Sep
26
2024

23 Ways to Make Quick Cash: Online and Offline Solutions

By | Budgeting & Goals, Financial Independence, money | Comments Off on 23 Ways to Make Quick Cash: Online and Offline Solutions

It’s not uncommon to hit a moment in your financial life when you could use some cash…like, right away. Maybe you have a slew of unexpected expenses, get laid off, or need to help a loved one in need. Whatever the case, you may be craving a quick cash infusion.

To help out, here’s a list of 23 ways to get some money flowing your way ASAP. Some are online methods, others are in-person, but all can help you out when you are in a pinch.

Read on to see which of these ideas may suit you, plus tips on staying safe as you go after those additional funds.

When You Need Quick Cash

Many people hit a time when they could really use some additional cash. Perhaps you moved to a new town and need to put down a security deposit on a rental as well as pay your movers. Or you are a freelancer, and one of your clients is slow to pay. Or you need pricey dental work which isn’t fully covered by your health insurance. Or perhaps you just went overboard on holiday gift buying, and now your credit card bill is due.

Whatever the reason, if you need to get money fast and don’t want to break out your high-interest plastic to see you through, don’t panic. There can be an array of ways to bring in cash quickly. Some are online (taking marketing surveys), some are in person (dog walking), but there is likely to be at least a couple that suit your preferences and your situation.

Online vs Offline Money-Making Opportunities

As you look into ideas for how to get money fast, one key consideration is whether you want to do so online or offline. Perhaps both ways suit you, but many people have a preference.

If you have a job, are caring for dependents, or otherwise are under time constraints, you may prefer to squeeze in your money-making activities here and there. Online opportunities may suit you well, since some are available 24/7. For example, you could upload items you want to sell on eBay at any hour.

For others, offline work is more suitable. If, say, you are a brilliant guitar player and have a knack for sharing your skills, music lessons could be a good path, and you might find doing these in person more rewarding than via Zoom. Or holding a yard sale and selling off unwanted stuff could bring in a good amount of cash quickly.

Making Money Online

To help you scope out opportunities, consider this list of online ways to make quick cash.

1. Take Online Surveys and Market Research

From the privacy of your home, at your convenience, you could be earning small amounts of money (which can add up) by taking online surveys, watching videos, or even sharing your search history. These typically help marketers gain insight into consumer behavior and opinions Some places to sign up: Branded Surveys, Inbox Dollars, and Survey Junkie sites.

2. Sign Up for Freelancing Platforms

Do you have a skill to share…and sell? You might be able to offer your writing, social media, web design, translation, or other talents on a platform like Upwork, and get paid for freelance gigs. This can be an especially good way to make money even with no job.

3. Sell Products on E-Commerce Websites

If you are artsy or craftsy, you might try posting your work for sale online. Whether you make necklaces, take great nature photos, or knit beautiful baby sweaters, Etsy is a popular option. Just keep in mind that e-commerce websites typically have posting fees and then take a cut of your sales.

4. Offer Online Tutoring and Courses

You might be able to make quick cash by teaching online. Did you score in the top percentile on a standardized test or ace high-school physics? Are you pretty much fluent in French, or can you make bake-off-worthy cakes? You might be able to do remote tutoring or offer a class online. The key to bringing in quick cash here will be marketing your services well, so do a little online research upfront about how to bring an audience your way.

5. Try Affiliate Marketing

Do you love social media and have a strong presence, whether as a gamer, sharer of clothing hauls, or a guide to neighborhood businesses? If so, you could make quick cash via affiliate marketing. This means that you earn a commission on every visit, sale, or sign-up that you generate for a brand or merchant. You can learn more at affiliate marketing sites such as SemRush.

6. Find Unclaimed Money

Did you know that unclaimed funds, whether from forgotten-about bank accounts or insurance benefit checks that were never cashed, can wind up with the state government and sit, waiting to be claimed? It may be a bit of a longshot, but it can’t hurt to check out this unclaimed funds website and see if there is any cash in your name that you might collect.

7. Claim App Referrals

You may be used to those “Refer a friend and get $25!” offers online. If the shoe fits, as they say, wear it! For instance, if a buddy signs up for a PayPal or a Swagbucks account at your recommendation, you could benefit with a small chunk of change heading your way as a thank you.

