Investing Archives | Page 16 of 194

Mar

2025

Recharacterizing IRAs: A Complete Guide

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

An IRA recharacterization allows you to make changes to the type of contribution you made to one IRA by transferring it to a second IRA within the same tax year. For example, you might recharacterize traditional IRA contributions as Roth contributions, or vice versa.

This process is different from an IRA conversion, which is not limited to the tax year in which you made a contribution. A conversion typically involves moving funds from a traditional IRA into a Roth IRA, not the reverse. In most cases, you would owe income tax on the amount converted to a Roth.

There are different reasons for the recharacterization of an IRA, and some important IRS rules to know for completing one.

Key Points

• An IRA recharacterization allows you to change the type of IRA contribution made within the same tax year, such as from traditional to Roth IRA or vice versa.

• Executing a recharacterization typically involves notifying the IRA custodian, opening a second IRA, if needed, and meeting the tax-filing deadline or extension.

• Reasons for recharacterization may include avoiding tax penalties for excess contributions, or taking advantage of certain tax benefits.

• A recharacterization differs from a conversion, which can be done anytime with contributions from multiple years, and typically involves moving funds from a traditional IRA to a Roth IRA.

• Following the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act passed in 2017, a conversion from a traditional IRA to a Roth IRA cannot be reversed using a recharacterization.

What Is an IRA Recharacterization?

An IRA recharacterization allows you to treat contributions made to one type of IRA as contributions made to a second, different type of IRA. The IRS allows taxpayers to recharacterize contributions to traditional or Roth IRAs only up until the tax-filing deadline each year, assuming you meet relevant income limits and other restrictions for the second IRA account.

For instance, say you deposit money in a Roth IRA, but when it’s time to file taxes you realize that you’ve made contributions in excess of what’s allowed for your tax filing status and income (see details below).

You could execute a recharacterization to have some of that contribution amount treated as traditional IRA contributions for the tax year, and transfer the assets (and any earnings or net losses) to the second IRA.

In that scenario, a recharacterization of Roth IRA contributions could allow you to avoid the 6% excise tax penalty the IRS imposes on excess contributions.

How Do IRA Recharacterizations Work?

IRA recharacterizations work by allowing you to change your IRA contributions for the year from one type of IRA to another. The process is fairly simple; you’ll just need to notify the company, a.k.a. the custodian that holds your IRA, that you’d like to recharacterize your contributions, and open a second IRA for that purpose (unless you have an existing IRA).

You can also transfer the amount you want recharacterized to an IRA at a different institution. This is known as a trustee-to-trustee transfer. In most cases, either one of these methods is preferable to withdrawing the money and redepositing it yourself, which can be tricky and could lead to taxes and/or a penalty if you fail to transfer the money within a 60-day window.

Again, you have until the annual IRA contribution deadline to complete an IRA recharacterization. If you filed an extension, then you’ll have until the October extension-filing cutoff. You should receive a Form 1099-R documenting the recharacterization that you’ll need to file with your tax return.

¹Terms and conditions apply. Roll over a minimum of $20K to receive the 1% match offer. Matches on contributions are made up to the annual limits.

Reasons for a Recharacterization

Why would you need to recharacterize IRA contributions? There are reasons for doing a recharacterization in either direction (Roth to traditional IRA, or traditional IRA to a Roth). You might consider recharacterization if you:

• Contributed too much to a Roth IRA for the year and need to shift some of that money to a traditional IRA in order to avoid a tax penalty.

• Made traditional IRA contributions, but later learned that you can’t deduct them because you’re covered by a retirement plan at work and your income puts you over the threshold to claim a deduction.

• Contributed to a Roth IRA, but believe you’d benefit more from getting a deduction for traditional IRA contributions.

• Initially contributed to a traditional IRA, but later decided that you’d prefer to contribute to a Roth IRA to enjoy its tax benefits later in life.

Sample Calculation of IRA Recharacterization

How you calculate an IRA recharacterization can depend on whether you’re recharacterizing some or all of your contributions for the year. To keep things simple, let’s assume that you contributed $5,000 to a Roth IRA at the beginning of the year. The IRA earned $1,000 in investment gains.

You’d now like to recharacterize the entire amount to a traditional IRA. You’d tell your IRA custodian that you’d like to do a full recharacterization. This strategy does not require a separate calculation of investment earnings, because the entire balance of the IRA is being recharacterized.

However, if you only wanted to convert $3,000 of your contributions you’d have to do a separate calculation to figure the amount of earnings that need to be recharacterized.

The IRS offers a formula for doing so, which looks like this:

Net Income = Contributions x (Adjusted closing balance – Adjusted opening balance) / Adjusted opening balance

If you don’t want to do the math by hand, it might be easier to plug the numbers into an IRA recharacterization calculator, or consult with a tax professional.

Pros and Cons of Recharacterizing an IRA

There are pros and cons to using a recharacterization strategy.

Pros

IRA recharacterization offers some flexibility with regard to how your IRA contributions are treated, if your financial circumstances or tax considerations change.

If you start off the year making one type of IRA contribution, you can decide to switch things up at any time before the tax filing deadline. There’s no penalty for changing your mind about what type of IRA contributions you’d like to make, as long as you’re doing so before the filing or extension deadlines.

Recharacterizing an IRA is a simpler process than converting IRA assets, which we’ll discuss shortly. There’s less paperwork involved, and since the transaction can be completed by the custodian without any money being withdrawn from your IRA, a recharacterization can be a more tax-efficient way to adjust your contribution choices.

Cons

That said, there are downsides to a recharacterization. For one thing, you’ll need to be mindful of the tax filing deadlines if you want to recharacterize IRA contributions. If you miss the tax or extension deadline, you won’t be able to recharacterize your contribution amount.

