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May

2022

Guide to Jumbo Certificates of Deposit (CD)

By Laurel Tincher | Growing Wealth, Investing, money | Comments Off

A jumbo certificate of deposit (CD) is a type of savings account that has a higher minimum required initial deposit amount than a regular CD. Jumbo CDs generally require a deposit of $100,000, and they pay a higher interest rate to account owners in return for this higher initial deposit.

Certificates of deposit are savings accounts where the account owner gives up access to their funds for a specified period of time, and earns interest in return for locking up their money. The interest rate may be fixed or variable depending on the particular CD. At the end of the term, known as the maturity date, the account owner receives their initial deposit plus the earned interest.

Is a jumbo CD right for you? Here’s what you need to know about how jumbo certificates of deposit work, and the pros and cons of this type of account.

What Is a Jumbo Certificate of Deposit?

You’re probably familiar with the traditional certificate of deposit, or CD. These accounts are similar to savings accounts, but they pay higher interest rates in exchange for certain restrictions. Generally, most CDs have a maturity date between three months and five years. Since CDs require that funds are unavailable to the account owner during the term, they pay higher rates than other types of savings and interest-bearing checking accounts.

Unlike a regular CD, jumbo CDs generally require investors to deposit at least $100,000 when they first open their account. There are some jumbo CDs that have lower entry requirements of, say, $50,000; these are typically offered by credit unions and smaller banks.

Investors looking to open a smaller CD account are generally better off opening a regular CD. The rates can be just as good as a jumbo CD, but without the steep initial deposit requirements.

Regular vs Jumbo CD

Here’s what you need to know about the similarities and differences between investing in ordinary CDs and jumbo CDs.

Similarities

• What is a certificate of deposit vs. a savings account? Regular and jumbo CDs are savings-like accounts that require investors to lock up their funds for a specified period of time in exchange for a higher rate of interest than a traditional savings account.

• Both types of accounts can be set up for shorter and longer terms, typically from three months to five years.

• If an investor needs their money before the CD’s term is complete, they will likely pay a penalty on the early withdrawal.

Differences

• Jumbo CDs have higher entry requirements than regular CDs. Regular CDs typically have an initial minimum deposit requirement of less than $5,000, and some have no requirement at all. Jumbo CDs typically require a $100,000 deposit.

• Jumbo CDs typically have somewhat higher interest rates than regular CDs. However, some regular CDs have equal or better rates than jumbo CDs. Usually large banks have some of the best CD interest rates.

• Ordinary CDs are insured by the FDIC up to $250,000, as are jumbo CDs — but any amount in a jumbo CD above $250,000 is not FDIC-insured and subject to risk of loss.

• Regular CDs tend to be more attractive to retail investors; jumbo CDs are geared toward large institutional investors.

Ordinary CDs vs Jumbo CDs

Similarities	Differences
Investors deposit funds for a fixed period in exchange for a higher interest rate than a traditional savings account.	Jumbo CDs require a $100,000 minimum deposit vs. $5,000 or less for a CD.
CD terms are typically three months to five years, but can vary.	Jumbo CDs generally have somewhat higher interest rates.
Early withdrawals from any CD typically trigger a penalty.	Both types of CD are FDIC-insured up to $250,000, but amounts in a jumbo CD above that aren’t covered.
	Regular CDs are geared toward retail investors; jumbo CDs to institutional investors.

Advantages of Jumbo CDs

Jumbo CDs offer several advantages for investors looking to buy into a safe savings account with a fixed rate of return.

Steady Rate of Interest

Because jumbo CDs earn a steady interest rate over a fixed period of time and are fairly safe investments (i.e. your money is FDIC-insured up to $250,000), they can be a good way to save up for a longer-term financial goal, such as buying a home or saving for a wedding.

Higher Interest Rate Than Traditional CDs

Jumbo CDs tend to pay higher interest rates than regular CDs and savings accounts. National averages show that annual percentage yields for jumbo CDs tend to be about one-hundredth of a percentage point larger than regular CD yields, which isn’t much — but can add up over time.

Steady Interest Can Partly Offset Market Risk

By holding some funds in a jumbo CD that earns a steady rate, it’s possible to offset the potential volatility in other parts of your investment portfolio. Also, although interest rates may not be super high, the compound interest on the large amounts invested in a jumbo CD can add significantly to investors’ earnings (see example below).

Insured up to $250,000 per Account

The FDIC or the NCUA insure CD accounts for up to $250,000, making jumbo CDs one of the safest types of investments.

Those who want to deposit more than $250,000 might consider opening a joint CD account that allows $250,000 per account owner, or they can open different CD accounts with multiple banks. Jumbo CDs are popular with retirees who don’t want to put all their money into the stock market. On the downside, jumbo CDs tend to earn lower returns over time than stocks.

Disadvantages of Jumbo CDs

Although there are several reasons jumbo CDs can be good investments, they also come with some downsides. The biggest buyers of jumbo CDs are institutional investors looking for safe investments with fixed returns. Sometimes these institutional investors put money into a CD that they plan to invest somewhere else but they want to earn interest on it while they wait for that next investment. Retail investors typically look for CDs with lower entry requirements.

