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What a person does with their money is their business, right? Not always. Lenders are indeed interested in how borrowers plan to use the funds they’re loaned — in fact, the reason for a loan is one of the application questions.

But does loan purpose really matter? Yes. In some cases, your loan purpose can impact whether or not you receive the loan, as well as your loan terms.

Here’s what you need to know when it comes to different uses and types of personal loans, and the best reasons to give for the purpose of your loan.

What Is the Purpose of a Loan?

At its most basic, the purpose of a loan is the reason the applicant wants to borrow money. Even though there are many acceptable uses of personal loan funds, including consolidating debt, paying for a large purchase, or covering the cost of a home renovation, the loan application will likely include a section asking why the applicant is requesting the loan.


💡 Quick Tip: Before choosing a personal loan, ask about the lender’s fees: origination, prepayment, late fees, etc. One question can save you many dollars.

Why Does the Purpose of a Loan Matter?

Banks consider a number of factors when evaluating an applicant for a loan, such as the amount asked for and the applicant’s credit and employment history, to assess the potential risk of lending money to an individual.

But the borrower’s reason for needing a loan can be a significant factor, too. One reason why is that many financial institutions have certain limitations on how the money they lend can be used. For example, a lender may not allow the proceeds of a personal loan to be used to pay for college tuition, repay another student loan, purchase a home, or start a business. As a result, the best reason to give when applying for a personal loan is one that the lender allows.

The purpose of the loan you’re seeking can also impact the size of the loan the lender will grant, as well the interest rate and term of the loan.

Recommended: What Are the Common Uses for Personal Loans?

How Does Loan Purpose Affect Your Loan?

Your reason for getting a personal loan not only helps determine whether or not you’ll be approved, but can have an influence on the type of loan you can get, as well as the loan amount, and even the interest rate.

Some lenders focus on loans for certain purposes, such as credit card consolidation, while others offer an array of personal loan products that are each tailored to specific use, such as home improvement loans, medical and dental loans, wedding loans, or IVF loans. Each loan type will have loan amounts and terms designed to fit that particular need.

Does the Purpose of a Loan Influence Interest Rates?

It can. Some lenders may set interest rates based solely on the loan amount, the loan term, and the creditworthiness of the applicant. Other lenders might use those factors, plus have interest rate ranges for different loan purposes. For example, a lender might offer better rates (and longer terms) for home improvement loans than they do for debt consolidation loans.

To make sure you’re getting the best deal, you’ll want to shop around and compare interest rates, terms, and fees from lenders that are offering personal loans that match your needs. It’s also a good idea to review credit requirements, such as your credit score, history and income qualifications to ensure you meet the lender’s minimums.

Recommended: Typical Personal Loan Requirements Needed for Approval

Common Reasons for Getting a Loan

People typically have something particular in mind when they decide to borrow money. And while every person sees themselves and their individual needs as unique, it turns out the reasons for taking out a personal loan tend to fall into some fairly common buckets. Here a closer look at some of the most common reasons for getting a personal loan.

Debt Consolidation

The goal of debt consolidation is to save money on interest payments by consolidating high-interest credit card debt with a personal loan with a lower interest rate. If you have strong credit, you may be able to get a debt consolidation loan for a significantly lower rate than you are paying on your credit card balances.

Medical Bills

While health insurance can help pay for expected and unexpected medical bills, it usually doesn’t cover everything. And even when a medical expense is covered, insurance can still leave you with a significant portion of the bill to pay on your own. If that’s money you don’t have on hand right now, a medical loan can help ease the strain on your personal finances.

If you already have several medical debts, a low-interest personal loan could be a good way to consolidate those payments.

Recommended: How To Pay for Medical Bills You Can’t Afford

Home Improvements

While you might first consider a home equity loan or line of credit to cover a home repair or improvement, in some cases, a personal loan might be a better choice. This might be the case if you only need a smaller amount, or you need cash quickly (say your air conditioning or heating system goes out), since you can often get the funds from a personal loan within a few days.

Home improvement loans are also unsecured, making them less risky than home equity loans or credit lines, which use your home as collateral.


💡 Quick Tip: With home renovations, surprises are inevitable. Not so with SoFi home improvement loans. There are no fees required, and no surprises.

