Personal Finance

If you’re seeking customer support or service from your brokerage firm, you might turn to search engines like Google or Bing to quickly find the right contact. But be careful where you click. That advertisement you think is for your brokerage firm might actually be part of a scam.

Most privately held companies have few financial reporting requirements. If you’re curious whether they’re profitable or what their margins are, you’ll have to take their word for it—assuming they even discuss their performance.

But it’s a different story for public companies that raise investor money in regulated securities markets and trade on exchanges like Nasdaq and the New York Stock Exchange. According to Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) rules, these companies must follow a strict schedule for reporting accurate quarterly and end-of-year financial results.

Many people dream of striking it rich with a sudden financial windfall that could drastically change their fortunes. Winning the lottery or unexpectedly inheriting a multimillion-dollar estate will remain a fantasy for most, but a greater number of individuals will see themselves benefit from some sort of financial payout in their lifetime. 

It’s an alluring offer: You hear from someone who claims to be able to help you recover money you lost from a previous investment or other fraud. The information sounds credible, and at first glance the organization appears legitimate. The money that’s promised isn’t only welcome but seems well-deserved compensation for previous losses.

When it comes to equities trading, movements of share prices on major stock exchanges like the New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq tend to dominate headlines. But every day, millions of equity trades are made off the stock exchanges in what’s known as over-the-counter (OTC) trading.

In many cases, an unforeseen emergency—like an accident or job loss—can derail your financial plans. However, there are steps you can take to soften the impact of an unexpected hit to your finances. Here are a few tips on how to prepare for and survive financial hardships.  

Have you ever wondered who protects investors—and how? If you invest, it can pay to know about FINRA, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority. FINRA is a not-for-profit organization authorized under the federal securities laws and registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Alongside the SEC, FINRA oversees U.S. broker-dealers and their personnel, including individuals who recommend or sell securities products to the public. FINRA’s mission is protecting you, the investor, and ensuring the integrity of our country’s securities markets.

Have you heard of money market funds and wondered what exactly this type of investment is? Money market funds invest in short-term debt securities. As a result, money market funds can be a good option for investors looking for a low-risk investment that offers relatively easy access to their money. But while the name “money market” might sound promising, you should understand what the term means and how these products differ from other mutual funds before investing. 

College graduation is a major milestone for many, but the excitement of receiving a diploma can be dampened if a hefty student loan bill comes along with it.

If you graduated with a sizable amount of debt, you aren't alone. The high costs of college mean it’s common for graduates to finish school with thousands of dollars in student loans to repay. The amount of student loan debt in the U.S. totals in the billions, with millions of former college students in the red.