Lower Return Than Many Other Fixed-Rate Investments

Jumbo CDs are safe fixed-rate investments, but they have high minimum balance requirements and pay out lower interest rates than other types of fixed-rate investments like bonds.

Interest Rate Risk

Investors face the potential risk of interest rates going up after they buy a CD. If this happens they may miss out on the opportunity to earn those higher rates.

May Not Keep Up With Inflation

Jumbo CDs pay higher interest rates than traditional savings accounts, but the rate of these CDs may not be that high and therefore they may not keep up with the pace of inflation. The cost of living may rise more quickly than the return provided by the CD.

It may help investors to buy into jumbo CDs with longer terms, since those pay out higher interest rates — but the tradeoff there is that your money is locked up for an even longer period.

Recommended: How to Protect Money Against Inflation

Early Withdrawals Will Trigger a Penalty

When an investor puts money into a jumbo CD, they cannot access those funds until the maturity date. If they do want to access the funds they will have to pay an early withdrawal penalty. Each bank has different penalties for early withdrawal, but there are also no-penalty CDs available, so it’s important for investors to consider their individual situation and look into their options to avoid paying fees.

Reinvestment Rate Risk

If interest rates go down during the term of the jumbo CD, then the investor might struggle to find a new investment that provides a similar rate when their jumbo CD reaches its maturity date.

Jumbo CD Example

Interest rates for jumbo CDs are always changing and they can be different in different regions, but below are two examples of how a jumbo CD might be structured:

• An investor buys a $100,000 jumbo CD from Bank A. It has a nine-month term and pays 1.5% interest. When the investor withdraws the funds at the maturity date, they’ll receive $101,122.90.

• Another investor buys a $200,000 jumbo CD from Bank B, with an 18-month term and 2.00% interest. At the maturity date, the investor will get $206,029.90.

The Takeaway

Jumbo CDs are savings accounts with high minimum deposit requirements — typically $100,000 — that pay higher interest rates than regular CDs. These are popular with large institutional investors such as banks and corporations. While they are similar to regular CDs in some ways — your money is unavailable until the maturity date; early withdrawals can trigger a penalty — jumbo CDs may come with more risks. For example, only the first $250,000 of your money is insured. And by locking up your money at one fixed rate, you may lose out if interest rates rise.

If you’re ready to open a savings account, one easy way is through SoFi’s mobile banking app. You can sign up for an account right from your phone and pay zero account fees — and if you qualify and use direct deposit, you can earn a competitive APY. Open your Checking and Savings today.

Better banking is here with SoFi, NerdWallet’s 2024 winner for Best Checking Account Overall.* Enjoy up to 4.20% APY on SoFi Checking and Savings.

FAQ

What is the range of jumbo CD rates?

Jumbo CD rates are between 0.40% and 2.1% as of April 25, 2022. The highest rates often depend on the length of the term.

How much money is in a jumbo CD?

Jumbo CDs typically require a minimum deposit of $100,000.

Are jumbo CDs negotiable?

Jumbo CDs are usually negotiable, meaning they can be sold on a secondary market.

Photo credit: iStock/Andrii Yalanskyi

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SoFi members with direct deposit activity can earn 4.20% annual percentage yield (APY) on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. Direct Deposit means a recurring deposit of regular income to an account holder’s SoFi Checking or Savings account, including payroll, pension, or government benefit payments (e.g., Social Security), made by the account holder’s employer, payroll or benefits provider or government agency (“Direct Deposit”) via the Automated Clearing House (“ACH”) Network during a 30-day Evaluation Period (as defined below). Deposits that are not from an employer or government agency, including but not limited to check deposits, peer-to-peer transfers (e.g., transfers from PayPal, Venmo, etc.), merchant transactions (e.g., transactions from PayPal, Stripe, Square, etc.), and bank ACH funds transfers and wire transfers from external accounts, or are non-recurring in nature (e.g., IRS tax refunds), do not constitute Direct Deposit activity. There is no minimum Direct Deposit amount required to qualify for the stated interest rate. SoFi members with direct deposit are eligible for other SoFi Plus benefits.

As an alternative to direct deposit, SoFi members with Qualifying Deposits can earn 4.20% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. Qualifying Deposits means one or more deposits that, in the aggregate, are equal to or greater than $5,000 to an account holder’s SoFi Checking and Savings account (“Qualifying Deposits”) during a 30-day Evaluation Period (as defined below). Qualifying Deposits only include those deposits from the following eligible sources: (i) ACH transfers, (ii) inbound wire transfers, (iii) peer-to-peer transfers (i.e., external transfers from PayPal, Venmo, etc. and internal peer-to-peer transfers from a SoFi account belonging to another account holder), (iv) check deposits, (v) instant funding to your SoFi Bank Debit Card, (vi) push payments to your SoFi Bank Debit Card, and (vii) cash deposits. Qualifying Deposits do not include: (i) transfers between an account holder’s Checking account, Savings account, and/or Vaults; (ii) interest payments; (iii) bonuses issued by SoFi Bank or its affiliates; or (iv) credits, reversals, and refunds from SoFi Bank, N.A. (“SoFi Bank”) or from a merchant. SoFi members with Qualifying Deposits are not eligible for other SoFi Plus benefits.