8. Open a Bank Account

The personal finance business can be competitive these days, and some banks will offer you a tidy sum to open a checking account with them. This is among the more common bank bonuses, and while amounts will vary, you could earn a quick $300 this way. These offers are often at online vs. traditional banks. Just be sure to read the fine print before you sign up to make sure that there aren’t fees or minimum balances that would be challenging for you.

9. Sell Unused Gift Cards

Here’s a slightly weird way to make money. Do you have a gift card or two, maybe sent by a well-intentioned relative, sitting unused? Perhaps you never go to the coffee chain the card is for, or you don’t have a branch of the store nearby. You might recoup some of the card’s value by selling it on a site like CardCash, ClipKard, or GiftCash.

10. Get Paid Sooner

Need more ideas for how to make quick cash? This one doesn’t exactly bring in more money but can give you access to your earnings sooner. Some financial institutions will make your paycheck available up to 48 hours early when you sign up with direct deposit. Again, this isn’t a sum beyond what you earn, but it can let you, for instance, pay bills on time when you otherwise couldn’t.

11. Work as a Virtual Assistant

In this age of automation, many jobs can be done remotely as long as you have computer and wifi access. That includes being someone’s assistant and helping with tasks like scheduling, correspondence, and travel arrangements. Look for listings on sites like FlexJobs and LinkedIn.

Making Money Offline

Need more inspiration on how to make quick cash? There are plenty of ways to do so in the real world instead of online. Here is an assortment of ideas for getting some money into your bank account, where it’s needed most.

12. Do Local Odd Jobs and Gigs

Are there any services, whether one-off or ongoing, that you could offer? You might be able to help a senior with shopping, do yard work, assist someone with cleaning out their basement before they move, or set up for a party. Take a look at sites like Fiverr, Craigslist, or Nextdoor, as well as locations like community bulletin boards at cafes and other locations.

13. Sell Unused or Unwanted Items

Your junk could be someone else’s treasure that they might be willing to pay for. You could have a yard sale or visit one of the many places to sell your stuff. Items that could be sale-worthy include good condition electronics, cookware, clothing, sports equipment, housewares, home decor, your vinyl collection, and more.

14. Pet Sit or Walk Dogs

Here’s another idea for how to make quick cash, and it’s perfect for animal lovers: Do some pet sitting or dog walking. Using a well-known social networking site or a pet sitting site could help get attention and build the business; you might also try posting flyers in your neighborhood offering dog-walking services. Cash payments can make this a good gig for those who don’t want to wait for their money.

15. Tutor or Skill Share

As mentioned above, if you have a skill or talent (from speaking great Spanish to coding), you could tutor or offer instruction. Local schools and community centers could be a good place to market your skills; think about what credentials you can tout to show prospective students that you have the know-how.

16. Recycle for Cash

In this era of eco-consciousness, there are plenty of opportunities to recycle for cash. This can be as simple as gathering your own and your neighbors’ unwanted cans and bottles and redeeming them, or you might get scrap metal via Craigslist or Freecycle and then sell it to a scrap yard. And who knew? You might even earn quick cash via recycling cardboard at BoxCycle.

17. Take Care of Children or Elders

Could you do some babysitting, childcare, or eldercare to bring in cash? You’re likely to have some warm and fuzzy feelings too after doing gigs like these and helping others. Caregivers may have to go through an in-depth vetting process to sign up with an agency like Care.com, so be prepared to answer lots of questions (Do you have experience? What would you do in an emergency? Will you cook and clean?) and provide background information and ID.

18. Pawn Items of Value

Let’s say you have an urgent car repair bill and unfortunately haven’t got enough saved in an emergency fund. You could get cash quick by pawning an item (think jewelry, wristwatches, electronics, and musical instruments). This means you take it to a pawn shop, get cash, and if you come back and repay the loan in a certain time frame, you retake possession of the item. If you don’t, the pawn shop can sell it. This practice could benefit you when you need money fast.

19. Rent Out Extra Space

You’ve probably heard about the sharing economy, which can allow people to monetize their unused space. For instance, if you live in a popular area and have an extra bedroom, you might rent it out on Airbnb to people visiting your town for a few nights. You may even be able to rent out your unused parking space on Spacer.

20. Deliver Food

It’s a sign of the times: Food delivery, from groceries to restaurant meals to bubble teas, is on the rise. You might be able to make some fast money by doing this kind of delivery via a service like DoorDash, UberEats, InstaCart, and GrubHub, among others. This can be a good way to use your free time to bring in some cash when you need it quickly.

