While some loans don’t require a down payment, many offer lower interest rates and better terms to those who put some money down.
Research loan types: Most lenders offer conventional loans, FHA loans, VA loans and USDA loans. Some even offer investment property loans and LLC loans.
What are the different types of mobile home loans?
In addition to personal loans, there are three primary types of mobile home loans:
Construction mortgage: Enables you to borrow specific amounts of money at different times if you purchase your mobile home and land separately
End mortgage loans: Provides financing for a residence that has already been built
Chattel mortgage: Used to finance a residence that doesn’t include land, such as those situated in a mobile home park or on leased land
Traditional mortgage loans include the following:
Adjustable-rate mortgages (ARM loans): Involves interest rates that fluctuate throughout the life of the loan
Conventional loans: Not backed by the government and available as both non-conforming (jumbo loans) and conforming (loans that meet the guidelines of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac) loans
Jumbo loans: Ideal for borrowers with good credit who need a substantial loan
Government-insured loans: Ideal for those with low credit scores and no down payment; for example, FHA, VA and USDA loans
Fixed-rate mortgages: Determines a fixed, predictable monthly payment for the life of the loan based on the mortgage rates at the time the loan is originated
What are the requirements for a mobile home loan?
The requirements for a mobile home loan depend on the lender you choose. Most lenders offer loans to those with a credit score of 600 or above, and many offer 100% financing so you don’t have to provide a down payment. Some require collateral, which is property that is used to secure the loan.
How to get a loan for a mobile home?
The first step to securing a loan for a mobile home is to check your credit score and improve it as much as possible. Then save for a down payment and choose a lender that offers the flexibility and benefits you need. Finally, research the lender’s interest rates, loan terms, loan amounts and any other borrower qualifications.
Mobile Home Loans FAQs
What are the current interest rates for mobile home loans?
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The current interest rate for a mobile home loan is determined by the Federal Reserve interest rate, other economic factors and each lender’s policies. You can lower the rate by choosing shorter terms. The 10-year fixed rate on a mobile home will be lower than the 30-year fixed rate. A lower interest rate can lower your total cost.
Who qualifies for a mobile home loan?
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Those with a credit score of 580 or above and a debt-to-income ratio that matches the lender’s requirements can usually obtain a mobile home loan. In some cases, you must also provide evidence that you have a place to put your mobile home.
What are the maximum loan amounts for a mobile home?
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This depends largely on the type of loan you choose. Many personal loans have a maximum of $50,000, while mortgage loans have much higher limits. Maximum loan amounts depend on your income, down payment, credit score and the mobile home’s value.
What is the difference between mobile and manufactured home loans?
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The terms mobile home and manufactured home are often used interchangeably. However, when the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development updated its safety standards in 1976, it established a higher standard for manufactured homes. Structures built today are still sometimes called mobile homes but would more correctly be called manufactured homes.
The same types of loans are used for both mobile and manufactured homes. These include personal, chattel, VA, FHA and conventional loans.
How We Found the Best Mobile Home Loans
To find the best mobile home lenders, we studied a few crucial elements of each company:
Loan types and terms: We checked the loan limits, the repayment terms and the types of mortgage loans each lender offers.
Options for different types of borrowers: We researched the best loans for people in various situations, such as those with no cash for a down payment, those with low credit scores and those looking for the best mortgage refinance terms.
Financing for homes with or without land: We investigated banks that finance mobile homes on purchased land and others that finance homes situated in mobile home parks or on leased land.
Borrowers with low credit requirements: To help those with poor credit or no credit history, we also identified mortgage lenders willing to work with lower-than-average credit scores.
Summary of the Best Mobile Home Loans of 2023
USDA: Best for rural areas Vanderbilt Mortgage and Finance: Best for a variety of loan options Manufactured Nationwide: Best for low credit scores ManufacturedHome.Loan: Best for good credit scores 21st Mortgage Corporation: Best for mobile homes within a community or park eLEND: Best for first-time buyers Guild Mortgage: Best for protection packages Caliber Home Loans: Best for veterans PenFed Credit Union: Best for high personal loan limits AmeriSave: Best for fast approval
Inside: Are you looking for an affordable budgeting app that offers a range of features? YNAB may be the perfect choice for you! This guide will compare YNAB vs Mint, highlight their key features, and help you decide which is best for your needs.
Are you trying to make a choice between Mint and YNAB for managing your financials?
Here’s a comprehensive overview that would definitely point you in the right direction.
Both Mint and YNAB have proven to be efficient and reliable online budgeting tools, but their offering varies in some aspects.
While Mint shines with its free budgeting tools and comprehensive credit score and report management capabilities, YNAB stands distinguished with its robust features and specialist credit management options, making it worth its fee for some users.
Herein, we dive into the similarities, differences, and unique functionalities of both platforms to help you decide which one best aligns with your financial management needs and lifestyle.
As a finance expert, I’ve seen both YNAB and Mint apps work wonders for different people.
In my opinion, both have unique value. Novices may find Mint’s overview helpful, while more determined budgeters might prefer YNAB.
Remember, it’s perfectly fine to use both if it aids your long-term money management.
This post may contain affiliate links, which helps us to continue providing relevant content and we receive a small commission at no cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Please read the full disclosure here.
What is YNAB?
YNAB is a budgeting software I’ve utilized that provides detailed financial tracking and education for effective money management. Also, known as you need a budget app.
Adhering to its unique Four Simple Rules for Successful Budgeting, every dollar is assigned a specific task. YNAB operates via an online account or a mobile app, involving color codes and features like ‘The Inspector’ for efficient budget overview. However, it’s important to note that YNAB caters only to the zero budgeting style and charges a monthly subscription fee.
This is a great budgeting method as it gives you a cash flow budget plan for your money.
Overall, YNAB helped me gain control over my finances by setting realistic goals, getting one month ahead on bills, and focusing on each dollar’s purpose.
What is Mint?
Mint is a free, all-in-one finance platform owned by Intuit that can be used to easily manage my money.
It links all accounts in one place for easy tracking and includes features such as budgeting, credit score monitoring, and bill tracking.
For instance, Mint categorizes transactions, monitors changes in my credit score, and sets up budgetary limits.
With over 30 million users, Mint is a leading free tool in personal finance management.
A step up from Mint would be Intuit’s Quicken platform or Simplifi budget app.
Comparison of YNAB and Mint Apps
Mint is a comprehensive, free budgeting app, that provides an overall view of your finances. It links to your accounts, tracking and categorizing spending, while also offering savings tips. Conversely, YNAB, a paid app, focuses on giving users control over budgeting. It will link to your accounts and encourage a proactive role in handling finances.
These are two of the budget apps available on the market.
1. YNAB vs Mint: Features
YNAB and Mint are both renowned budgeting apps, but they possess some notable differences.
While both support account linking, goal setting, and spending tracking, Mint pulls ahead with its investment and credit score tracking features.
YNAB distinguishes itself with a forward-thinking, zero-based budgeting strategy and benefits like manually adding transactions. Think budget by paycheck style.
From the ease of use standpoint, both are equally user-friendly.
2. YNAB vs Mint: Budgeting Snapshot
YNAB offers a rigorous, manually updated budgeting snapshot that employs a zero-based budgeting philosophy. This feature provides a detailed outlook, encouraging users to assign every dollar a job.
On the other hand, Mint has an automated tracking system that offers an all-in-one snapshot of all financial accounts and spending categories.
Mint integrates your accounts, offering useful tips and an overview of your finances. Conversely, YNAB requires a manual categorization of income and expenses but affords more budgeting control. Similar to using the ideal household budget percentages.
The budgeting snapshot in Mint is best suitable for individuals seeking a hands-off approach, while YNAB is ideal for those who prefer an in-depth, hands-on budget strategy.
A great way to move digital from your budget binder with envelopes.
3. YNAB vs Mint: Goal Setting
The Goal Tracking feature in YNAB allows users to set various budgeting goals such as saving targeted amounts of money or conversely working towards getting out of credit card debt. This in-built functionality provides a structured pathway for users to stick to and pursue their financial objectives effectively.
Your interaction with your YNAB account through the goal-tracking tool ties back to YNAB’s four Simple Rules for Successful Budgeting, aiding in fiscal responsibility.
This innovative feature assists individuals in staying focused on their planned budgets, ensuring they are empowered to make strides toward their unique financial goals.