If you recharacterize traditional IRA contributions as Roth IRA contributions, you will owe taxes.

If you recharacterize Roth IRA contributions as traditional IRA contributions, you can only claim the tax deduction a) if you qualify and b) you cannot deduct any earnings on the original contribution, if there were any.

Recharacterization vs. Conversion of an IRA

Recharacterization of an IRA and an IRA conversion are not the same thing. When you recharacterize IRA contributions, you’re changing the type of contributions you made for that specific tax year.

When you convert an IRA, you’re moving money from one type of IRA to another that may include contributions from multiple years. Generally, an IRA conversion refers to moving money from a traditional IRA to a Roth IRA.

If you have a Roth IRA, there would be little benefit to doing a conversion to a traditional IRA since you couldn’t then take the tax deduction. Also, if you first converted a traditional IRA to a Roth, it’s no longer possible to convert it back to a traditional IRA, thanks to changes implemented by the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.

Amounts rolled over to a Roth IRA from qualified retirement plans cannot be reversed either.

For example, you might have chosen a traditional option when opening your first IRA but later decided that you’d like to have the tax benefits of a Roth IRA. Converting an IRA to a Roth would allow you to make contributions to a Roth IRA if you’d otherwise be prevented from doing so because your income is too high.

As noted, you’d have to pay taxes on the money you’re converting to a Roth IRA, because the money you deposited in your traditional IRA originally was tax deductible. Roth IRAs are funded with after-tax contributions.

	IRA Recharacterization	IRA Conversion
How It Works	Recharacterization allows you to change the type of IRA contributions you make for the current tax year.	Conversion allows you to move amounts in one type of IRA to another, typically a traditional IRA to a Roth IRA.
Rules	Recharacterizations must be completed before the annual tax filing deadline.	Conversions can be done at any time and may include contributions made over multiple years.
Advantages	IRA recharacterization allows some flexibility in deciding what type of IRA contributions you want to make.	Converting a traditional IRA to a Roth IRA can allow you to take advantage of tax-free withdrawals in retirement.
Disadvantages	You must complete a recharacterization by the tax filing deadline or extension deadline; you cannot recharacterize IRA contributions pertaining to one year in a subsequent year.	You will likely owe taxes on converted amounts, which can increase your tax bill.

The Takeaway

Recharacterization of an IRA could make sense if it allows you to gain a tax advantage, or avoid a tax penalty for excess contributions. If you’re unsure whether a recharacterization makes sense, it might be a good idea to talk to a tax professional first.

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).

Easily manage your retirement savings with a SoFi IRA.

FAQ

Are IRA recharacterizations still allowed?

Yes, the IRS still allows IRA recharacterizations. There are some limitations, however, as converted IRAs cannot be recharacterized back, after the fact. You also can’t recharacterize rollovers from a 401(k) or 403(b) to a Roth IRA either.

What is the reason for recharacterizing an IRA?

One of the most common reasons to recharacterize Roth IRA contributions is to avoid a tax penalty for having made excess contributions. It may also be necessary to recharacterize Roth contributions in order to be able to claim a tax deduction for traditional IRA contributions.

Meanwhile, one reason to recharacterize traditional IRA contributions might be that you don’t qualify for the full (or any) tax deduction, and therefore a Roth might look appealing from a tax standpoint.

What is the difference between an IRA conversion and recharacterization?

Converting an IRA means moving assets from one type of IRA to another, typically involving amounts you’ve contributed over several years. Recharacterization of IRA contributions is more limited, and it means you’ve changed your mind about the type of contributions you want to make for the current tax year. A recharacterization of IRA contributions can only be done only for the tax year the contributions were made; an IRA conversion can be done at any time.

About the author

Rebecca Lake

Rebecca Lake has been a finance writer for nearly a decade, specializing in personal finance, investing, and small business. She is a contributor at Forbes Advisor, SmartAsset, Investopedia, The Balance, MyBankTracker, MoneyRates and CreditCards.com. Read full bio.

Photo credit: iStock/nortonrsx

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Mar

2025

Guide to IRA Contribution Deadlines

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

Fortunately for retirement savers, the IRS allows some flexibility in funding traditional or Roth IRAs. You have until tax day of the following year to make contributions.

In other words: Your last day to make an IRA contribution for tax year 2024 is April 15, 2025. If you file an extension on your return, your ability to contribute to an IRA is not extended, however.

Knowing how long you have to make an IRA contribution is important, as it can help you save a little more, and potentially reap some tax benefits.

What Is the IRA Contribution Deadline?

A conventional tax year extends from January 1 of the year through December 31 (corporate tax years can be different). However, the deadline for individuals making the maximum annual IRA contribution doesn’t follow that timeline; generally you have until tax day in April of the following year.

In most years, the deadline for filing your tax return is April 15. However, if the 15th falls on a holiday or weekend, the deadline is generally pushed to the next business day.

The deadline also applies to both annual contributions and catch-up contributions for regular IRAs. A catch-up contribution of $1,000 is allowed for taxpayers aged 50 or older.

Again, if you file an extension on your tax return, that will not give you extra time to contribute to an ordinary IRA. That said, the rules related to contribution deadlines and extensions are somewhat different for other types of IRAs, like SEP and SIMPLE IRAs designed for those who are self-employed or own small businesses. (see below).

¹Terms and conditions apply. Roll over a minimum of $20K to receive the 1% match offer. Matches on contributions are made up to the annual limits.

Traditional, Roth, SEP, and SIMPLE IRA Contribution Deadlines for 2024

Contributions limits and deadlines vary, depending on the type of IRA you have.