SoFi Bank shall, in its sole discretion, assess each account holder’s Direct Deposit activity and Qualifying Deposits throughout each 30-Day Evaluation Period to determine the applicability of rates and may request additional documentation for verification of eligibility. The 30-Day Evaluation Period refers to the “Start Date” and “End Date” set forth on the APY Details page of your account, which comprises a period of 30 calendar days (the “30-Day Evaluation Period”). You can access the APY Details page at any time by logging into your SoFi account on the SoFi mobile app or SoFi website and selecting either (i) Banking > Savings > Current APY or (ii) Banking > Checking > Current APY. Upon receiving a Direct Deposit or $5,000 in Qualifying Deposits to your account, you will begin earning 4.20% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% on checking balances on or before the following calendar day. You will continue to earn these APYs for (i) the remainder of the current 30-Day Evaluation Period and through the end of the subsequent 30-Day Evaluation Period and (ii) any following 30-day Evaluation Periods during which SoFi Bank determines you to have Direct Deposit activity or $5,000 in Qualifying Deposits without interruption.

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May

2022

Target Date Funds: What Are They and How to Choose One

By AJ Smith | invest, Investing, Preparing for Retirement | No Comments

A target date fund is a type of mutual fund designed to be an all-inclusive portfolio for long-term goals like retirement. While target date funds could be used for shorter-term purposes, the specified date of each fund — e.g. 2040, 2050, 2065, etc. — is typically years in the future, and indicates the approximate point at which the investor would begin withdrawing funds for their retirement needs (or another goal, like saving for college).

Unlike a regular mutual fund, which might include a relatively static mix of stocks and bonds, the underlying portfolio of a target date fund shifts its allocation over time, following what is known as a glide path. The glide path is basically a formula or algorithm that adjusts the fund’s asset allocation to become more conservative as the target date approaches, thus protecting investors’ money from potential volatility as they age.

If you’re wondering whether a target date fund might be the right choice for you, here are some things to consider.

What Is a Target Date Fund?

A target date fund (TDF) is a type of mutual fund where the underlying portfolio of the fund adjusts over time to become gradually more conservative until the fund reaches the “target date.” By starting out with a more aggressive allocation and slowly dialing back as years pass, the fund’s underlying portfolio may be able to deliver growth while minimizing risk.

This ready-made type of fund can be appealing to those who have a big goal (like retirement or saving for college), and who don’t want the uncertainty or potential risk of managing their money on their own.

While many college savings plans offer a target date option, target date funds are primarily used for retirement planning. The date of most target funds is typically specified by year, e.g. 2035, 2040, and so on. This enables investors to choose a fund that more or less matches their own target retirement date. For example, a 30-year-old today might plan to retire in 38 years at age 68, or in 2060. In that case, they might select a 2060 target date fund.

Investors typically choose target date funds for retirement because these funds are structured as long-term investment portfolios that include a ready-made asset allocation, or mix of stocks, bonds, and/or other securities. In a traditional portfolio, the investor chooses the securities — not so with a target fund. The investments within the fund, as well as the asset allocation, and the glide path (which adjusts the allocation over time), are predetermined by the fund provider.

Sometimes target date funds are invested directly in securities, but more commonly TDFs are considered “funds of funds,” and are invested in other mutual funds.

Target date funds don’t provide guaranteed income, like pensions, and they can gain or lose money, like any other investment.

Whereas an investor might have to rebalance their own portfolio over time to maintain their desired asset allocation, adjusting the mix of equities vs. fixed income to their changing needs or risk tolerance, target date funds do the rebalancing for the investor. This is what’s known as the glide path.

How Do Target Date Funds Work?

Now that we know what a target date fund is, we can move on to a detailed consideration of how these funds work. To understand the value of target date funds and why they’ve become so popular, it helps to know a bit about the history of retirement planning.

Brief Overview of Retirement Funding

In the last century or so, with technological and medical advances prolonging life, it has become important to help people save additional money for their later years. To that end, the United States introduced Social Security in 1935 as a type of public pension that would provide additional income for people as they aged. Social Security was meant to supplement people’s personal savings, family resources, and/or the pension supplied by their employer (if they had one).

💡 Recommended: When Will Social Security Run Out?

By the late 1970s, though, the notion of steady income from an employer-provided pension was on the wane. So in 1978 a new retirement vehicle was introduced to help workers save and invest: the 401(k) plan.

While 401k accounts were provided by employers, they were and are chiefly funded by employee savings (and sometimes supplemental employer matching funds as well). But after these accounts were introduced, it quickly became clear that while some people were able to save a portion of their income, most didn’t know how to invest or manage these accounts.

The Need for Target Date Funds

To address this hurdle and help investors plan for the future, the notion of lifecycle or target date funds emerged. The idea was to provide people with a pre-set portfolio that included a mix of assets that would rebalance over time to protect investors from risk.

In theory, by the time the investor was approaching retirement, the fund’s asset allocation would be more conservative, thus potentially protecting them from losses. (Note: There has been some criticism of TDFs about their equity allocation after the target date has been reached. More on that below.)