Mint however doesn’t offer this feature.
4. YNAB vs Mint: Interface
While YNAB is ideal for meticulous budgeters prioritizing forward planning, Mint is perfect for those seeking an easy-to-use, comprehensive glimpse of their financial standing.
YNAB’s interface is focused on budgeting, featuring tools for expense tracking, goal setting, and manual transaction input.
In contrast, Mint offers a comprehensive overview of your financial health, automatically categorizing expenses, tracking investments, and offering set-up alerts.
5. YNAB vs Mint: Categorization
Mint offers automated categorization of transactions, which eases the process of budgeting for the user. However, it doesn’t allow the removal of default categories, and the addition of new ones might take time due to server communication.
On the other hand, YNAB allows a deeper level of categorization, with an option to visually nest categories, and more effortless editing of these categories.
In my opinion, Mint’s categorization feature suits a casual budgeter looking for automation, while YNAB would be ideal for those desiring granular control over their personal budget categories.
6. YNAB vs Mint: Mobile App & Cross Platforms
Both YNAB and Mint offer comprehensive personal finance management via mobile apps, compatible with iOS, Android, and desktops.
YNAB stands out with its Apple Watch integrations and a slightly better syncing experience based on user reviews on Trustpilot1.
YNAB also syncs across a desktop app as well.
7. YNAB vs Mint: Alerts
Mint provides a wide selection of alerts, including low balances, upcoming bill payments, over-budget warnings, ATM fees, and unusual expenditure notifications.
These comprehensive alerts from Mint give a more thorough financial pulse check but can be overwhelming for some.
On the other hand, YNAB recently added live push notifications based on your preferences.
8. YNAB vs Mint: Syncing
YNAB leads the game when it comes to synchronization, outshining Mint. While Mint supports numerous banks, issues with synchronization often lead to grievances among its users. YNAB, on the other hand, offers smoother syncing and fewer complaints, proving its superiority.
Many users find YNAB’s syncing consistent and reliable.
Personally, I believe that if you prioritize seamless syncing and don’t mind spending $14.99 a month, YNAB becomes a clear choice.
However, if you’re okay with potential sync issues and prefer free usage, Mint could be more suitable.
It’s crucial to pick according to your priorities and needs.
9. YNAB vs Mint: Savings Accounts
Mint offers automatic expenditure tracking and classifies my spending into categories, providing a comprehensive view of where my money is going.
YNAB, on the other hand, empowers me to manually budget my net income each month, ensuring I don’t overspend and promoting a proactive approach to saving.
10. YNAB vs Mint: Investment Tracker
Mint offers investment tracking features, allowing users to view their investment portfolio and monitor performance.
In contrast, YNAB lacks this feature, not providing any investment tracking at all.
As a user, if you highly prioritize tracking investments in one place, you may lean towards using Mint. Conversely, if investment tracking is less important to you than budgeting, YNAB’s strong budgeting emphasis, despite its lack of investment tracking, makes it a considerable option.
11. YNAB vs Mint: Learning Curve with your Finances
YNAB has a steeper learning curve, necessitating a proactive approach to money management by assigning every dollar a purpose. Thus, YNAB gives you a free 34-day free trial to understand how to use the app.
Mint, however, requires minimal user input post-account linkage and auto-categorizes your spending. For sheer ease of use, Mint might appeal to novices looking for automated budget tracking.
On the other hand, users wishing to take charge of their finances might appreciate YNAB’s proactive, behavior-altering approach. Despite having a steeper learning curve, YNAB offers an abundance of online tutorials and customer support, making the learning process manageable and rewarding.
The same is true when you are learning to use the biweekly budget template.
12. YNAB vs. Mint: Data Security
Data security is a paramount concern when utilizing online budgeting apps as they deal with sensitive financial information.
Apps like YNAB and Mint incorporate stringent security measures to protect user data.
For instance, YNAB uses a one-way salted and hashed password system and data encryption.
Mint, on the other hand, employs two-factor authentication and a Touch ID sensor for iOS for enhanced security.
Nonetheless, it’s important to note that while these apps provide bank-level security, Mint does anonymize and sell user data to advertisers.
13. YNAB vs Mint: Advertising
YNAB derives income primarily from subscription fees offering an ad-free experience, holding a straightforward revenue model. In contrast, Mint generates income through affiliate commissions by advertising financial products to users and selling anonymized user data!
Mint, contrastingly, is a free app reliant on ads and sells anonymized user data for third-party advertisements.
From my perspective, if avoiding ads and preserving data privacy matters to you, YNAB’s approach might be more appealing. However, if you prefer a free service and don’t mind the ads, Mint would be suitable.
14. YNAB vs Mint: Customer Support
When evaluating the customer support of Mint and YNAB, it’s evident that YNAB takes a more well-rounded approach.
With a commitment to respond to email queries within 24 hours, YNAB also provides educational resources such as the “get started” class, their blog, and user forums. This is in contrast to Mint, which, despite offering live chat support, has had reports of slow response times.
Both platforms offer online training materials, but YNAB seems more comprehensive and responsive in its support-providing role. Overall, YNAB appears to be the preferred choice when customer support is a primary consideration.
15. YNAB vs Mint: Cost
Mint is a free, ad-supported budgeting app while YNAB is a subscription-based model of $14.99 monthly or $99 annually.
However, for individuals seeking in-depth surgical budgeting capabilities without concerns for associated costs, YNAB’s price might represent a great investment.
Given the claimed average user saves $600 in two months and $6,000 in the first year.2
For those budgeting with minimal funds, the free price tag of Mint might be more attractive, but you are giving away your privacy.
Pros and Cons of YNAB vs Mint
Our Favorite
Key Features:
YNAB offers a comprehensive approach to budgeting, helping you plan monthly budgets based on your income. It also offers expert advice, making it suitable for those who require an in-depth, forward-thinking budgeting strategy.
YNAB’s superior synchronization skills make it the winner in this area. YNAB has extra features like goal setting for budgeting, shared budgeting tools for partners
YNAB provides an option to manually add and upload transactions from accounts each month, a feature that Mint does not offer.
YNAB prioritizes user privacy, requires an opt-in to access budgeting data, and doesn’t sell user data.
Key Features:
Mint offers a centralized platform for monitoring all your financial accounts, including credit cards and bank accounts.
It provides a complete financial overview at a glance through the auto-population of data from linked accounts.
Mint’s features include detailed reporting in multiple categories, free credit score access, and exceptional compatibility with financial institutions.
The service is free, funded by ads and offers, and it best serves those who wish to categorize spending, budget their monthly expenses, and access all financial details from one place.
Lack of investment tracking feature
Customer service is only accessible via email, which might not be ideal for urgent queries
Steep learning curve which requires time and effort to navigate through.
Mint, which belongs to Intuit, automatically accesses all data and sells the data. Thus, an intrusion of privacy.
Budgeting feature doesn’t enable effective planning of future expenses.
Mint suffers from more technical glitches and synchronization issues.
Ads included in the free version of Mint can be obtrusive and may deter users.
$14.99 monthly or $99 annually
Free to Use, But Served Ads and They Sell your Data.
Offers a 100% money-back guarantee at any point of use.
Does not require credit card information to signup, a departure from the usual free trial model)
Our Favorite
Key Features:
YNAB offers a comprehensive approach to budgeting, helping you plan monthly budgets based on your income. It also offers expert advice, making it suitable for those who require an in-depth, forward-thinking budgeting strategy.
YNAB’s superior synchronization skills make it the winner in this area. YNAB has extra features like goal setting for budgeting, shared budgeting tools for partners
YNAB provides an option to manually add and upload transactions from accounts each month, a feature that Mint does not offer.
YNAB prioritizes user privacy, requires an opt-in to access budgeting data, and doesn’t sell user data.
Lack of investment tracking feature
Customer service is only accessible via email, which might not be ideal for urgent queries
Steep learning curve which requires time and effort to navigate through.
$14.99 monthly or $99 annually
Offers a 100% money-back guarantee at any point of use.
Does not require credit card information to signup, a departure from the usual free trial model)
Key Features:
Mint offers a centralized platform for monitoring all your financial accounts, including credit cards and bank accounts.
It provides a complete financial overview at a glance through the auto-population of data from linked accounts.