IRA Type	2024 Annual Contribution Limit	Contribution Deadline for the 2024 Tax Year
Traditional IRA	$7,000, or $8,000 if you’re 50 or older	April 15, 2025
Roth IRA	$7,000, or $8,000 if you’re 50 or older	April 15, 2025
SEP IRA	25% of compensation or $69,000, whichever is less (SEP plans do not have catch-up provisions)	April 15, 2025, unless the employer filed an extension; the extension deadline is Oct. 15, 2025
SIMPLE IRA	$16,000, or $19,500 if you’re 50 or older	January 30, 2025 for employee contributions; April 15, 2025 for employer contributions (or Oct. 15, 2025, if there’s an extension)

How IRA Contributions Work

Contributions refer to the funds you deposit in a retirement account like an IRA (but also a 401(k) or 403(b)). Most retirement accounts have rules that govern the maximum amount you can contribute per year and the tax implications for contributing to one type of account vs. another.

• Generally speaking, traditional IRAs, as well as SEP and SIMPLE IRAs, are considered tax-deferred accounts. That means your contributions are typically tax deductible in the year you make them (though some restrictions apply if you or your spouse is covered by a workplace retirement account). But you will owe taxes on withdrawals.

• The money you contribute to a Roth IRA is an after-tax contribution, and is not tax deductible. Qualified withdrawals after age 59 ½ are tax-free, however.

Roth accounts have more restrictions than other types of IRAs. One important distinction is the income cap: For tax year 2024: Single filers whose modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) is $161,000 or higher, and those who are married, filing jointly with a MAGI of $240,000 or higher, are not eligible to open a Roth IRA.

Other Types of IRAs

In addition to the ordinary traditional and Roth IRA options, self-employed people, sole proprietors, and those with small businesses can set up SEP or SIMPLE IRAs.

• A SEP IRA, or Simplified Employee Pension IRA, is a retirement plan that can be set up by employers, sole proprietors, or the self-employed. Employers make contributions for employees (employees don’t contribute). Employers are not required to contribute to a SEP every year.

• A SIMPLE IRA, or Savings Incentive Match Plan for Employees IRA, is similar to a 401(k) but for businesses with 100 or employees or less. Both the employer and the employees can contribute to a SIMPLE IRA.

Both SEP and SIMPLE IRAs are tax-deferred accounts, similar to a traditional IRA. Contributions in most cases are tax deductible, but the account holder must pay ordinary income tax on withdrawals. The rules and restrictions governing withdrawals vary, so you may want to check the details at IRS.gov or consult a tax professional.

Pros and Cons of Maxing Out Your IRA Early or Late

Maxing out your IRA, i.e., making the full annual contribution allowed, could help you save more for retirement. And as with any contribution amount, there can be tax benefits depending on the type of IRA you’re funding.

Whether it makes sense to contribute earlier in the year or wait until the contribution deadline depends on your financial situation.

Here are some of the advantages and disadvantages of maxing out an IRA earlier vs. later.

	Maxing Out an IRA Early	Maxing Out an IRA Late
Pros	• Maxing out your plan sooner allows it more time to grow, potentially. Growth depends on the investments you choose for your IRA; there are no guarantees of returns and there is always a risk of loss. • If your financial situation changes you’ll have the reassurance of knowing that your plan is fully funded for the year.	• Waiting to max out your IRA until tax day could give you more time to max out your 401(k) before the year-end contribution deadline. • If you have a Roth IRA, waiting to make contributions can help you better gauge the maximum amount you can save, based on your income.
Cons	• Fully funding an IRA early in the year could leave you short financially if you need money for other goals. • There’s a risk of contributing too much to a Roth IRA, based on what your income and filing status allows, which could trigger a tax penalty.	• Delaying contributions might mean missing out on potential growth (but there are no guarantees your money will grow). • Waiting too long could result in missing the annual contribution deadline altogether if you come up short and don’t have enough money to save.

Maxing Out an IRA Early

Maxing Out an IRA Late

Pros

• Maxing out your plan sooner allows it more time to grow, potentially. Growth depends on the investments you choose for your IRA; there are no guarantees of returns and there is always a risk of loss.

• If your financial situation changes you’ll have the reassurance of knowing that your plan is fully funded for the year.

• Waiting to max out your IRA until tax day could give you more time to max out your 401(k) before the year-end contribution deadline.

• If you have a Roth IRA, waiting to make contributions can help you better gauge the maximum amount you can save, based on your income.

Cons

• Fully funding an IRA early in the year could leave you short financially if you need money for other goals.

• There’s a risk of contributing too much to a Roth IRA, based on what your income and filing status allows, which could trigger a tax penalty.

• Delaying contributions might mean missing out on potential growth (but there are no guarantees your money will grow).

• Waiting too long could result in missing the annual contribution deadline altogether if you come up short and don’t have enough money to save.

What If You Contribute Too Much to Your IRA?

If you contribute too much money to your IRA, the IRS can treat it as an excess contribution. Excess IRA contributions can happen if you:

• Aren’t keeping track of contributions throughout the year

• Miscalculate the amount you can contribute to a Roth IRA, based on your income and filing status

• Make an improper rollover contribution

If you make excess IRA contributions, the IRS can apply a 6% penalty for each year the excess amounts remain in your account. You can avoid the 6% tax by withdrawing excess contributions and any earnings from those contributions by the tax filing deadline or extension deadline if you filed one.

The Takeaway

If you have any type of IRA, it’s important to mark your calendar each year with the contribution deadline so that you can plan the cadence of your contributions in relation to other expenses. Because most types of IRAs allow additional time for contributions, this can help you save more — and possibly reap additional tax benefits.

