More businesses are shifting the bulk of market budgets from television and print media to digital marketing platforms. Traditional pay TV lost 6 million customers over the past 2 years, and daily print newspaper circulation is dropping at a rate of more than 10% each year. That’s why it’s important for investors to understand marketing service stocks.

As digital media becomes the dominant force, you may not recognize the major players in marketing services. Take a look at the best-performing marketing service stocks that can make a major impact on your investment portfolio.

Quick Look at the Best Marketing Services Stocks:

• SRAX Inc.
• Boston Omaha Corp.
• Salesforce.com
• Thryv Holdings
• Yext Inc

Overview: Marketing Service Stocks

Before the digital revolution, most businesses used advertising and public relations agencies to handle marketing duties. Now, most of the emerging media requires specialization in email, market research, social media, digital marketing, marketing strategy, mobile devices, sports apps and gaming. Plus, print and TV advertising are still a big part of the mix. The marketing service stocks industry category covers all of these forms of marketing. 

When you search for these groups on investment sites, try a search for communications. Your search may be slightly difficult because the marketing services industry category is relatively new in the investing community.

Best Online Brokers for Stock

Investors have an increasing list of online brokers to choose from. This list features brokers among the best in the field. 

Claim Exclusive Offers

Best For

Active and Global Traders

Overall Rating

Read Review

get started securely through Interactive Brokers’s website

More Details

Best For

Active and Global Traders

N/A

1 Minute Review

Interactive Brokers is a comprehensive trading platform that gives you access to a massive range of securities at affordable prices. You can buy assets from all around the world from the comfort of your home or office with access to over 150 global markets. Options, futures, forex and fund trading are also available, and most traders won’t pay a commission on any purchase or sale.  

IBKR is geared primarily toward experienced traders and investors but now with the availability of free trades with IBKR Lite, casual traders can also acclimate to IBKR’s offerings.

Best For

• Access to international markets
• Active traders
• Detailed mobile app that makes trading simple
• Wide range of available account types and tradeable assets

Pros

• IB SmartRouting provides significant price improvement vs. industry
• Fractional trading allows investing regardless of share price
• Industry’s lowest margin rates
• Earn more by lending your fuly-paid shares

Cons

• Beginner investors might prefer a broker that offers a bit more hand-holding and educational resources

Best For

Leveraged Trading

Overall Rating

Read Review

get started securely through Plus500’s website

More Details

Disclosure: 81% of retail accounts lose money

Best For

Leveraged Trading

N/A

1 Minute Review

81% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.

Plus500 is an online CFD broker focusing on contracts for difference (CFDs). CFDs are similar to binary options in the U.S. where traders take all-or-nothing speculation on the prices of certain securities like indices, commodities or currencies. While not legal to trade in the U.S., CFDs are legal in many jurisdictions across the globe and Plus500 offers a wide array of tradable markets using these instruments. 

Plus500 doesn’t charge commission and only profits off the spread, which is the difference between the buy and sell price of a specific security. But Plus500 is not a broker for beginners — the education materials are sparse and CFDs are risky derivatives capable of sapping out all of an investor’s capital. Only trade these instruments if you understand how they operate and the risks involved with buying them.

The Plus500 CFD platform is for CFDs. The Plus500 Futures platform offers futures for U.S. customers, and Plus500 Invest offers stock trading.

Best For

• Traders looking for a smooth mobile experience

Pros

• Great mobile app
• Low spreads and commissions
• Unlimited demo account
• Plus500 offers three platforms: Plus500 Futures, Plus500 Invest and Plus500 CFD.

Cons

• Only derivatives are available
• Futures are available to U.S. residents while CFDs are not available for U.S. residents.

Best For

Trading Ideas

Overall Rating

Read Review

get started securely through public.com’s website

More Details

Best For

Trading Ideas

N/A

1 Minute Review

Public is the only investing platform that lets you trade stocks, ETFs, crypto, bonds, options and alternative assets—like fine art and collectibles—all in one place. Public also provides access to custom company metrics, live shows about the markets, and insights from a community of millions of investors, creators, and analysts.

Today, Public provides more ways to create a diversified portfolio than nearly any other online broker. Members can engage in sophisticated investing strategies and access a wealth of investing insights—from company-specific analysis to live audio shows and town hall-style Q&As. In addition, Public offers a premium membership tier with unique company KPIs, detailed performance metrics, and institutional-grade research. 

 

Best For

• Stock and ETF investors
• Crypto investors
• Investors looking to diversify with alternative assets or bonds and options

Pros

• Commission-free stock and ETF trading
• Fractional share investing
• Advanced data, tools, and insights with Public Premium

Cons

• You can’t transfer crypto to another wallet
• No mutual funds or precious metals
• At this time, only offers individual brokerage accounts and not IRAs

Best For

Commission-Free Mobile Trading

Overall Rating

Read Review

get started securely through Robinhood’s website

More Details

Best For

Commission-Free Mobile Trading

N/A

1 Minute Review

Robinhood is a popular trading platform known for its commission-free trades and user-friendly mobile app. Ideal for novice investors, Robinhood makes it easy to buy and sell stocks, ETFs and cryptocurrencies. The platform offers a straightforward, no-frills experience, making it accessible for users new to investing. With features like fractional shares and a sleek interface, Robinhood lowers the barriers to entry for investing, allowing users to start with just a few dollars. It lacks the advanced tools and research options that more experienced investors might seek. Overall, Robinhood is a great choice for beginners seeking a simple way to invest.

Best For

• Beginners looking for simplicity
• Mobile-first investors
• Commission-free trades

Pros

• User-friendly mobile app
• Instant double
• Cash management
• Access to cryptocurrencies

Cons

• Limited research tools
• No mutual funds available
• Basic customer support options

Best For

Active Short Sellers

Overall Rating

Read Review

get started securely through TradeZero’s website

More Details

Best For

Active Short Sellers

N/A

1 Minute Review

TradeZero is an online broker and free stock trading platform that provides everything you need to successfully share and trade, including round-the-clock customer support. TradeZero provides four different trading state-of-the-art software programs with its services, a locator for sourcing shares for shorting, commission-free trades, and real-time streaming, to name a few of the features promoted on their website. The software is a unique and (potentially) affordable option for anyone interested in stock trading.

Best For

• Traders seeking high transparency and mobility in a stock trading program
• Those attracted to commission-free trades
• Those seeking a free version of a high-quality trading program

Pros

• 24/7 live customer support
• Uses ZeroWeb technology, a powerful level 2 online platform with direct market access
• Mobile app allows users to access stocks and trade in real-time while on the go

Cons

• Enforces Pattern Day Trading restrictions (accounts need to maintain a daily equity balance of at least $25k)
• Mobile app could offer more features

Features to Look for in Marketing Service Stock

• Earnings per share ratio (EPS) is a concrete metric for evaluating a stock’s worth. It indicates a company’s ability to generate high dividends for its investors and its ability to reinvest for growth. You can calculate earnings per share by dividing a company’s total net income by the average number of outstanding shares during the previous fiscal year. 
• Stability is desirable in any stock. Stock price history, earnings per share and benchmark charts can reveal a lot about a company’s stability. Occasional dips in value are understandable but stocks with erratic fluctuations are cause for concern.
• Earnings growth can be considered by studying a company’s net income over a period of years. You can find a company’s net income history in its income statement. Look for a positive growth trend. 