Something Else

There are many other reasons for taking out a personal loan, such as helping a family member, funding a move, or paying for a wedding or funeral.

Planned vs Unexpected Expenses

Some expenses can be expected and planned for accordingly, while others come up out of nowhere and require a sudden influx of cash. Either way, a personal loan can be a convenient way to finance these expenses without disrupting your savings or relying on high-interest credit cards.

What to Consider

Planned expenses, such as home renovations, weddings, or vacations, can benefit from a personal loan’s predictable repayment schedule. You can budget for the monthly payments and avoid dipping into your savings or using high-interest credit cards. However, you’ll want to factor the cost of the loan into the total cost of your purchase or project to see if it makes sense to finance it now or wait until you have enough savings.

Unexpected expenses, on the other hand, by nature arise suddenly and without warning. Medical emergencies, car repairs, or home repairs are examples of unexpected expenses that may require immediate financial assistance. Personal loans can provide a quick source of funds to cover these expenses, but it’s essential to carefully review the terms and conditions of the loan.

Smaller vs Larger Expenses

How much money you can get with a personal loan will depend on the lender, your credit score, income, debt-to-income ratio, and other factors, but the max amount you can typically get ranges from $500 to $100,000. This wide range can make a personal loan a viable source of financing for both small and large expenses.

What to Consider

When using a personal loan for smaller expenses, it’s important to borrow only what you need and can afford to repay. You generally want to avoid taking out any more than needed, as this can lead to unnecessary debt. It’s also a good idea to compare loan offers to find the most competitive interest rates and terms.

For larger expenses, such as home renovations or debt consolidation, personal loans can provide a lump sum of money with a fixed interest rate and repayment term. This can help you budget for the expense and avoid the pitfalls of high-interest credit card debt. But be sure to compare loan offers and choose the one that best suits your needs.

Recommended: 11 Types of Personal Loans & Their Differences

One-time vs Ongoing Expenses

Personal loans can also be used to cover one-time expenses, such as a major purchase. They can also be used to cover ongoing expenses, like a wedding, medical bills, or a home renovation. However, for ongoing expenses, you might want to consider a personal line of credit as opposed to a personal loan.

What to Consider

Funds from a personal loan are disbursed in one lump sum, and interest is paid on that sum according to a fixed repayment schedule.

If the loan purpose is an expense that is ongoing or variable, a personal line of credit might make sense financially, since interest is only charged on the amount drawn at any one time, and money borrowed can be repaid on a more flexible basis. Lines of credit tend to come with variable instead of fixed interest rates, however, so the overall amount due may be hard to predict.

Loans To Pay Off Other Loans

A common use for personal loans is to consolidate high-interest debt. By taking out a personal loan to pay off other loans or credit card debt, you can potentially lower your overall interest rate and simplify your monthly payments.

What to Consider

When using a personal loan to pay off other loans, consider any origination fees or prepayment penalties associated with the new loan. It’s also important to calculate the total cost of the new loan, including interest rates and fees, to ensure that it offers a better financial solution than your existing debt. Additionally, consider your repayment ability to ensure that you can comfortably afford the new loan payments.

Personal Loan Approval

The length of time from application to personal loan approval can vary by lender. On average, approval can take up to three business days for an online lender and up to seven business days for a bank or credit union. Some online lenders, though, offer same-day approval.

Some things that can make this a quicker process are making sure your credit report is free of errors and having required documents ready when the lender requests them. Loan applications that don’t have unusual circumstances, e.g., self-employment income verification or a high debt-to-income ratio, are more likely to be approved faster than those that do.

Once a personal loan application has been approved by the lender, the funds may be made available to the borrower in just a few days or up to a week, depending on the type of lender. Some online lenders may disburse funds the same day as approval.

The Takeaway

There are, indeed, different types of loans for different purposes. Applicants may have their own reasons for wanting a loan, but lenders will want to know what the funds will be used for. There may be certain loans better suited to certain funding needs than others, and a lender will likely want to make sure the loan suits the purpose.

Think twice before turning to high-interest credit cards. Consider a SoFi personal loan instead. SoFi offers competitive fixed rates and same-day funding. Checking your rate takes just a minute.