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 grow your nest egg with a SoFi IRA.

FAQ

What is the last day to contribute to an IRA for tax year 2024?

The traditional and Roth IRA contribution deadline for the 2024 tax year is April 15, 2025. If you’re an employer, or self-employed individual contributing to an SEP IRA, you’d have until tax day to contribute, unless you filed a tax extension. In that case, you’d be able to use the extension deadline instead.

Can I contribute to an IRA after December 31?

Yes, you can contribute to an IRA for the current tax year up until the federal tax deadline, which is typically April 15 of the following year. In years where the federal tax deadline falls on a holiday or weekend, the date is pushed up to the next business day.

Can I open an IRA in 2025, but contribute for 2024?

If the 2025 tax year is already underway, and the April tax deadline has passed, you cannot open an IRA and make contributions for the 2024 tax year. You could, however, open a traditional or Roth IRA before the April 2025 tax filing deadline and fund it with contributions for the 2024 tax year.

About the author

Rebecca Lake

Photo credit: iStock/MicroStockHub

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Mar

2025

What Is IPO Due Diligence?

By Rebecca Lake | Growing Wealth, invest, Investing | Comments Off

As part of the IPO process, private companies must perform due diligence to ensure that they’ve met all the requirements for being listed on a public exchange. This ensures that the company follows all registration and disclosure guidelines established by the Securities Act of 1933.

Broadly speaking, IPO due diligence is similar to the due diligence performed in any other situation involving large amounts of capital. Just as an investor may research certain aspects of a company before deciding to purchase shares, a company that’s planning an IPO must have an understanding of the various factors that could positively or negatively affect its success.

If you’re interested in investing in IPOs, it’s helpful to know what goes on behind the scenes and how the IPO due diligence process works, given that IPO stocks are considered high-risk securities.

Recommended: How to Buy IPO Stocks

Key Points

• IPO due diligence is a process of researching a private company to make sure it meets the requirements for being listed on a public exchange.

• The due diligence process involves gathering information about the company’s organizational structure, licensing and taxes, board and employee information, financial information, customer/service information, and company property.

• Benefits of IPO due diligence include an opportunity to explore the viability of an IPO for the company and more information for investors on the company and its risks.

• Steps to filing an IPO include SEC review, IPO roadshow, pricing, launch, stabilization, and transition to market.

• Due diligence can help give investors confidence that the company complies with all relevant SEC regulations.

IPO Due Diligence Process

IPO due diligence typically takes place within the first 60 days of a company beginning the IPO process. During the IPO due diligence process, the IPO underwriters and IPO attorneys will work together to perform the necessary background research to gain a better understanding of the company, its management and its financials. This involves gathering the follow information:

1. Organizational Data

During the first stage of the IPO due diligence process, the underwriters and attorneys gather information about the company’s organizational structure. This may include requesting copies of any or all of the following:

• Articles of incorporation

• A list of the company’s shareholders and committees

• An overview of the number of shares owned per individual shareholder

• Annual business reports for the previous three years

• Company business plans or strategic plans

• A breakdown of the company’s organizational structure, including board members, directors, and employees

The underwriting team may also request a copy of a certificate in good standing from the State Secretary, along with information on organizational decision-making.

💡 Quick Tip: Access to IPO shares before they trade on public exchanges has usually been available only to large institutional investors. That’s changing now, and some brokerages offer pre-listing IPO investing to qualified investors.

2. Licensing and Taxation

The next step in IPO due diligence involves collecting information about the company’s licensing and taxes. At this stage, the IPO underwriter and/or attorneys may request copies of:

• All business licenses currently issued to the company

• Annual tax returns

• Government licenses and permits held by the company

• Employment tax filings

• Comprehensive reports of the company’s tax filing data

The underwriting team may look back three years or more when analyzing income tax returns and tax filing information.

Recommended: The IPO Process

3. Board and Employee Information

Due diligence can also extend to information about the company’s board of directors, its managers, and its employees. At this phase of IPO due diligence, underwriters and attorney may request:

• A list of all individuals it employees

• Information about employee status, including each employee’s position and salary

• Details regarding employee benefits and bonuses, according to position

• A copy of company policies relating to sick leave or conflict resolution

• Details about employee insurance benefits, including health, disability and life insurance

• Copies of resumes for leading personnel

• Copies of employee audits

With regard to employee audits, underwriters can look back two to three years.

💡 Quick Tip: Before opening any investment account, consider what level of risk you are comfortable with. If you’re not sure, start with more conservative investments, and then adjust your portfolio as you learn more.

4. Financial Information

A company’s finances can come under close scrutiny during the IPO due diligence process. When considering financial information, the IPO underwriting and legal team may review:

• Copies of broker or investment banking arrangements

• Company financial statements records, including previous financial audits

• A list of all financial accounts help by the company

• Copies of financial analyst reports

• Information about the company’s inventory holdings

• Details regarding the company’s accounting and amortization methods

• A list of all fixed and variable expenses

The time frame for which underwriters can review financial information can stretch from the previous three to five years, depending on what they’re examining.

Recommended: How to Read Financial Statements

5. Customer/Service Information

Due diligence also takes into account interactions with customers and service practices. During this step, the underwriting team may request:

• Reports or information about the products and services offered by the company

• Details about consumer complaints filed against the company

• Information about legal approvals for the company’s products and services

• Copies of the company’s trading policies

• Details regarding the company’s marketing strategies as well as copies of marketing materials

The underwriters may also need to see copies of customer supply or service agreements.

