What's New in Investor Education

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.

Among the many opportunities available to investors are those involving “crowdfunding.” Crowdfunding generally refers to the use of the internet by small businesses to raise capital through limited investments from a large number of investors. Crowdfunding investments carry significant risk, and you can lose some or all of your investment.

When you think of investments and brokerage firms, you probably think of opening an account and buying stocks, bonds or mutual funds. But when you enter into a subordination agreement, the investment you’re making is in the brokerage firm itself. This investment can be very risky and isn’t suitable for everyone.

Trade date is the day your order to buy or sell a security is executed; settlement date is the day on which funds and the securities must be delivered. Beginning on May 28, 2024, the new standard for settlement will become the next business day after a trade, or T+1.

The SEC, NASAA and FINRA are jointly issuing this Investor Alert to make investors aware of the increase of investment frauds involving the purported use of artificial intelligence (AI) and other emerging technologies. Bad actors are using the growing popularity and complexity of AI to lure victims into scams. Here are a few things to look out for to help you keep your money safe from these frauds.

Low-priced securities are often known as “microcap stocks” or “penny stocks.” While these securities can be legitimate investments, they’re also high-risk and should be approached with caution by the average investor.

If putting all your financial information online in one place sounds like a good idea, there are many companies ready to help you organize your financial life. However, before you share your financial details with data aggregators, it pays to know how these services operate and how to protect yourself from potential privacy and security risks.

FINRA has seen a recent significant spike in investor complaints resulting from recommendations made by fraudulent “investment groups” promoted through social media channels. Complaints describe bad actors, posing as registered investment advisers, who advertise “stock investment groups” on Instagram and other social media channels and then turn to encrypted group chats on WhatsApp to communicate with interested investors and pitch investments.

Navigating your finances might seem impossible at first—maybe you’re facing student loan debt, low income, expensive housing costs or all of the above. But taking a few key steps, like setting financial goals, paying off debt and starting your retirement savings, can help you feel more in control.