Financial Topics Archives

Dec

2025

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IRA Rollover Rules 2025: 60-Day & One-Per-Year Rules Explained

By Pam O’Brien | Growing Wealth, Investing, Preparing for Retirement | No Comments

Table of Contents

What is an IRA Rollover?
Direct vs. Indirect Rollovers: What’s the Difference?
The 60-Day Rollover Rule Explained
The One-Rollover-Per-Year Rule Explained
What Are the Rules for a Roth IRA Rollover?
IRA Rollovers and Taxes
Compatibility Rules When Rolling Funds to an IRA
Common Rollover Mistakes to Avoid
Your Rollover IRA: How to Optimize and Manage It
FAQ

If you’re leaving your job, there are numerous things you must attend to before you clock out for the last time, such as rolling over the retirement account you have with the company you’re leaving. It can be easy to overlook, but critical to your financial plan or strategy — which is why it can be a good idea to have a basic idea of how to execute an IRA rollover or transfer.

Further, once you separate from your employer, you will have a few options to choose from when deciding what to do with your retirement savings, including doing an IRA rollover. Read on to learn more about IRA rollovers and the IRA rollover rules.

Key Points

• An IRA rollover involves moving funds from a qualified plan, like a 401(k) or 403(b), to an IRA.

• Direct rollovers transfer funds without tax withholding, while indirect rollovers require making up for withheld taxes within 60 days.

• IRA-to-IRA rollovers are limited to once every 12 months, with exceptions for trustee-to-trustee transfers and conversions to a Roth IRA.

• Taxes are not withheld in direct rollovers to an IRA or another retirement account.

• Indirect IRA rollovers typically involve 20% tax withholding if the distribution is made to the account holder.

What is an IRA Rollover?

An IRA rollover is the movement of funds from a qualified plan, like a 401(k) or 403(b), to an IRA. This scenario could come up when changing jobs or when switching accounts for reasons such as wanting lower fees and more investment options.

There are several factors to be aware of regarding what an IRA rollover is and how it works.

People generally roll their funds over so that their retirement money doesn’t lose its tax-deferred status. But, there may be other situations in which it’s also advantageous. Let’s say you leave your job and want to withdraw the money from your 401(k) so you can use it to pay some bills. In this case, you’d be taxed on the money and also receive a penalty for withdrawing funds before age 59 ½.

However, if you roll your money over instead of withdrawing it, you don’t have to pay taxes or penalties for an early withdrawal. Plus, you can keep saving for retirement.

When you roll funds over to a new IRA, following IRA rollover rules can help ensure you do everything legally, don’t have to pay taxes, and don’t pay penalties for any mistakes.

Direct vs. Indirect Rollovers: What’s the Difference?

You can choose between two types of rollovers and it’s important to know the differences between each.

Some people may prefer a direct rollover to an indirect rollover, because the process is typically simpler and more efficient. With a direct rollover, you aren’t taxed on the money. With an indirect rollover, you are taxed, and if you’re under 59 ½ years old, you have to pay a 10% withdrawal penalty, unless you follow specific IRA rollover rules.

It can be wise to consult with a tax professional to understand the implications of an indirect rollover prior to making this election.

Keep in mind that a transfer is different from a rollover: A transfer is the movement of money between the same types of accounts, while a rollover is the movement of money from two different kinds of accounts, like a 401(k) into a traditional IRA.

What Is a Direct Rollover?

First, you may choose a direct rollover, which is the moving of funds directly from a qualified retirement plan to your IRA, without ever touching the money. Your original company may move these funds electronically or by sending a check to your IRA provider. With a direct rollover you don’t have to pay taxes or early distribution penalties since your funds move directly from one tax-sheltered account to another.

What Is an Indirect Rollover?

The second option is an indirect rollover. In this case, you withdraw money from your original retirement account by requesting a check made out to your name, then deposit it into your new IRA later.

Some people choose an indirect rollover because they need the money to accomplish short-term plans, or they haven’t decided what they want to do with the money upon leaving their job. Other times, it’s because they simply don’t know their options.

The 60-Day Rollover Rule Explained

If you choose to do an indirect IRA rollover, you have 60 days to deposit the funds into a rollover IRA account, along with the amount your employer withheld in taxes. That’s because IRS rules require you to make up the taxes that were withheld with outside funds. Otherwise, you will be taxed on the withholding as income.

If you deposit the full amount — the amount you received plus the withheld taxes — you will report a tax credit of the withheld amount. The withholding will not be returned to you, but rather settled up when you file that year’s taxes.

The One-Rollover-Per-Year Rule Explained

You can only do an IRA-to-IRA rollover once every 12 months, although there are some exceptions. You’ll want to familiarize yourself with this information to follow the IRA rollover rules.

If you’re rolling funds over from an IRA, you can only complete a rollover once every 12 months. There are exceptions, such as trustee-to-trustee transfers and rollovers from a traditional IRA to a Roth IRA, which are commonly referred to as conversions.

And, most notably, the one-year rule does not apply to IRA rollovers from an employer-sponsored retirement plan like a 401(k).

What Are the Rules for a Roth IRA Rollover?

A Roth IRA is different from a traditional IRA, particularly in terms of tax treatment, and thus, has different rules concerning rollovers.

Roth Conversions vs. Roth-to-Roth Rollovers

First, you should know that there is such a thing as a Roth IRA conversion, which involves taking pre-tax money or funds from a traditional IRA, and moving it into a Roth IRA. Effectively, that means you’re taking taxable IRA funds and moving them into a tax-free Roth account. This could have tax implications, however, since the amount converted is added to your taxable income for the year.

A Roth-to-Roth rollover, on the other hand, means you’re simply rolling over Roth IRA funds into another Roth IRA. Or, a Roth 401(k) can be rolled into a Roth IRA. This shouldn’t trigger a taxable event.

The 5-year Rule for Roth Conversions

There is a “five-year rule” that comes into play during Roth conversions. The rule stipulates that when you take pre-tax money from, say, a traditional IRA and convert it into a Roth IRA (which has post-tax money in it), there’s a five-year period during which you can’t take any withdrawals, or you could be subject to a 10% early withdrawal penalty. That five-year clock starts at the beginning of the year you convert, not the exact date.

IRA Rollovers and Taxes

Taxes will not be withheld if you do a direct rollover of your retirement account to an IRA or another retirement account. However, if you take out an IRA distribution, it’s typically subject to 20% withholding. If you miss the 60-day rollover deadline for an indirect rollover, you could trigger a taxable event, as it could be considered a taxable distribution.