6. Company Property

Last but not least, IPO underwriters will examine property holdings owned by the company. This can include reviewing information about:

• Business locations

• Real estate agreements and/or franchise licenses

• Trademarks and copyrights held by the company

• Approved patents held by the company

• Trademark complaints, if applicable

• Official contracts showing the purchase of real estate

The underwriters may also ask for a full inventory of any physical or real property the company owns.

Objective of IPO Due Diligence

During due diligence, the underwriting team is working to gain a full understanding of how the company operates, how it’s structured, how healthy it is financially, and whether there are any potential issues that could be a roadblock to going public. The due diligence process effectively clears the way for the next steps in the IPO process.

The IPO due diligence process ensures that there are no surprises waiting to crop up that could derail a company’s progress. It’s also an opportunity for the underwriting team, the IPO attorneys and the company itself to assess any potential risk factors that may affect the IPO’s outcome.

Benefits of Due Diligence Process

IPO due diligence has benefits for both the company and investors.

IPO Due Diligence Benefits for the Company

• Due diligence offers an opportunity to explore the viability of an IPO, based on the company’s business model, financials, capital needs and anticipated demand for its shares.

• Due diligence also allows the company to avoid going afoul of regulatory guidelines, and it can help to identify any issues the company may need to address before going public.

IPO Due Diligence Benefits to Investors

• The due diligence process can reveal more about a company than the information in the initial red herring prospectus. In IPO investing, a red herring refers to the initial prospectus compiled for SEC registration purposes.

• If investors feel confident about the information they have, that could help to fuel the success of the IPO which can mean more capital raised for the company and better returns for those who purchase its shares.

Note that an investor’s eligibility or suitability for trading IPO shares is usually determined by their brokerage firm.

Next Steps in Filing IPO

Once the underwriting team has completed its due diligence, the company can move on to the next steps involved in how to file an Initial Public Offering (IPO). Again, that includes:

• SEC review

• IPO roadshow

• Pricing

• Launch

• Stabilization

• Transition to market

The SEC review typically takes between 90 and 150 days to complete. Now, it’s up to the SEC to determine that all regulatory requirements have been met. Usually, the team conducting the review includes one or more attorneys and one or more accountants.

Next, comes the roadshow. During the roadshow, the company presents details about the IPO to potential investors. This step of the IPO process allows the company and underwriters to gauge interest in the offering and attract investors.

IPO pricing usually involves a closer look at the company’s financials, including its valuation and cash flow. Underwriters may also consider valuations for similar competitors when determining the appropriate IPO price.

After setting the IPO price, the underwriters and the company will schedule the IPO launch. Once the IPO launches, investors can purchase shares of the company. The underwriter does the steering on price stabilization movements during the 25 days following the launch, after which the company transitions to market competition, concluding the IPO process.

The Takeaway

IPO due diligence is an important part of the IPO process. Thanks to due diligence, investors who want to purchase IPO stock can feel confident that a company about to go public complies with all relevant SEC regulations. Then, it’s up to the individual investor to decide whether trading IPO shares suits their goals and risk tolerance.

Whether you’re curious about exploring IPOs, or interested in traditional stocks and exchange-traded funds (ETFs), you can get started by opening an account on the SoFi Invest® brokerage platform. On SoFi Invest, eligible SoFi members have the opportunity to trade IPO shares, and there are no account minimums for those with an Active Investing account. As with any investment, it's wise to consider your overall portfolio goals in order to assess whether IPO investing is right for you, given the risks of volatility and loss.

Invest with as little as $5 with a SoFi Active Investing account.

About the author

Rebecca Lake

Photo credit: iStock/porcorex

SoFi Invest®

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

Mar

2025

Do IPOs Offer Dividends?

By Rebecca Lake | Growing Wealth, invest, Investing | Comments Off

Some companies may have the financial means to make regular dividend payments before being listed on a public exchange, i.e. prior to their initial public offering, or IPO. A company may choose to offer this type of pre-IPO dividend in order to garner interest in the IPO if it anticipates a high valuation.

Dividends represent a percentage of a company’s profits that it pays out to shareholders. Dividends most commonly come from established companies, but it’s possible to collect an IPO dividend from up-and-coming companies as well.

Do IPOs Offer Dividends?

Most companies that are going public are doing so to raise capital and don’t necessarily have money to spare that they can pay out as special dividends or stock dividends.

However, some companies involved in the IPO process can pay dividends on a regular basis before and/or after going public, or they may pay a special one-time dividend. In either case, the dividends could serve as a useful incentive to attract and retain investors.

In general dividend-paying stocks and IPOs pay different roles in an investors’ portfolio. The former represents a steady source of income, while the latter holds the potential for capital appreciation through strategies such as the Dogs of the Dow, a strategy in which investors purchase the Dow Jones Industrial Average stocks with the highest dividend yield.

A simple way to know whether a pre-IPO company plans to offer a dividend is to review their registration documents. Companies must amend their S-1 registration form with the SEC if they plan to offer any type of dividend payment to investors. You can find S-1 forms through the SEC’s EDGAR database online.

💡 Quick Tip: Keen to invest in an initial public offering, or IPO? Be sure to check with your brokerage about what’s required. Typically IPO stock is available only to eligible investors.

REIT IPOs and Dividends

Typically, companies do not offer dividends as part of the IPO process. If you do find an IPO company that’s offering a dividend payment, it’s more likely to be a real estate investment trust (REIT) versus a more traditional company structure.

REITs are companies that own income-producing real estate investments and must pay out 90% of their taxable income to shareholders as dividends. Just like other companies, REITs can choose to go public in order to raise capital from investors.

REIT IPOs work a little differently than other IPOs in that there are additional filing requirements they have to meet under SEC rules, but otherwise the overall process is largely the same.