Target date funds became increasingly popular after the Pension Protection Act of 2006 sanctioned the use of auto-enrollment features in 401k plans. Automatically enrolling employees into an organization’s retirement plan seemed smart — but raised the question of where to put employees’ money. This spurred the need for safe-harbor investments like target date funds, which are considered Qualified Default Investment Alternatives (QDIA) — and many 401k plans adopted the use of target date funds as their default investment.

Today nearly all employer-sponsored plans offer at least one target date fund option; some use target funds as their default investment choice (for those who don’t choose their own investments). Approximately $1.8 trillion dollars are invested in target funds, according to Morningstar.

What a Target Date Fund Is and Is Not

Target date funds have been subject to some misconceptions over time. Here are some key points to know about TDFs:

• As noted above, target date funds don’t provide guaranteed income; i.e. they are not pensions. The amount you withdraw for income depends on how much is in the fund, and an array of other factors, e.g. your Social Security benefit and other investments.

• Target date funds don’t “stop” at the retirement date. This misconception can be especially problematic for investors who believe, incorrectly, that they must withdraw their money at the target date, or who believe the fund’s allocation becomes static at this point. To clarify:

◦ The withdrawal of funds from a target date fund is determined by the type of account it’s in. Withdrawals from a TDF held in a 401k plan or IRA, for example, would be subject to taxes and required minimum distribution (RMD) rules.

◦ The TDF’s asset allocation may continue to shift, even after the target date — a factor that has also come under criticism.

• Generally speaking, most investors don’t need more than one target date fund. Nothing is stopping you from owning one or two or several TDFs, but there is typically no need for multiple TDFs, as the holdings in one could overlap with the holdings in another — especially if they all have the same target date.

Example of a Target Date Fund

Most investment companies offer target date funds, from Black Rock to Vanguard to Charles Schwab, Fidelity, Wells Fargo, and so on. And though each company may have a different name for these funds (a lifecycle fund vs. a retirement fund, etc.), most include the target date. So a Retirement Fund 2050 would be similar to a Lifecycle Fund 2050.

How do you tell target date funds apart? Is one fund better than another? One way to decide which fund might suit you is to look at the glide path of the target date funds you’re considering. Basically, the glide path shows you what the asset allocation of the fund will be at different points in time. Since, again, you can’t change the allocation of the target fund — that’s governed by the managers or the algorithm that runs the fund — it’s important to feel comfortable with the fund’s asset allocation strategy.

How a Glide Path Might Work

Consider a target date fund for the year 2060. Someone who is about 30 today might purchase a 2060 target fund, as they will be 68 at the target date.

Hypothetically speaking, the portfolio allocation of a 2060 fund today — 38 years from the target date — might be 80% equities and 20% fixed income or cash/cash equivalents. This provides investors with potential for growth. And while there is also some risk exposure with an 80% investment in stocks, there is still time for the portfolio to recover from any losses, before money is withdrawn for retirement.

When five or 10 years have passed, the fund’s allocation might adjust to 70% equities and 30% fixed income securities. After another 10 years, say, the allocation might be closer to 50-50. The allocation at the target date, in the actual year 2060, might then be 30% equities, and 70% fixed income. (These percentages are hypothetical.)

As noted above, the glide path might continue to adjust the fund’s allocation for a few years after the target date, so it’s important to examine the final stages of the glide path. You may want to move your assets from the target fund at the point where the predetermined allocation no longer suits your goals or preferences.

Pros and Cons of Target Date Funds

Like any other type of investment, target date funds have their advantages and disadvantages.

Pros

• Simplicity. Target funds are designed to be the “one-stop-shopping” option in the investment world. That’s not to say these funds are perfect, but like a good prix fixe menu, they are designed to include the basic staples you want in a retirement portfolio.

• Diversification. Related to the above, most target funds offer a well-diversified mix of securities.

• Low maintenance. Since the glide path adjusts the investment mix in these funds automatically, there’s no need to rebalance, buy, sell, or do anything except sit back and keep an eye on things. But they are not “set it and forget it” funds, as some might say. It’s important for investors to decide whether the investment mix and/or related fees remain a good fit over time.

• Affordability. Generally speaking, target date funds may be less expensive than the combined expenses of a DIY portfolio (although that depends; see below).

Cons

• Lack of control. Similar to an ordinary mutual fund or exchange-traded fund (ETF), investors cannot choose different securities than the ones available in the fund, and they cannot adjust the mix of securities in a TDF or the asset allocation. This could be frustrating or limiting to investors who would like more control over their portfolio.

• Costs can vary. Some target date funds are invested in index funds, which are passively managed and typically very low cost. Others may be invested in actively managed funds, which typically charge higher expense ratios. Be sure to check, as investment costs add up over time and can significantly impact returns.

What Are Target Date Funds Good For?

If you’re looking for an uncomplicated long-term investment option, a low-cost target date fund could be a great choice for you. But they may not be right for every investor.

Good For…

Target date funds tend to be a good fit for those who want a hands-off, low-maintenance retirement or long-term investment option.

A target date fund might also be good for someone who has a fairly simple long-term strategy, and just needs a stable portfolio option to fit into their plan.

In a similar vein, target funds can be right for investors who are less experienced in managing their own investment portfolios and prefer a ready-made product.

Not Good For…

Target date funds are likely not a good fit for experienced investors who enjoy being hands on, and who are confident in their ability to manage their investments for the long term.