Frequently Asked Questions

The post Best Marketing Services Stocks by Melissa Brock appeared first on Benzinga. Visit Benzinga to get more great content like this.

The S&P 500 closed above 7,600 for the first time in early June 2026, capping nine straight weeks of gains powered largely by AI heavyweights like Nvidia. A rally that strong leaves a lot of investors asking the same question: is now a smart time to buy, or is it better to wait for a pullback?

When Is the Best Time to Buy Stocks?

The best time to buy stocks is whenever you have money you will not need for at least five years, regardless of where the market happens to sit that day.

That answer sounds anticlimactic, but it reflects decades of market data showing that time in the market consistently beats attempts to time the market.

The S&P 500 has finished higher in roughly three out of every four calendar years since 1926, which means the odds favor investors who simply get in and stay in.

Why Timing the Market Rarely Works

The biggest problem with waiting for the perfect entry point is that the market’s best days tend to cluster right next to its worst ones.

JPMorgan research has shown that an investor who missed just the 10 best trading days over a 20-year stretch would have ended up with roughly half the return of someone who stayed fully invested.

Seven of those 10 best days historically occurred within two weeks of the 10 worst days, which is exactly when nervous investors are most likely to be sitting in cash.

Professional fund managers with full-time research teams struggle to time entries and exits profitably, so the average investor attempting it from a phone app faces long odds.

Does Buying at Record Highs Hurt Returns?

It feels risky to buy when the index is setting records, but history says otherwise.

Analysis from multiple asset managers has found that buying the S&P 500 at an all-time high has historically produced forward returns similar to, and sometimes better than, buying on any random day, because record highs tend to come in long streaks during bull markets.

That said, today’s market is not cheap by historical standards, with the S&P 500’s forward price-to-earnings ratio sitting near 23 versus a 10-year average closer to 18.6, according to FactSet.

Wall Street remains broadly constructive anyway, and Goldman Sachs recently raised its year-end S&P 500 target to 8,000 on the strength of AI-driven earnings growth.

Elevated valuations are a reason to keep expectations modest and stay diversified, not a reason to sit out entirely.

Are There Better Days or Times to Buy?

Within a single trading day, the first hour after the market opens at 9:30 a.m. Eastern tends to be the most volatile, as overnight news and pending orders get digested.

Many experienced investors prefer to place trades between roughly 10:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. Eastern, when prices are typically steadier.

Calendar patterns get more attention than they deserve, including the old claims that Mondays are weak, that September is historically the worst month, and that midterm election years bring choppiness.

These patterns are real in the averages but unreliable in any given year, and the trading costs and taxes involved in exploiting them usually eat whatever edge exists.

For long-term investors, the day of the week you buy matters far less than the number of years you hold.

How Dollar-Cost Averaging Removes the Guesswork

If buying at a record high still makes you uneasy, the practical fix is dollar-cost averaging, which means investing a fixed amount on a set schedule, such as $200 on the first of every month.

You automatically buy more shares when prices dip and fewer when prices spike, smoothing out your average cost without requiring a single prediction.

Most platforms on Benzinga’s list of the best stockbrokers let you automate this with recurring purchases and fractional shares, so even $25 a week buys a slice of an index fund.

If you are starting fresh, Public offers commission-free trading with fractional shares and automated recurring investing, which makes it easy to put a dollar-cost averaging plan on autopilot from day one.

When Waiting Actually Makes Sense

There are legitimate reasons to delay buying stocks, and none of them involve predicting the market.

Hold off if you carry high-interest credit card debt, since paying off a balance charging 22% is a guaranteed return no stock can reliably match.

Wait if you lack an emergency fund covering three to six months of expenses, because selling stocks in a downturn to cover a surprise bill locks in losses.

And keep any money you will need within five years, such as a house down payment, out of stocks entirely, since a low-cost index fund cannot guarantee it will be whole when you need it.

Once those boxes are checked, the smartest move is usually picking one of the best online brokers for index funds, setting a recurring buy, and letting the calendar do the work, no matter what the headlines say about 7,600 or the midterms ahead.

The post What’s the Best Time of Day to Buy Stocks? by Melissa Brock appeared first on Benzinga. Visit Benzinga to get more great content like this.

If you have ever wondered whether you should try to pick individual stocks or simply buy a fund that tracks the entire market, you have stumbled onto one of finance’s most enduring questions.

The choice between active and passive investing shapes how you build wealth, what you pay in fees, and whether you beat the market or settle for matching it.

The Difference Between Active and Passive Investing

Active investing means buying and selling securities frequently in an attempt to outperform the market, relying on research, analysis, and timing calls to generate returns above what the broad market delivers.

Passive investing means holding a diversified portfolio, typically through an index fund or exchange-traded fund, that mirrors the performance of a market index like the S&P 500 and makes changes only when the index itself changes.

The difference matters because it affects your returns, your costs, and how much time and skill you need to succeed.

The Case for Passive Investing

Passive investing has become the default choice for most retail investors over the past two decades, driven by a simple and brutal fact: most active managers do not beat the market over long periods once fees are factored in.

A landmark study by S&P Dow Jones Indices found that roughly 85 to 90 percent of large-cap active mutual funds underperformed the S&P 500 over the preceding 15-year period.

Passive index funds charge far lower fees, typically ranging from 0.05 percent to 0.20 percent annually, compared to the 0.5 to 2 percent that active mutual funds charge, and understanding how mutual fund fees work reveals how quickly costs compound against your returns.

That fee differential compounds dramatically over decades. On a $100,000 investment over 30 years, a 0.10 percent annual fee costs about $33,000 in total value compared to roughly $165,000 for a 1 percent fee, assuming identical 7 percent annual returns before fees.

Passive investing also requires almost no ongoing decision-making once you have built your portfolio and chosen your rebalancing schedule, a stark contrast to the constant monitoring that building a stock portfolio demands.

You buy your index funds, set a contribution schedule, and let compound growth do the work.

The psychological discipline matters. Because passive investors do not obsess over short-term price movements or feel the urge to time the market, they tend to stick with their plans through bull markets and bear markets alike.

The Case for Active Investing

Active investing appeals to investors who believe they can identify undervalued stocks, exploit market inefficiencies, or adjust their portfolio timing based on economic conditions before broader markets do.

For skilled practitioners, active investing has produced exceptional long-term returns. Warren Buffett, Peter Lynch, and a handful of other legendary managers have beaten the market consistently over decades, though debate continues about how much of their success reflects skill versus luck.

Active investing lets you express strong convictions about individual companies, sectors, or economic themes that passive index ownership does not.

If you believe electric vehicle companies will dominate transportation over the next decade, passive investing forces you to hold oil and gas stocks as part of your index exposure, which may conflict with your view.

Active investing also opens the door to tax-loss harvesting and other tactical moves that can improve after-tax returns in taxable accounts.

The Costs of Active Investing

The obvious cost is fees, but there are others that matter just as much.

Trading frequently triggers capital gains taxes, eating into your after-tax returns, and transaction costs add up quickly if you buy and sell positions regularly.