Compatibility Rules When Rolling Funds to an IRA

Unfortunately, you don’t always have the ability to transfer funds directly from one type of retirement account to another. You can roll over from certain types to others, but not every kind of account is compatible with every other account. For example: You can roll funds from a Roth 401(k) into a Roth IRA, but not into a traditional IRA; and you can roll funds from a traditional IRA into a SIMPLE IRA, but only after two years.

Common Rollover Mistakes to Avoid

Rollovers aren’t foolproof, and there are some common mistakes to be aware of and to try and avoid.

Missing the 60-day Deadline

As noted, there’s a 60-day deadline that comes into play if you elect for an indirect rollover. That means you’ve asked that your IRA assets be paid directly to you, typically by check, so that you can deposit them in a new IRA. You’d have 60 days to do so — otherwise, the IRS counts it as a distribution, since you took the money out of your retirement account, and didn’t put it back in. As such, you’d owe taxes on the distribution.

Note, however, that there are potential ways to get the IRS to waive the 60-day requirement in certain situations.

Violating the One-Rollover-Per-Year Rule

It’s also possible to violate the one-rollover-per-year rule. According to the rule, you can make a single indirect IRA rollover per 12-month period, no matter how many IRAs you have. This applies to traditional IRAs, SEP, SIMPLE, and Roth IRAs.

There are some exceptions, though, such as rollovers from traditional to Roth IRAs, and trustee-to-trustee transfers to another IRA (during which you, the account holder, never actually has custody of the IRA funds).

Not Accounting for Tax Withholding

It’s possible that during an IRA rollover, your plan administrator or company that manages your old IRA may withhold 20% for federal income tax purposes (accounting for a potential distribution) in accordance with IRS rules. Effectively, this means that only 80% of your IRA funds are transferred, which may cause issues. It can be helpful to remember that this can happen, and not to panic or freak out if you think some of your money has gone missing. Instead, contact your plan administrator.

Your Rollover IRA: How to Optimize and Manage It

If you don’t already have an IRA provider, choose the one you want to use to open your new IRA. You can look for a provider that gives you the kind of investment options and resources you want while keeping the fees low to help you save as much as possible for retirement.

An online broker might be right for you if you plan to manage your investments yourself. Another option is a robo-advisor, which can provide help managing your money for lower fees than a human advisor would. But then again you might feel most comfortable with a person helping to manage your account. Ultimately, the choice of a provider is up to you and what’s best for your needs and situation.

Ready to invest for your retirement? It’s easy to get started when you open a traditional or Roth IRA with SoFi. SoFi doesn’t charge commissions, but other fees apply (full fee disclosure here).

Help build your nest egg with a SoFi IRA.

FAQ

What happens if you miss the 60-day rollover deadline?

Missing the 60-day rollover deadline effectively means you’ve taken a withdrawal, which could trigger a taxable event.

Does a direct transfer from one IRA to another count as a rollover?

Technically, a direct transfer from one IRA to another does not count as a rollover because the accounts are the same type. A rollover is when you move funds from one type of account, such as a 401(k), to a different type of account, such as an IRA…

How many times can I rollover my IRA?

There’s no limit to the number of times you can execute a direct IRA-to-IRA rollover, but you cannot do more than one indirect rollover within a calendar year.

Can I roll over part of my IRA?

Yes, you can roll over part of your IRA, or a portion of the funds in it. You don’t necessarily need to move your entire account, though you’ll need to request a “partial” rollover.

Can I roll an IRA into a SEP IRA?

Yes, it’s possible to roll a traditional IRA into a SEP IRA. You cannot, however, roll a Roth IRA into a SEP IRA.

INVESTMENTS ARE NOT FDIC INSURED • ARE NOT BANK GUARANTEED • MAY LOSE VALUE

SOIN-Q425-048

Dec

2025

A man consults his smartphone while working on a computer.

What Is Spoofing in Trading? How It Works and Its Consequences

By Samuel Becker | Growing Wealth, invest, Investing, Terminology | Comments Off

Table of Contents

What Is Spoofing?
What’s the Point of Spoofing?
Is Spoofing Illegal?
Example of Spoofing
Consequences of Spoofing
How to Protect Against Spoofing
FAQ

In the financial space, the term “spoofing” refers to an illegal form of stock market and exchange trickery that is often used to change asset prices. Given that the stock markets are a wild place, and everyone is trying to gain an advantage, spoofing is one way in which some traders bend the rules to try and gain an advantage.

Spoofing is also something that traders and investors should be aware of. This tactic is sometimes used to change asset prices – whether stocks, bonds, or other types of assets.

Key Points

• Spoofing is an illegal trading tactic where traders place and cancel orders to manipulate asset prices, influencing market supply and demand dynamics.

• Traders often use algorithms to execute high volumes of fake orders, creating a false perception of demand that can inflate or deflate security prices.

• The practice of spoofing is a criminal offense in the U.S., established under the Dodd-Frank Act, with serious penalties for those caught engaging in it.

• Significant fines have been imposed on both institutions and individual traders for spoofing, highlighting the risks of detection and legal consequences.

• Investors should remain vigilant against spoofing, as it can distort market activity and impact trading strategies, particularly for active traders and day traders.

What Is Spoofing?

Spoofing is when traders place market orders — either buying or selling securities — and then cancel them before the order is ever fulfilled. In a sense, it’s the practice of initiating fake orders, with no intention of ever seeing them executed.

Spoofing means that someone or something is effectively spamming the markets with orders, in an attempt to move security prices.

What’s the Point of Spoofing?

Because stock market prices are determined by supply and demand — for instance, the more demand there is for Stock A, the higher Stock A’s price is likely to go, and vice versa — they can be manipulated to gain an advantage. That’s where spoofing comes in.

By using bots or an algorithm to make a high number of trades and then cancel them before they go through, it’s possible for spoofers to manipulate security prices. For a trader looking to buy or sell a certain security, those valuations may be moved enough to increase the profitability of a trade.

Spamming the markets with orders creates the illusion that demand for a security is either up or down, which is then reflected in the security’s price. Because it would require an awful lot of “spoofed” orders to move valuations, spoofers might rely on an algorithm to place and cancel orders for them, rather than handle it manually. For that reason, spoofing is typically associated with high-frequency trading (HFT).

Is Spoofing Illegal?