FAQ

Why is it important to know the purpose of a loan?

Lenders may want to know the purpose of a loan so they can assess the risk of lending. Also, some lenders have limitations on how the money can be used. Borrowers will also want to consider the purpose of a loan to make sure they apply for the right type of loan for their needs.

What are examples of the purpose of a loan?

There are many reasons why people apply for personal loans. These include: debt consolidation, medical and dental expenses, IVF treatment, home repairs/improvements, weddings, large purchases (like appliances or furniture), car repairs, and more.

What happens if I use my loan for a different purpose?

Some loans are meant to be used for a certain purpose, such as auto loans or mortgages. Personal loans, however, can be used for many purposes, and a lender may not check to see if the funds are being used as intended on the loan application. But it’s a good idea to review the loan application to understand any restrictions on the use of the funds.

SoFi Loan Products
SoFi loans are originated by SoFi Bank, N.A., NMLS #696891 (Member FDIC). For additional product-specific legal and licensing information, see SoFi.com/legal. Equal Housing Lender.

Non affiliation: SoFi isn’t affiliated with any of the companies highlighted in this article.

Checking Your Rates: To check the rates and terms you may qualify for, SoFi conducts a soft credit pull that will not affect your credit score. However, if you choose a product and continue your application, we will request your full credit report from one or more consumer reporting agencies, which is considered a hard credit pull and may affect your credit.

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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Consumers may not know it, but financial institutions often rely on “bundled” credit reports to make more fully informed decisions before lending an individual money.

That process is known as a tri-merge credit report (also known as a three-in-one credit report.) The merged report can give the lender a more complete picture of an applicant’s financial situation, since each credit report may contain slightly different information.

You can’t request a merged credit report on your own but you can ask a lender to share their tri-merged report with you. Read on to learn more about what tri-merged credit reports are and how they can impact your chances of getting a loan.

What Is a Tri-Merge Credit Report?

A tri-merge credit report simply combines three credit reports from the three largest credit reporting bureaus — Experian, Equifax, and Transunion — and consolidates them into one credit report for creditors and lenders. They are most commonly used in the mortgage lending sector where more information is required to properly assess larger loans.

Creditors often rely on three-in-one credit reports because they want a thorough review of an applicant’s credit history, an outcome a lender may not get with input from just one credit reporting agency.


💡 Quick Tip: Need help covering the cost of a wedding, honeymoon, or new baby? A SoFi personal loan can help you fund major life events — without the high interest rates of credit cards.

How Do Merged Credit Scores Work?

A tri-merge credit report gives those lenders what they need – a comprehensive overview of a credit applicant using information from three credit reports, instead of one or two credit reports.

By combining all three credit scoring formulas and outcomes into a single credit report, creditors can get an expanded and more complete look at a credit applicant’s financial history (including payments and credit usage), based on the information included in the tri-merge credit report.

Recommended: Common Credit Report Errors and How to Dispute Them

Why Do You Have More Than One Credit Score?

Each credit scoring company has its own formula for calculating credit scores and one model may place more importance on one factor, such as payment history, while another may not. Also, different types of loans have different scoring methods.

The most commonly used credit scoring model is the FICO® Score, a base score that has a range of 300 (lowest score) to 850 (highest score). But within the FICO models, there are industry-specific ranges.

•   FICO® Auto Score Range is 250 to 900

•   FICO® Bankcard Score Range is 250 to 900

•   FICO® Mortgage Score Range is 300 to 850

VantageScore is another credit scoring model used by all three major credit reporting bureaus.

FICO Score and VantageScore base their calculations on different aspects of a person’s financial history.

•   FICO uses factors that are in a credit report, such as payment history of credit accounts, how much debt a person has, how long credit accounts have been open, how often new credit inquiries happen and how often new credit accounts are opened, and the mix of credit account types.

•   Vantage uses the same criteria as FICO, but places different levels of importance on each. Vantage also looks at additional factors that might not appear on a person’s credit report, such as rent and utility payments. Using factors such as these makes it possible for people who don’t have much of a credit history to have a credit score and be able to access consumer credit.

Lenders use credit scores and other information in the loan approval process.

What Does a Tri-Merge Credit Report Look Like?

Tri-merge credit reports offer creditors the same look and feel as a standard consumer credit report, with a few differences.