Active investing demands significant time. You need to research companies, track earnings reports, analyze financial statements, and monitor your portfolio constantly to stay ahead of the market.

Most individual active investors lack the time, data access, and analytical tools that professional investors use, and that disadvantage is real.

Behavioral mistakes amplify the cost problem. Active investors tend to buy high during market frenzies and sell low during crashes, the opposite of what profit-taking discipline requires.

Studies on retail trading accounts show that the average active trader underperforms buy-and-hold passive investors by 2 to 4 percent annually, a gap that widens for those who trade frequently.

A Hybrid Approach

Many investors split the difference by building a core passive portfolio using low-cost index funds and allocating a smaller sleeve, perhaps 10 to 20 percent, to active stock picking.

This approach lets you scratch the active investor itch without risking your entire financial future on conviction trades.

You get the downside protection and consistent returns of passive index investing while maintaining the flexibility to pursue ideas you believe in strongly.

The Key Question to Ask Yourself

Before deciding, be honest about whether you have a documented edge in stock picking or if you are simply chasing the fantasy of outperformance.

An edge might be deep industry knowledge from your career, access to research or data that others lack, or a proven track record of returns that beat your benchmark.

Without a clear edge, passive investing offers simplicity, lower costs, and historically superior after-tax returns that align with how institutional investors and financial advisors now manage money for individuals.

The evidence does not say active investing is always wrong. It says that for most people, most of the time, passive investing is the harder strategy to beat.

If you are building long-term wealth, consider starting with low-cost index funds that match your risk tolerance and time horizon, and revisit the active versus passive question only if you develop genuine confidence in your ability to pick winners.

For those exploring ways to build wealth beyond the stock market, other investment vehicles like real estate offer different risk and return profiles worth understanding as part of a diversified strategy.

The post Active vs. Passive Investing by Melissa Brock appeared first on Benzinga. Visit Benzinga to get more great content like this.

In the ever-evolving landscape of financial markets, two investment avenues stand out for their potential to deliver substantial returns—penny stocks vs forex trading. Both offer unique opportunities and come with their own set of risks, but understanding their fundamental differences can be key to aligning them with your investment strategy.

Whether you’re drawn to the low entry cost and speculative nature of penny stocks or the fast-paced, global scale of forex trading, it’s essential to grasp the nuances of each before diving in. In this article, we’ll explore the core characteristics, potential benefits, and inherent risks associated with penny stocks and forex, helping you make an informed decision about which path might be right for your investment goals.

What Are Penny Stocks?

Penny stocks typically trade for under $5 per share. Most penny stock companies are companies that haven’t achieved much notoriety and traditionally have small market capitalization.

Those two factors make them highly speculative, which equals high risk for traders. Penny stocks are quoted over-the-counter, such as on the OTC Bulletin Board or “pink sheets” and can also trade on securities exchanges, including foreign securities exchanges.

How to Invest in Penny Stocks

If you’ve decided you’re game to try penny stocking despite its highly speculative nature, do your research of the penny stock companies you’re interested in, then:

1. Choose a stock broker to open an account with.
2. Determine which stock to trade; a good starting point is to use tools from the OTC Markets website or Finviz. The OTC Markets Group also organizes securities into tiered marketplaces that can help you determine which stocks to trade.
3. Start by paper trading for a reasonable amount of time so you gradually build more confidence with real money.
4. Begin trading, but be sure you’re comfortable with losing money on some (or potentially all) of your trades, particularly when trading on margin.
5. Get a mentor who trades penny stocks.

What is Forex?

The market participants in a forex market include traders, investors, governments, banks, businesses and more. The market is open 24 hours, five days a week. When you trade forex, you simultaneously buy and sell currency pairs. The most often-traded currency pairs include:

• EUR/USD: The euro and the U.S. dollar
• USD/JPY: The U.S. dollar and the Japanese yen
• GBP/USD: The British pound sterling and the U.S. dollar
• USD/CHF: The U.S. dollar and the Swiss franc

Notice that all pairs include the U.S. dollar. (If you don’t see USD on the list, it’s not a major currency pair, and is instead called a currency cross.) Examples of these can include, but are not limited to, euro crosses and Japanese yen crosses:

When trading forex, you sell one currency (the base currency) in order to purchase another (called the quote currency). The base currency and the quote currency are both always in flux. The exchange rate shows how much you’ll pay in units of the quote currency to buy one unit of the base currency. When you sell, the exchange rate reflects the number of units of the quote currency you will receive for selling one unit of the base currency. Here are a few other terms to know:

• Going long: You buy the base currency and sell the quote currency.
• Going short: You sell the base currency and buy the quote currency.
• Bid-ask spread: The difference between the price at which a dealer will buy and sell a currency.
• Bid price: The amount of money a dealer is willing to pay, or “bid” for a currency.
• Ask price: The amount of money a dealer wants for a currency.
• Price interest point (pip): The measure of the movement in the exchange rate in a currency pair.

Costs of Penny Stocks and Forex

In order to trade forex, you’ll need to open a trading account with a forex broker. Similarly,  penny stocks don’t require any set fees, trading costs or account minimums. There are no rules about how much a broker can charge you, so it’s important to shop around and compare amounts and services.

Regarding forex, some firms charge a per trade commission, while other firms make their money on the spread between the bid and ask prices. Note that some forex firms advertise “commission-free” trades, but understand that through the bid/ask spread, they’re still making money off your trades.

Here’s a quick example from TD Ameritrade listing the fees involved, and it’s a great example of how to search costs:

How to Choose a Forex Broker

Choosing a broker can be such a personal decision; it doesn’t really matter which one your friend uses or even a certain professional trader uses. If a particular broker works best for you, then go with it!

A broker should provide you with extensive research and analysis, competitive trade prices and educational material, including a practice account that helps you learn the ropes.

Last but not least, it’s important to have a top-notch trading platform with a full suite of tools (that you’re comfortable using, of course).

Final Thoughts on Penny Stocks vs Forex

As you can see, penny stocks and forex have hardly anything in common. However, they’re both risky in their own very specific ways. The penny stock market is risky because it’s highly speculative, as mentioned above. On the other hand, the forex market is risky because of the amount of leverage potentially involved. You’re typically required to put up just 1% in margin of the total value of a forex contract.

Frequently Asked Questions

The post Penny Stocks vs. Forex by Melissa Brock appeared first on Benzinga. Visit Benzinga to get more great content like this.

You may appreciate Robinhood for its streamlined layout, basic trading options and simple account types. It’s a great start for beginners (or anyone, really!) who wants to get in and get out on a simple platform. However, Robinhood wasn’t designed for in-depth technical analysis, so whether you want to sell on the heels of the WallStreetBets Reddit phenomenon, jump on another platform or start shopping for Robinhood alternatives, you’ve landed in the right spot.

Let Benzinga take you through a step-by-step guide to how to sell stock on Robinhood. We’ll cover how to sell stock on the Robinhood app, then cover how to sell stock on the web platform.

Step 1: Browse the stocks you own. 

Find the stock you want to sell by browsing on the Robinhood app. You should see the number of shares you own, your equity, average cost, your portfolio diversity, today’s return, total return, and today’s volume. You can learn the stock’s historical performance, analyst ratings, company earnings and other helpful information to help you make your final decision about selling a stock on Robinhood.