Mint’s features include detailed reporting in multiple categories, free credit score access, and exceptional compatibility with financial institutions.
The service is free, funded by ads and offers, and it best serves those who wish to categorize spending, budget their monthly expenses, and access all financial details from one place.
Mint, which belongs to Intuit, automatically accesses all data and sells the data. Thus, an intrusion of privacy.
Budgeting feature doesn’t enable effective planning of future expenses.
Mint suffers from more technical glitches and synchronization issues.
Ads included in the free version of Mint can be obtrusive and may deter users.
Free to Use, But Served Ads and They Sell your Data.
Who should use YNAB?
From my experience, YNAB works best for those who are ready to seriously manage their money and spend some time learning a new budgeting approach. Its use of the zero-based budgeting system not only makes you more intentional with your money but also demands active participation in decision-making.
YNAB’s ability to link to your accounts and its multitude of educational resources available are admirable features I’ve used.
YNAB offers detailed financial tracking and built-in education, but its monthly subscription fee and suitability for a specific budgeting style may be limiting for some.
However, it comes with a monthly or annual cost – a worthy investment for those searching for a robust, hands-on, and future-focused budgeting tool. Most YNAB budgets agree they save multiples of the subscription cost.
However, it can be less suitable for those not ready for a hands-on approach or those sensitive to subscription pricing.
Who should use Mint?
On the other hand, Mint is an all-in-one app that automatically tracks and categorizes your spending.
Based on my experience, Mint is an excellent tool for novice-level budgeters seeking to track their expenses, set budgets, and manage their finances with ease. This budgeting app allows a comprehensive view of all your financial accounts, which differentiates it from YNAB.
If you’re comfortable seeing ads and not needing investing features, Mint could be a perfect fit. However, if you require the ability to assign multiple savings goals to one account or a bill pay feature, YNAB may be more suitable for you.
Therefore, Mint is most applicable for beginners seeking a free and user-friendly budgeting platform.
YNAB vs. Mint: Which is better for you?
As a content writer and budgeting app user, I find Mint and YNAB are unique in their offerings.
Mint automatically tracks and categorizes your spending, providing an intuitive picture of where your money goes, ideal for beginners in budgeting.
In contrast, YNAB promotes a proactive approach, helping to set and monitor budgets, hence perfect for those with specific financial goals. To sum up, Mint offers a simplified, passive overview, while YNAB is excellent for a detailed, forward-thinking approach to managing finances.
Personal preferences and needs really influence the choice here. Do you need intricate control and don’t mind paying a fee? YNAB might be your fit. Prefer automation and want a free option? Mint could work for you.
YNAB vs Mint: Verdict
As an expert in personal finance tools, I’ve explored both YNAB and Mint.
In my experience, there are distinct differences between YNAB and Mint. For my readers, I recommend YNAB.
YNAB, with its laser-focused approach towards budgeting, is a boon for individuals needing extensive assistance in the budgeting arena. You learn to assign every dollar with intention, thereby gaining a higher degree of control over your finances.
This proactive approach will help you to be financially independent faster.
To sum up, if detailed budgeting is your priority, choose YNAB.
YNAB
Enjoy guilt-free spending and effortless saving with a friendly, flexible method for managing your finances.
Pros:
Comprehensive approach to budgeting, helping you plan monthly budgets based on your income.
Offers expert advice, making it suitable for those who require an in-depth, forward-thinking budgeting strategy.
Superior synchronization skills make it the winner in this area.
YNAB has extra features like goal setting for budgeting, shared budgeting tools for partners.
Option to manually add and upload transactions from accounts each month.
YNAB prioritizes user privacy.
Start 34 Day Free Trial
However, for a more holistic financial insight with less emphasis on budgeting, Mint might be the better choice.
Now, make sure to check out our Quicken Review.
Source
TrustPilot. “YNAB Review.” https://www.trustpilot.com/review/ynab.com. Accessed on September 27, 2023.
YNAB. “YNAB Pricing.” https://www.ynab.com/pricing/. Accessed on September 27, 2023.
Know someone else that needs this, too? Then, please share!!
Figuring out how to double your money with investments often hinges on striking the right balance between risk and reward. Your personal risk tolerance and goals can influence how you invest and the returns your portfolio generates.
However, doubling your money is a reasonable goal, especially if you’re willing to wait for your money to grow. And that’s a big variable to keep in mind: Time. If you’re interested in doubling your money and growing wealth for the long-term, there are several investing strategies to consider.
Investing Strategies to Double Your Money
1. Get to Know the Rule of 72
The rule of 72 can be a helpful guideline for answering this question: How long to double your money?
If you’re not familiar with this investing rule, it’s not complicated. It uses a simple formula to estimate how long doubling your money might take, based on your annual rate of return. You divide 72 by your annual return to get the number of years you’ll need to wait for your investment to double.
So, for example, if you have an investment that generates a 5% annual return, it would take around 14.5 years to double it. On the other hand, an investment that’s generating a 12% annual return would double in about six years.
The rule of 72 doesn’t predict how an investment will perform. But it can give you an idea of how quickly (or slowly) you can double your money, based on the returns you’re getting each year. Just keep in mind that the rule’s accuracy tends to decrease as the rate of return increases, so it’s more of a guideline than a hard-and-fast rule.
💡 Quick Tip: How do you decide if a certain trading platform or app is right for you? Ideally, the investment platform you choose offers the features that you need for your investment goals or strategy, e.g., an easy-to-use interface, data analysis, educational tools.
2. Leverage Your Employer’s Retirement Plan
One way to attempt to double your money through investing may be through your workplace retirement plan. If your employer offers a matching contribution to the money you’re deferring from your paychecks, that’s essentially free money for you.
Employer matching contributions are low-hanging fruit, in that you don’t need to change your investment strategy to take advantage of them. All that’s required is contributing enough of your salary to your employer’s retirement plan to qualify for the match.
The matching formula that companies use varies, but some companies offer a dollar-for-dollar match, meaning that the money you put into a 401(k) would automatically double when you receive your match. Keep in mind that some companies use a vesting schedule, meaning that you have to work at the company for a certain period of time before you get to keep all the employer contributions.
Aside from potentially helping to double your money, investing your 401(k) or a similar qualified retirement plan can also yield tax benefits. Contributions made with pre-tax dollars are deducted from your taxable income, which could lower your annual tax bill.
3. Diversify Strategically
Diversification means spreading your money across different investments to create a portfolio that will meet your needs for both risk and return.
As a general rule of thumb, riskier investments like stocks have the potential to generate higher returns. More conservative investments, such as bonds, tend to generate lower returns but there’s less risk that you’ll lose money on the investment.
If you want to double your money, then it’s important to pay attention to diversification and what that means for your return on investment. For instance, if you’re investing heavily in stocks then you could see greater returns but you might experience deeper losses if the market takes a hit. Playing it too safe, on the other hand, could cause your portfolio to underperform.
Also, keep in mind that there are many types of investments besides stocks, mutual funds and bonds. Real estate, stock options, futures, precious metals and hedge funds are just some stock and bond alternatives you could use to build a portfolio. Understanding their risk/reward profiles can help you decide what to invest in if you’re focused on doubling your money.
💡 Quick Tip: Distributing your money across a range of assets — also known as diversification — can be beneficial for long-term investors. When you put your eggs in many baskets, it may be beneficial if a single asset class goes down.
4. Consider Buying When Others Are Selling
The stock market is cyclical and you’re guaranteed to experience ups and downs during your investing career. How you approach the down periods can impact your ability to double your money when the market goes up again.
When the market drops, some investors start selling off stocks or other investments to avoid losses. But if you’re comfortable taking risks, the sell-off could present an opportunity to buy the dip.
If you can purchase stocks at a discount during periods of volatility when other investors are selling, you could double your money when those same stocks increase in value again. But again, making this strategy work for you comes down to knowing how much risk is acceptable to you.
5. Commit for the Long Term
There are different investment philosophies you can adopt. For example, traders regularly buy and sell investments to try and get quick wins from the market. A buy-and-hold strategy takes a different approach, but it could pay off if you’re trying to double your money.
Buy-and-hold investing involves buying an investment and holding onto it for the long-term. The idea is that during that holding period, the investment will grow in value so you can sell it at a sizable profit later.