For starters, the third-party provider creating the three-in-one credit report culls the credit reports from each of the three primary credit-reporting firms (Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion) and pulls the most pertinent information for use in the tri-merge credit report.

In its final form, the tri-merge credit report includes the following sections.

•   An upfront summary that provides information on the credit applicant in capsule form.

•   A full section on the credit applicant’s financial accounts, focusing on larger accounts like mortgages, credit cards, auto loans, and any types of personal loans.

•   Data on the applicant’s credit payments history, any open accounts, any history of late or no credit payments, any tax liens or bankruptcies, and the applicant’s credit utilization ratio (i.e., the applicant’s outstanding credit balance divided by the total amount of revolving credit the applicant has available).

A tri-merge credit report may also include a specific credit report from any of the three major credit reporting agencies, based on the specific credit analysis needs of the mortgage lender who uses the three-in-one report.

Why Do Personal Loan Lenders Look at Your Tri-Merge Credit Report?

Tri-merge credit reports are more commonly used in mortgage lending than personal loan lending. But if you’re applying for a large personal loan — some lenders offer personal loans up to $100,000 — the lender may look at a tri-merge credit report to get a comprehensive picture of your creditworthiness. The tri-merge credit report will include any current or past personal loans and your payment history on those. The lender will use that information to determine approval for the loan you’re applying for.


💡 Quick Tip: Choosing a personal loan with a fixed interest rate makes payments easy to track and gives you a target payoff date to work toward.

How Does a Tri-Merge Credit Report Affect Your Loan Application?

Different lenders approach the risk of lending money with different tolerance levels, just as they each have different credit score requirements. A loan applicant whose credit reports don’t include late payments and unmanageable debt loads will likely be approved for a loan with favorable terms and lower interest rates.

Alternatively, a loan applicant whose credit report shows a large amount of existing debt and a history of late or missed payments may be offered a high interest rate and less favorable terms.

Because lenders that use a tri-merge credit report to assess an applicant’s creditworthiness are looking at a comprehensive picture, it’s in the best interest of the applicant to clean up their credit reports from each of the three major credit bureaus before they begin applying for a loan.

Recommended: Typical Personal Loan Requirements Needed for Approval

Is a Tri-Merge Credit Report a Hard Inquiry?

Any official lender review of a tri-merge credit report will be a hard inquiry and will temporarily impact your credit score. In general, each hard credit inquiry can decrease a credit score by five points.

The severity of any credit score decline due to a hard pull largely depends on the applicant.

A consumer with a strong credit report may see less of a credit scoring decline than one with a weak credit report. Multiple credit report hard inquiries can be a reason why a consumer with a weak credit history may see their credit scores decline moderately.

Recommended: Soft vs Hard Credit Inquiry: What You Need to Know

Can I Order My Own Tri-Merge Credit Report?

Tri-merge credit reports are available to lenders, but not generally to individuals. A lender may be willing to share with you the tri-merge credit report they pulled in your application process. A credit counselor who offers first-time homebuyer programs may also be able to pull a tri-merge credit report for you in a credit review process, but there may be a fee for that service.

However, you can — and it’s a good idea to do this — request a free copy of your credit report from AnnualCreditReport.com.

You can request a free copy of your credit report once a week from each of the three major credit bureaus. Reviewing all three of your credit reports will give you much of the same information as is included in a tri-merge credit report.

The Takeaway

Tri-merge credit reports can prove highly useful to mortgage and other lenders looking for a comprehensive review of an applicant’s credit history.

By merging the credit report analysis of the three major credit reporting agencies, creditors and lenders are getting a fully-formed outlook they likely wouldn’t get by relying on a single credit reporting agency.

For consumers, the key takeaway on three-in-one credit reports is simple – take a disciplined and diligent stance on your credit, review your credit reports on a regular basis, and ensure key issues like on-time payments and credit utilization rates are in good standing.

Think twice before turning to high-interest credit cards. Consider a SoFi personal loan instead. SoFi offers competitive fixed rates and same-day funding. Checking your rate takes just a minute.

FAQ

What is a tri-merge credit report?

A tri-merge credit report is a credit report combining information from the three major credit bureaus, Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion.