Step 2: Hit the “trade” button. 

You have the option to buy or sell, and in this case, hit the “sell” button. On the other hand, if you change your mind and want to buy, you can do that here, after you select “trade.”

Step 3: Choose how many shares you want to sell.

In the upper right corner, choose if you want to sell in dollars or shares. Insert the number of shares or dollars you want to sell. You can also see the market price and Robinhood will tell you how much credit you’ll receive if you sell that particular stock.  

Step 4: Choose a market order or limit order. 

You can choose a market order and receive the market price for your sell or you can choose a limit order and specify the amount you’re willing to receive per share of stock you plan to sell. Note that you can cancel limit orders at any time, especially if you decide you no longer want to sell your shares. That’s not the case with market orders — if the markets are open, your order will execute. 

Step 5: Review and swipe to submit. 

Once you think it looks great, tap review and swipe up and you’ve sold your shares.

How to Sell on Robinhood’s Web Platform

You’ll follow the same general process to sell on Robinhood’s web platform. 

• Look at the stock’s detail page for company information. 
• Click “sell” on the right side of the screen — on Robinhood’s order window.
• Determine whether you’d like to sell in dollars or shares using the drop-down menu. 
• Click review and submit your sell order.

Frequently Asked Questions

The post How to Sell Stock on Robinhood by Melissa Brock appeared first on Benzinga. Visit Benzinga to get more great content like this.

Quick Answer: Set clear investment goals, research and select index funds that align with those goals and open a brokerage account through an index-fund provider like Frec or Interactive Brokers.

Would index funds be as popular if Warren Buffett hadn’t endorsed them? Maybe not. Index funds, which consist of a mutual fund or exchange-traded fund (ETF) portfolio that tracks a broad segment of the U.S. stock market, offer access to low-cost, diversified portfolios.

How to Invest in Index Funds

Benzinga recommends the following steps to choose and execute the purchase of an index fund.

1. Know Which Index the Fund Follows

Since indexing has become so popular picking an index fund isn’t as easy as it used to be, when there were fewer to choose from. Before you select an index fund, understand its underlying holdings and how it’s behaved in the past, although past performance is no guarantee of future performance.

Is the fund specialized and specific? If so, do thorough research to make sure you understand what you’re putting your money into. Specialized funds can be more slippery than mainstream index funds. Triple check to be sure that a fund you’re considering really does track an index.

2. Choose Where You’d Like to Buy Your Index Fund

You can choose from many options to buy index funds. Most discount brokerages offer them, so it’s a matter of checking out Benzinga’s investing guides.

3. Learn About Fund Fees and Tax Effects

Not all index funds are tax-efficient and not all index funds are cheap. Figure out how much a potential index fund will cost you. Fee information is available on a broker’s website.

4. Decide How Much You’d Like to Invest

This part is a personal decision based on your financial situation. You’ll need to weigh how much you can invest against the fund minimums.

set clear investment goals, then research and select index funds that align with those goals, and finally, either open a brokerage account or directly purchase index funds through an index-fund provider like Vanguard or Fidelity.

Where to Invest in Index Funds

Best For

Well-Funded Investors

Overall Rating

Get started securely through Frec’s website

More Details

Best For

Well-Funded Investors

N/A

1 Minute Review

In today’s investment landscape, tax optimization plays a pivotal role in enhancing returns. Direct indexing, a strategy embraced by many investors, including those at Frec, prioritizes tax loss harvesting as a means to minimize tax liabilities and bolster portfolio performance. By strategically managing capital gains and losses, Frec’s direct indexing service offers investors a way to optimize their earnings while navigating the complexities of the tax landscape.

Direct indexing empowers investors with control over their portfolios while leveraging tax loss harvesting to its full potential. Frec’s approach enhances earnings by unlocking tax savings, regardless of market conditions, through sophisticated algorithms and automation.

As direct indexing gains momentum, Frec is at the forefront, democratizing access to this tax-efficient investment strategy. With low fees and a $20k minimum – which is significantly lower than the $100k+ minimums often found at wealth managers, Frec makes direct indexing accessible to a broader range of investors.

Besides direct indexing, Frec offers additional financial solutions, including a low-cost portfolio line of credit and a high-yield treasury product, further augmenting its appeal as a comprehensive wealth-building platform.

Best For

• High net worth and well-funded individual investors seeking greater control over their investment strategies, customization options and efficient management of tax implications
• Experienced investors seeking portfolio diversification and increased returns via efficient tax optimization and management strategies
• Those seeking access to low-cost portfolio lines of credit or passive earnings via high-yield returns

Pros

• Daily tax loss harvesting of individual S&P 500® stocks for optimized earnings — Frec could tax loss harvest ~40% of your invested capital over ten years
• Streamlined portfolio customization — you can choose between the S&P 500® or S&P 500® Info Tech index and customize by adding or excluding stocks or sectors
• Highly competitive pricing and account minimum — $20,000 minimum deposit and 0.10% annual fee for direct indexing
• High security and safety standard — your assets are held in your name at Apex Clearing and are insured (Frec is a registered and regulated brokerage firm and registered investment adviser)
• Effortless and fully automated investing platform — you can set your direct indexing and monitor what trades are being executed without hassle
• Streamline access to passive income via high-yield treasury and expedited borrowing for emergency
• Excellent educational and learning resources

Cons

• Not ideal for undercapitalized or beginner investors
• Relatively new platform with little or no track records

Best For

Active and Global Traders

Overall Rating

Read Review

get started securely through Interactive Brokers’s website

More Details

Best For

Active and Global Traders

N/A

1 Minute Review

Interactive Brokers is a comprehensive trading platform that gives you access to a massive range of securities at affordable prices. You can buy assets from all around the world from the comfort of your home or office with access to over 150 global markets. Options, futures, forex and fund trading are also available, and most traders won’t pay a commission on any purchase or sale.  

IBKR is geared primarily toward experienced traders and investors but now with the availability of free trades with IBKR Lite, casual traders can also acclimate to IBKR’s offerings.

Best For

• Access to international markets
• Active traders
• Sophisticated investors
• Detailed mobile app that makes trading simple
• Wide range of available account types and tradeable assets

Pros

• IB SmartRouting provides significant price improvement vs. industry
• Fractional trading allows investing regardless of share price
• Industry’s lowest margin rates
• Earn more by lending your fuly-paid shares

Cons

• Beginner investors might prefer a broker that offers a bit more hand-holding and educational resources

Best For

Trading Ideas

Overall Rating

Read Review

get started securely through public.com’s website

More Details

Best For

Trading Ideas

N/A

1 Minute Review

Public is the only investing platform that lets you trade stocks, ETFs, crypto, bonds, options and alternative assets—like fine art and collectibles—all in one place. Public also provides access to custom company metrics, live shows about the markets, and insights from a community of millions of investors, creators, and analysts.

Today, Public provides more ways to create a diversified portfolio than nearly any other online broker. Members can engage in sophisticated investing strategies and access a wealth of investing insights—from company-specific analysis to live audio shows and town hall-style Q&As. In addition, Public offers a premium membership tier with unique company KPIs, detailed performance metrics, and institutional-grade research. 

