What's New in Investor Education

You might know if the stock market is going up or down, but do you know what sectors are driving returns? The use of sectors is one of the most common ways to characterize markets, and the most used system is the Global Industry Classification System (GICS).

Have you ever thought about how online stock trading works? Once you hit enter on an order to buy or sell a stock, what happens next? There might be more steps in the stock trade process than you realize.

Like any other investment, employee stock awards come with risks. What should you consider if your company grants you a stock award or you're considering a job that includes equity compensation?

When you’re young, it’s easy to feel like there’s no rush to save for retirement. But before you know it, you might find yourself in your 50s or 60s and nowhere near your retirement savings goal. If you’re getting closer to retirement, what can you do to boost your nest egg?

Different investment products and strategies involve different degrees of risk. So what level of risk is too much? This depends on your risk tolerance—the amount of investment risk you’re willing and able to accept—which is impacted by a variety of factors and is unique to you.

In conjunction with World Investor Week 2024, the SEC’s Office of Investor Education and Advocacy (OIEA), FINRA and other industry regulators are issuing this Investor Bulletin to provide investors with information about the ways in which emerging technologies like AI and crypto assets, and digital platforms like social media and mobile trading apps, are increasingly influencing how people invest.

In relationship investment scams, fraudsters often hide their true identities, reach out to unsuspecting targets (often online or through text messages), gain their trust over time, and then defraud them through fake investments. These scams are sometimes referred to by terms including romance scams, “cryptocurrency” investment scams, financial grooming scams, and “pig butchering scams.” Learn more about these scams and red flags to watch for.

Comparison shopping for financial products such as mutual funds and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) could pay big dividends. FINRA's Fund Analyzer tool can help you make informed decisions about the impact of fees and potential discounts on mutual funds, ETFs, exchange-traded notes and money market funds on your portfolio.

Avenues for charitable giving today go beyond traditional cash donations made directly to nonprofit organizations. Investment vehicles designed specifically for charitable donations provide opportunities to contribute other financial assets, including securities and property, and might also provide you with certain benefits, such as tax deductions or regular income payments.

Reviewing and managing your investment account information is essential to ensure your funds were invested in line with your instructions and there were no unauthorized transactions. By organizing your investment records, you'll have information on hand when you need it, including when you file tax returns or if there are problems with your account.

Technology has made stock trading more accessible to retail investors in a variety of ways, including the increased availability of extended-hours trading. But while placing an order to trade outside of regular trading hours might seem simple, this market can be complex and risky.

FINRA has observed that bad actors are using sponsored search result ads to impersonate some FINRA member firms’ support centers. When an individual clicks on the ad, instead of being directed to the firm’s page, they’re taken to a fraudulent website. The scammers then attempt to steal funds or personal information from their targets.

The multi-week period following the end of each quarter when most public companies release their earnings reports is known as earnings season. Wall Street analysts, financial media and investors often eagerly anticipate reports from many major firms during earnings season and monitor how they might impact individual stocks and economy-wide narratives.

Money you make on an investment is considered a capital gain, and in most cases, you’ll need to pay a capital gains tax. If your investment loses money, you have a capital loss. Your capital gain or loss is the difference between the sale price and the cost basis, and the tax rate depends on how long you held the investment.

A financial windfall might seem like an uncomplicated blessing, but found money of any size requires thoughtful management to maximize its full potential. Beneficiaries might find that they have an urge to splurge, are unsure how to invest their assets, or are targeted by fraudsters—any of which can lead to a money blunder.

Offers from people or organizations who claim they can help you recover money lost from previous fraud can be tempting. But these offers, which want you to pay money up front for the recovery “services,” are almost always fraudulent themselves. Learn to spot fraudulent recovery scams and avoid further losses.

In many cases, an unforeseen emergency 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.

Every day, millions of equity trades are made off the major stock exchanges in what’s known as over-the-counter (OTC) trading. It’s a massive part of the global financial market, with OTC trading in certain types of financial products accounting for billions of dollars in trades daily. Learn more about OTC trading in equities and the unique risks that may be involved.

Have you ever wondered who protects investors—and how? FINRA, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, 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. member broker-dealers and their personnel, including individuals who recommend or sell securities products to the public. FINRA’s mission is protecting the investor and ensuring the integrity of our country’s securities markets.

Whether you need to report a gain or can claim a loss after you sell an investment depends on its cost basis. Learn the basics about how to calculate an investment’s cost basis, understand the tax consequences, and what to report to the IRS.

In recognition of Financial Literacy Month, FINRA is highlighting five steps you can take to boost financial capability—both your own and that of others you care about. Whether you’re looking to build your own base of financial knowledge or are seeking ways to help others, FINRA and the FINRA Investor Education Foundation offer many resources to support you and your loved ones along your financial journey.

SEC Regulation Best Interest sets forth the standard of conduct broker-dealers must provide to their retail customers when they make recommendations of securities or investment strategies involving securities. Form CRS is a relationship summary disclosure that broker-dealers and SEC-registered investment advisers must provide retail investors.

Precious metals IRA frauds frequently target older workers and retirees because they typically have more money saved in their qualified retirement accounts than younger people. Before you consider rolling over your retirement plan to a gold or silver IRA, here are 10 questions you should ask.

If you graduated with a sizable amount of debt, you aren't alone. The high costs of college mean it’s common to finish school with thousands of dollars in student loans. Though repaying student loans might feel overwhelming, educating yourself about your obligations and options can help you develop a plan to tackle your debt.

In investment-related impersonation schemes, scammers misuse the name of real registered investment professionals or firms to create the appearance of legitimacy. Imposter scams can be difficult to spot unless you know what you’re looking for. Here are patterns to be aware of and tips to help spot the fakes.