Is a tri-merge credit report a hard inquiry?

When a tri-merge credit report is pulled during the formal loan application process, it will be a hard inquiry on the applicant’s credit report.

Can I pull my own tri-merge credit report?

No. Tri-merge credit reports are available to lenders, not individuals, and they’re mainly used in the mortgage loan process. If you’re working with a credit counselor, you may be able to have a tri-merge credit report pulled during a credit review process.

Photo credit: iStock/Irina Ivanova

SoFi Loan Products
SoFi loans are originated by SoFi Bank, N.A., NMLS #696891 (Member FDIC). For additional product-specific legal and licensing information, see SoFi.com/legal. Equal Housing Lender.

Non affiliation: SoFi isn’t affiliated with any of the companies highlighted in this article.

Checking Your Rates: To check the rates and terms you may qualify for, SoFi conducts a soft credit pull that will not affect your credit score. However, if you choose a product and continue your application, we will request your full credit report from one or more consumer reporting agencies, which is considered a hard credit pull and may affect your credit.

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.

Third-Party Brand Mentions: No brands, products, or companies mentioned are affiliated with SoFi, nor do they endorse or sponsor this article. Third-party trademarks referenced herein are property of their respective owners.

External Websites: The information and analysis provided through hyperlinks to third-party websites, while believed to be accurate, cannot be guaranteed by SoFi. Links are provided for informational purposes and should not be viewed as an endorsement.

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The median annual pay for travel agents is $46,400, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics most recent data.

Travel is a passion many people share, but not many people are fortunate enough to make their love of travel their full-time job. If someone is skilled at finding the best travel deals and building the perfect vacation itinerary, they may find that working as a travel agent is a rewarding way to earn a living.

To better understand what it’s like to work as a travel agent and how much they earn, keep reading.

What Are Travel Agents?

Travel agents help their clients plan and book their trips. They may work for an individual client to plan their vacation or a corporate client to book their work travel. No two trips they manage are likely to be exactly the same, but they can help arrange everything from flights to hotels to excursions to dining reservations. Many travel agents can also give their clients access to deals through partner hotels and other travel vendors.

A travel agent can work independently. In-house at a large corporation, or for a major travel company. They may pursue this work full-time or as a side hustle. Given that a significant part of this career involves working with individuals to understand their travel aspirations and needs, it’s likely not a good job for antisocial people.

Travel agents can train in different ways: Some have a bachelor’s degree in an allied field or an associate’s degree in travel and tourism. There are many professional training programs and certifications available, such as ASTA, IATA, TIDS, and CLIA for different dimensions of travel planning.

As part of their work, travel agents may have the opportunity to visit various properties and destinations to make sure they would be a good fit for clients and learn about their selling points. This is often available at a reduced rate or for free and can be a major perk of working as a travel agent.

However, it’s worth noting that travel agents likely have to be available 24/7 and can deal with considerable stress, if, say, a client misses their flight or extreme weather ruins a vacation.


💡 Quick Tip: We love a good spreadsheet, but not everyone feels the same. An online budget planner can give you the same insight into your budgeting and spending at a glance, without the extra effort.

How Much Do Starting Travel Agents Make a Year?

If you’re wondering how much money a travel agent makes, the answer will depend a lot on how experienced the travel agent in question is. For example, entry-level travel agents can earn a lot less than more experienced agents. The lowest 10% of earners in this role make less than $29,650.

The highest 10% make more competitive pay north of $64,100. And there are those travel agents who work in the luxury sector who make considerably more.

Indeed, some could make an annual salary of $100,000 or more.

What is the Average Salary for a Travel Agent?

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the latest median pay per year for travel agents is $46,400 and the median hourly pay is $22.31.

Alongside experience, location can majorly impact a travel agent’s earning potential. The following table illustrates how much a travel agent’s average salary can vary by state, arranged from highest to lowest. For example, in New York, travel agents make an average annual salary of $51,002, but in Arkansas, they earn almost $20,000 less at an average of $33,194.

What is the Average Travel Agent Salary by State for 2023

Source: ZipRecruiter

Travel Agent Job Considerations for Pay & Benefits

Working as a travel agent can be very flexible. While full-time positions are available in this role, some travel agents choose to work part-time or for themselves as entrepreneurs.