This is a passive investment strategy that relies on patience and time to increase your portfolio’s value. The longer you have to invest, the more you can capitalize on the power of compounding gains, or gains you earn on your gains.
If you’re using a buy-and-hold strategy with a value investing strategy, you could potentially double your money or more if your investments meet your expectations. Value investing means investing in companies that you believe the market has undervalued.
This strategy takes a little work since you have to learn how to understand the difference between a stock’s market value and its intrinsic value. But if you can find one of these bargain hidden gems and hold onto it, you could reap major return rewards later when you’re ready to sell.
6. Step Up Your Investment Contributions
Another simple strategy to double your money is to invest more. Assuming your portfolio is performing the way you want and need it to to reach your goals, doubling your investment contributions could be a relatively easy way to boost your returns.
If you can’t afford to put big chunks of money into the market all at once, there are ways to increase your investments gradually. For instance, you could start building a portfolio with fractional shares and increase your contributions by a few dollars each month.
If you’re investing your 401(k) at work, you could ask your plan administrator about raising your contribution rate annually. For example, you might be able to automatically bump up salary deferrals by one or two percent each year. And if that coincides with a pay raise you may not even miss the extra money you’re contributing.
7. Focus on Tax Efficiency
Minimizing tax liability is another opportunity to stretch your investment dollars. There are different ways to do that inside your portfolio.
Investing in your retirement plan at work is an obvious one, so if you aren’t doing that yet you may want to consider getting started. Remember, the longer you have to invest, the more time your money has to grow.
If you don’t have a 401(k) or a similar plan at work, you could open a traditional or Roth Individual Retirement Account (IRA) instead. A traditional IRA allows for tax-deductible contributions, meaning you get an upfront tax break. Then, you pay ordinary income tax on that money when you withdraw it in retirement.
Roth IRAs aren’t tax-deductible, since you fund them with after-tax dollars. The upside of that, however, is that qualified withdrawals in retirement are 100% tax-free.
A taxable brokerage account is another way to invest, without being subject to annual contribution limits the way you would with a 401(k) or IRA. The difference is that you’ll pay capital gains tax on your investment growth.
Paying attention to asset location can help with maximizing tax efficiency across different investment accounts. For example, exchange-traded funds can sometimes be more tax-efficient than other types of mutual funds because they have lower turnover. That means the assets in the fund aren’t bought or sold as frequently, so there are fewer taxable events.
Keeping ETFs in a taxable account while putting less tax-efficient investments into a tax-advantaged account, such as a 401(k) or IRA, could help with doubling your money if it means reducing the taxes you pay on investment gains.
The Takeaway
Learning how to double your money can mean taking a slow route or a quicker one, but it all comes down to how much risk you’re comfortable with and how much time you have to invest. One of the keys to growing your investments is being consistent and that’s where automated investing can help.
There are numerous strategies and tactics that you can try to leverage to your advantage. But ultimately, whether you’re able to double your money will likely come down to how much you’re willing to risk, how much time you have on your side, and probably a little bit of luck.
Ready to invest in your goals? It’s easy to get started when you open an investment account with SoFi Invest. You can invest in stocks, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), and more. SoFi doesn’t charge commissions, but other fees apply (full fee disclosure here).
For a limited time, opening and funding an Active Invest account gives you the opportunity to get up to $1,000 in the stock of your choice.
Photo credit: iStock/South_agency
SoFi Invest® The information provided is not meant to provide investment or financial advice. Also, past performance is no guarantee of future results. Investment decisions should be based on an individual’s specific financial needs, goals, and risk profile. SoFi can’t guarantee future financial performance. Advisory services offered through SoFi Wealth, LLC. SoFi Securities, LLC, member FINRA / SIPC . SoFi Invest refers to the three investment and trading platforms operated by Social Finance, Inc. and its affiliates (described below). Individual customer accounts may be subject to the terms applicable to one or more of the platforms below. 1) Automated Investing—The Automated Investing platform is owned by SoFi Wealth LLC, an SEC registered investment advisor (“Sofi Wealth“). Brokerage services are provided to SoFi Wealth LLC by SoFi Securities LLC, an affiliated SEC registered broker dealer and member FINRA/SIPC, (“Sofi Securities).
2) Active Investing—The Active Investing platform is owned by SoFi Securities LLC. Clearing and custody of all securities are provided by APEX Clearing Corporation.
3) Cryptocurrency is offered by SoFi Digital Assets, LLC, a FinCEN registered Money Service Business.
For additional disclosures related to the SoFi Invest platforms described above, including state licensure of Sofi Digital Assets, LLC, please visit www.sofi.com/legal.
Neither the Investment Advisor Representatives of SoFi Wealth, nor the Registered Representatives of SoFi Securities are compensated for the sale of any product or service sold through any SoFi Invest platform. Information related to lending products contained herein should not be construed as an offer or prequalification for any loan product offered by SoFi Bank, N.A.
Financial Tips & Strategies: The tips provided on this website are of a general nature and do not take into account your specific objectives, financial situation, and needs. You should always consider their appropriateness given your own circumstances.
Claw Promotion: Customer must fund their Active Invest account with at least $10 within 30 days of opening the account. Probability of customer receiving $1,000 is 0.028%. See full terms and conditions.
Investment Risk: Diversification can help reduce some investment risk. It cannot guarantee profit, or fully protect in a down market.
Inside: Are you looking for a way to help your kids learn about money? If so, Cash App for kids is the ideal answer. This guide will teach you how to manage money simply by using apps.
Ever wondered why it’s crucial for your kids and teens to have a cashless payment option?
In this digital age, teaching money management skills early to our younger generation is vital.
Having features likeCash App for kids is a great way to introduce them to responsible spending. Not only does it provide a secure method for purchases without the need for carrying physical money, but it also serves as an excellent tool for setting spending limits and tracking budgeting habits.
Plus, it’s a win-win for parents and teens as you can visually monitor transactions while they enjoy a sense of financial independence.
This post may contain affiliate links, which helps us to continue providing relevant content and we receive a small commission at no cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Please read the full disclosure here.
What is Cash App?
Cash App is a user-friendly financial services platform that allows users to instantly send, receive, and invest money.
It offers a range of services including a free custom Visa debit card and the option to receive paychecks up to two days earlier.
Additionally, with the Cash App, users can instantly buy and sell stocks commission-free and even trade in bitcoin.
Can a child have Cash App?
Yes, a child can have a Cash App account if they are 13 years old or older. However, it requires parental approval.
Remember, this gives your child the opportunity to learn money management, but it also comes with the responsibility of overseeing their spending.
Why would kids need Cash App?
Well, we are moving to a cashless world. There are thousands of stores and restaurants that only offer cash. We learned this when our son went to an MLB baseball game with his middle school. No cash. Only debit or credit cards were accepted as well as Visa gift cards.
So, we needed to give our kids an introduction to modern, simple, and secure ways of money management.
Cash App might be the perfect solution. Another great option is Greenlight for kids.
Cash App – Do More with Your Money
Cash App is a user-friendly financial services platform that allows users to instantly send, receive, and invest money.
Simple way to save on everyday spending and back the way you want.
What are the benefits of using Cash App for kids?
Education: Cash App can be an effective way to teach your children about responsible money handling and the dynamics of a digital economy.
Control: You have the flexibility to set spending limits and disable certain features, ensuring responsible use of the application.
Security: Cash App’s encrypted connection adds an extra layer of security, keeping your kid’s transactions and personal data secure.
Emergencies and convenience: It’s an incredibly handy tool for sending cash to your kid during emergencies. No need to rush, just a tap on your phone, and you can send money.
What cash apps can 13 year olds use?
In today’s cashless society, it’s more important than ever for kids to learn how to manage money digitally.
Below are some alternatives to Cash App that serve well for 13-year-olds:
Description:
The Greenlight debit card is a kid-friendly financial tool designed for comprehensive money management education.
Parents can monitor and control card usage, set spending limits, and track your child’s spending and saving habits.
Learn to earn, save, and invest together. The banking and investing app for kids and teens.
Comes with a debit card
Allows kids to make savings goals.
Limited deposit methods
Monthly fee
Starts at $4.99/month
Description:
Prepaid cards and a family finance app for kids, teens, and parents.
More than money.
A financial education.
If you want your child to learn money habits that match your values, you’re in the right place.