21. Drive Rideshare

Similarly, if you have access to a car, you could drive a rideshare for a company like Uber or Lyft. Whether ferrying people to the airport, work, or out to dinner, it can be a good way to monetize your free time.

22. Flip Free Items

Are you handy? Here’s a way to get some money flowing your way: You could snag items from Freecycle, Craigslist, Nextdoor, or even the curb, and refurbish and sell them as a low-cost side hustle. Maybe someone is getting rid of an old coffee table or nightstand that’s in rough shape. You could refinish or paint it and sell it at a profit. Yes, it takes a bit of time to do this work, but the opportunity to bring in perhaps a couple of hundred dollars for your effort is real.

23. Cash in Your Coins

Here’s an easy idea for making quick cash: Look around your house for that coin jar that many people have shoved in a closet or on a windowsill. If you have a stash of quarters somewhere, you might be surprised by how much it can add up to. Getting it to the bank or a retailer that offers coin counting and redemption services could bring you a good infusion of cash.

Combining Online and Offline Opportunities

Now that you’ve read this list, you can begin to think about which ideas spark the most interest or best suit your situation. When you want to make quick cash, you don’t have to try just one method.

Feel free to mix up online and offline techniques to make money fast. You might drive a rideshare on Sundays and tutor via Zoom twice a week. It’s all about what works best for you.

Balancing Your Time

One thing to remember as you work to bring in extra cash is that it is possible to overdo it. Whether you have a job and/or a family or are unemployed and single (or anything in between), remember that you do need downtime and rest. Don’t overschedule yourself with odd jobs and other money-making tasks. You need to balance your time. And if you are sleep-deprived and exhausted, you can’t do a good job making money anyway!

Tips for Staying Safe While Making Quick Cash

A word or two of warning as you look for ways to make quick cash: There are occasionally scams and dangerous situations out there. Be savvy as you move ahead.

Avoiding Scams

If an opportunity to make money sounds too good to be true, it probably is. There are quite a number of employment scams out there, so be vigilant. Work-from-home scams and overpayment scams are common; check out Fraud.org’s site
to learn more and protect yourself.

When selling items, also proceed with caution. There are also fraudsters using overpayment and money order trickery to get something for nothing.

Managing Personal Information

If you are applying for gig work, be cautious about to whom you send your personal information (such as your Social Security number and banking details). Do your research and vet the recipient of this info; otherwise, you might be dealing with a scammer who is trying to commit identity theft.

The Takeaway

Many people encounter a moment when they could really use some cash quickly. Happily, there are many ways to get money flowing your way, both online and offline. From dog walking to selling your unwanted stuff, from tutoring to taking surveys on your laptop, there are likely several options that can suit your needs.

And once you make that extra moolah, make sure it’s working hard for you and earning you some interest, thanks to a good banking partner.

Interested in opening an online bank account? When you sign up for a SoFi Checking and Savings account with direct deposit, you’ll get a competitive annual percentage yield (APY), pay zero account fees, and enjoy an array of rewards, such as access to the Allpoint Network of 55,000+ fee-free ATMs globally. Qualifying accounts can even access their paycheck up to two days early.


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.


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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.

SoFi Bank reserves the right to grant a grace period to account holders following a change in Direct Deposit activity or Qualifying Deposits activity before adjusting rates. If SoFi Bank grants you a grace period, the dates for such grace period will be reflected on the APY Details page of your account. If SoFi Bank determines that you did not have Direct Deposit activity or $5,000 in Qualifying Deposits during the current 30-day Evaluation Period and, if applicable, the grace period, then you will begin earning the rates earned by account holders without either Direct Deposit or Qualifying Deposits until you have Direct Deposit activity or $5,000 in Qualifying Deposits in a subsequent 30-Day Evaluation Period. For the avoidance of doubt, an account holder with both Direct Deposit activity and Qualifying Deposits will earn the rates earned by account holders with Direct Deposit.

Members without either Direct Deposit activity or Qualifying Deposits, as determined by SoFi Bank, during a 30-Day Evaluation Period and, if applicable, the grace period, will earn 1.20% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances.

Interest rates are variable and subject to change at any time. These rates are current as of 10/31/2024. There is no minimum balance requirement. Additional information can be found at https://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet.