When working full-time for a travel advisory firm, travel agents can expect to gain access to benefits like health insurance and retirement contribution matching. If they work part-time or are self-employed, they will need to provide themselves with those benefits, which can eat into their take-home pay.


💡 Quick Tip: Income, expenses, and life circumstances can change. Consider reviewing your budget a few times a year and making any adjustments if needed.

Pros and Cons of Travel Agent Salary

The main disadvantage of a travel agent’s salary is that the median annual salary is on the lower side at just $46,400. That being said, one of the main advantages of this salary is that it can come with hefty bonuses based on travel bookings with partners that offer commissions to travel agents. Also, travel agents often get discounts and freebies as they themselves travel to check out new resorts and attractions.

Travel agents who work for themselves can also choose to set their own rates and can potentially earn more. Or those who cater to high net-worth individuals may be able to raise their income.

Recommended: Work-from-Home Jobs for Retirees

The Takeaway

A travel agent who is super organized and passionate about travel can help make their client’s lives easier and their trips more enjoyable. In exchange for their savviness, some travel agents earn good salaries doing work that they truly enjoy and have perks that involve more travel at lower or no cost for their own purposes.

SoFi helps you stay on top of your finances.

FAQ

Can you make 100k a year as a travel agent?

While most travel agents don’t earn $100,000 per year, those who choose to work for themselves and set their own rates or cater to an elite clientele can possibly make six figures. Many travel agents work on commission, so they can also stand to earn more if their clients book a lot of expensive trips.

Do people like being a travel agent?

Many people like working as a travel agent because it’s a fun way to put their love of travel to use. It tends to be a good job for those who consider themselves to be a “people person” since there’s lots of interaction with clients. Also, it’s good for people who can “roll with the punches” since travel plans often change for various reasons.

Is it hard to get hired as a travel agent?

The demand for travel agents is on par with the average of other professions. So, while it’s not seeing a surge in need, there should be availability of jobs as a travel agent.

Photo credit: iStock/Dimensions

SoFi Relay offers users the ability to connect both SoFi accounts and external accounts using Plaid, Inc.’s service. When you use the service to connect an account, you authorize SoFi to obtain account information from any external accounts as set forth in SoFi’s Terms of Use. Based on your consent SoFi will also automatically provide some financial data received from the credit bureau for your visibility, without the need of you connecting additional accounts. SoFi assumes no responsibility for the timeliness, accuracy, deletion, non-delivery or failure to store any user data, loss of user data, communications, or personalization settings. You shall confirm the accuracy of Plaid data through sources independent of SoFi. The credit score is a VantageScore® based on TransUnion® (the “Processing Agent”) data.

*Terms and conditions apply. This offer is only available to new SoFi users without existing SoFi accounts. It is non-transferable. One offer per person. To receive the rewards points offer, you must successfully complete setting up Credit Score Monitoring. Rewards points may only be redeemed towards active SoFi accounts, such as your SoFi Checking or Savings account, subject to program terms that may be found here: SoFi Member Rewards Terms and Conditions. SoFi reserves the right to modify or discontinue this offer at any time without notice.

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.

Non affiliation: SoFi isn’t affiliated with any of the companies highlighted in this article.

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Venture capital and private equity funds are two different ways that companies, funds or individuals invest in other companies. While the two types of funds share some similarities, there are also key differences that you’ll want to be aware of. While many private equity and venture capital funds are privately held, some are open to individual investors.

A private equity fund might use its managerial, technological or other expertise to invest in one specific company, hoping to turn it around and improve its profitability. That would allow the fund to sell their investment for a healthy return. Venture capital firms often invest in early-stage companies or startups. They provide capital funds to these companies in exchange for a portion of the company’s equity.

What Is Private Equity?

Private equity refers to investing in companies that are not publicly traded. Unlike investing in public equities (such as by purchasing index funds or shares of stock of companies listed on a public stock exchange), private equity investors put their money into privately-held companies.

While you might not think of private companies as having shares of stock in the same way that publicly-traded companies do, most incorporated companies do have shares of stock. A small company might only have a hundred or even less shares, all owned by the initial founders of the company.