 

Best For

• Stock and ETF investors
• Crypto investors
• Investors looking to diversify with alternative assets or bonds and options

Pros

• Commission-free stock and ETF trading
• Fractional share investing
• Advanced data, tools, and insights with Public Premium

Cons

• You can’t transfer crypto to another wallet
• No mutual funds or precious metals
• At this time, only offers individual brokerage accounts and not IRAs

Future Outlook for Index Funds

According to updated projections, by the end of 2027, index funds are expected to control upwards of 60% of the total assets in the investment-management sector. This surge demonstrates an increasing preference among investors for index funds over actively managed portfolios. The most recent data from Morningstar, Inc. indicates a dramatic shift, revealing that investors poured $750 billion into passive funds while actively managed funds saw inflows of only $300 billion last year.

Index funds aren’t going away any time soon. Investors aren’t keen to part with their money in the form of fees and taxes.

Choice or Chance?

Index funds have a promising future, though for every “Index funds are great!” message you’ll hear in the media, there’s the opposite message — “You can’t react to the market. You have limited choice over holdings. You aren’t allowed to determine strategy.”

Index funds may not be right for every investor. If you choose them, there are excellent fund managers out there who do beat the market. It’s your decision.

Frequently Asked Questions

The post How to Invest in Index Funds by Melissa Brock appeared first on Benzinga. Visit Benzinga to get more great content like this.

An index fund is a type of mutual fund or ETF portfolio that tracks a broad segment of the U.S. stock market. The beauty of index funds is that you’ll get a neat package of bundled stocks. You don’t have to pay a money manager to choose your investments for you. This means that index funds typically give way to high returns and lower fees. However, you want the best index funds because both reduce your risk and potentially increase profits.

Quick Look at the Best Index Funds: 

• Schwab U.S. Large-Cap ETF (NYSEARCA: SCHX)
• iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (NYSEARCA: IVV)
• Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF (NYSEARCA: VTI)
• Invesco S&P 500^® Equal Weight ETF (NYSEARCA: RSP)
• Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (NYSEARCA: VOO)

Best Index Funds Right Now

Benzinga has compiled a list of a few of the best index funds, and they include the following:

Schwab U.S. Large-Cap ETF (NYSEARCA: SCHX)

Schwab U.S. Large-Cap ETF has been on the market since 2009. It tracks the Dow Jones U.S. Large-Cap Total Stock Market Index and consists of over 750 of the largest U.S. companies. This ETF has holdings in companies from industrial sectors such as information technology, healthcare, consumer discretionary, communication services and finance. A few of these companies include Apple (AAPL), Microsoft (MSFT), Facebook (FB), Tesla (TSLA) and JPMorgan(JPM). 

iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (NYSEARCA: IVV)

iShares Core S&P 500 ETF has been open to trade since 2000. It tracks the S&P 500 index and consists of more than 500 leading companies in the U.S. The index has companies from industrial sectors such as IT, healthcare and consumer staples. These companies include NVIDIA, Home Depot (HD), Procter & Gamble (PG) and Visa (V). 

Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF (NYSEARCA: VTI)

Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF has been listed on the stock exchange since 2001. It tracks the CRSP US Total Market Index and consists of more than 3,500 companies. Companies from industrial sectors such as basic materials, consumer staples, energy and finance are part of the index. These companies include Amazon (AMZN), Visa (V), JP Morgan (JPM) and Apple (AAPL). 

Invesco S&P 500^® Equal Weight ETF (NYSEARCA: RSP)

Invesco S&P 500^® Equal Weight ETF has been open to trade since 2003. It tracks the S&P Equal Weight Index and has holdings in over 500 companies. The index contains companies from industrial sectors such as IT, healthcare and finance. These companies include Alexion Pharmaceuticals (ALXN), NortonLifeLock (NLOK) and PayPal (PYPL).

Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (NYSEARCA: VOO)

Vanguard S&P 500 ETF has been on the market since 2010. It tracks the S&P 500 and consists of over 500 U.S. companies. The index contains companies from industrial sectors such as communication services, consumer discretionary and healthcare. These companies include Mastercard (MA), Amazon (AMZN), Home Depot (HD) and UnitedHealth Group (UNH). 

Where to Buy Index Funds

Check out the recommended brokers below to get started with index funds.

Best For

Well-Funded Investors

Overall Rating

Get started securely through Frec’s website

More Details

Best For

Well-Funded Investors

N/A

1 Minute Review

In today’s investment landscape, tax optimization plays a pivotal role in enhancing returns. Direct indexing, a strategy embraced by many investors, including those at Frec, prioritizes tax loss harvesting as a means to minimize tax liabilities and bolster portfolio performance. By strategically managing capital gains and losses, Frec’s direct indexing service offers investors a way to optimize their earnings while navigating the complexities of the tax landscape.

Direct indexing empowers investors with control over their portfolios while leveraging tax loss harvesting to its full potential. Frec’s approach enhances earnings by unlocking tax savings, regardless of market conditions, through sophisticated algorithms and automation.

As direct indexing gains momentum, Frec is at the forefront, democratizing access to this tax-efficient investment strategy. With low fees and a $20k minimum – which is significantly lower than the $100k+ minimums often found at wealth managers, Frec makes direct indexing accessible to a broader range of investors.

Besides direct indexing, Frec offers additional financial solutions, including a low-cost portfolio line of credit and a high-yield treasury product, further augmenting its appeal as a comprehensive wealth-building platform.

Best For

• High net worth and well-funded individual investors seeking greater control over their investment strategies, customization options and efficient management of tax implications
• Experienced investors seeking portfolio diversification and increased returns via efficient tax optimization and management strategies
• Those seeking access to low-cost portfolio lines of credit or passive earnings via high-yield returns

Pros

• Daily tax loss harvesting of individual S&P 500® stocks for optimized earnings — Frec could tax loss harvest ~40% of your invested capital over ten years
• Streamlined portfolio customization — you can choose between the S&P 500® or S&P 500® Info Tech index and customize by adding or excluding stocks or sectors
• Highly competitive pricing and account minimum — $20,000 minimum deposit and 0.10% annual fee for direct indexing
• High security and safety standard — your assets are held in your name at Apex Clearing and are insured (Frec is a registered and regulated brokerage firm and registered investment adviser)
• Effortless and fully automated investing platform — you can set your direct indexing and monitor what trades are being executed without hassle
• Streamline access to passive income via high-yield treasury and expedited borrowing for emergency
• Excellent educational and learning resources

Cons

• Not ideal for undercapitalized or beginner investors
• Relatively new platform with little or no track records

Best For

Active and Global Traders

Overall Rating

Read Review

get started securely through Interactive Brokers’s website

More Details

Best For

Active and Global Traders

N/A

1 Minute Review

Interactive Brokers is a comprehensive trading platform that gives you access to a massive range of securities at affordable prices. You can buy assets from all around the world from the comfort of your home or office with access to over 150 global markets. Options, futures, forex and fund trading are also available, and most traders won’t pay a commission on any purchase or sale.  

IBKR is geared primarily toward experienced traders and investors but now with the availability of free trades with IBKR Lite, casual traders can also acclimate to IBKR’s offerings.