If it sounds like spoofing is essentially cheating the system, that’s because it is. In the United States, spoofing is illegal, and is a criminal offense. Spoofing was made illegal as a part of the Dodd-Frank Act, which was signed into law in 2010. Specifically, spoofing is described as a “disruptive practice” in the legislation, straight from the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), which is the independent agency responsible for overseeing and policing spoofing on the markets:

Dodd-Frank section 747 amends section 4c(a) of the CEA to make it unlawful for any person to engage in any trading, practice, or conduct on or subject to the rules of a registered entity that —

(A) violates bids or offers;

(B) demonstrates intentional or reckless disregard for the orderly execution of transactions during the closing period; or

(C) is, is of the character of, or is commonly known to the trade as ‘spoofing’ (bidding or offering with the intent to cancel the bid or offer before execution).

Additionally, there are laws and rules related to spoofing under rules from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), too.

Example of Spoofing

A hypothetical spoofing scenario isn’t too difficult to dream up. For instance, let’s say Mike, a trader, has 100,000 shares of Firm Y stock, and he wants to sell it. Mike uses an algorithm to place hundreds of “buy” orders for Firm Y shares — an algorithm that will also cancel those orders before they’re executed, so that no money is actually spent.

The influx of orders is read by the market as an increase in demand for Firm Y stock, and the price starts to increase. Mike then sells his 100,000 shares at an inflated price — an artificially inflated price, since Mike effectively manipulated the market to increase his profits.

Consequences of Spoofing

Because spoofing is a relatively easy way to manipulate markets and potentially increase profits, it’s also a fairly common practice for some traders and firms, despite being against the law. That transgression can cost spoofers if and when they’re caught.

For example, one financial institution was fined nearly $1 billion by the SEC during the fall of 2020 after the company was caught conducting spoofing activity in the precious metals market.

But it’s not just the big players that can be on the receiving end of a smack down by the authorities. During August of 2020, an individual day trader was caught manipulating the markets through spoofing activity — actions that netted the trader roughly $140,000 in profits. The trader was ultimately ordered by the CFTC to pay a fine of more than $200,000.

Despite the cases that make headlines, it’s generally hard to identify and catch spoofers. With so many orders being placed and executed at once (especially with algorithmic or computer aid) it’s difficult to identify fake market orders in real time.

How to Protect Against Spoofing

There are a number of parties that are constantly and consistently trying to gain an edge in the markets, be it through spoofing or other means. For investors, it’s worth keeping that in mind while sticking to an investing strategy that works for you, rather than investing with your emotions or getting caught up in the news cycle.

In a time when a single social media post or errant comment on TV can send stock prices soaring or into the gutter, it’s critical for investors to understand what’s driving market activity.

Test your understanding of what you just read.

The Takeaway

Spoofing is meant to gain advantage in the markets, but as such it’s illegal and penalties can be steep. Beyond the spoofers trying to manipulate the market, spoofing has the potential to affect all investors.

If spoofers are manipulating prices for their own gain, that can cause traders and investors to react, not realizing what is going on behind the scenes. While this is more of an issue for active investors or day traders, it’s something to be aware of.

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¹Opening and funding an Active Invest account gives you the opportunity to get up to $3,000 in the stock of your choice.

FAQ

What does spoofing mean in the stock market?

In the financial space, the term “spoofing” refers to an illegal form of stock market and exchange trickery that may be used to alter asset prices. Spoofing is one way in which some traders bend the rules to try and gain an advantage.

Is spoofing legal?

In the United States, spoofing is illegal, and is a criminal offense. Spoofing was made illegal as a part of the Dodd-Frank Act in 2010, and is policed by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC).

How can you protect yourself from spoofing?

There’s no foolproof way to protect yourself and your portfolio from spoofing, so it may be best to stick to your investing strategy and try not to get caught up in market hype. Further, you can keep an eye out for unusual market movements, use limit orders, and even reporting suspicious activity to the SEC.

Photo credit: iStock/visualspace

INVESTMENTS ARE NOT FDIC INSURED • ARE NOT BANK GUARANTEED • MAY LOSE VALUE

SOIN-Q425-071

Dec

2025

A bulletin board on a stand displays the words, Welcome to Chicago.

What Is the Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE)?

By Ashley Kilroy | Growing Wealth, invest, Investing, Terminology | Comments Off

Editor's Note: Options are not suitable for all investors. Options involve risks, including substantial risk of loss and the possibility an investor may lose the entire amount invested in a short period of time. Please see the Characteristics and Risks of Standardized Options.

Table of Contents

What Is the CBOE Options Exchange?
History of the Chicago Board of Options Exchange
Understanding What the CBOE Options Exchange Does
CBOE Products
CBOE and Volatility
FAQ

The Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE), is now known as CBOE Global Markets, and it is one of the world’s largest exchanges for trading options contracts, a type of derivative.

Like other global trading companies, CBOE is poised to offer extended trading hours in 2026.

CBOE also operates a range of exchanges and trading platforms for various securities (e.g., equities, futures, digital assets). The CBOE also originated one of the most popular volatility indices in the world, the VIX, a.k.a. the fear index.

While you may already be familiar with the New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq, those are only two of the exchanges investors use to trade securities. Here’s where the CBOE fits in.

Key Points

• The Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE), now CBOE Global Markets, is the world’s largest exchange for trading options contracts and other derivatives.

• CBOE operates a variety of exchanges and trading platforms for different securities, including equities, futures, and digital assets.

• The organization originated the CBOE Volatility Index (VIX), which is one of the most popular volatility indices, also known as the “fear index.”

• Options contracts traded on CBOE are financial derivatives that derive their value from an underlying asset.

• CBOE has a history of innovating tradable products, and plans to offer extended trading hours of almost 24 hours per day, five days a week, starting in 2026.

What Is the CBOE Options Exchange?

CBOE, or CBOE Global Markets, Inc., is a global exchange operator founded in 1973 and headquartered in Chicago. Investors may turn to CBOE to buy and sell both derivatives and equities. In addition, the holding company facilitates trading various securities across an array of exchanges and trading platforms.

What Does CBOE Stand For?

Originally known as the Chicago Board Options Exchange, the organization incorporated as a holding company in 2010, making the options exchange its core asset. The company changed its name to CBOE Global Markets in 2017.

The organization also includes several subsidiaries, such as The Options Institute (an educational resource), Hanweck Associates LLC (a real-time analytics company), and The Options Clearing Corporation or OCC (a central clearinghouse for listed options).

The group has global branches in Canada, England, the Netherlands, Hong Kong, Singapore, Australia, Japan, and the Philippines.

CBOE is also a public company with its stock (CBOE) traded on the CBOE exchange, which investors can find when they buy stocks online.

