Investing News

Running for office costs money—a lot of money. That’s why candidates collect millions of dollars in contributions. And so, too, do the political action committees (PACs) established in their name. According to the Center for Responsive Politics, candidates in the 2020 presidential cycle drew almost $4 billion in donations. The organization said more than $1

Blockchain, the technology behind cryptocurrencies such as bitcoin, could actually change the way we manage 401(k)s. Pundits claim blockchain represents the biggest breakthrough since the internet, with the potential to improve just about everything in our lives, including our health and bank balance. Here’s how it might also increase the amount of money we have

The COVID-19 pandemic affected nearly every phase of American life, and shopping is no exception. It has wrought changes in what we buy, how we buy it, and how we pay for it. Let’s look at some areas where the coronavirus crisis been especially influential: purchase methods such as buy now, pay later (BNPL); home

As the U.S. economy begins to recover and reopen, many consumers are still scrambling to regain their financial footing. While the conventional wisdom is to sock away six to 12 months worth of savings, that became an impossibility for many during the COVID-19 pandemic, as millions of people lost their jobs, small businesses were forced

A Citibank sign in front of one of the company’s offices in California. Justin Sullivan | Getty Images Investors just can’t seem to find a trough in this bear market, and are struggling to hold on to any optimism amid growing concerns of a possible recession.  However, the key to surviving a bear market successfully

The highest and lowest unemployment rates in the world vary dramatically, even among the Earth’s largest economies. Unemployment in the United States, the largest economy in terms of gross domestic product (GDP), was at 3.5% by the end of February 2020—the lowest rate in half a century—but quickly rose to 14.7% by April in the wake

Reinvestment, in which the generated interim income is reinvested back into the investment, is known to increase long-term returns. However, some investors opt to receive periodic payments from their investments, depending on their specific needs. Periodic coupon or interest payments from bonds, which are debt instruments, and regular dividends, which are cash payments from stocks and mutual funds, can

Forward Rate vs. Spot Rate: An Overview The precise meanings of the terms “forward rate” and “spot rate” are somewhat different in different markets. In general, a spot rate refers to the current price or bond yield, while a forward rate refers to the price or yield for the same product or instrument at some

Traders on the floor of the NYSE, June 29, 2022. Source: NYSE (Click here to subscribe to the new Delivering Alpha newsletter.) A majority of Wall Street investors believe the market stands pretty much dead in the water for the rest of 2022 and, as a result, think it’s time to buy dividend-paying stocks, according to the

If you invest in stocks, you should keep an eye on the bond market. If you invest in real estate, you should keep an eye on the bond market. If you invest in bonds or bond ETFs, you definitely should keep an eye on the bond market. The bond market is a great predictor of

The number of stock trading and robo-advisor options has continued to expand in recent years. While growing competition and innovation is great news for investors, it can be challenging to decide which platform best suits your goals. To help evaluate the best options in the industry, we’ve extensively researched these U.S.-based offerings to determine the

A trader works on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York, June 16, 2022. Brendan McDermid | Reuters SPACs, once Wall Street’s hottest tickets, have become one of the most hated trades this year. The proprietary CNBC SPAC Post Deal Index, which is comprised of SPACs that have completed their mergers

We publish unbiased product reviews; our opinions are our own and are not influenced by payment we receive from our advertising partners. Learn more about how we review products and read our advertiser disclosure for how we make money. A Medicare Advantage Plan, also called a Part C or an MA Plan, may sound enticing. It combines Medicare Part

In an effort to be transparent and prevent conflicts of interest, the Ethics in Government Act requires many elected officials to file an annual financial disclosure statement that reveals their assets, investments, and businesses interests. Senators are one of the groups of people who must make this disclosure. Their statements are made available to the public and

In this article IMO-CA SU-CA ADBE AVGO KLAC A sign on the campus offices of chipmaker Broadcom Ltd is shown in Irvine, California. Mike Blake | Reuters As the first half of 2022 winds down, investors can be certain of at least one thing: This year will likely continue to be difficult. Economic risk is

For the majority of U.S. history – or at least as far back as reliable information goes – housing prices have increased only slightly more than the level of inflation in the economy. Only during the period between 1990 and 2006, known as the Great Moderation, did housing returns rival those of the stock market.