Target date funds are also not right for investors who are skilled at making short-term trades, and who are interested in sophisticated investment options like day-trading, derivatives, and more.

Investors who like having control over their portfolios and having the ability to make choices based on market opportunities might find target funds too limited.

The Takeaway

Target date funds can be an excellent option for investors who aren’t geared toward day-to-day portfolio management, but who need a solid long-term investment portfolio for retirement — or another long-term goal like saving for college. Target funds offer a predetermined mix of investments, and this portfolio doesn’t require rebalancing because that’s done automatically by the glide path function of the fund itself.

The glide path is basically an asset allocation and rebalancing feature that can be algorithmic, or can be monitored by an investment team — either way it frees up investors who don’t want to make those decisions. Instead, the fund chugs along over the years, maintaining a diversified portfolio of assets until the investor retires and is ready to withdraw the funds.

Target funds are offered by most investment companies, and although they often go by different names, you can generally tell a target date fund because it includes the target date, e.g. 2040, 2050, 2065, etc.

If you’re ready to start investing for your future, you might consider opening a brokerage account with SoFi Invest® in order to set up your own portfolio and learn the basics of buying and selling stocks, bonds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), and more. Note that SoFi members have access to complimentary financial advice from professionals.

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

May

2022

Vega Options, Explained

By Laurel Tincher | Growing Wealth, invest, Investing | Comments Off

What Is Vega in Options Trading?

Vega is one of the Greeks — along with delta, theta, and gamma. And the Greeks, itself, is a set of indicators that quantitative analysts and traders use to measure the effect of various factors on prices of options contracts. Traders can use the Greeks to hedge against risks involved in trading options. Each indicator in the Greeks helps analysts to understand the level of risk, volatility, price direction, value over time, and interest rate of a particular options contract.

As a unit of measure, vega tries to assess, theoretically, the amount that a security’s price will change with every percentage point that its price fluctuates. So vega reflects how sensitive a contract is to changes in the price of its underlying security. When an underlying asset of an options contract has significant and frequent price changes, then it has high volatility, which also makes the contract more expensive.

How Vega Works

Vega changes over time as the price of the underlying asset changes and the contract moves closer to its expiration date. Because vega is always changing, investors tend to track it on an ongoing basis while they are invested in an options contract.

When options still have time before they expire, the vega is said to be positive. But when an options contract nears its expiration date, then vega decreases and becomes negative. This is because premiums are higher for future options than they are for options that are close to expiring. When an option’s vega is higher than the amount of the bid-ask spread, the option has what is known as a competitive spread. If vega is lower than the bid-ask spread, then the spread is not competitive.

Vega is a derivative of implied volatility.

Implied Volatility

The term, implied volatility is simply an estimate of where the price of an underlying security may be now, was in the past, or will be going forward. In pricing options, implied volatility is mostly used to predict future price fluctuations. Traders sometimes use a sigma symbol (𝞂) to represent implied volatility.

Traders use options pricing models to calculate implied volatility. These models try to estimate the speed and amount that an underlying security’s price changes — its volatility. As the volatility of the underlying asset shifts, the vega also changes. Pricing models can estimate volatility for present, past, and future market conditions. But, as the calculation is just a theoretical prediction, so the actual future volatility of the security may differ.

Characteristics of Vega

• Vega relates to the extrinsic value of an option, not its intrinsic value.

• Vega is always positive when an investor purchases calls or puts.

• It Is negative when writing options.

• Vega is higher when there is more time until the option expires.

• It’s lower when the option is close to expiring.

• When the option is at the money, vega is highest.

• When the option is in- or out-of-the-money, vega decreases. In other words, vega is lower when the market price of the underlying security is farther from the option strike price.

• When implied volatility increases, the option premium increases.

• When implied volatility decreases, the option premium decreases.

• The effect vega has on options trading is based on various factors that affect the option’s price.

• When gamma is high, vega is generally also high.

• Vega shows an investor the amount that an option should theoretically change for every percentage its underlying security’s volatility changes.

• Vega can also be calculated for an entire portfolio of options to understand how it is influenced by implied volatility.

What Does Vega Show?

Vega shows the theoretical amount that an option’s price could change with every 1% change in implied volatility of the underlying asset. It can also be used to show the amount that an option’s price might change based on the volatility of the underlying security — that is, how often and how much the security’s price could change.

Traders generally omit the percentage symbol when referring to vega, or volatility. And some analysts, too, display it without a percentage symbol or decimal point. In that case, a volatility of 16% would be displayed as “vol at 16.”

Vega Options Example

Let’s say stock XYZ has a market price of $50 per share in February. There is a call option with a March expiration date with a price of $52.50. The option has a bid price of $1.50 and an ask price of $1.55.

The option’s vega is 0.25, and it has an implied volatility of 30%. Because vega is higher than the bid-ask spread, this is known as a competitive spread. A competitive spread does not mean the trade will be profitable or that it is automatically a good trade to enter into, but it is a positive sign.

The implied volatility of the underlying security increases to 31%. This changes the option’s bid price to $1.75 and changes the ask price to $1.80. This is calculated as

(1 x $0.25) + bid-ask spread

Conversely, if the implied volatility goes down 5%, the bid price would decrease to $0.25 and the ask price decreases to $0.30.