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26
2024
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Guide to Options Trading for Beginners

By | Growing Wealth, invest, Investing | Comments Off on Guide to Options Trading for Beginners

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

An option is a financial instrument whose value is tied to an underlying asset; this is known as a derivative. Instead of buying an asset, such as company stock, outright, an options contract allows the investor to potentially profit from price changes in the underlying asset without actually owning it.

Because options contracts may be much cheaper to come by than the underlying asset, trading options can offer investors leverage that may result in significant gains if the market moves in the right direction. But options are very risky, and also can result in steep losses. That’s why investors must meet certain criteria with their brokerage firm before being able to trade options.

What Is Options Trading?

Knowing how options trading works requires understanding what an option is, and what the advantages, disadvantages, and risks of options trading may be.

What Are Options?

Buying an option is simply purchasing a contract that represents the right but not the obligation to buy or sell a security at a fixed price by a specified date.

•   The options buyer (or holder) has the right, but not the obligation to buy or sell a certain asset, like shares of stock, at a certain price by a specific date (the expiration date of the contract). Buyers pay a premium for each options contract; this is the total price of the option.

•   The options seller (or writer), who is on the opposite side of the trade, has the obligation to buy or sell the underlying asset at the agreed-upon price, aka the strike price, if the options holder exercises their contract.

Options buyers and sellers may use options if they think an asset’s price will go up (or down), to offset risk elsewhere in their portfolio, or to increase the profitability of existing positions. There are many different options-trading strategies.


💡 Quick Tip: Options can be a cost-efficient way to place certain trades, because you typically purchase options contracts, not the underlying security. That said, options trading can be risky, and best done by those who are not entirely new to investing.

Why Are Options Called Derivatives?

An option is considered a derivative instrument because it is based on the underlying asset: An options holder doesn’t purchase the asset, just the options contract. That way, they can make trades based on anticipated price movements of the underlying asset, without having to own the asset itself.

In stock options, one options contract typically represents 100 shares.

Other types of derivatives include futures, swaps, and forwards. Options that exist for futures contracts, such as the S&P 500 index or oil futures, are also popular derivatives.

What is the difference between trading using margin vs. options? Having a margin account does offer investors leverage for other trades (e.g. trading stocks). But while a brokerage may require you to have a margin account in order to trade options, you can’t purchase options contracts using margin. That said, an options seller (writer) might be able to use margin to sell options contracts.

Recommended: What Are Derivatives?

What Are Puts and Calls?

There are two main types of options: calls vs. puts.

Call Options 101

When purchased, call options give the options holder the right to buy an asset.

Here’s how a call option might work. The options buyer purchases a call option tied to Stock A with a strike price of $40 and expiration three months from now. Stock A is currently trading at $35 per share.

If Stock A appreciates to a value higher than $40 per share, the option holder may choose to exercise the contract, or sell their option for a premium. If the value of Stock A goes up, the value of the call option should, all else being equal, also go up.

The opposite would also be true. If shares of Stock A go down, the value of the call should, all else being equal, go down.

If the options holder wanted to exercise their call option, with American-style options they have until the expiration date to do so (with European-style options, the option must be exercised on the expiration date). When they exercise, they can buy 100 shares at the strike price.

Put Options 101

Meanwhile, put options give holders the right to sell an asset at a specified price by a certain date.

Here’s how a put trade might work. A trader buys a put option tied to Stock B with a strike price of $45 and expiration three months from now. Stock B is currently trading at $50 per share.

If the price of Stock B falls to $44, below the strike price, the options holder can exercise the put. Alternatively, the value of the option would likely also rise in this scenario, as owners of Stock B might look to lock in profits and sell shares before the stock falls further. A scenario like that may give the option holder the choice of selling the option itself for a profit.

What Is the Put-Call Ratio?

A stock’s put-call ratio is the number of put options traded in the market relative to calls. It is one measure that investors look at to determine sentiment toward the shares. A high put-call ratio indicates bearish market sentiment, whereas a low one signals more bullish views.


💡 Quick Tip: It’s smart to invest in a range of assets so that you’re not overly reliant on any one company or market to do well. For example, by investing in different sectors you can add diversification to your portfolio, which may help mitigate some risk factors over time.

Options Trading Terminology

•   The strike price is the price at which the option holder can exercise the contract. If the holder decides to exercise the option, the seller is obligated to fulfill the contract.

•   With American-style options the expiration is the date by which the contract needs to be exercised. The closer an option is to its expiration, the lower the value of the contract. That is what’s called the time value.