Best For

• Access to international markets
• Active traders
• Sophisticated investors
• Detailed mobile app that makes trading simple
• Wide range of available account types and tradeable assets

Pros

• IB SmartRouting provides significant price improvement vs. industry
• Fractional trading allows investing regardless of share price
• Industry’s lowest margin rates
• Earn more by lending your fuly-paid shares

Cons

• Beginner investors might prefer a broker that offers a bit more hand-holding and educational resources

Best For

Trading Ideas

Overall Rating

Read Review

get started securely through public.com’s website

More Details

Best For

Trading Ideas

N/A

1 Minute Review

Public is the only investing platform that lets you trade stocks, ETFs, crypto, bonds, options and alternative assets—like fine art and collectibles—all in one place. Public also provides access to custom company metrics, live shows about the markets, and insights from a community of millions of investors, creators, and analysts.

Today, Public provides more ways to create a diversified portfolio than nearly any other online broker. Members can engage in sophisticated investing strategies and access a wealth of investing insights—from company-specific analysis to live audio shows and town hall-style Q&As. In addition, Public offers a premium membership tier with unique company KPIs, detailed performance metrics, and institutional-grade research. 

 

Best For

• Stock and ETF investors
• Crypto investors
• Investors looking to diversify with alternative assets or bonds and options

Pros

• Commission-free stock and ETF trading
• Fractional share investing
• Advanced data, tools, and insights with Public Premium

Cons

• You can’t transfer crypto to another wallet
• No mutual funds or precious metals
• At this time, only offers individual brokerage accounts and not IRAs

Index Funds for the Win?

If there’s one takeaway, just remember that passively managed index funds can beat managed funds over time. The best performing index funds are not necessarily stacked with brokers, fancy slogans and a mission statement longer than the tax code. If you’re interested in finding the best financial tools to hold for the long term—that won’t eat up your money through expenses—seriously consider index funds for your portfolio.

Frequently Asked Questions

The post Best Index Funds by Melissa Brock appeared first on Benzinga. Visit Benzinga to get more great content like this.

Americans’ favorite mortgage is the 30-year mortgage, but that doesn’t mean you have to trudge through your mortgage for the full 30 years — or take every year of any other mortgage term, for that matter. 

What if you want to pay off your mortgage in five years? It’s doable, though it may require a major lifestyle change. Here’s how to make it happen. 

Apply Simply, Understand Fully

unlock

Apply Simply, Understand Fully

Get a mortgage rate quote for your purchase or refinance and start working with mortgage professionals that know this space inside and out!

unlock

Ways to Pay Off Your Mortgage Quick

Smart financial planning, some lifestyle changes and swapping your old payment out for a new payment will give you a greater chance of paying off your mortgage quickly. If you’re a first time home buyer, you’ll stand to save the most interest over time. Here are some strategies you can follow to help you achieve this 5-year goal.

1. Have a Plan

There’s nothing like a plan to get you fired up. Make sure your plan makes sense for your income and lifestyle — and you must hit the “execute” button to make your mortgage payoff happen in five years. Figure out exactly what you’ll have to do, whether that means using other funds to give you a jump start, tackling an extra job or seeking the help of a financial advisor.

2. Make Larger Payments

You’ll need to commit to extra payments — or larger payments — no matter your current mortgage rate. Contact your lender to find out exactly how much you’ll need to pay each month to achieve your 5-year milestone. Set up an automatic payment schedule with your lender so you’ll automatically pay a certain amount each month. Don’t forget to check to make sure your lender isn’t charging you for extra payments.

3. Limit Extra Spending

You may need to make drastic lifestyle changes if you want to pay off your mortgage quickly. This means saving on electricity when not in use, cutting down on luxuries and excessive spending. Hit the pause button on weekend getaways, dining out and movies. Keep your credit card locked up and use cash when possible so it’s easier to visually see where your money’s going. You may also want to pause your planned vacation or home renovations to prioritize your mortgage payment. 

Consider living on a single income — save the second income for mortgage payments. 

4. Increase Your Income

Increasing your income may be the best way to come up with extra money to pay off your mortgage. You’ll know exactly how much you need after you and your lender calculate the biweekly or monthly amount. Aside from getting a large raise, the easiest way to do this is to pick up a side hustle. Here are a few of the most popular side hustles you can do to earn more money:

• Freelance
• Sell through online platforms
• Become a home, pet or babysitter
• Deliver food or packages
• Take up online or home tutoring
• Rent out your extra bedroom, garage or even your parking space
• Become a rideshare driver
• Be a handyman
• Take online surveys

There are plenty of other ways to make extra income in your free time, so instead of wondering how you can save a few bucks on your next purchase, think about how you can earn more. The sooner you start to increase your income, the faster you’ll be able to pay off your mortgage. 

5. Refinance

Refinancing is one of the best and easiest ways to save on interest and pay off your mortgage sooner. You may find that slim pickings for 5-year fixed-rate mortgage refinances. For example, the lowest fixed term offered by Rocket Mortgage® is an 8-year mortgage term. (Check out the YOURgage® for more information about custom loan types.) 

Decide whether a refinance is a good idea if you’re pretty far along on your mortgage. For example, you may be on year 19 of paying off your mortgage and are now paying more principal than interest. You may actually lose money once closing costs and refinance fees are taken into account.

Should You Pay Off Your Mortgage Early?

There are pros and cons to paying off your mortgage early. Consider these factors.

Pros

• You’ll save money on interest.
• Monthly payments toward your mortgage will be gone sooner and you’ll increase your cash flow.
• You can tap your home equity line of credit if you need money later.
• You’ll free up money to invest in other things.

Cons

• You won’t be able to take advantage of the mortgage interest federal tax deduction.
• Paying off your mortgage means your money is not liquid and might be hard to access later.
• You miss out on higher returns from other investments.
• If the market rate drops just when you want to sell, you may not make as much money as you hoped.

Best National Mortgage Lenders

Do you have the terms and mortgage lender that fits your needs? Here’s our selection of best mortgage lenders for your needs. Understand the features and options offered by the lenders and choose a mortgage that best suits your needs.

Read Review

Avg. Days to Close Loan

30

Minimum Credit Score

580

get started

1. Best Overall: Quicken Loans®

Quicken Loans® is the nation’s largest mortgage lender, has an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and world-class client service. Quicken Loans® offers FHA, VA, jumbo, USDA and other conventional loans with no prepayment penalty charges. You’ll need a credit score of 580 for FHA loans and a score of 620 for other loans. It offers a convenient online application process with fast preapproval and processing — it’s great for borrowers who want to save time and money.

Avg. Days to Close Loan

30

Minimum Credit Score

620

get started

2. Best for VA Loans: Veterans United

Veterans United is the country’s largest VA lender. The lender offers a great customer experience, flexible qualification standards and loan approval process.

You can get a home purchase with no money down, low closing costs, no private mortgage insurance (insurance you’ll pay monthly if you don’t have a large enough down payment), competitive interest rates and no prepayment penalties.

Avg. Days to Close Loan

45

Minimum Credit Score

620

get started

3. Best for Refinancing: Bank of America

Bank of America, one of the largest banks in the nation, is known as the best lender for a refinance loan. It offers many refinancing loan options — a fixed-rate refinance, adjustable-rate refinance, FHA and VA refinances and cash-out refinancing.

Bank of America also provides other attractive mortgage options for first-time home buyers with low down payments and reasonable rates.