What Are Options Contracts?

Options are considered derivative investments, as they derive their value from underlying assets. Each option is a contract that can be bought and sold on an exchange (similar to the underlying assets they’re associated with). One option contract generally represents 100 shares of the underlying stock or other security.

Because investors trade option contracts, not the underlying security itself, buying or selling an options contract may enable investors to benefit from price changes in the underlying asset without actually owning it. But trading options is a complex endeavor.

First, an options contract generally costs less than the underlying asset, so trading options can offer investors leverage that may result in potentially amplified gains, depending on how the market moves — or amplified losses. For this reason, options are considered high-risk investments and they’re typically suited to experienced investors.

Recommended: A Beginner’s Guide to Options Trading

History of the Chicago Board of Options Exchange

Founded in 1973, CBOE represented the first U.S. market for traders who want to buy and sell exchange-listed options, in addition to investing in stocks. This was a significant step for the options market, helping it become what it is today.

In 1975, the CBOE introduced automated price reporting and trading along with the Options Clearing Corporation (OCC).

Other developments followed in the market as well. For example, CBOE added put options in 1977. And by 1983, the market began creating options on broad-based indices using the S&P 100 (OEX) and the S&P 500 (SPX).

How the CBOE Evolved

In 1993, CBOE created its own market volatility index called the CBOE Volatility Index (VIX).

In 2015, it formed The Options Institute. With this, CBOE had an educational branch to provide investors with information about options. The Options Institute schedules monthly classes and events to help with outreach, and it offers online tools such as an options calculator and a trade maximizer.

From 1990 on, CBOE began creating unique trading products. Notable innovations include LEAPS (Long-Term Equity Anticipation Securities) launched in 1990; Flexible Exchange (FLEX) options in 1993; week-long options contracts known as Weeklys in 2005; and an electronic S&P options contract called SPXPM in 2011.

Understanding What the CBOE Options Exchange Does

The CBOE Options Exchange serves as a trading platform, similar to the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) or Nasdaq. It has a history of creating its own tradable products, including options contracts, futures, and more. CBOE also has acquired market models or created new markets in the past, such as the first pan-European multilateral trading facility (MTF) and the institutional foreign exchange (FX) market.

The CBOE’s specialization in options is essential, but it’s also complicated. Options contracts don’t work the same as stocks or exchange-traded funds (ETFs). They’re financial derivatives tied to an underlying asset, like a stock, but they have a set expiration date dictating when investors must settle or exercise the contract. That’s where the OCC comes in.

The OCC settles these financial trades by taking the place of a guarantor. Essentially, as a clearinghouse, the OCC acts as an intermediary for buyers and sellers. It functions based on foundational risk management and clears transactions. Under the Security and Exchange Commission (SEC) and Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), it provides clearing and settlement services for various trading options. It also acts in a central counterparty capacity for securities lending transactions.

Recommended: An Introduction to Stock Options

CBOE Products

CBOE offers a variety of tradable products across multiple markets, including many that it created.

For example, CBOE offers a range of put and call options on thousands of publicly traded stocks, ETFs, and exchange-traded notes (ETNs). Investors may use these tradable products for specific strategies, like hedging. Or, they might use them to gain income by selling cash-secured puts or covered calls.

These options strategies give investors flexibility in terms of how much added yield they want and gives them the ability to adjust their stock exposures.

Investors have the CBOE options marketplace and other alternative venues, including the electronic communication network (ECN), the FX market, and the MTF.

CBOE and Volatility

The CBOE’s Volatility Index (VIX), sometimes called the fear index, is a gauge of market volatility in U.S. equities. It also tracks the metric on a global scale and for the S&P 500. That opens up an opportunity for many traders. Traders, both international and global, use the VIX Index to get a foothold in the large U.S. market or global equities, whether it’s trading or simply exposing themselves to it.

In late 2021, CBOE Global Markets extended global trading hours (GTH) for its VIX options and S&P 500 Index options (SPX) to almost 24 hours per business day, five days a week. They did this with the intention to give further access to global participants to trade U.S. index options products exclusive to CBOE. These products are based on both the SPX and VIX indices.

This move allowed CBOE to meet growth in investor demand. These investors want to manage their risk more efficiently, and the extended hours could help them to do so. With it, they can react in real-time to global macroeconomics events and adjust their positions accordingly.

Essentially, they can track popular market sentiment and choose the best stocks according to the VIX’s movements.

The Takeaway

CBOE, or CBOE Global Markets, Inc., is more than just a hub of global exchanges. CBOE facilitates the trading of various securities across an array of equity and derivatives trading platforms. In addition, CBOE offers educational training and product innovations.

Like other global exchanges, CBOE will offer extended trading hours in 2026, ranging from 23 hours to 24 hours per day, five days a week.

SoFi’s options trading platform offers qualified investors the flexibility to pursue income generation, manage risk, and use advanced trading strategies. Investors may buy put and call options or sell covered calls and cash-secured puts to speculate on the price movements of stocks, all through a simple, intuitive interface.

With SoFi Invest® online options trading, there are no contract fees and no commissions. Plus, SoFi offers educational support — including in-app coaching resources, real-time pricing, and other tools to help you make informed decisions, based on your tolerance for risk.

Explore SoFi’s user-friendly options trading platform.

FAQ

What does CBOE do?

CBOE is the biggest options exchange worldwide. It offers options contracts on equities, indexes, interest rates, and more. CBOE is also known for creating the so-called fear index, or VIX — a widely used measure of market volatility.

Is the CBOE only for options trading?

No. While CBOE is known primarily for its roles as an options trading platform, it also operates four equity exchanges, as well as other trading platforms like the CBOE Futures Exchange (CFE), for trading this type of derivative.

What are derivatives?

The term derivatives is used to describe four main types of investments that are tied to underlying investments: futures, options, swaps, and forwards. Each of these types of derivatives can be used to trade an underlying asset such as stocks, foreign currencies, commodities, and more, without owning the underlying security.

Photo credit: iStock/USGirl

INVESTMENTS ARE NOT FDIC INSURED • ARE NOT BANK GUARANTEED • MAY LOSE VALUE

SoFi Invest is a trade name used by SoFi Wealth LLC and SoFi Securities LLC offering investment products and services. Robo investing and advisory services are provided by SoFi Wealth LLC, an SEC-registered investment adviser. Brokerage and self-directed investing products offered through SoFi Securities LLC, Member FINRA/SIPC.

For disclosures on SoFi Invest platforms visit SoFi.com/legal. For a full listing of the fees associated with Sofi Invest please view our fee schedule.