Description:
Cash App is a user-friendly financial services platform that allows users to instantly send, receive, and invest money.
Simple way to save on everyday spending and back the way you want.
Description:
The Greenlight debit card is a kid-friendly financial tool designed for comprehensive money management education.
Parents can monitor and control card usage, set spending limits, and track your child’s spending and saving habits.
Learn to earn, save, and invest together. The banking and investing app for kids and teens.
Comes with a debit card
Allows kids to make savings goals.
Limited deposit methods
Monthly fee
Starts at $4.99/month
Description:
Prepaid cards and a family finance app for kids, teens, and parents.
More than money.
A financial education.
If you want your child to learn money habits that match your values, you’re in the right place.
No bank account needed.
No fancy phone needed.
Affordable for all! Plus free trial!
Mobile setup is not user friendly.
No investing option.
$5.99 month or $3.33/month for 12 months
Description:
Cash App is a user-friendly financial services platform that allows users to instantly send, receive, and invest money.
Simple way to save on everyday spending and back the way you want.
Only able to spend what is loaded on Card.
Free CashApp debit card.
No maintenance or annual fees.
Not FDIC insured.
No parental controls.
Remember, each app has its own unique strengths and weaknesses. Do some research and try out a few to see which one best suits your teen’s financial needs.
How do I create a Cash App account for my child?
Teaching kids about money management is vital for their financial future.
One excellent way to do this effectively is by setting up a Cash App account for children, giving them practical experience in handling finances while under a parent’s supervision. Also, known as a sponsored account.
This guide will walk you through the process of creating a Cash App account for your child and highlight the numerous benefits it offers.
Step 1: Download Cash App
To download Cash App, click this Cash App link to make sure you are in the right spot. Both you and your teen will need to do this step.
It’s easily recognizable – look for the white dollar sign on a green background. Once you’ve found it, simply hit ‘Install’ and sit back while your phone does the work.
Remember, this green goodness is only accessible to users in the United States.
When learning which payment type is best when trying to stick to a budget, you will be pleasantly surprised at how well Cash App works.
Step 2: Create an Account
This is a simple process. Both the teen and the adult will need to do this step separately. If as the parent you don’t have a Cash App account, then you will need to do this step.
To create a Cash App account, follow these steps:
Once installed, open the application and follow the on-screen instructions to set up your account.
You will have to enter your phone number or email address.
For security certification, the Cash App will send you a secret code to verify you. Enter it.
Select a $cashtag, which is a unique username to send and receive money (similar to Venmo)
Step 3: Connect a Bank Account
For the parent account, you need to complete this step and the teen will need to wait.
Remember, in “My Cash” you’ll spot the “Add Money” option for funding.
Open Cash App; it’s the icon with a white dollar sign on a green background.
Tap the top-right profile icon.
Navigate to “My Cash” – it’s a tab on the home screen.
Click “Link a Bank,” nestled within the options.
Follow the prompts to add your bank account or debit card info.
Once your card is linked, you’re all set.
Learn where can I load my Cash App card.
Step 4: Authorization Request of a Family or Sponsor Account
Now, you must link the two accounts together. Cash App calls this a sponsored account. There are one of two ways to accomplish this.
Option #1 – Parents Initiate the Request
To invite someone 13-17, then open the app:
Tap the Profile Icon on your Cash App home screen
Select Family
Tap Invite a teen
Follow prompts to share links using text or email
Option #2 – By the Teen
On the Home Screen, tap the Cash App profile icon.
Proceed to Family Accounts and choose the option “I’m a Teen”.
Complete the Cash App for Kids application form with your details including your name and birthday.
Hit the Request Approval button.
Enter the name, email, phone number, or $CashTag of your parent/guardian.
Lastly, tap Send. This will send an authorization request to your parent or guardian’s Cash App account. They need to approve this request before you can start using the app.
Note: You can’t add funds, send payment, or request a Cash Card until this authorization is approved.
Step 5: Have Your Child Design and Order a Free Cash Card
Now, the fun part! Ordering your own Cash App Card.
Designing and ordering your Cash Card is packed with creativity and ease.
Customize your card to represent your unique personality, with choices ranging from the material, font size, and base design, to text lines.
You can seek inspiration from an array of cool Cash App Card design ideas. Notably, the glow-in-the-dark cards are quite popular among minors.
The whole process is about making your debit card unmistakably yours.
Step 6: Limitations on Certain Features
Certain financial apps cater to teens by setting limits on transactions.
For example, a teen on Cash App can send and receive up to $1,000 every 30 days. This safeguard is designed to prevent overspending and encourage smart budgeting practices.
Furthermore, parents and guardians have the option to impose their own customized spending limits through the app according to their teen’s financial maturity. However, it’s essential to keep in mind, that these apps are not recommended to be used by teens just like regular accounts due to the risks of misspending and overspending.
Be aware that certain transactions are blocked, including bars, dating services, and rental car services
Encourage your kids to use robust, unique passwords and activate features like PIN lock and facial ID to enhance security.
You can ensure safety by setting a PIN, turning on notifications, and limiting money requests to ‘contacts only’.
This is similar to understanding the advantages of mobile phones for kids.
Step 7: Pick a unique $Cashtag
Tell your child to select a unique and fun $Cashtag for their Cash App account. It’s like a username and can be used in transactions.
Emphasize the originality of the $Cashtag as it needs to be unique.
Expert Tip: To secure their $Cashtag, avoid using personal information like birthdate or social security number. Instead, opt for quirky, fun, and uncommon word combinations.
Step 8: Send & receive money
Cash App provides an easy-to-use platform for instantly transferring money between friends and family at no cost.
A few quick taps allow users to request, receive, or send money, presenting a convenient method for paying a dinner, settling rent with roommates, or any other financial interactions.
In addition, users get a free custom Visa debit card, which they can order directly from the Cash App for both virtual and physical use. The card enables users to make purchases from any merchant accepting Visa cards.
Plus, with the Cash Boost feature, users gain from immediate discounts at select restaurants, stores, applications, and websites when they use their Cash App card.
An Alternative – Use Greenlight Debit Card for Kids
Looking for an all-in-one alternative to the Cash App for your kids?
Explore the Greenlight Debit Card for kids – a superb choice for money management and financial education.
The Greenlight debit card is a kid-friendly financial tool designed for comprehensive money management education.
Parents can monitor and control card usage, set spending limits, and track their child’s spending and saving habits.
Plus it offers 1% cash back on all purchases and up to 2% interest on savings, this card is accepted anywhere MasterCard is used and comes with built-in features that include educational programming and real-time notifications for every transaction.
Greenlight
The Greenlight debit card is a kid-friendly financial tool designed for comprehensive money management education.
Parents can monitor and control card usage, set spending limits, and track your child’s spending and saving habits.
Pros:
Offers a comprehensive financial education pathway
Broad acceptance due to affiliation with Mastercard
Parents retain control over spending limits
Real-time notifications improve security
Cashback rewards are an added bonus
Cons:
Greenlight charges a monthly fee starting from $4.99
Limitations on direct deposits
No possibility for payments from Paypal, Venmo or Apple Cash
Kids under 13 require parental access
Some transaction types are blocked
It’s an innovative and secure financial platform for kids, with plans starting at $4.99 a month.
Safety Measures for Using Cash App for Kids
Educating children about safety measures while using cash apps and debit cards is crucial in today’s digital age.
With increased online scams, it’s important that kids understand the equivalence of digital cash to real money and how to protect their accounts.
This brief overview will highlight key practices to ensure your child’s safety when handling digital transactions.
1. Know the App’s Safety Features
Knowing the app’s safety features is crucial for maintaining security while using cash apps.
These features can include password protection, two-step verification, and biometric scans such as fingerprint or facial ID. Many apps also offer robust encryption to secure data and transactions.
Keeping abreast of the app’s safety protocols not only helps safeguard against potential scams but also instills a better understanding of digital literacy. Understanding these safety measures and functionalities can greatly lessen the likelihood of falling victim to fraudulent activities.
Make sure they don’t learn how to unlock borrow on CashApp!
2. Talk to Your Kids About Money
It is essential to talk to your children about financial literacy from an early age especially if your parents never spoke about money.
Start by making them aware of the concept of saving by using tools like a piggy bank and elucidate the value of delayed gratification.