•   Premiums reflect the value of an option; it’s the current market price for that option contract.

•   Call options are considered in the money, when the shares of the underlying stock trade above the strike price. Put options are in the money when the underlying shares are trading below the strike price.

•   Options are at the money when the strike price is equal to the price of the asset in the market. Contracts that are at the money tend to see more volume or trading activity, as holders look to exercise the options.

•   Options are out of the money when the underlying security’s price is below the strike price of a call option, or above the strike price of a put option. For example, if shares of Stock C are trading at $50 each and the call option’s strike price is $60, the contracts are out of the money.

For an out-of-the-money put option, the shares of Stock C may be trading at $60, while the put’s strike price is $50, so therefore, not yet exercisable.

Recommended: Popular Options Trading Terminology to Know

“The Greeks” in Options Trading

Traders use a range of Greek letters to gauge the value of options. Here are some of the Greeks to know:

•   Delta measures the impact of the price of the underlying asset on the option’s value.

•   Beta measures how much a single stock moves relative to the overall stock market.

•   Gamma tracks the sensitivity of an option’s Delta.

•   Theta is the sensitivity of the option to time.

•   Vega is the sensitivity of the option to implied volatility.

•   Rho is the sensitivity of the option to interest rates.

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*Customer must fund their Active Invest account with at least $25 within 30 days of opening the account. Probability of customer receiving $1,000 is 0.028%. See full terms and conditions.

How to Trade Options

The market for stock options is typically open from 9:30am to 4pm ET, Monday through Friday, while futures options can usually be traded almost 24 hours.

This is how you may get started trading options:

1. Pick a Platform

Log into your investment account with your chosen brokerage.

2. Get Approved

Your brokerage may base your approval on your trading experience. Trading options is riskier than trading stocks because losses can be steeper. That’s why not all investors should trade options.

3. Place Your Trade

Decide on an underlying asset and options strategy and place your trade.

4. Manage Your Position

Monitor your position to know whether your options are in, at or out of the money.

Basic Options Trading Strategies

Options offer a way for holders to express their views of an asset’s price through a trade. But traders may also use options to hedge or offset risk from other assets that they own. Here are some important options trading strategies to know:

Long Put, Long Call

In simple terms, if the buyer purchases an option — be it a put or a call — they are ‘long’. A long put or long call position means the holder owns a put or call option.

•   A holder with a long call strategy effectively locks in a lower purchase price for the underlying asset in case it increases in value.

•   A holder with a long put strategy effectively locks in a higher sales price for the underlying asset in case it decreases in value.

Covered and Uncovered Calls

If an options writer sells call options on a stock or other underlying security they also own outright, the options are referred to as covered calls. The selling of options helps the writer generate an additional stream of income while committing to sell the shares they own for the predetermined price if the option is exercised.

Uncovered calls, or naked calls, also exist, when options writers sell call options without owning the underlying asset. However, this is a much riskier trade since the exercising of the option would oblige the options seller to buy the underlying asset in the open market, in order to sell the stock to the option buyer.

Note that the seller wants the option to stay out of the money so that they can keep the premium (which is how the seller makes money).

Spreads

Option spread trades involve buying and selling an equal number of options for the same underlying asset but at different strikes or expirations.

A bull spread is a strategy in which a trader expects the price of the underlying asset to appreciate.

A bearish spread is a strategy in which a trader expects a decline in the price of the underlying asset.

Horizontal spreads involve buying and selling options with the same strike prices but different expiration dates. Vertical spreads are created through the simultaneous buying and selling of options with the same expiration dates but different strike prices.

Straddles and Strangles

Strangles and straddles in options trading allow traders to profit from a move in the price of the underlying asset, rather than the direction of the move.

In a straddle, a trader buys both calls and puts with the same strike prices and expiration dates. The options buyer would pocket a profit if the asset price posts a big move, regardless of whether it rises or falls.

In a strangle, the holder also buys both calls and puts but with different strike prices.

Pros & Cons of Options Trading

Like any other type of investment, or investment strategy, trading options comes with certain advantages and disadvantages that investors should consider before going down this road.

Pros of Options Trading

•   Options trading is complex and involves risks, but for experienced investors who understand the fundamentals of the contracts and how to trade them, options can be a useful tool to make investments while putting up a smaller amount of money upfront.

•   The practice of selling options to collect income can also be a way for writers who are seeking income to collect premiums consistently. This was a popular strategy particularly in the years leading up to 2020 as the stock market tended to be quiet and interest rates were low.