A private company that is more established, on the other hand, might have hundreds of thousands or even millions of shares owned by a wide variety of people. The stock of private companies might be owned by the founders, employees or other private equity investors.

💡 Quick Tip: While investing directly in alternative assets often requires high minimum amounts, investing in alternative funds through a mutual fund or ETF generally involves a low minimum requirement, making them accessible to retail investors.

What Is Venture Capital?

Venture capital refers to investors and money that is invested into early-stage companies in the hope that they will generate an above-average return on investment. Venture capital investing usually refers to funds or individuals that give money to early-stage companies, but the investment can also be via managerial or technical expertise.

Venture capital money is often invested over a series of “rounds.” Initially there might be an “angel” round or “seed” round, and then Series A, B, C and so on. In each round, companies receive funding from venture capital investors in exchange for a percentage of the company’s stock, at an agreed-upon valuation.

Generally, the earlier the round of venture capital investment, the lower the valuation. This allows the earliest investors to potentially have the highest return on investment, since they also carry the largest amount of risk.

Venture capital and private equity may serve as examples of alternative investments for certain investors.

Key Differences Between Private Equity and Venture Capital

While private equity and venture capital both refer to companies or funds that invest in companies, there are a few key differences that you’ll want to be aware of:

Advantages and Disadvantages

When you compare private equity vs. venture capital investing, there are a few similarities as well as advantages or disadvantages to investing in both.

In most cases, comparing the advantages and disadvantages of venture capital vs. private equity depends on your own specific situation or goal. What might be an advantage for one investor could be a disadvantage for an investor with a different risk tolerance or financial profile.

One potential advantage of investing in private equity is that private equity firms often concentrate their money in a small number of firms. This might allow the private equity investors to concentrate their expertise into improving the profitability of those companies. However, some might consider this a disadvantage, since you might lose some or most of your investment if the company is not able to turn things around.

Similarly, venture capital investors typically invest in a number of startups and early-stage companies. One advantage of investing in this manner is that you may see outsized returns if the company succeeds. However, a related disadvantage is that many companies in these early stages do not succeed, potentially wiping out your entire investment.

In that sense, it’s a high-risk, high-potentialy-reward area of investment.

Common Misconceptions

One common misconception about private equity vs. venture capital is that only investors with significant net worth can invest in these fields. While it is true that most actual private equity and venture capital investors are those with access to significant amounts of capital, there are also many private equity or venture capital funds that sell shares of the funds themselves to retail investors.

This may allow even regular individual investors to take part in investing in venture capital or private equity.

💡 Quick Tip: Investment fees are assessed in different ways, including trading costs, account management fees, and possibly broker commissions. When you set up an investment account, be sure to get the exact breakdown of your “all-in costs” so you know what you’re paying.

The Takeaway

Private equity and venture capital funds are two different ways that companies invest in other companies. While they share a lot of similarities, there are also some key differences. One big difference is that generally, private equity funds invest more money in fewer companies while venture capital funds often invest (relatively) smaller sums of money in many companies.

While most private equity and venture capital funds are privately held, there are some that are publicly traded and open to individual investors.

Ready to invest in your goals? It’s easy to get started when you open an investment account with SoFi Invest. You can invest in stocks, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), mutual funds, alternative funds, and more. SoFi doesn’t charge commissions, but other fees apply (full fee disclosure here).

FAQ

Is private equity better than venture capital?

Private equity (PE) and venture capital (VC) are two forms of investing in other companies, and when comparing the difference between VC and PE, it isn’t really the case that one is better than the other. Instead, it will depend on your own specific financial situation and/or risk tolerance. You can also consider alternative investments to both private equity and venture capital.

Which is the riskier option?

Both private equity and venture capital carry some level of risk. In one manner of speaking, venture capital is riskier, since many of the early-stage companies that they invest in will not succeed. However, most venture capital funds mitigate that risk by investing in many different companies. One successful investment may pay off the losses of tens or even hundreds of unsuccessful venture capital investments.

Are there private equity or venture capital funds available to buy?

Many private equity and venture capital firms are targeted towards investors with significant assets and/or a high net worth. However, there are some funds that are publicly traded and thus available to individual investors. Make sure that you do your own research before investing in any one particular private equity or venture capital fund.

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