4. Best for Borrowers with Low Credit Scores: New American Funding

First-time home buyers with low credit scores who need down payment assistance can tap into New American Funding. The company offers a generous selection of mortgages, including government-backed loans, purchase refinance, interest-only mortgages and jumbo loans. You can also choose from fixed and adjustable-rate terms. The loan application process can be done through phone, email, online or in person and loan closing time on an average loan takes less than 30 days.

Read Review

Avg. Days to Close Loan

30

Minimum Credit Score

580

get started

5. Best for Online Access: Rocket Mortgage® by Quicken Loans®

Rocket Mortgage® by Quicken Loans® is one of the best online mortgage lending tools developed by Quicken Loans. It provides a fully digital mortgage application experience with a broad range of loan products, competitive rates and diverse loan terms. You’ll also be able to find loans if you’re self-employed, but you’ll need to submit tax returns and other required documents to qualify. The seamless online application process and exceptional customer support offered by Rocket Mortgage® sets it apart from other mortgage lenders.

Pay Off Your Mortgage in 5 Years

There are many reasons why paying off your home loan sooner can be a smart move. It could leave more money in your pocket over time and lead to fewer worries about interest rate hikes. Best of all, you’ll own your home outright. As with anything else, it has its downsides. Your best bet is to research your options, consider the pros and cons carefully or speak with a financial advisor before you make your final decision.

Frequently Asked Questions

The post How to Pay Off Mortgage in 5 Years by Melissa Brock appeared first on Benzinga. Visit Benzinga to get more great content like this.

If you’re looking to invest in companies that seek the betterment of society in addition to a desire for profits, socially responsible investing could be for you.

Impact investing attempts to tackle greenhouse gas emissions, climate change, human rights violations, social justice, reducing the average consumer’s carbon emissions footprint, fighting the modern slave trade and promoting environmental, social and governance (ESG) best practices.

How Does Socially Responsible Investing Work?

Socially responsible investing (SRI), or ethical or impact investing, refers to an investing practice that looks beyond the ups and downs shown on financial statements. It takes into account environmental, social and governmental impacts.

For example, if an investor doesn’t believe in supporting Big Tobacco, they can steer clear of investments related to that type of industry. ESG principles speak to an investing strategy that looks outside the stock market for results.

If you’re investing in a business that wishes to promote shareholder advocacy, you will find that that stock is not solely seeking short-term gains but also trying to adopt business practices that make the world a better place.

History of Socially Responsible Investing

SRI figures strongly in the pages of history. You can turn back to Biblical times to see evidence of it when Jewish law contained edicts regarding socially responsible investing. A surge emerged in modern times in the 1960s during the Vietnam War, and most recently, in today’s social, economic and political climate, SRI is an even hotter topic.

Benefits of Socially Responsible Investing

Creating a sustainable future is part of the discussion in schools, businesses, colleges and universities and individual homes. People are more aware than ever of the ways human activities affect the planet.

SRI includes financial, social and human value considerations, and people realize that their passion for embracing responsible habits can be part of all areas of their lives, from the cars they drive to the stocks they select.

Investors also have access to educational resources and research, which help to contribute to responsible investing decisions. Other contributing factors include:

• Performance: Many stocks and mutual funds offer excellent returns; it’s a matter of doing the research and selecting which ones are best.
• Availability: Hundreds of firms are aware of people’s desire to have a socially responsible portfolio and offer impact funds and pooled investment vehicles for investors to meet that goal.

Socially Responsible Companies

Specific company examples are easy to drum up. Consider Starbucks, for example. A well-recognized leader in community and environmental sustainability, Starbucks scores high points for the following:

• Community: Starbucks partners with nonprofits in the community to donate money on every transactions. Starbucks also supports employee engagement in local communities through Partner Match and Community Service Grants.
• Ethical sourcing: Starbucks aims to increase the possibilities of ethical sourcing for tea, coffee and cocoa.
• Environment: Green stores, cups and green energy are part of the mantra for Starbucks.

A few more socially responsible companies include Cisco Systems, Intel, General Electric, IBM, 3M and Apple.

Your investing approach should mix growth stocks with ESG factors that are meaningful to you. You may not be able to chase all ESG stocks and make a hefty profit. Diversifying your portfolio is the smartest thing to do in any situation.

How to Invest in Socially Responsible Companies

The Dow Jones Sustainability Indices (DJSI) indicate the performance of a collection of U.S.-based companies that are considered globally sustainable. Choosing the correct investments for you will be a mix of personal choice and evaluation of performance.

Check out the processes revealed in Benzinga’s How to Start Investing in Stocks and modify these steps with a socially responsible lens.

Research the Company

Browse financial statements from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), checking price action and news. You’ll also need to determine what catalysts may lie ahead so as not to get caught off guard by events. Potential events that cause a stock to move include earnings report dates and investor presentation days. Companies aim to make money for their investors. Good companies to invest in are profitable, maintain their profitability in good times and bad and grow their profits for the future.

Determine the Amount to Invest

Figure out how much you want to invest. Buying shares in a company gives you part ownership of the company. You should only invest an amount you can afford to lose because investments carry risk. If you’re investing in stocks, know that they can be volatile and can drop in price. 

Determine Your Timeline

You’ll want to plan your investments, including when to exit if things go bad, as in when an investment falls below a certain level. Investors identify three timelines — short-term (day trading), intermediate-term (swing trading) and long-term (buy-and-hold).

Determine the Broker

Once you’ve done research on a company, decided how much to invest and determined your timeline, you can contact an online or brick-and-mortar broker, sign up for an account, fund the account and buy the investment. You can sign up for an online broker such as E*TRADE or Interactive Brokers, apply for an account, fund the account and buy a stock. If you have a workplace retirement account, you could pick a mutual fund or another alternative that provides exposure to SRI stocks.

Place Your Buy 

Investors generally use two types of buy orders — market order and limit order. A market order executes the purchase at the present market price while a limit order will only execute if the price falls at or below the limit price. Although a limit price might give an investor a lower price of entry, there is no guarantee that the limit order will execute.

Sell the Stock

Once your goal has been achieved or a pain point has been crossed, you can sell the stock and use the proceeds to reinvest.

Broader Impact of Socially Responsible Investments

SRI no longer solely means not investing in companies that have no connection to tobacco, alcohol, firearms or gambling — it’s become far more proactive. But how do you know how sustainable a certain company actually is? There is no definitive test for what’s sustainable and what is not, nor is there an audit strategy to determine what it means to be socially responsible. It’s most important that the company you’re considering aligns with your values and requirements.

Impactful Investing

One of the most exciting aspects of sustainable investing is the wide range of choices you have. Stocks, mutual funds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and alternative investment opportunities are available to you among hundreds of companies that cater to investors looking for sustainable opportunities.

Whether you’re trying to support the environment or your local community, your personal worldview means more than ever when it comes to this type of investing. Open your brokerage account and make investing decisions that feel appropriate for you, focus on community impact and don’t be afraid to make changes to your portfolio based on ESG issues.

Ready to start investing in socially responsible companies? Check out Benzinga’s top picks for the best socially responsible mutual funds.