What Is Venmo? Venmo started out as a free-of-charge peer-to-peer (P2P) payment app available for iPhones and Android phones. That service is still free, as is using Venmo to pay participating merchants, who now number in the millions. Some other services carry a fee. Payments that go through a credit card account rather than a

If you’re in the market to buy or sell a home, odds are you’ll work with a real estate agent to help you through the process. Most real estate agents are paid for their services through commissions that are based on a percentage of the property’s selling price. How much money agents make each year

IRS Form W-9, Request for Taxpayer Identification Number and Certification, is used by businesses to get tax information from external parties. The information provided on Form W-9 informs the company of what information to include in the Form 1098 or Form 1099. Let’s take a look at who is required to fill out a W-9,

Monitors display Coinbase signage during the company’s initial public offering (IPO) at the Nasdaq MarketSite in New York, U.S., on Wednesday, April 14, 2021. Michael Nagle | Bloomberg | Getty Images Coinbase shares fell on Wednesday after rival crypto exchange Binance.US said it’s dropping certain trading fees for customers. Binance.US, the U.S. affiliate of the

When you have a big project to pay for and equity in your home, a home equity loan can be an obvious choice for quick and relatively low-interest cash. But, as with any kind of borrowing, home equity loans aren’t free. All home equity loans charge interest and most also charge fees that can significantly

Most Americans probably consider inflation in the short term when they go to the grocery store to buy food or fill up their vehicle with fuel. Not only does inflation affect the prices of consumer goods in the short-term, but inflation must also be considered when planning for costs in the future. On an individual

Pro athletes often come under fire for making too much money. Yet a surprising number are far from the top of their game when it comes to managing their wealth. A 2009 Sports Illustrated report estimated that 78% of National Football League (NFL) players file for bankruptcy or are experiencing financial stress only two years

In this article NTAP ORCL IHS BAC AAPL Apple CEO Tim Cook speaks during Apple’s annual Worldwide Developers Conference in San Jose, California, June 6, 2022. Peter Dasilva | Reuters It’s just about the middle of the year, and there’s no end in sight for stock market volatility. Investors, already reeling from sharp declines in

Thinking about graduate school? As if figuring out what to do isn’t tough enough, it’s even tougher to figure out how to pay for it. Depending on the program, graduate school education can cost close to six figures. Even with scholarships and grants, grad students often rely on student loans to get by. Unfortunately, after

E*TRADE and Fidelity are full-service online brokers that have been around for decades. Founded in 1982, E*TRADE was one of the first U.S. brokers to offer online trading services. The firm positioned itself as one of the best online brokers for options trading after acquiring OptionsHouse in 2016 and integrating a quiver of OptionsHouse tools

What Is TikTok? TikTok is a popular social media app that allows users to create, watch, and share 15-second videos shot on mobile devices or webcams. With its personalized feeds of quirky short videos set to music and sound effects, the app is notable for its addictive quality and high levels of engagement. Amateur and

Jobs in the financial sector can be highly lucrative, which helps explain why they’re in such great demand. Of course, breaking into the world of finance isn’t easy, as entry qualifications can be as lofty as the salaries. At a minimum, most jobs require a four-year degree, and many professionals have advanced degrees in business,

Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong announced today that the exchange was laying off 1,100 employees immediately. This reduces the company’s workforce by 18% not long after reaching more than 2,500. Key Takeaways Coinbase lays off 1,100 employees to cut expenses, citing economic conditions and the rate of growth over the last year. Coinbase grew more than

The Roth IRA has many benefits compared to the traditional IRA. Distributions from traditional IRAs, for example, are generally treated as ordinary income and may be subject to income tax. Distributions from traditional IRAs may also be subject to an early distribution penalty if the withdrawal occurs while the IRA owner is under the age