Options involve risks, including substantial risk of loss and the possibility an investor may lose the entire amount invested in a short period of time. Before an investor begins trading options they should familiarize themselves with the Characteristics and Risks of Standardized Options . Tax considerations with options transactions are unique, investors should consult with their tax advisor to understand the impact to their taxes.

S&P 500 Index: The S&P 500 Index is a market-capitalization-weighted index of 500 leading publicly traded companies in the U.S. It is not an investment product, but a measure of U.S. equity performance. Historical performance of the S&P 500 Index does not guarantee similar results in the future. The historical return of the S&P 500 Index shown does not include the reinvestment of dividends or account for investment fees, expenses, or taxes, which would reduce actual returns.
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Financial Tips & Strategies: The tips provided on this website are of a general nature and do not take into account your specific objectives, financial situation, and needs. You should always consider their appropriateness given your own circumstances.

SOIN-Q425-078

Dec

2025

A smiling man and woman in sunglasses driving in a convertible, enjoying their retirement.

What Is Retirement? What Does It Really Mean?

By Rebecca Lake | invest, Investing, Preparing for Retirement | Comments Off

Table of Contents

Retirement Definition
Qualified Retirement Plan Definition
Retirement Statistics
Saving for Retirement
Retirement Investment Accounts
Investing for Retirement With SoFi
FAQ

There once was a time when retirement meant leaving your job permanently, either when you reached a certain age or you’d accumulated enough wealth to live without working. Today’s retirement definition is changing, and it can vary widely depending on your vision and your individual financial situation.

It’s important for each person to develop their own retirement definition. That can help you establish a roadmap for getting from point A to point B, with the money you have, and in the time frame you’re expecting.

Key Points

• Retirement’s definition may vary based on individual financial situations and personal visions.

• Retirement has both financial and lifestyle aspects that need to be considered in its definition.

• Being retired means relying on savings, investments, and perhaps federal benefits for income instead of a regular paycheck.

• Retirement doesn’t necessarily mean individuals completely leave the labor force, as some retirees may have part-time jobs or pursue new careers.

• Retirement statistics show that a significant portion of retirees rely on Social Security, and savings levels vary among individuals.

Retirement Definition

Retirement’s meaning may shift from person to person, but the bottom line is that retirement has a financial side and a personal or lifestyle side. It’s important to consider both in your definition of retirement.

Retirement and Your Finances

Being retired or living in retirement generally means relying on accumulated savings and investments to cover expenses rather than counting on a paycheck or salary from employment. Depending upon their retirement age, an individual’s income may also include federal retirement benefits, such as Social Security and other options.

Retiring doesn’t necessarily mean that a person stops working completely. Some retirees might have a part-time job or side hustle, or they may choose to start a small business once they retire from their career. But the majority of their retirement income may still come from savings or federal benefits.

Retirement and Your Lifestyle

Some people embark on a new life or a new career in retirement, complete with new goals, a new focus, sometimes in a brand-new location. But retirement doesn’t have to be a period of reinvention. It depends on how you view the purpose and meaning of retirement. Many people enjoy this period as a time to slow down and enjoy hobbies or priorities that they couldn’t focus on before.

Consider the notion of moving in retirement. While strolling on sandy, sunlit beaches is depicted as a retirement ideal, many people don’t want to move to get there. In fact, 75% of people 50 and older want to remain in their current homes as they get older, according to a 2024 survey by the AARP.

Qualified Retirement Plan Definition

A qualified retirement plan provides you with money to pay for future expenses once you decide to retire from your job. The Employment Retirement Security Act (ERISA) recognizes two types of retirement plans:

Defined Contribution Plans

In a defined contribution plan, the amount of money you’re able to withdraw in retirement is determined by how much you contribute during your working years, and how much that money grows as it’s invested. A 401(k) plan is the most common type of defined contribution plan that employers can offer to employees.

There are other kinds of retirement plans that fall under the defined contribution umbrella. For example, if you run a small business, you might establish a Simplified Employee Pension (SEP) plan for yourself and your employees. Profit sharing plans, stock bonus plans, and employee stock ownership (ESOP) plans are also defined contribution plans.

A 457 plan is another defined contribution option. They work similar to 401(k) plans, in that you decide how much to contribute, and your employer can make matching contributions. The main difference between 457 and 401(k) retirement accounts is who they’re designed for. Private employers can offer 401(k) plans, while 457 plans are reserved for state and local government employees.

Defined Benefit Plans

A defined benefit plan (typically a pension) pays you a fixed amount in retirement that’s determined by your years of service, your retirement age, and your highest earning years. Cash balance plans are another type of defined benefit plan.

Generally speaking, defined benefit plans have been on the wane in the last couple of decades, with more of the responsibility for saving falling to workers, who must contribute to defined contribution plans.

Retirement Statistics

Retirement statistics can offer some insight into how Americans typically save for the future and when they retire. Here are some key retirement facts and figures to know, according to the Federal Reserve’s Report on the Economic Well-Being of U.S. Households in 2024, which was released in May 2025:

• 27% of adults considered themselves to be retired in 2024, though some were still working in some capacity.

• 53% of adults said they retired to do something else, while 49% said they’d reached their normal retirement age.

• 78% of retirees relied on Social Security for income, increasing to 91% among retirees age 65 or older.

• 61% of adults had savings in a tax-preferred retirement account, including 401(k)s and IRAs.

• 35% of non-retirees felt that they were on track with their retirement savings efforts.

So, how much does the typical household have saved for retirement? According to the Transamerica Center for Retirement Studies, the estimated median retirement savings among American workers is $54,000. Just 27% of adults who are traditionally employed and 24% of self-employed individuals have saved $250,000 or more for retirement.

Saving for Retirement

Saving for retirement is an important financial goal. While Social Security may provide you with some income, it’s not likely to be enough to cover all of your expenses in retirement — particularly if you end up needing extensive medical care or long-term care. In January 2025, according to the Social Security Administration, the average monthly benefit amount was $1,976.

Financial experts often recommend saving 15% of your income for retirement but your personal savings target may be higher or lower, depending on your goals. The longer you have to save for retirement, the longer you have to take advantage of compounding interest. That’s the interest you earn on your interest and it’s one of the keys to building wealth.

Selecting a retirement plan is the first step to getting on track with your financial goals. When saving for retirement, you can start with a defined benefit or defined contribution plan if your employer offers either one. Defined contribution plans can be advantageous because your employer may match a percentage of what you save. That’s free money you can use for retirement.