How Can Traders Use Vega in Real-Life?

Vega tends to be less popular with investors than the other Greeks (Delta, Theta, and Gamma) mostly because it can be difficult to understand. But vega has a significant effect on options prices, so it is a very useful analytic tool.

Benefits of Vega

If investors take the time to understand implied volatility and its effect on options prices, they’ll find that vega can be a useful tool for making predictions about future options price movements. It also helps with understanding the risks of trading different types of options contracts. Looking at the implied volatility of options can even guide investors as they choose which options to buy and sell. Some traders even utilize changes in volatility as part of their investing plan — with strategies like the long straddle and short straddle. Vega plays a key role in using these options trading strategies.

Vega Neutral: Another Strategy

For traders who want to limit their risk in options trading, the vega neutral strategy helps them hedge against the implied volatility in the market of the underlying security. Traders use the vega neutral strategy by taking both long and short option positions on a number of options. By doing this, they create a balanced portfolio that has an average vega of around zero. The zero value means that their options portfolio will not be affected by changes in the implied volatility of the underlying security, thereby reducing the portfolio’s level of risk.

Start Trading Stocks With SoFi Invest

Vega, one of the Greeks, along with the concept of implied volatility relate to advanced trading techniques. Trading options is usually appropriate for experienced traders.

Options are popular with investors who want exposure to assets with lower overhead capital requirements. If you’re looking to begin trading options, an options trading platform like SoFi’s can help. Its intuitive design makes it user-friendly. Investors can trade options from the mobile app or web platform and access educational resources about options if needed.

Trade options with low fees through SoFi.

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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.

Disclaimer: The projections or other information regarding the likelihood of various investment outcomes are hypothetical in nature, do not reflect actual investment results, and are not guarantees of future results.
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May

2022

What Is Gamma in Options Trading?

By Laurel Tincher | Growing Wealth, invest, Investing, Terminology | Comments Off

Gamma is one of the indicators that comprise the Greeks, a model for pricing options contracts and discerning their risks. Traders, analysts, portfolio managers, and other investment professionals use gamma — along with delta, theta, and vega — to quantify various factors in options markets. Gamma expresses the rate of change of an option’s delta, based on a $1 price movement — or, one-point movement — of the option’s underlying security. You might think of delta as an option’s speed, and gamma as its acceleration rate.

Understanding Gamma

In the Greeks, gamma is an important metric for pricing options contracts. Gamma can show traders how much the delta — another Greeks metric — will change concurrent with price changes in an option’s underlying security. An option’s delta is relevant for short amounts of time only. An option’s gamma offers a clearer picture of where the contract is headed going forward.

Expressed as a percentage, gamma measures an option’s, or another derivative’s, value relative to its underlying asset. As an options contract approaches its expiration date, the gamma of an at-the-money option increases; but the gamma of an in-the-money or out-of-the-money option decreases. Gamma can help traders gauge the rate of an option’s price movement relative to how close the underlying security’s price is to the option’s strike price. Put another way, when the price of the underlying asset is closest to the option’s strike price, then gamma is at its highest rate. The further out-of-the-money a security goes, the lower the gamma rate is — sometimes nearly to zero. As gamma decreases, alpha also decreases. Gamma is always changing, in concert with the price changes of an option’s underlying asset.

Gamma is the first derivative of delta and the second derivative of an option contract’s price. Some professional investors want even more precise calculations of options price movements, so they use a third-order derivative called “color” to measure gamma’s rate of change.

Calculating Gamma

Calculating gamma precisely is complex and requires sophisticated spreadsheets or financial software. Analysts usually calculate gamma and the other Greeks in real-time and publish the results to traders at brokerage firms. Below is an example of how to calculate the approximate value of gamma. The equation is the difference in delta divided by the change in the underlying security’s price.

Gamma Formula

Gamma = Difference in delta / change in underlying security’s price

Gamma = (D1 – D2) / (P1 – P2)

Where D1 is the first delta, D2 is the second delta, P1 is the first price of the underlying security, and P2 is the second price of the security.

Example of Gamma

For example, suppose there is an options contract with a delta of 0.5 and a gamma of 0.1, or 10%. The underlying stock associated with the option is currently trading at $10 per share. If the stock increases to $11, the delta would increase to 0.6; and if the stock price decreases to $9, then the delta would decrease to 0.4. In other words, for every 10% that the stock moves up or down, the delta changes by 10%. If the delta is 0.5 and the stock price increases by $1, the option’s value would rise by $0.50. As the value of delta changes, analysts use the difference between two delta values to calculate the value of gamma.

Using Gamma in Options Trading

Gamma is a key risk-management tool. By figuring out the stability of delta, traders can use gamma to gauge the risk in trading options. Gamma can help investors discern what will happen to the value of delta as the underlying security’s price changes. Based on gamma’s calculated value, investors can see any potential risk involved in their current options holdings; then decide how they want to invest in options contracts. If gamma is positive when the underlying security increases in value in a long call, then delta will become more positive. When the security decreases in value, then delta will become less positive. In a long put, delta will decrease if the security decreases in value; and delta will increase if the security increases in value.