Frequently Asked Questions

The post What Is Socially Responsible Investing? by Melissa Brock appeared first on Benzinga. Visit Benzinga to get more great content like this.

Most successful investors make reading books a priority, and that’s one reason that finding the best investing books for beginners is so important. Take Warren Buffett, for example. The renowned billionaire and businessman began his career by reading between 600 and 1,000 pages per day.

Per day.

Bill Gates reads one book per week or about 50 books per year. Studies of wealthy people reveal that they read voraciously. With their entrepreneurial/investing skills, it’s the type of books they’ve chosen to read that contributes to their success. It’s obvious they’re not cracking open the Harry Potter series; they’re reading books that’ll make them even more wealthy.

In fact, here’s proof of that: According to Tom Corley, author of Rich Habits: The Daily Success Habits of Wealthy Individuals, rich people (those with an annual income of $160,000 or more and a liquid net worth of $3.2 million-plus) read for self-improvement, education, and success.

Meanwhile, poor people (those with an annual income of $35,000 or less and a liquid net worth of $5,000 or less) read primarily to be entertained, if they read at all. How many self-improvement, financial or books about success did you read last year?

Quick Look at the Best Investing Books For Beginners:

• The Millionaire Next Door: The Surprising Secrets of America’s Wealthy by Thomas Stanley and William Danko
• Millionaire Teacher: The Nine Rules of Wealth You Should Have Learned in School by Andrew Hallam
• Liberated Stock Trader PRO – A Complete Stock Market Education
• The Automatic Millionaire by David Bach
• Common Stocks and Uncommon Profits by Philip A. Fisher
• If You Can: How Millennials Can Get Rich Slowly by William Bernstein
• Winning the Loser’s Game: Timeless Strategies for Successful Investing by Charles Ellis
• The Simple Path to Wealth by JL Collins

What These Types of Books Can Do For You

You can read all the forex books you’d like when you sign up for a Kindle Unlimited account that you can access on Amazon’s free Kindle Reading App.

They’re inspiring

It’s impossible to pick up a copy of David Bach’s Automatic Millionaire and not want to sprint to your company’s HR office for the 401(k) enrollment papers in order to jack up your 401(k) contribution. Or, if you don’t have a 401(k), it’s likely that Bach will make you feel super-excited about opening one for the first time. His book allows you feel as if being a millionaire is actually within your grasp. Any great investing book makes you feel like you’re just as capable as “getting there” as anyone else.

They’ll get you to think outside the box and force you to spend time thinking, period

When you read about the concept of “F-You money,” like it’s laid out in The Simple Path to Wealth by JL Collins, you can be sure that you’ll never think of work the same way again.

They show you pathways

They say, if you want to be a successful investor, hang out with and learn from successful investors. This includes reading their books. You can learn from their mistakes, too. Most of these books include the mistakes they’ve made. Learn from them and avoid the mistakes they’ve made with the best investing books for beginners.

Here’s our list of books that top the charts.

They’re not only instructive, they’re meant to help you. You’ve heard of the saying, “When in Rome, do as the Romans do.” When you’re in an unfamiliar situation, follow the lead of those who know the ropes.

Also, don’t forget to check out the other list of books we’ve compiled in Best Stock Market Books for Investing 2018.

The Millionaire Next Door: The Surprising Secrets of America’s Wealthy by Thomas Stanley and William Danko

The contents of The Millionaire Next Door: The Surprising Secrets of America’s Wealthy might surprise you. The book is less about “put your money in XYZ index fund and invest for 20 years” and more about the daily habits of millionaires. For example, most millionaires don’t look like millionaires. They:

• Don’t drive fancy cars
• Buy expensive clothes
• Live well below their means
• Are tightwads

See, interesting, huh? Read the first few pages on Amazon and you’ll be hooked. The reason we include it on our best investing books list is because it gives great money advice for anyone who wants to be a millionaire.

Millionaire Teacher: The Nine Rules of Wealth You Should Have Learned in School by Andrew Hallam

IIf you’ve got a modest salary (like that of a teacher, like the author) Millionaire Teacher: The Nine Rules of Wealth You Should Have Learned in School is proof that anyone can successfully invest and become rich.

From a detailed perspective on index funds to conquering your personal financial demons, Andrew Hallam’s nine rules can put you in good financial shape, if you follow them.        

Liberated Stock Trader PRO – A Complete Stock Market Education

The Liberated Stock Trader PRO training course is a comprehensive training solution which will educate you in the four core pillars of investing.

The first pillar is Fundamental Analysis of companies which teaches you how screen and find growth stocks, value stocks and defensive stocks. The second is Technical Analysis which enables you to master Stock Charts, Indicators, Trendlines, Volume and supply and demand. The next section covers Market Sentiment Indicators and the psychology of trading.  Finally, portfolio management, trade execution and creating your own trading system.

What makes this 5 Star Amazon.com rated training unique, is that you get a print book shipped, 16 hours of detailed video training by the author a certified market analyst and lifetime access to a private Facebook mastermind group all included in the price.  It is an impressive package for those who want the knowledge to trade confidently.

The Automatic Millionaire by David Bach

If every fresh-out-of-college American kid picked up David Bach’s The Automatic Millionaire, it’d change his or her life.

Bach touts simple action steps to put you on a path to true financial freedom. His simple style shows you what compound interest, technology and making the right choices early on (or later, too!) can do for your future.

Spoiler alert: The book is all about making your investments automatic.      

Common Stocks and Uncommon Profits by Philip A. Fisher

In this book, stocks are serious business, but if you’re any type of stock investor (yes, even a beginner) Fisher’s 15 points in Common Stocks and Uncommon Profits for what to look for in stocks are well worth paying attention to.

Fisher’s book is also highly endorsed by Warren Buffett, so that fact alone makes it worth reading.      

If You Can: How Millennials Can Get Rich Slowly by William Bernstein

You might be shocked by the forthright bluntness of If You Can: How Millennials Can Get Rich Slowly.

For example, the first chapter is called Hurdle Number One (instead of chapter one, mind you): Even if you can invest like Warren Buffett, if you can’t save, you’ll die poor. See? It’s blunt, but it sure gets the attention of millennials who might need a money makeover.

Winning the Loser’s Game: Timeless Strategies for Successful Investing by Charles Ellis

If you’re ready for a deep-down look into the market, timing the market, volatile markets and active investing, this ook is for you.

Written in a plain format and a quick read, Ellis’ Winning the Loser’s Game: Timeless Strategies for Successful Investing is a great book if you’re into the idea of rethinking at how you view your investments or investing in general.        

The Simple Path to Wealth by JL Collins

Spend less than you earn, invest the surplus, avoid debt. That’s one of the first sentences in Collins’ book, The Simple Path to Wealth, and it rings true throughout.

Collins, who originally began by writing letters to his daughter, morphed this advice into a website and a book. If all of it stems from advice to his daughter, you know it’s good advice, and it is.        

Final Thoughts

Needless to say, there are thousands of great investing and finance books out there, and we have provided a list of the best investing books for beginners. . We only have the opportunity to scratch the surface. A common theme throughout these books is this: Never in history has it been easier to build wealth than now; think of all the technology available to you!

The post Best Investing Books for Beginners by Melissa Brock appeared first on Benzinga. Visit Benzinga to get more great content like this.