•   Options can also be a useful way to protect a portfolio. Some investors offset risk with options. For instance, buying a put option while also owning the underlying stock allows the options holder to lock in a selling price, for a specified period of time, in case the security declines in value, thereby limiting potential losses.

Cons of Options Trading

•   A key risk in trading options is that losses can be outsized relative to the cost of the contract. When an option is exercised, the seller of the option is obligated to buy or sell the underlying asset, even if the market is moving against them.

•   While premium costs are generally low, they can still add up. The cost of options premiums can eat away at an investor’s profits. For instance, while an investor may net a profit from a stock holding, if they used options to purchase the shares, they’d have to subtract the cost of the premiums when calculating the stock profit.

•   Because options expire within a specific time window, there is only a short period of time for an investor’s thesis to play out. Securities like stocks don’t have expiration dates.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Options Trading
Pros

 Cons
Additional income Potential outsized losses
Hedging portfolio risk Premiums can add up
Less money upfront than owning an asset outright Limited time for trades to play out

The Takeaway

Options are derivative contracts on an underlying asset (an options contract for a certain stock is typically worth 100 shares). Options are complex, high-risk instruments, and investors need to understand how they work in order to avoid steep losses.

When an investor buys a call option, it gives them the right but not the obligation to buy the underlying asset by the expiration date. When an investor buys a put option, it gives them the right but not the obligation to sell the underlying asset by the expiration date.

The contracts work differently for options sellers/writers.

The seller or writer of a call option has the obligation to sell the underlying asset at the agreed strike price to the options holder, if the holder chooses to exercise the option on or before the expiration.

The seller of a put option has the obligation to buy the shares of the underlying asset from the put option holder at the agreed strike price.

Qualified investors who are ready to try their hand at options trading, despite the risks involved, might consider checking out SoFi’s options trading platform. The platform’s user-friendly design allows investors to trade through the mobile app or web platform, and get important metrics like breakeven percentage, maximum profit/loss, and more with the click of a button.

Plus, SoFi offers educational resources — including a step-by-step in-app guide — to help you learn more about options trading. Trading options involves high-risk strategies, and should be undertaken by experienced investors.

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

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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.
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.

Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs): Investors should carefully consider the information contained in the prospectus, which contains the Fund’s investment objectives, risks, charges, expenses, and other relevant information. You may obtain a prospectus from the Fund company’s website or by email customer service at https://sofi.app.link/investchat. Please read the prospectus carefully prior to investing.
Shares of ETFs must be bought and sold at market price, which can vary significantly from the Fund’s net asset value (NAV). Investment returns are subject to market volatility and shares may be worth more or less their original value when redeemed. The diversification of an ETF will not protect against loss. An ETF may not achieve its stated investment objective. Rebalancing and other activities within the fund may be subject to tax consequences.

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

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2024
What Is a Tradeline on a Credit Report?

What Is a Tradeline on a Credit Report?

By | Budgeting & Goals, Debt Payoff, Financial Independence, money | Comments Off on What Is a Tradeline on a Credit Report?

A tradeline is the term used by the three major credit reporting bureaus — Equifax®, Experian®, and TransUnion® — to describe any one of the accounts listed on your credit report. Each account has its own tradeline, and each tradeline contains information about the creditor, your account, and your debt.

Tradelines make up a good portion of your credit report, which means the information within them plays a big role in determining your credit score. And, as you probably know, your credit score is an important number that can prove your creditworthiness and help you snag lower rates on loans, among other benefits.

The more you understand about what a tradeline is and what creditors see when they read your credit report, the better equipped you’ll be to use that information to maintain the best credit score possible.

What Is a Credit Tradeline?

A tradeline in a credit report is a record for each of the credit accounts that you have. This includes revolving credit accounts, such as credit cards, and installments loans, such as student loans, auto loans, mortgages, and personal loans.

Each tradeline may contain a host of information reported by the creditor about themselves and your debt.

Recommended: Tips for Using a Credit Card Responsibly

What Information Is Reported by a Creditor?

When it comes to knowing what a tradeline is on a credit report, you may be surprised by just how much intel is shared. Quite a lot of information is reported about a creditor and your debt. The list includes:

•   Creditor’s name and address

•   Type of account

•   Partial account number

•   Date the account was opened

•   The account’s current status

•   Date of latest activity

•   Original loan amount

•   Credit limit

•   Current or recent balance

•   Monthly payment

•   Payment history

•   Date the account was closed, if this situation applies

By looking at a tradeline, you can view all of the most recent information reported by your creditors to the three credit reporting bureaus, all in one place. This is the information that will have an impact on your credit score.