If you don’t have a 401(k) or a similar plan at work, a retirement investment account, otherwise known as an individual retirement account (IRA), is a general option.

Is your retirement piggy bank feeling light?

Start saving today with a Roth or Traditional IRA.

Retirement Investment Accounts

A retirement investment account is an account that enables you to save money for the future, but it isn’t considered a federally qualified retirement plan, like a 401(k). IRAs are tax-advantaged investment accounts that you can use to purchase mutual funds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), and other securities.

There are two main types of IRAs you can open: traditional and Roth IRAs. A traditional IRA allows for tax-deductible contributions in the year that you make them. Once you retire and begin withdrawing money, those withdrawals are taxed at your ordinary income tax rate.

Roth IRAs don’t offer a deduction for contributions because you contribute after-tax dollars. You can, however, make 100% tax-free qualified withdrawals in retirement. This might be preferable if you think you’ll be in a higher tax bracket once you retire.

For tax year 2025, individuals can contribute up to $7,000 in a Roth and traditional IRA. Those aged 50 and up can contribute up to $8,000, which includes $1,000 of catch-up contributions. For tax year 2026, individuals can contribute up to $7,500 in a Roth IRA and traditional IRA, and those 50 and over can contribute up to $8,600.

You can open an IRA online, or at a brokerage, alongside a taxable investment account for a comprehensive retirement savings picture.

Pros of Retirement Investment Accounts

Opening an IRA could make sense if you’d like to save for retirement while enjoying certain tax benefits.

• If you’re in a higher income bracket during your working years, being able to deduct traditional IRA contributions could reduce your tax liability.

• And not having to pay tax on Roth IRA withdrawals in retirement can ease your tax burden as well if you have income from other sources.

• IRA accounts often give you more flexibility in terms of your investment choices.

Cons of Retirement Investment Accounts

While IRAs can be good savings vehicles for retirement, there are some downsides.

• Both types of accounts have much lower contribution limits compared to a 401(k) or 457 plan. Annual contribution limits for a 401(k) are $23,500 in 2025 and $24,500 in 2026 for those under age 50. Those aged 50 and over can make an additional catch-up contribution of $7,500 per year, to a 401(k) for 2025, and an additional $8,000 for 2026. And in 2025 and 2026, those aged 60 to 63 only may contribute an additional $11,250 instead of $7,500 and $8,000 respectively, thanks to SECURE 2.0.

• With traditional IRAs, you must begin taking required distributions (RMDs) based on your account balance and life expectancy starting at age 73 (401(k)s have a similar rule). If you fail to do so, you could incur a hefty tax penalty.

• Roth IRAs don’t have RMDs, but your ability to contribute to a Roth may be limited based on your income and tax filing status.

Investing for Retirement With SoFi

However you choose to define your retirement, making a financial roadmap will help you get the retirement you want.

SoFi Invest offers traditional and Roth investment accounts to help you build the future you envision. You can also open a SEP IRA if you’re self-employed and want to get a jump on retirement savings. Another way to keep track of your retirement savings is to roll over your old accounts to a rollover IRA, so you can manage your money in one place.

SoFi makes the rollover process seamless and straightforward. There are no rollover fees, and you can complete your 401(k) rollover without a lot of time or hassle.

Ready to invest for your retirement? It’s easy to get started when you open a traditional or Roth IRA with SoFi. SoFi doesn’t charge commissions, but other fees apply (full fee disclosure here).

Help build your nest egg with a SoFi IRA.

FAQ

What is the meaning of retirement?

Retirement generally means leaving your job or the workforce, and living off your savings and investments, but that definition is changing for some. Some people may choose to continue working in retirement, though it may not be their primary source of income. Others may shift their work to focus more on lifestyle changes.

How common is retirement?

According to the Federal Reserve, about 27% of adults considered themselves to be retired in 2024, though some were still working in some capacity. Of these, 53% said they had retired to do something else, while 49% said they’d reached their normal retirement age.

How does retirement work?

When someone retires, they stop working at their job. Or, in the case of a business owner, they hand the business over to someone else. At that point, it’s up to them to decide how they want to spend their retirement, which might include taking care of family, traveling, working part-time, or exploring new hobbies. Their sources of income might include savings, investments, a pension, and Social Security benefits.

Photo credit: iStock/Alessandro Biascioli

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For disclosures on SoFi Invest platforms visit SoFi.com/legal. For a full listing of the fees associated with Sofi Invest please view our fee schedule.

Financial Tips & Strategies: The tips provided on this website are of a general nature and do not take into account your specific objectives, financial situation, and needs. You should always consider their appropriateness given your own circumstances.

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Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs): Investors should carefully consider the information contained in the prospectus, which contains the Fund’s investment objectives, risks, charges, expenses, and other relevant information. You may obtain a prospectus from the Fund company’s website or by emailing customer service at [email protected]. Please read the prospectus carefully prior to investing.

Tax Information: This article provides general background information only and is not intended to serve as legal or tax advice or as a substitute for legal counsel. You should consult your own attorney and/or tax advisor if you have a question requiring legal or tax advice.

SOIN-Q425-086

Dec

2025

A woman with a graduation gown draped over her shoulder and a cap in her hand walks toward a building on a college campus.

Understanding Average Graduate Student Loan Debt

By Julia Califano | Debt Payoff, Student Loans, student_loan | No Comments

Getting a graduate degree can help you move up the company ladder, boost your salary, or switch to a different career. But going back to school can be costly. On average, students rack up $106,129 in student debt to pay for graduate school, based on projections for 2025 by the Education Data Initiative. That average reflects debt for all advanced degrees beyond the bachelor’s level, including master’s and doctoral degrees.

Many students who borrow money to pay for grad school already have debt from undergraduate studies. Their debt from graduate school alone is $95,104.

Fortunately, there are ways to get a graduate degree without taking on a large amount of student loan debt. There are also a variety of payment plans that can make repaying grad school debt easier on your budget after you graduate. Here’s what you need to know about student loan debt for graduate school.

Table of Contents

What Is the Average Graduate Student Loan Debt?
Exploring Options to Finance Graduate School
How to Minimize Graduate School Debt
FAQ

Key Points

• The average graduate student loan debt is $95,104, and when combined with typical undergraduate debt, totals around $106,129.

• Debt levels vary: Master’s graduates owe $81,870, while Ph.D. graduates owe $180,757 on average, with higher balances at private schools.

• Federal options include Direct Unsubsidized Loans (up to $20,500/year, 7.94% rate) and Direct PLUS Loans (up to full cost of attendance, 8.94% rate).