IPOs Explained

IPO stands for Initial Public Offering, and the event represents the first time a company makes its shares available for trade on a public exchange. This is often referred to as “going public”.

Companies launch IPOs, a process regulated to raise capital from investors. The Securities and Exchange Commission regulates the IPO process to ensure that the company has performed its due diligence, completed all of the appropriate paperwork, and established an accurate valuation of the IPO.

Investing in IPOs can offer an opportunity to diversify a portfolio while potentially getting in on the ground floor of a company poised for significant growth. It can, however, be risky as there are no guarantees whether an IPO stock will be a success — and even a successful IPO doesn’t necessarily predict how well a company will do over time.

For this reason, it can be difficult for individual investors to buy IPO stock when it’s first issued. In most cases, individuals can trade IPO shares on the secondary market through their brokerage.

IPO stocks are considered high-risk investments, and while some companies may present an opportunity for growth, there are no guarantees. Like investing in any other type of stock, it’s essential for investors to do their due diligence.

💡 Quick Tip: If you’re opening a brokerage account for the first time, consider starting with an amount of money you’re prepared to lose. Investing always includes the risk of loss, and until you’ve gained some experience, it’s probably wise to start small.

Dividends Explained

A dividend is a share of a company’s profits that’s paid out to shareholders, usually in cash. The company determines how frequently to make these payments to investors. For example companies may pay dividends on a monthly, quarterly, biannual or annual basis, or it can pay them on a one-time basis.

The amount an investor receives in dividends correlates to the amount of stock they own. Preferred stock shareholders receive first priority for dividend payouts, ahead of common stock shareholders. However, preferred stock shareholders do not have voting rights while common stock shareholders do.

Companies that offer dividends can decide whether to increase or decrease dividend payouts over time, depending on profitability. Companies that consistently increase dividend payouts over a period of 25 consecutive years or more are called Dividend Aristocrats. Companies that do so over a period of 50 consecutive years or more are called Dividend Kings.

Types of Dividends

Dividends can take different forms, depending on when and why a company pays them out to investors. When discussing IPOs and dividends, you’re typically talking about special dividends and stock dividends. Companies may use both to encourage investors to buy that their IPO is an investment opportunity, though they aren’t exactly the same in terms of what the investor is getting.

Special Dividends

Special dividends, also referred to as one-time dividends or extra dividends, are dividend payments made to investors outside the scope of regular dividend payments. A company that plans to go public may make a pre-IPO special dividend payment to its existing shareholders. The total value of the dividends paid may be equal to or less than the amount the company expects to be raised through the Initial Public Offering.

Dividends

Dividends are regular payments made in stock or via cash to shareholders out of a company’s profits. Cash dividends can increase the value of an investor’s holdings over time if the investor reinvests them in the stock. Again, the amount an investor receives in dividends depends on the company.

Dividends may go up when profits are up and drop when profits fall. But a high dividend payout alone is not a reason to consider investing in a company. It’s important to look at the company’s financials to determine whether that higher payout is sustainable over time.

Why Do Companies Give Dividends?

Companies offer dividends as a reward or incentive to attract new investors and retain existing ones. A company that offers a dividend regularly can attract income-focused investors. As long as the dividend payout sticks around, then the investors are likely to stick around as well. Of course, this assumes that a company is profitable and has the means to pay out dividends in the first place.

Dividends are less common among newer companies because they’re typically reinvesting any profits they realize into further growth. That doesn’t mean they won’t offer a dividend to investors later but for the near term, they may need every bit of profit to continue expanding.

The Takeaway

The purpose of most IPOs is to raise capital and generate buzz; paying shareholder dividends is more common with an initial public offering for a REIT than a traditional company IPO. In either case, the dividends could serve as an incentive to attract new investors.

The easiest way to know whether a pre-IPO company plans to offer a dividend is to review their registration documents by reading the S-1 registration form that’s been submitted to the SEC.

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FAQ

What is an IPO dividend?

An IPO dividend is a dividend payout associated with a company’s Initial Public Offering. IPO companies can make special dividend payouts on a one-time basis or offer regular stock dividend payments to investors.

How do shareholders make money in an IPO?

Shareholders can make money in an IPO if they’re able to sell shares at a higher price than their initial offering price. Shareholders can also collect IPO dividend payments to supplement their profits.

Are dividends taxed?

Yes. The IRS considers dividends a form of taxable income. The tax rate that applies can depend on whether you have qualified or nonqualified dividends. The IRS taxes nonqualified dividends at ordinary income tax rates while qualified dividends follow the long-term capital gains tax rate structure.

About the author

Rebecca Lake

Photo credit: iStock/LaylaBird

SoFi Invest®

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

Mar

2025

How to Invest in Wine

By Rebecca Lake | Growing Wealth, invest, Investing | Comments Off

Wine investing may appeal to investors seeking exposure to alternative asset classes. Owning wine as an investment can add diversification to a portfolio, which can act as an inflationary hedge and a buffer against market volatility.

And while investing in a tangible asset has its own risks, wine can potentially offer returns over time. Online platforms have made it easier to invest in wine, though some investors may prefer to build a physical collection of their own. There are pros and cons to both approaches to investing in wine.

The Rise of Wine as an Alternative Investment

Wine holds some attraction for investors, and it’s gained popularity as an alternative investment in recent years. Fine wine assets recorded an average growth of 146% during the 10 years ending in the fourth quarter of 2023.

Technology has also reshaped the wine investing landscape. Investors are no longer limited to setting up their own wine cellar; online platforms offer access to diversified portfolios of fine wines and premium whiskies. The barrier to entry can be lower in some cases, making wine a more accessible investment overall.