As they mature, introduce them to the functionalities of debit cards and apps like Cash App that provide hands-on experience in managing finances. Teach them about budgeting, saving, and investing in an age-appropriate manner.
Above all, impart the message that money doesn’t just grow on trees and that every purchase needs to be evaluated against future needs and plans.
3. Use Account Alerts to Stay Up to Date
Account alerts on Cash App are not only handy but critical to your kid’s financial safety. Setting them up is a breeze.
Firstly, head to the “Notification” tab in your app settings.
Thereafter, opt for “Account alerts” and switch it on. This will ensure you’re notified of all transactions.
For an added layer of security, enable “Suspicious activity” alerts; this helps to flag any odd movements swiftly.
4. Set Up a Strong Account Passwords
It is crucial to ensure that your online accounts are secured with robust and unique passwords.
Complex passwords that incorporate a mix of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters can provide a strong line of defense against unauthorized access. Also, you should look at changing these passwords regularly, which further enhances security.
Using a password manager, either online or paper-based, can assist in maintaining and keeping track of different account credentials, maximizing security while minimizing the risk of forgetting passwords.
However, if opting for a paper-based version, it is crucial to store it in a secure and confidential location to prevent unauthorized access.
5. Have a Conversation About Scams and Fraud
The proliferation of digital transactions and cash transfer apps has given rise to numerous scams, making it critical for users to look out for fraud.
Online scams can result in financial loss, with cash apps often not assisting in the recovery of misdirected funds due to errors or fraudulent activities.
Additionally, cybercriminals use these scams to steal personal data, leading to issues like identity theft and fraudulent transactions. Furthermore, the anonymity of digital platforms enables scammers to disappear without a trace after executing a scam, sometimes befriending and exploiting minors.
Therefore, everyone must stay vigilant about potential scams to protect their money, personal information, and overall digital safety.
Key Tips to Watch for:
Discuss current scams happening. Use reliable resources to educate them about how fraud works and precautions to take.
Teach them to *slow down* during transactions to avoid sending money to the wrong contacts.
Advise against sending money to strangers to avoid being scammed.
6. Check Bank Accounts for Any Unauthorized Payments
As a parent, it is essential to regularly check your teen’s checking accounts linked to their mobile wallet for unauthorized payments.
By staying vigilant, you can detect suspicious activity early and prevent possible instances of fraud.
Tracking their spending patterns also helps you understand if they are managing their digital money wisely or if there are sudden changes in their spending habits.
Remember, it is better to be proactive in monitoring these accounts, as most money transfer app funds are not FDIC insured, making the recovery of accidental transfers or payments a challenging task.
7. Ability to Give Your Kids an Allowance
If you choose to do so, giving your kids an allowance on Cash App is a safe and effective way to teach them about responsible money management. It provides hands-on experience while putting the power of monitoring in your hands.
To set this up, simply create an account for your minor and periodically send money to it as an allowance. They can spend or save it, while you observe their spending habits.
This is a simple way for kids and teens to start managing a small amount of money.
Cash App – Do More with Your Money
Cash App is a user-friendly financial services platform that allows users to instantly send, receive, and invest money.
Simple way to save on everyday spending and back the way you want.
Which cash app will you choose for your kids
To sum it up, equipping your kids with financial responsibility via Cash App or Greenlight is an intelligent move.
These apps provide a platform for learning about savings, investments, and the value of money.
Although risk exists its potential scams, with proper guidance, your teen can safely navigate this. The added perks of trading, direct cash exchanges, and options like BusyKid and Bankaroo can further enrich their financial literacy journey.
So, which digital wallet will you pick for your kid’s first leap into financial independence?
Know someone else that needs this, too? Then, please share!!
A bear market is defined as a broad market decline of 20% or more from recent highs, which lasts for at least two months. Although bear markets make for dramatic headlines, the truth is that bull markets tend to last much longer — the average bear market typically ends within a year.
While most investors know the difference between a bull and a bear market, it’s important to know some of the characteristics of bear markets in order to understand how different market conditions may impact your portfolio and your investment choices.
What Is a Bear Market?
Investors and market watchers generally define a bear market as a drop of 20% or more from market highs. So when investors refer to a bear market, it usually means that multiple broad market indexes, such as the Standard & Poors 500 Index (S&P 500), Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA), and others, fell by 20% or more over at least two months.
To be sure, 20% is a somewhat arbitrary barometer, but it’s a common enough standard throughout the financial world.
The term bear market can also be used to describe a specific security. For example, when a particular stock drops 20% in a short time, it can be said that the stock has entered a bear market.
Bear markets are usually associated with economic recessions, although this isn’t always the case. As economic activity slows, people lose jobs, consumer spending falls, and business earnings decline. As a result, many companies may see their share prices tumble or stagnate as investors pull back.
Why Is It Called a Bear Market?
There are a variety of explanations for why “bear” and “bull” have come to describe specific market conditions. Some say a market slump is like a bear going into hibernation, versus a bull market that keeps charging upward.
The origins of the term bear market may also have come from the so-called bearskin market in the 18th century or earlier. There was a proverb that said it is unwise to sell a bear’s skin before one has caught the bear. Over time the term bearskin, and then bear, became used to describe the selling of assets.
Characteristics of a Bear Market
There are two different types of bear markets:
• Regular bear market or cyclical bear market: The market declines and takes a few months to a year to recover.
• Secular bear market: This type of bear market lasts longer and is driven more by long-term market trends than short-term consumer sentiment. A cyclical bear market can happen within a secular bear market.
History of Bear Markets
The most recent U.S. bear market began in June 2022, largely sparked by rising interest rates and inflation. The bear market officially ended on June 8, 2023, lasting about 248 trading days, according to Dow Jones Market Data, and resulting in a market drop of about 25.4%.
Including the most recent bear market, the S&P 500 Index posted 12 declines of more than 20% since World War II. The table below shows the S&P 500’s returns from the highest point to the lowest point in a downturn. Bear markets average a decline of 34%, and generally last a little more than a year: about 400 days.
Recommended: What Is a Financial Crisis?
Bear markets have occurred as close together as two years and as far apart as nearly 12 years. A secular bear market refers to a longer period of lower-than-average returns; this could last 10 years or more. A secular bear market may include minor rallies, but these don’t take hold.
A cyclical bear market is more likely to last a few weeks to a few months and is more a function of market volatility.
Peak (Start)
Trough (End)
Return
Length (in days)
May 29, 1946
May 17, 1947
-28.78%
353
June 15, 1948
June 13, 1949
-20.57%
363
August 2, 1956
October 22, 1957
-21.63%
446
December 12, 1961
June 26, 1962
-27.97%
196
February 9, 1966
October 7, 1966
-22.18%
240
November 29, 1968
May 26, 1970
-36.06%
543
January 11, 1973
October 3, 1974
-48.20%
630
November 28, 1980
August 12, 1982
-27.11%
622
August 25, 1987
December 4, 1987
-33.51%
101
March 27, 2000
Sept. 21, 2001
-36.77%
545
Jan. 4, 2002
Oct. 9, 2002
-33.75%
278
October 9, 2007
Nov. 10, 2008
-51.93%
408
Jan. 6, 2009
March 9, 2009
-27.62%
62
February 19, 2020
March 23, 2020
-34%
33
June 2022
June 8, 2023
-25%
248
Average
-34%
401
Source: Seeking Alpha/Dow Jones Market Data as of June 8, 2023.
What Causes a Bear Market?
Usually bear markets are caused by a loss of consumer, investor, and business confidence. Various factors can contribute to the loss of consumer confidence, such as changes to interest rates, global events, falling housing prices, or changes in the economy.
When the market reaches a high, people may feel that certain assets are overvalued. In that instance, people are less likely to buy those assets and more likely to start selling them, which can make prices fall.
When other investors see that prices are falling, they may anticipate that the market has reached a peak and will start declining, so they may also sell off their assets to try and profit on them before the decline. In some cases panic can set in, leading to a mass sell-off and a stock market crash (but this is rare).
Is a Recession the Same as a Bear Market?
No. Bear market conditions can lead to recessions if the market slump lasts long enough. But this isn’t always the case. According to the National Bureau of Economic Research as reported in The New York Times, the U.S. has been in a recession only 14% of the time since World War II.