Traders use a delta hedge strategy to maintain a hedge over a wider security price range with a lower gamma.

Gamma as an Options Hedging Strategy

Hedging strategies can help professional investors reduce the risk of an asset’s adverse price movements. Gamma can help traders discern which securities to purchase by revealing the options with the most potential to offset loses in their existing portfolio. In gamma hedging, the goal is to keep delta constant throughout an investor’s entire portfolio of stocks and options. If any of their assets are at risk of making strong negative moves, investors could purchase other options to hedge against that risk, especially when close to options’ expiration dates.

In gamma hedging, investors generally purchase options that oppose the ones they already own in order to create a balanced portfolio. For example, if an investor already holds many call options, they might purchase some put options to hedge against the risk of price drops. Or, an investor might sell some call options at a strike price that’s different from that of their existing options.

Benefits of Gamma for Long Options

Gamma in options Greeks is popular among investors in long options. All long options, both calls and puts, have a positive gamma that is usually between 0 and 1, and all short options have a negative gamma between 0 and -1. A higher gamma value shows that delta might change significantly even if the underlying security only changes a small amount. Higher gamma means the option is sensitive to movements in the underlying security’s price. For every $1 that the underlying asset increases, the gamma rate increases profits. With every $1 that the asset increases, the investor’s returns increase more efficiently.

When delta is 0 at the contract’s expiration, gamma is also 0 because the option is worthless if the current market price is better than the option’s strike price. If delta is 1 or -1 then the strike price is better than the market price, so the option is valuable.

Risks of Gamma for Short Options

While gamma can potentially benefit long options buyers, for short options sellers it can potentially pose risks. The gamma rate can accelerate losses for options sellers just as it accelerates gains for options buyers.

Another risk of gamma for option sellers is expiration risk. The closer an option gets to its expiration date, the less probable it is that the underlying asset will reach a strike price that is very much in-the-money — or out-of-the-money for option sellers. This probability curve becomes narrower, as does the delta distribution. The more gamma increases, the more theta — the cost of owning an options contract over time — decreases. Theta is a Greek that shows an option’s predicted rate of decline in value over time, until its expiration date.

For options buyers, this can mean greater returns, but for options sellers it can mean greater losses. The closer the expiration date, the more gamma increases for at-the-money options; and the more gamma decreases for options that are in- or out-of-the-money.

How Does Volatility Affect Gamma?

When a security has low volatility, options that are at-the-money have a high gamma and in- or out-of-the-money options have a very low gamma. This is because the options with low volatility have a low time value; their time value increases significantly when the underlying stock price gets closer to the strike price.

If a security has high volatility, gamma is generally similar and stable for all options, because the time value of the options is high. If the options get closer to the strike price, their time value doesn’t change very much, so gamma is low and stable.

Start Investing With SoFi

Gamma and the Greeks indicators are useful tools for understanding derivatives and creating options trading strategies. However, trading in derivatives, like options, is primarily for advanced or professional investors.

If you’re ready to invest, an options trading platform like SoFi’s is worth exploring. This user-friendly platform features an intuitive design, as well as the ability to trade options from either the mobile app or web platform. You can also access a library of educational resources to keep learning about options.

Trade options with low fees through SoFi.

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

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Neither the Investment Advisor Representatives of SoFi Wealth, nor the Registered Representatives of SoFi Securities are compensated for the sale of any product or service sold through any SoFi Invest platform.

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

Disclaimer: The projections or other information regarding the likelihood of various investment outcomes are hypothetical in nature, do not reflect actual investment results, and are not guarantees of future results.
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.
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SOIN1021464

Apr

2022

5 Popular Investing Trends of 2023

By Michael Flannelly | Growing Wealth, Investing | Comments Off

Heading into 2023, many investors had a brighter outlook on the U.S. economy and financial markets. Both staged impressive rebounds in 2021 after Covid-19 quarantine measures triggered wild volatility. Vaccine breakthroughs and stimulus checks further stoked optimism that the finances of many businesses and individuals were on the mend.

However, rising inflation, higher interest rates, and geopolitical conflict have been several headwinds getting in the way of continued economic and financial market growth in 2022. Year-to-date, the benchmark S&P 500 Index is down about 7% through April 20, 2022, after rising nearly 27% in 2021.

Nonetheless, there are opportunities in some areas of the financial markets for investors looking beyond Covid-19. Here’s a look at five popular investment trends for 2023.

1. Looking Beyond Covid-19

Some of the success stories in the stock market in 2020 and 2021 were companies that benefited from coronavirus-related stay-at-home measures, like entertainment streaming businesses, video conferencing services, and at-home workout companies. But many companies in these sectors are losing their luster as the country reopens; investors are looking for other opportunities as the world returns to normal.

Investors have wagered that airline, cruise line, travel website operators, and other transportation stocks will benefit now that most Covid-19 restrictions are in the rearview mirror. While these sectors, like the rest of the economy, may be hindered by rising interest rates and inflation, many investors still see them poised to grow because of pent-up demand.

2. ESG Investing Movement

Financial advisors often tell clients to take their emotions out of investing. However, a new breed of ethically-minded investors has become increasingly interested in putting their money where their values are in recent years.

