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E*TRADE, established in 1982, is a very large broker that helped to disrupt the brokerage industry as one of the earliest online brokerage platforms. Robinhood was formed much more recently in 2013, and was also an industry disruptor because of their primary focus on their mobile app and elimination of commissions for stock/ETF, options, and

The capitalization rate is the most commonly used baseline for comparing investment properties. It is analogous to the estimated effective rate of return on security investments. For example, a $100,000 all-cash property with a cap rate of 4.5% will produce the same returns as a $100,000 invested in securities at 4.5%. This figure helps real

After three days of increases that took the already elevated 30-year mortgage average to its highest level since October 2008, 30-year rates finally tapped the brakes Wednesday. That’s despite the Federal Reserve raising the federal funds rate another 0.75 percent yesterday, again illustrating that the Fed’s rate moves are not directly linked to mortgage rates.

Inflation occurs when an economy grows due to increased spending without an accompanying increase in the production of goods and services. When this happens, prices rise and the currency within the economy is worth less than it was before. The currency essentially won’t buy as much as it would before. When a currency is worth less, its exchange

Certificates of deposit (CDs) are a low-risk way to put some money aside for the short- to medium-term future and earn a modest return in the meantime. This makes them suitable and popular for seniors who have extra savings in retirement, and a common part of inheritance settlements. There are several ways to inherit a

Consumer protection laws are made to protect consumers from fraudulent business practices, defective products, and dangerous goods and services. They play an important role in a reliable market economy, helping to keep sellers honest, with no threat of unpleasant surprises. Consumer protection laws in the U.S. are comprised of various federal and state laws, each

What Is Decentralized Finance (DeFi)? Decentralized finance (DeFi) is an emerging financial technology based on secure distributed ledgers similar to those used by cryptocurrencies. In the U.S., the Federal Reserve and Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) define the rules for centralized financial institutions like banks and brokerages, which consumers rely on to access capital and

The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) raised the target range for the federal funds rate by 75 basis points (bp), or 0.75 percentage points, at its meeting on Sept. 20-21, 2022. The new target range is 3.00% to 3.25%. The FOMC’s press release stated: “Recent indicators point to modest growth in spending and production. Job

For people of average wealth, credit cards are ways to get by when money is tight, make additional purchases, or earn generic rewards. The super rich, however, have access to cards that give them luxurious perks, helping them to further fund their extravagant lifestyles. Many of these exclusive credit cards come only through invitation or

The annual percentage yield (APY) on a certificate of deposit (CD) is the amount of interest you will earn each year. The APY is normally expressed as a percentage, so you might see a CD advertised as having a 1% APY. In this case, if you have $100 in the CD, after a year, you

Victims of Hurricane Fiona in Puerto Rico have until Feb. 15, 2023, to file their 2021 federal individual and business tax returns with a valid extension originally due to run out on Oct. 17, 2022. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) reprieve postpones several other filing and payment deadlines that occurred starting on Sept. 17, 2022.

Did you know there are thousands of digital currencies, with more being added every month? Curious new crypto investors need to start by making decisions about how to invest, including how to store their digital assets. Investors will need to evaluate where and how to transact in cryptocurrencies, and whether staking tokens—a way of earning

One of the leading crypto market makers, Wintermute, has lost about $160 million in a hack, becoming the latest crypto firm to suffer a breach. Wintermute’s CEO and founder, Evgeny Gaevoy, revealed in a series of tweets that the firm’s decentralized finance operations were compromised on Sept. 20. A crypto market maker provides liquidity on

Editor’s note: Below you’ll find the week 106 release of the NYC Recovery Index, originally published September 13, 2022. Visit the NYC Recovery index homepage for the latest data. New York City’s economic recovery made strong gains in the week ending September 4, 2022, as the index score rose to a score of 76 out

The decision to start a family can be one of the most life-changing, meaningful, and expensive things a person does. Having a measure of control over that process means choosing the number of children you will have and when you will have them. Family-planning services are key to achieving that goal. These include programs that prevent

It shouldn’t have to be your responsibility to avoid getting scammed out of your 401(k) plan contributions. Unfortunately, there are selfish, entitled, and desperate people in the world whose dysfunctional moral compass tells them it’s okay to steal others’ money. Here’s what to look out for so you can reduce your chances of being fleeced

CEOs of some of the biggest banks in the country are expected to appear before the House Financial Services Committee today and the Senate Banking Committee tomorrow. The title of the hearings is “Holding Megabanks Accountable.” JPMorgan’s Jamie Dimon, Bank of America’s Brian Moynihan, Citi’s Jane Fraser, and Wells Fargo’s Charles Scharf will all be in attendance,

The world has changed substantially thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic. Nowhere is this more evident than in the travel and tourism industry and the workforce. Economic losses continue to mount in tourism-dependent countries as people remain reluctant to travel. And employers now allow their staff to operate outside the office—something most companies see for the

What Is the American Families Plan? Frequently described as an “ambitious” plan to reinvigorate American households, the American Families Plan is one part of the Biden administration’s larger economic recovery framework, “Build Back Better,” which the White House says will restore the middle class and help families make ends meet. The $1.8 trillion families plan

ETF vs. Mutual Fund Tax Efficiency: An Overview Tax considerations for mutual funds and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) can seem overwhelming but, in general, starting with the basics for taxable investments can help to break things down. First, it’s important to know that there are some exemptions to taxation altogether, namely Treasury and municipal securities, so