What Is a Bear Market Rally
Things can get tricky if there is a bear market rally. This happens when the market goes back up for a number of days or weeks, but the rise is only temporary. Investors may think that the market decline has ended and start buying, but it may in fact continue to decline after the rally. Sometimes the market does recover and go back into a bull market, but this is hard to predict.
If the bear market continues on long enough then it becomes a recession, which can go on for months or years. That said, it’s not always the case that a bear market means there will be a recession.
Once asset prices have decreased as much as they possibly can, consumer confidence begins to rise again, and people start buying. This reverses the bear market trend into a bull market, and the market starts to recover and grow again.
Example of a Bear Market
The most recent bear market occurred in June of 2022, when the S&P 500 closed 21.8% lower than its high on Jan. 3, 2022.
While the Nasdaq and the Dow showed a similar pattern in early 2022, the decline of those markets didn’t cross the 20% mark that signals official bear market territory.
Bear Market vs Bull Market
A bull market is essentially the opposite of a bear market. As consumer confidence increases, money goes into the markets and they go up.
A bull market is defined as a 20% rise from the low that the market hit in a bear market. However, the parameters of a bull market are not as clearly defined as they are for a bear market. Once the bottom of the bear market has been reached, people generally feel that a bull market has started.
Investing Tips During a Bear Market
There are a few different bear market investing strategies one can use to both prepare for a bear market and navigate through one.
1. Reduce Risky Investments
When preparing for a bear market, it’s a good idea to reduce riskier holdings such as growth stocks and speculative assets. One can move money into cash, gold, bonds, or other ‘safe’ investments to reduce the risk of losses if the market goes down.
These safe investments tend to perform better than stocks during a bear market. Types of stocks that tend to weather bear markets well include consumer staples and healthcare companies.
2. Diversify
Another investing strategy is diversification. Rather than having all of one’s money in stocks, distribute your investments across asset classes, e.g. precious metals, bonds, crypto, real estate, or other types of investments.
This way, if one type of asset goes down a lot, the others might not go down as much. Similarly, one asset may increase a lot in value, but it’s hard to predict which one, so diversifying increases the chances that one will be exposed to the upward trend, and you’ll see a gain.
3. Save Capital and Reduce Losses
During a bear market, a common strategy is to shift from growing capital into saving it and reducing losses. It may be tempting to try and pick where the market has hit the bottom and start buying growth assets again, but this is very hard to do. It’s safer to invest small amounts of money over time using a dollar-cost averaging strategy so that one’s investments all average out, rather than trying to predict market highs and lows.
4. Find Opportunities for Future Growth
However, in a broad sense if the market is at a high and assets are clearly overvalued, this may not be the best time to buy. And vice versa if assets are clearly undervalued it may be a good time to buy and grow one’s portfolio. A bear market can be a good time to identify assets that might grow in the next bull market and start investing in them.
5. Short Selling
A very risky strategy that some investors take is short selling in anticipation of a bear market. This involves borrowing shares and selling them, then hoping to buy them back at a lower price. It’s risky because there is no guarantee that the price of the shares will fall, and since the shares are borrowed, typically using a margin account, they may end up owing the broker money if their trade doesn’t work out as they hope.
Overall, it’s best to create a long-term investing strategy rather than focusing on short-term trends and making reactive decisions to market changes. It can be scary to watch one’s portfolio go down, especially if it happens fast, but selling off assets because the market is crashing generally doesn’t turn out well for investors.
The Takeaway
Bear markets can be scary times for investors, but even a prolonged drop of 20% or more isn’t likely to last more than a few months, according to historical data. In some cases, bear markets present opportunities to buy stocks at a discount (meaning, when prices are low), in the hope they might rise.
Also there are strategies you can use to reduce losses and prepare for the next bull market, including different types of asset allocation. The point is that whether the markets are considered bearish or bullish, any time can be a good time to invest.
If you’re looking to build a portfolio, no matter what the market, it’s easy when you set up an Active Invest account with SoFi Invest. The secure investing app lets you research, track, buy and sell stocks, ETFs, crypto, and other assets right from your phone or computer. You can easily move between different types of assets and you can set automated recurring investments if you want to put in a certain dollar amount each week or month. All you need is a few dollars to get started.
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FAQ
How long do bear markets last?
Bear markets may last a few months to a year or more, but most bear markets end within a year’s time. If they go on longer than that they typically become recessions. And while a bear market can end in a few months, it can take longer for the market to regain lost ground.
When was the last bear market?
The most recent bear market started in June of 2022, when the S&P 500 fell from record highs in January for more than two months.
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SoFi Invest® The information provided is not meant to provide investment or financial advice. Also, past performance is no guarantee of future results. Investment decisions should be based on an individual’s specific financial needs, goals, and risk profile. SoFi can’t guarantee future financial performance. Advisory services offered through SoFi Wealth, LLC. SoFi Securities, LLC, member FINRA / SIPC . SoFi Invest refers to the three investment and trading platforms operated by Social Finance, Inc. and its affiliates (described below). Individual customer accounts may be subject to the terms applicable to one or more of the platforms below. 1) Automated Investing—The Automated Investing platform is owned by SoFi Wealth LLC, an SEC registered investment advisor (“Sofi Wealth“). Brokerage services are provided to SoFi Wealth LLC by SoFi Securities LLC, an affiliated SEC registered broker dealer and member FINRA/SIPC, (“Sofi Securities).
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Investment Risk: Diversification can help reduce some investment risk. It cannot guarantee profit, or fully protect in a down market.
There are two sides to inflation for consumers: The rising cost of goods and services means that the basic cost of living rises for most people. But the right amount of inflation can spur production and economic growth.
Deciding whether inflation is good or bad therefore depends on how various factors might play out in different economic sectors.
What Is Inflation?
Inflation is an economic trend in which prices for goods and services rise over time. The Federal Reserve uses different price indexes to track inflation and determine how to shape monetary policy.
Generally speaking, the Fed targets a 2% annual inflation rate as measured by pricing indexes, including the Consumer Price Index. Historically, though, the inflation rate has been about 3.3%.
Rising demand for goods and services can trigger inflation when there’s an imbalance in supply. This is known as demand-pull inflation.
Cost-push inflation occurs when the price of commodities rises, pushing up the price of goods or services that rely on those commodities.
Asking whether inflation is bad isn’t the right lens for this economic factor. Inflation can have both pros and cons for consumers and investors. Understanding the potential effects of inflation can maximize the positives while minimizing the negatives. 💡 Quick Tip: How do you decide if a certain trading platform or app is right for you? Ideally, the investment platform you choose offers the features that you need for your investment goals or strategy, e.g., an easy-to-use interface, data analysis, educational tools.
Is Inflation Good or Bad?
Answering the question of whether inflation is good or bad means understanding why inflation matters so much. The Federal Reserve takes an interest in inflation because it relates to broader economic and monetary policy.
Some level of inflation in an economy is normal, and an indication that the economy is continuing to grow. While inflation has remained relatively low over the past decade, it has historically seen the most change during or right after recessions.
The Fed believes that its 2% target inflation rate encourages price stability and maximum employment.
Recommended: 7 Factors That Cause Inflation
Broadly speaking, high inflation can make it difficult for households to afford basic necessities, such as food and shelter. When inflation is too low, that can lead to economic weakening. If inflation trends too low for an extended period of time, consumers may come to expect that to continue, which can create a cycle of low inflation rates.
That sounds good, as lower inflation means prices are not increasing over time for goods and services. So consumers may not struggle to afford the things they need to maintain their standard of living. But prolonged low inflation can impact interest rate policy.
The Federal Reserve uses interest rate cuts and hikes to keep the economy on an even keel. For example, if the economy is in danger of overheating because it’s growing too rapidly, or inflation is increasing too quickly, the Fed may raise rates to encourage a pullback in borrowing and spending.
Conversely, when the economy is in a downturn, the Fed may cut rates to try to promote spending and borrowing.
When both inflation and interest rates are low, that may not leave much room for further rate cuts in an economic crisis, which may spur higher employment rates. If prices for goods and services continue to decline, that could lead to a period of deflation or even a recession.
So, is inflation good or bad? The answer is that it can be a little of both. How deeply inflation affects consumers or investors — and who it affects most — depends on what’s behind rising prices, how long inflation lasts, and how the Fed manages interest rates.
What Is Core Inflation?