This strategy is known as environmental, social, and governance (ESG) investing. A Bloomberg study estimated that ESG investments may hit $41 trillion globally by the end of this year and $50 trillion by 2025, a third of global assets under management.

In early 2022, the Russian invasion of Ukraine set off global protests and pronouncements against the unprovoked conflict. Many American companies followed by pulling their business operations out of Russia and issuing statements on their commitment to Ukrainian democracy. This development is just one example of companies looking beyond the bottom line in their business decisions. Moreover, shareholder advocacy groups are applying pressure on some companies to back their pledges with transparency on diversity, equity, and inclusion issues.

3. Web 3.0

Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies were among the most discussed investments in 2021, with wild swings in prices across the entire sectors. The prices of crypto assets cooled off in the early portion of 2022, but they are still in the front of the minds of a lot of investors for a number of reasons, including potential risks, possible regulation, notable hacks, failures, and more.

Because of the attention paid to crypto over the past several years, some investors are interested in related investments: companies involved in what is known as Web 3.0, or the next phase of the internet. Web 3.0 companies include those involved with blockchain technology, decentralized finance (DeFi), the metaverse, and artificial intelligence.

Recommended: Learn the basics of cryptocurrency with this Crypto Guide for Beginners.

4. Commodities Markets

After years of muted returns, commodity prices rebounded in 2021. Investors wagered that recovering economies would lead to more construction, energy usage, and food consumption. Tight supplies also boosted these markets.

Moving into 2022, the attention paid to the commodities market has only intensified, especially with the geopolitical turmoil in Ukraine and Russia affecting critical commodities like oil, natural gas, and wheat. Prices of these key commodities have spiked as the Russian-Ukrainian conflict constrains supplies.

Rising prices of agriculture, lumber, and industrial and precious metals have sparked a debate about whether commodities are going through a new supercycle. A supercycle is a sustained period, usually about a decade, where commodities trade above long-term price trends.

Recommended: Commodities Trading Guide for Beginners

5. Hot Housing Market

The housing market will continue to be an area of focus for investors, policymakers, and potential homebuyers in 2022. During 2020 and 2021, rock-bottom mortgage rates, a shortage of housing supply, and homebuyers looking to purchase larger houses to accommodate working from home led to houses selling quickly and at high prices. Additionally, investors and real estate investment trusts (REITs) bought an increasing share of homes on the market.

During the first quarter of 2022, mortgage rates are rising at a record pace, with the average 30-year mortgage nearing 5% for the first time since 2018. Analysts are looking to see if rising mortgage rates will cool the hot housing market or if buyers will continue to purchase homes.

Recommended: Pros & Cons of Investing in REITs

The Takeaway

Putting hard-earned dollars into any investment — whether it’s trendy or traditional — can be daunting. Investors should be aware that, while momentum can feed investment fads for long periods, some market trends can become vulnerable because of frothy valuations and turn on a dime.

However, if investors still want to try their hand at choosing popular investment trends themselves, SoFi’s Active Investing platform makes it easy by making it easy to track their picks of stocks, ETFs and fractional shares. Investors can also make trades online without incurring management fees from SoFi Invest®.

Open an Active Investing account with SoFi today.

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

Guide to Jumbo Certificates of Deposit (CD)

What Is a Jumbo Certificate of Deposit?

Regular vs Jumbo CD

Similarities

Differences

Advantages of Jumbo CDs

Steady Rate of Interest

Higher Interest Rate Than Traditional CDs

Steady Interest Can Partly Offset Market Risk

Insured up to $250,000 per Account

Disadvantages of Jumbo CDs

Lower Return Than Many Other Fixed-Rate Investments

Interest Rate Risk

May Not Keep Up With Inflation

Early Withdrawals Will Trigger a Penalty

Reinvestment Rate Risk

Jumbo CD Example

The Takeaway

FAQ

What is the range of jumbo CD rates?

How much money is in a jumbo CD?

Are jumbo CDs negotiable?

Target Date Funds: What Are They and How to Choose One

What Is a Target Date Fund?

How Do Target Date Funds Work?

Brief Overview of Retirement Funding

The Need for Target Date Funds

What a Target Date Fund Is and Is Not

Example of a Target Date Fund

How a Glide Path Might Work

Pros and Cons of Target Date Funds

Pros

Cons

What Are Target Date Funds Good For?

Good For…

Not Good For…

The Takeaway

Vega Options, Explained

What Is Vega in Options Trading?

How Vega Works

Implied Volatility

Characteristics of Vega

What Does Vega Show?

Vega Options Example

How Can Traders Use Vega in Real-Life?

Benefits of Vega

Vega Neutral: Another Strategy

Start Trading Stocks With SoFi Invest

What Is Gamma in Options Trading?

Understanding Gamma

Calculating Gamma

Gamma Formula

Example of Gamma

Using Gamma in Options Trading

Gamma as an Options Hedging Strategy

Benefits of Gamma for Long Options

Risks of Gamma for Short Options

How Does Volatility Affect Gamma?

Start Investing With SoFi

5 Popular Investing Trends of 2023

1. Looking Beyond Covid-19

2. ESG Investing Movement

3. Web 3.0

4. Commodities Markets

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5. Hot Housing Market

The Takeaway

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