In addition, investing in wine is an opportunity to explore your passions. If you consider yourself a wine connoisseur, holding wine as an investment could be a natural fit. As with any type of investment, it helps to be engaged in the assets you own.

Alternative investments,
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Is Wine a Good Investment Option?

Wine offers some unique advantages for investors who are interested in adding something different to their portfolio. Historically, investment-grade wine returns an average compound annual growth rate of 10%. As a point of comparison, since its inception the S&P 500 has also delivered historical returns of about 10% annually.

To better track the wine market, investors may want to become familiar with benchmarks like the London International Vintners Exchange (aka, the Liv-ex). Similar to how the S&P 500 index is the benchmark for U.S. equities, the Liv-ex tracks the international wine market.

While it’s possible to debate whether wine should be considered a commodity vs. a security, there’s no question that many investors turn to wine as an investment. Following are some of the reasons investors find it to be an attractive option:

• Investing in wine allows for diversification with little to no correlation to stocks, bonds, and other traditional asset classes.

• Like real estate and other alternatives, wine is generally less susceptible to disruptions in the market that may result in increased volatility.

• Wine investments may hold steady during periods of rising inflation or market downturns, including recessionary periods.

• Fine wines can be an effective risk management tool when held alongside more traditional assets.

Risks and Considerations of Wine Investing

Before exploring wine investments, it’s helpful to consider the potential risks. For example:

• Wine may require a sizable initial investment if you’re purchasing individual bottles or buying into a private placement wine fund.

• Similar to the risks of investing in art, transporting and insuring physical wine collections can be expensive, and you face the risk of bottles being damaged or spoiled.

• Wine generally requires a longer holding period than other investments, which may not be ideal if you don’t want to be “locked in” for a certain time frame.

• Wine investment requires thorough due diligence to ensure that you’re working with a reputable platform, auction house, exchange, or private seller.

• Supply and demand, weather and climate conditions, and geopolitical events can all influence the value of fine wines.

Lastly, remember that nothing is guaranteed with wine or any other alternative asset class, like gold or real estate. While it’s certainly possible to generate substantial returns through wine investments, it can be just as easy to lose money.

Building a Portfolio

There are several ways to build a portfolio that includes wine investments. Your options for investing in wine include:

• Purchasing physical bottles of wine

• Investing in wine funds

• Buying wine stocks

• Investing in wine futures

The first step in building a wine portfolio is deciding which investment option makes the most sense.

Buying Fine Wine

Owning physical wine assets can be time-consuming and expensive, as you’ll need to research the wines you want to buy, arrange for their purchase and delivery, and ensure they’re stored appropriately to prevent spoilage. You may need to insure the wine you buy.

If you’re interested in collecting wines, you may use online or in-person auctions or wine exchanges to seek out your preferred vintages.

Wine Funds and Wine Stocks

Investing in wine funds may be more appealing if you don’t want the burden of maintaining a physical collection, or you want exposure to a diversified mix of wines. Investors can trade mutual funds or exchange-traded funds (ETFs) that include alcohol-producing companies, as well as companies in the wine sector.

It’s also possible to buy individual shares of stock in wineries and wine companies. Getting to know the wine industry, various technologies, and the relevance of different companies and products is key, as it would be when investing in any type of stock.

Wine Investing Platforms

Private placements are another option. Wine investing platforms allow access to actively managed portfolios of fine wines and premium spirits through private placement. One thing to note is that you may need to be an accredited investor to pursue private wine investments. The SEC defines accredited investors as individuals who have:

• Net worth exceeding $1 million (not including their primary residence), OR

• Income over $200,000 individually ($300,000 for married couples) in each of the two prior years, with a reasonable expectation of the same income in future years, OR

• A valid Series 7, Series 65, or Series 82 securities license

Wine Futures

If you’re comfortable with speculative investments, you might consider investing in wine futures. Similar to investing in commodities futures, this strategy involves investing in wines before they’re bottled. You can purchase specific vintages via futures contracts before they’re released, which may allow a competitive edge in the market if those vintages are highly sought after upon release.

As with commodities futures, there can be substantial risks to this strategy. Futures are derivative investments, meaning their value is determined by the price of the underlying asset, i.e., the wine you’re agreeing to trade. And outcomes rely largely on investors making correct assumptions about which commodity prices will move. It’s possible to lose money on futures contracts if you’re expecting prices to increase but they decline instead.

Managing a Wine Investment Portfolio

How you manage wine investments can depend largely on how you own them. If you’re collecting physical bottles, for instance, then your primary considerations include:

• Storage

• Transport, if you need to move your collection or are ready to sell at auction

• Timing and when it makes sense to sell, once a wine matures

• Wine insurance to protect your investment against losses stemming from theft, damage, and other covered perils

With wine funds and stocks, you’ll need to consider diversification and what you’re gaining exposure to, as well as the overall cost of owning those investments. It’s also important to look at the minimum investment required, as well as the holding period where wine funds are concerned.

Wine typically requires longer holding periods than stocks or bonds and you need to be comfortable with how long you may have to wait to sell your investment.

How much of your portfolio should you dedicate to wine investments? The answer can depend on how much money you have to invest, the degree of risk you’re comfortable with, and your goals for investing in wine. There’s no fixed rule of thumb for deciding how much of a portfolio to invest in alternatives. For some investors, 5% is more than enough while others may be comfortable with 10% or more.

Reviewing the entirety of your portfolio, your time horizon for investing, and your goals can give you a better idea of how much to invest in wine.