Core inflation measures the rising cost of goods and services in the economy, but excludes food and energy costs. Food and energy prices are notoriously volatile, even though demand for these staples tends to remain steady.
Both food and energy prices are partly driven by the price of commodities — which also tend to fluctuate, owing to speculation in the commodities markets. So the short-term price changes in these two markets make it difficult to include them in a long-term reading of inflationary trends: hence the core inflation metric.
The Consumer Price Index and the core personal consumption expenditures index (PCE) are the two main ways to measure underlying inflation that’s long term.
Who Benefits from Inflation?
The Federal Reserve believes some inflation is good and even necessary to maintain a healthy economy. The key is keeping inflation rates at acceptable levels, such as the 2% annual inflation rate target. Staying within this proverbial Goldilocks zone can result in numerous positive impacts for consumers and the economy in general.
That said, the core inflation rate began to climb out of that range in Q1 of 2021, and reached a peak of about 9.02% in June 2022. As of Q3 2023, the inflation rate has eased down in the 4.0% range, according to data from the Consumer Price Index.
Inflation Pros
Sustainable inflation can yield these benefits:
• Higher employment rates
• Continued economic growth
• Potential for higher wages if employers offer cost-of-living pay raises
• Cost-of-living adjustments for those receiving Social Security retirement benefits
The danger, of course, is that inflation escalates too rapidly, requiring the Federal Reserve to raise interest rates as a result. This increases the overall cost of borrowing for consumers and businesses.
Who Is Inflation Good For?
Inflation can benefit certain groups, depending on how it impacts Fed shapes monetary policy. Some of the people who can benefit from inflation include:
• Savers, if an interest rate hike results in higher rates on savings accounts, money market accounts or certificates of deposit
• Debtors, if they’re repaying loans with money that’s worth less than the money they borrowed
• Homeowners who have a low, fixed-rate mortgage
• People who hold investments that appreciate in value as inflation rises
💡 Quick Tip: Distributing your money across a range of assets — also known as diversification — can be beneficial for long-term investors. When you put your eggs in many baskets, it may be beneficial if a single asset class goes down.
Who Does Inflation Hurt the Most?
Some of the negative effects of inflation are more obvious than others. And there may be different consequences for consumers versus investors.
Inflation Cons
In terms of what’s bad about inflation, here are some of the biggest cons:
• Higher inflation means goods and services cost more, potentially straining consumer paychecks
• Investors may see their return on investment erode if higher inflation diminishes purchasing power, or if they’re holding low-interest bonds
• Unemployment rates may climb if employers lay off staff to cope with rising overhead costs
• Rising inflation can weaken currency values
Inflation can be particularly bad if it leads to hyperinflation. This phenomenon occurs when prices for goods and services increase uncontrolled over an extended period of time. Generally, this would mean an inflation growth rate of 50% or more per month. While hyperinflation has never happened in the United States, there are many examples from different time periods around the world: For example, Zimbabwe experienced a daily inflation rate of 98% in 2007-2008, when prices doubled every day.
Recommended: How to Protect Yourself From Inflation
Who Is Inflation Bad For?
The negative impacts of inflation can affect some more than others. In general, inflation may be bad for:
• Consumers who live on a fixed income
• People who plan to borrow money, if higher interest rates accompany the inflation
• Homeowners with an adjustable-rate mortgage
• Individuals who aren’t investing in the market as a hedge against inflation
Inflation and higher prices can be detrimental to retirees whose savings may not stretch as far, particularly when health care becomes more expensive.
If the cost of living increases but wages stagnate, that can also be problematic for workers because they end up spending more for the same things.
Recommended: Cost of Living by State Comparison (2023)
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How to Invest During Times of Inflation
While inflation is an investment risk to consider, some investing strategies can help minimize its impact on your portfolio.
How to Protect Your Money From Inflation
The first step is to understand that inflation rates may be variable from year to year, but the upward trend in the cost of goods and services is typically a factor investors must contend with. Essentially, if inflation is historically about 2% per year, it’s ideal to look for returns above that.
For example, while savings accounts may yield more interest if the Fed raises interest rates, investing in stocks, exchange-traded funds (ETFs) or mutual funds could generate higher returns, though these investments also come with a higher degree of risk.
• Diversification. Having a diversified portfolio that includes a mix of stock and bonds and other asset classes may help mitigate the impact of inflation.
• Always be aware of investment costs and the impact of taxes and fees. Minimizing investment costs is a time-honored way to keep more of what you earn.
• Investing in Treasury-Inflation Protected Securities (TIPS). TIPS are government-issued securities designed to generate consistent returns regardless of inflationary changes.
• If prices are rising, that can increase rental property incomes. You could benefit from that by investing in real estate ETFs or real estate investment trusts (REITs) if you’d rather not own property directly.
• Compounding interest allows you to earn interest on your interest, which is key to building wealth.
• Dollar-cost averaging means investing continuously, whether stock prices are low or high. When inflationary changes are part of a larger shift in the economic cycle, investors who dollar-cost average can still reap long term benefits, despite rising prices.
The Takeaway
Inflation is unavoidable, but you can take steps to minimize the impact to your personal financial situation. Building a well-rounded portfolio of stocks, ETFs and other investments is one strategy for keeping pace with rising inflation. Being aware of how taxes and fees can impact your returns is another way to keep more of what you earn.
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FAQ
How is economic deflation different from inflation?
Deflation is when the cost of goods and services trends downward rather than upward (the sign of inflation). Deflation can be positive for consumers, as their money goes further, but prolonged deflation can also be a sign of a contraction.
How do homeowners benefit from inflation?
Typically tangible assets like real estate tend to increase in value over time, even in the face of inflation. Currency, on the other hand, tends to lose value.
How does the government measure inflation?
The Bureau of Labor Statistics produces the Consumer Price Index (CPI), based on the change in cost for a range of goods and services. The CPI is the most common measure of inflation.
Photo credit: iStock/AJ_Watt
SoFi Invest® The information provided is not meant to provide investment or financial advice. Also, past performance is no guarantee of future results. Investment decisions should be based on an individual’s specific financial needs, goals, and risk profile. SoFi can’t guarantee future financial performance. Advisory services offered through SoFi Wealth, LLC. SoFi Securities, LLC, member FINRA / SIPC . SoFi Invest refers to the three investment and trading platforms operated by Social Finance, Inc. and its affiliates (described below). Individual customer accounts may be subject to the terms applicable to one or more of the platforms below. 1) Automated Investing—The Automated Investing platform is owned by SoFi Wealth LLC, an SEC registered investment advisor (“Sofi Wealth“). Brokerage services are provided to SoFi Wealth LLC by SoFi Securities LLC, an affiliated SEC registered broker dealer and member FINRA/SIPC, (“Sofi Securities).
2) Active Investing—The Active Investing platform is owned by SoFi Securities LLC. Clearing and custody of all securities are provided by APEX Clearing Corporation.
3) Cryptocurrency is offered by SoFi Digital Assets, LLC, a FinCEN registered Money Service Business.
For additional disclosures related to the SoFi Invest platforms described above, including state licensure of Sofi Digital Assets, LLC, please visit www.sofi.com/legal.
Neither the Investment Advisor Representatives of SoFi Wealth, nor the Registered Representatives of SoFi Securities are compensated for the sale of any product or service sold through any SoFi Invest platform. Information related to lending products contained herein should not be construed as an offer or prequalification for any loan product offered by SoFi Bank, N.A.
Investment Risk: Diversification can help reduce some investment risk. It cannot guarantee profit, or fully protect in a down market.
Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs): Investors should carefully consider the information contained in the prospectus, which contains the Fund’s investment objectives, risks, charges, expenses, and other relevant information. You may obtain a prospectus from the Fund company’s website or by email customer service at [email protected]. Please read the prospectus carefully prior to investing. Shares of ETFs must be bought and sold at market price, which can vary significantly from the Fund’s net asset value (NAV). Investment returns are subject to market volatility and shares may be worth more or less their original value when redeemed. The diversification of an ETF will not protect against loss. An ETF may not achieve its stated investment objective. Rebalancing and other activities within the fund may be subject to tax consequences.
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Financial Tips & Strategies: The tips provided on this website are of a general nature and do not take into account your specific objectives, financial situation, and needs. You should always consider their appropriateness given your own circumstances.