• To reduce borrowing, students can pursue scholarships, fellowships, tuition assistance, online or accelerated programs, and borrow only what’s needed.

• Repayment can be managed through income-driven plans, PSLF eligibility, or refinancing (though refinancing federal loans removes federal protections).

What Is the Average Graduate Student Loan Debt?

If you’re thinking about applying to graduate school, you may be wondering how much you’ll need to borrow to cover your costs and whether or not it will be worth it.

On average, students leave graduate school with a student loan debt balance of $95,104 (from grad school alone). How much debt students rack up going to grad school, however, can vary significantly depending on the type of degree they pursue and the kind of school they attend. A doctoral degree generally costs more than a masters, for example, while attending a public, non-profit university is typically cheaper than going to a private, for-profit college.

Here’s a closer look at the average graduate school debt balance for different degrees obtained at different types of institutions.

• Master’s degrees: The average total student loan debt balance is $81,870 ($64,440 is just from graduate school).

• Master’s degrees from public schools: The average total student loan debt balance is $69,624 ($47,560 is just from graduate school).

• Masters degrees from private schools: The average total student loan debt balance is $95,381($79,329 is just from graduate school).

• Ph.D.s: The average total student debt balance is $77,331.

• Ph.D.s from public schools: The average total student loan debt balance is $74,978 from graduate school alone.

• Ph.D.s from private schools: The average total student loan debt balance is $74,977 from graduate school alone.

Take control of your student loans.
Ditch student loan debt for good.

Exploring Options to Finance Graduate School

Grad students can finance their education with federal student loans, private loans, or federal and private student loans. Here’s a closer look at the different types of loans available for graduate school.

Federal Loans

Graduate students can take out two different types of federal loans.

Direct Unsubsidized Loans

Currently, you can borrow up to $20,500 each year in Direct Unsubsidized Loans for graduate school, and eligibility is not based on financial need. The interest rate for Direct Unsubsidized Loans for graduate students for 2025-26 is 7.94%, plus an origination fee of 1.057%.

If you borrowed federal funds for your bachelor’s degree, you may be subject to a total federal funding limit of $138,000 in Direct Loans, including the amount of your undergraduate degree. Graduate PLUS (and Parent PLUS loans) are separate from this amount.

However, as part of the big domestic policy bill President Trump signed into law in the summer of 2025, for graduate student borrowers who take out new Direct Unsubsidized Loans on or after July 1, 2026, there will be a new aggregate limit for these loans of $100,000.

Direct PLUS Loans

If Direct Unsubsidized Loans aren’t enough to cover your attendance costs, you can currently turn to Direct PLUS Loans, which have a higher interest rate. You can borrow up to the full cost of attendance for each year, which is set by your university and includes expected living costs for the town or city you’ll be studying in.

Eligibility is not based on financial need, but a credit check is required. Borrowers who have an adverse credit history must meet additional requirements to qualify. The interest rate for 2025-26 is 8.94%, plus a 4.228% origination fee.

It’s important to note that Graduate PLUS loans will be eliminated for new borrowers as of July 1, 2026, as part of the domestic policy bill. Students who took out PLUS loans before that time may continue for the lesser of three additional academic years or until the borrower graduates.

Private Loans

Students can also take out private student loans for graduate school. Borrowers applying for grad school who already have a well-established credit history, may be able to get a lower interest rate from private lenders than from the federal government. This could save you a significant amount of money over time, and also potentially help you get out of debt faster.

You’ll want to keep in mind, however, that the government offers significant protections that can make federal student loan debt easier to manage, such as income-driven repayment plans and student loan forgiveness.

How to Minimize Graduate School Debt

If you are interested in attending graduate school but worried about being saddled with high debt payments after you graduate, here are some ways to make your advanced degree more affordable.

Tap Free Funding Options

Scholarships, fellowships, and grants are some of the best ways to pay for graduate school. You can ask your school about institutional awards and also search for professional organizations focused on the field you’re interested in to see if they offer graduate scholarships. In addition, some schools also offer tuition waivers or some monetary awards for students who serve as teaching assistants.

Ask Your Employer About Tuition Assistance

If you plan to continue working while attending graduate school part-time, it’s worth finding out if your employer offers a tuition assistance program. Some companies will cover all or a portion of their employees’ higher education expenses. There may, however, be some strings attached, such as staying in the company for a specific amount of time. Reach out to your HR department to find out whether your employer offers this benefit and, if so, what the requirements are.

Borrow Only What You Need

There are no subsidized loans for graduate school, which means you’ll need to pay for all the interest that accrues on your loans. With Graduate PLUS loans, you are currently able to borrow up to your school’s cost of attendance, which can include expenses like transportation and child care. However, that doesn’t mean you should access the maximum amount. It’s a good idea to tap savings and income before turning to loans to cover all of your costs. This can help minimize how much debt you have to repay after you get your degree.

Look Into Online or Accelerated Programs

Some schools charge the same tuition for online and on-campus programs, but others charge substantially less for online classes. Also, the faster you can get a degree, generally the less you will have to borrow to pay for it. A one-year MBA, for example, will typically cost significantly less than a two-year program.

Explore Your Repayment Options

Federal loans currently offer income-driven plans that can keep graduate loan payments manageable after you graduate if your income is low. If you pursue a career in public service or nonprofit, you may also qualify for Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF).
[Compliance: The PSLF article is currently in the process of being updated.]

If you’re getting an advanced degree that will boost your earning power, keep in mind that you may be able to refinance your federal and private graduate school loans after you graduate at a lower rate. This could potentially translate to lower monthly payments and also save you money over the life of your loan. Refinancing can also allow you to remove a cosigner off of your student loans, if you have one.

If you are considering refinancing student loans, keep in mind that refinancing federal loans with a private lender means giving up federal student loan protections such as income-driven repayment plans and PSLF.

The Takeaway

Most graduate students in the U.S. leave school with upwards of $106,000 in graduate school debt. Depending on what type of degree you pursue and where you study, you could end up with less — or more — than the average amount of graduate student loan debt.

If you’re interested in grad school but concerned about debt, keep in mind that you may be able to lower the cost of your degree by getting fellowships and grants, becoming a teaching assistant, tapping your employer’s tuition assistance, and considering an online or accelerated program. You may also be able to refinance your grad school loans at a lower rate after you graduate, making them easier to manage.