Recommended: Gold IRAs Explained

Explore Alternative Investments With SoFi

Wine is just one way to diversify a portfolio. If you’re ready to explore alternative investments, SoFi Invest offers access to a range of choices, including commodities, private credit, and real estate. Almost anyone can invest, and high net worth isn’t a requirement.

Ready to expand your portfolio's growth potential? Alternative investments, traditionally available to high-net-worth individuals, are accessible to everyday investors on SoFi's easy-to-use platform. Investments in commodities, real estate, venture capital, and more are now within reach. Alternative investments can be high risk, so it's important to consider your portfolio goals and risk tolerance to determine if they're right for you.

Invest in alts to take your portfolio beyond stocks and bonds.

FAQ

What factors make wine a viable alternative investment?

Wine is considered an alternative investment thanks to its low correlation with traditional asset classes like stocks and bonds. Investing in wine can act as an inflationary hedge and provide some protection against market volatility. It’s also an opportunity to invest in something you’re passionate about if collecting or enjoying wine is one of your hobbies.

What are the potential risks of investing in fine wines?

The main risks associated with wine investing center on changing valuations and the potential for damage or spoilage of physical wine collections. Changing supply and demand or poor weather can influence wine prices while maintaining a wine inventory has its risks. If you plan to own wines, it’s wise to purchase wine insurance to protect your investment.

How can investors build and manage a diversified wine portfolio?

Building a diversified wine portfolio begins with deciding how you’d prefer to own wines. Physical ownership has its pros and cons and some investors may choose to invest in alt funds, wine stocks, or wine futures instead. Managing your wine investments requires regular review of performance and asset allocation to ensure that you’re maintaining a diversified mix that aligns with your risk tolerance.

About the author

Rebecca Lake

Photo credit: iStock/arismart

SoFi Invest®

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

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An investor should consider the investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses of the Fund carefully before investing. This and other important information are contained in the Fund’s prospectus. For a current prospectus, please click the Prospectus link on the Fund’s respective page. The prospectus should be read carefully prior to investing.
Alternative investments, including funds that invest in alternative investments, are risky and may not be suitable for all investors. Alternative investments often employ leveraging and other speculative practices that increase an investor's risk of loss to include complete loss of investment, often charge high fees, and can be highly illiquid and volatile. Alternative investments may lack diversification, involve complex tax structures and have delays in reporting important tax information. Registered and unregistered alternative investments are not subject to the same regulatory requirements as mutual funds.
Please note that Interval Funds are illiquid instruments, hence the ability to trade on your timeline may be restricted. Investors should review the fee schedule for Interval Funds via the prospectus.

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 email customer service at https://sofi.app.link/investchat. Please read the prospectus carefully prior to investing.
Shares of ETFs must be bought and sold at market price, which can vary significantly from the Fund’s net asset value (NAV). Investment returns are subject to market volatility and shares may be worth more or less their original value when redeemed. The diversification of an ETF will not protect against loss. An ETF may not achieve its stated investment objective. Rebalancing and other activities within the fund may be subject to tax consequences.

Investment Risk: Diversification can help reduce some investment risk. It cannot guarantee profit, or fully protect in a down market.

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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Recharacterizing IRAs: A Complete Guide

What Is an IRA Recharacterization?

How Do IRA Recharacterizations Work?

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Reasons for a Recharacterization

Sample Calculation of IRA Recharacterization

Pros and Cons of Recharacterizing an IRA

Pros

Cons

Recharacterization vs. Conversion of an IRA

The Takeaway

FAQ

Are IRA recharacterizations still allowed?

What is the reason for recharacterizing an IRA?

What is the difference between an IRA conversion and recharacterization?

Guide to IRA Contribution Deadlines

What Is the IRA Contribution Deadline?

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Traditional, Roth, SEP, and SIMPLE IRA Contribution Deadlines for 2024

How IRA Contributions Work

Other Types of IRAs

Pros and Cons of Maxing Out Your IRA Early or Late

What If You Contribute Too Much to Your IRA?

The Takeaway

FAQ

What is the last day to contribute to an IRA for tax year 2024?

Can I contribute to an IRA after December 31?

Can I open an IRA in 2025, but contribute for 2024?

What Is IPO Due Diligence?

IPO Due Diligence Process

1. Organizational Data

2. Licensing and Taxation

3. Board and Employee Information

4. Financial Information

5. Customer/Service Information

6. Company Property

Objective of IPO Due Diligence

Benefits of Due Diligence Process

IPO Due Diligence Benefits for the Company

IPO Due Diligence Benefits to Investors

Next Steps in Filing IPO

The Takeaway

Do IPOs Offer Dividends?

Do IPOs Offer Dividends?

REIT IPOs and Dividends

IPOs Explained

Dividends Explained

Types of Dividends

Special Dividends

Dividends

Why Do Companies Give Dividends?

The Takeaway

FAQ

What is an IPO dividend?

How do shareholders make money in an IPO?

Are dividends taxed?

How to Invest in Wine

The Rise of Wine as an Alternative Investment

Alternative investments, now for the rest of us.

Start trading funds that include commodities, private credit, real estate, venture capital, and more.

Is Wine a Good Investment Option?

Risks and Considerations of Wine Investing

Building a Portfolio

Buying Fine Wine

Wine Funds and Wine Stocks

Wine Investing Platforms

Wine Futures

Managing a Wine Investment Portfolio

Explore Alternative Investments With SoFi

FAQ

What factors make wine a viable alternative investment?

What are the potential risks of investing in fine wines?

How can investors build and manage a diversified wine portfolio?

JOIN THE COMMUNITY

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Double down on your retirement goals with a 1% match on every dollar you roll over and contribute to a SoFi IRA.¹

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