Looking to lower your monthly student loan payment? Refinancing may be one way to do it — by extending your loan term, getting a lower interest rate than what you currently have, or both. (Please note that refinancing federal loans makes them ineligible for federal forgiveness and protections. Also, lengthening your loan term may mean paying more in interest over the life of the loan.) SoFi student loan refinancing offers flexible terms that fit your budget.

With SoFi, refinancing is fast, easy, and all online. We offer competitive fixed and variable rates.

FAQ

How much debt is the average graduate student in?

The average graduate student has about $106,129 in student debt, based on projections for 2025 by the Education Data Initiative. While that also includes debt from their undergraduate degree, their debt from graduate school alone is $95,104.

The exact amount of student debt grad students carry can vary widely, depending on the type of program they were in and the school they attended, among other factors.

Is $100,000 a lot of student loan debt?

For graduate students, $100,000 is about the average amount of student loan debt they hold, which is approximately $106,129 in 2025, according to projections from the Education Data Initiative. By comparison, the average undergraduate student debt is $39,075.

What is the average student loan debt for a doctoral degree?

The average student loan debt for borrowers with a doctoral degree is $180,757, according to the Education Data Initiative. Debt for those with professional doctorates, such as doctors and lawyers, have the highest average student loan debt of $213,439.

About the author

Julia Califano

Julia Califano is an award-winning journalist who covers banking, small business, personal loans, student loans, and other money issues for SoFi. She has over 20 years of experience writing about personal finance and lifestyle topics. Read full bio.

SoFi Student Loan Refinance
Terms and conditions apply. SoFi Refinance Student Loans are private loans. When you refinance federal loans with a SoFi loan, YOU FORFEIT YOUR ELIGIBILITY FOR ALL FEDERAL LOAN BENEFITS, including all flexible federal repayment and forgiveness options that are or may become available to federal student loan borrowers including, but not limited to: Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF), Income-Based Repayment, Income-Contingent Repayment, extended repayment plans, PAYE or SAVE. Lowest rates reserved for the most creditworthy borrowers. Learn more at SoFi.com/eligibility. SoFi Refinance Student Loans are originated by SoFi Bank, N.A. Member FDIC. NMLS #696891 (www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org).

SoFi Private Student Loans
Please borrow responsibly. SoFi Private Student loans are not a substitute for federal loans, grants, and work-study programs. We encourage you to evaluate all your federal student aid options before you consider any private loans, including ours. Read our FAQs.

Terms and conditions apply. SOFI RESERVES THE RIGHT TO MODIFY OR DISCONTINUE PRODUCTS AND BENEFITS AT ANY TIME WITHOUT NOTICE. SoFi Private Student loans are subject to program terms and restrictions, such as completion of a loan application and self-certification form, verification of application information, the student's at least half-time enrollment in a degree program at a SoFi-participating school, and, if applicable, a co-signer. In addition, borrowers must be U.S. citizens or other eligible status, be residing in the U.S., Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, or American Samoa, and must meet SoFi’s underwriting requirements, including verification of sufficient income to support your ability to repay. Minimum loan amount is $1,000. See SoFi.com/eligibility for more information. Lowest rates reserved for the most creditworthy borrowers. SoFi reserves the right to modify eligibility criteria at any time. This information is subject to change. This information is current as of 4/22/2025 and is subject to change. SoFi Private Student loans are originated by SoFi Bank, N.A. Member FDIC. NMLS #696891 (www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org).

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Financial Tips & Strategies: The tips provided on this website are of a general nature and do not take into account your specific objectives, financial situation, and needs. You should always consider their appropriateness given your own circumstances.

SOSLR-Q425-067

IRA Rollover Rules 2025: 60-Day & One-Per-Year Rules Explained

What is an IRA Rollover?

Direct vs. Indirect Rollovers: What’s the Difference?

What Is a Direct Rollover?

What Is an Indirect Rollover?

The 60-Day Rollover Rule Explained

The One-Rollover-Per-Year Rule Explained

What Are the Rules for a Roth IRA Rollover?

Roth Conversions vs. Roth-to-Roth Rollovers

The 5-year Rule for Roth Conversions

IRA Rollovers and Taxes

Compatibility Rules When Rolling Funds to an IRA

Common Rollover Mistakes to Avoid

Missing the 60-day Deadline

Violating the One-Rollover-Per-Year Rule

Not Accounting for Tax Withholding

Your Rollover IRA: How to Optimize and Manage It

FAQ

What happens if you miss the 60-day rollover deadline?

Does a direct transfer from one IRA to another count as a rollover?

How many times can I rollover my IRA?

Can I roll over part of my IRA?

Can I roll an IRA into a SEP IRA?

What Is Spoofing in Trading? How It Works and Its Consequences

What Is Spoofing?

What’s the Point of Spoofing?

Is Spoofing Illegal?

Example of Spoofing

Get up to $1,000 in stock when you fund a new Active Invest account.*

Access stock trading, options, alternative investments, IRAs, and more. Get started in just a few minutes.

Consequences of Spoofing

How to Protect Against Spoofing

The Takeaway

FAQ

What does spoofing mean in the stock market?

Is spoofing legal?

How can you protect yourself from spoofing?

What Is the Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE)?

What Is the CBOE Options Exchange?

What Does CBOE Stand For?

What Are Options Contracts?

History of the Chicago Board of Options Exchange

How the CBOE Evolved

Understanding What the CBOE Options Exchange Does

CBOE Products

CBOE and Volatility

The Takeaway

FAQ

What does CBOE do?

Is the CBOE only for options trading?

What are derivatives?

What Is Retirement? What Does It Really Mean?

Retirement Definition

Retirement and Your Finances

Retirement and Your Lifestyle

Qualified Retirement Plan Definition

Defined Contribution Plans

Defined Benefit Plans

Retirement Statistics

Saving for Retirement

Is your retirement piggy bank feeling light?

Start saving today with a Roth or Traditional IRA.

Retirement Investment Accounts

Pros of Retirement Investment Accounts

Cons of Retirement Investment Accounts

Investing for Retirement With SoFi

FAQ

What is the meaning of retirement?

How common is retirement?

How does retirement work?

Understanding Average Graduate Student Loan Debt

What Is the Average Graduate Student Loan Debt?

Take control of your student loans. Ditch student loan debt for good.

Exploring Options to Finance Graduate School

Federal Loans

Direct Unsubsidized Loans

Direct PLUS Loans

Private Loans

How to Minimize Graduate School Debt

Tap Free Funding Options

Take control of your student loans.
Ditch student loan debt for good.

Student Loan
Refinancing

Personal
Loans

Online
Investments