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Recommended: When Are Credit Card Payments Due?

What Other Information Is Gathered by the Credit Bureaus?

In addition to the information listed above, the credit reporting bureaus will also gather:

•   Personal information, including your name, date of birth, Social Security number, home address, phone number and employer

•   Information from the public record, including bankruptcies

•   Who has made recent inquiries about your credit and when (for example, if you’ve applied for new credit and a hard inquiry has been made)

The credit bureaus don’t know everything about you, however. They don’t have access to information such as your income, bank account balances, or marital status, though the report could include a spouse’s name if a creditor reports it.

How a Credit Tradeline Works

Tradelines are like the heartbeat of your credit report. Without them, you can’t have a score. If you are keeping your credit utilization low (that is, keeping your balance low vs. your limit on credit cards), paying your bills on time, and showing that you are a dependable borrower, your tradelines will be positive. Your three-digit credit score number should be in good shape.

If, on the other hand, you pay your bills late, skip payments, and rack up loads of debt, your tradelines will reveal negative information. Your score is likely to be low or decline.

What Are Tradelines for Credit Used for?

Creditors use your score to help them determine whether or not to extend credit to you and what terms and interest rates they’re willing to offer. Good credit is important. For example, if you have a good credit score, your lender may see you as less of a risk and offer a lower interest rate on a loan.

Higher-risk loan applicants with lower scores may be offered much higher rates. In other words, buying a car or home will be that much more expensive if your score is low.

While your credit score gives lenders an overall sense of the shape of your personal finances and credit history, it doesn’t give them any details. For those, they may look at individual tradelines contained within your credit report.

How Tradelines May Affect Your Credit and Banking

Your tradelines have a direct impact on your credit, since activity within the account is used to calculate your credit score.

Here’s a closer look at the five factors used to generate your FICO® score, and the weightings used for each.

•   Payment history: 35%

•   Amounts owed: 30%

•   Length of credit history: 15%

•   New credit: 10%

•   Credit mix: 10%.

Any credit activity that pertains to one of those categories can have an impact on your score when reported in your tradeline. For example, delinquent payments could damage your credit history. Or closing an account may have an impact on your length of credit history.

When Are Credit Tradelines Removed?

From time to time, a tradeline can be removed from your credit report. For example, if you’re an authorized user of a credit card and you are removed from the account, the tradeline will be dropped from your credit report in about two months.

When you close an account, the tradeline isn’t removed immediately. In fact, if that account has a positive impact on your credit score, the tradeline may stay on your report for as long as 10 years. Nice!

Worth noting: If a tradeline was opened fraudulently — someone opened a credit line or took on a loan in your name without your knowledge — you may ask to have the tradeline removed. In fact, it can be a very good idea to do so. It can help build your credit score since many fraudulent accounts contain negative credit information.

What Happens to Your Banking When a Tradeline Is Removed?

Removing a tradeline can be a positive or negative thing for your credit. If the tradeline was associated with positive information, removing it can hurt your credit. Luckily, a positive closed account stays on your report for a decade.

Closing an account with negative information can be a plus for your credit score. If an account is delinquent when it’s closed, the entire account will be removed after seven years.

How Is This Information Collected?

Creditors report the information collected in the tradelines to the credit reporting bureaus. They do so voluntarily, at their discretion, and on their own timeline, though the credit bureaus prefer that credit information is updated every month.

Each credit bureau may use different sourcing for the information they gather. What’s more, while some creditors will report to all three bureaus, some may only report to two, one, or even none of them.

Why You Should Check for Errors

As we’ve mentioned above, your tradelines are the source of information that determines your credit score. So it’s important to check your credit report regularly to make sure that there are no errors negatively impacting your score. Inaccurate information could also be a sign of identity theft.

You can request one free credit report from each of the three major credit reporting bureaus each year, according to the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act. Since you can get three reports each year, you could even request one report every four months, to help ensure your finances are as up-to-date as possible. A popular site to check your credit report is Annualcreditreport.com .

You may also consider signing up with a credit score monitoring service.

Can You Buy New Tradelines?

Some companies will offer the opportunity to buy tradelines to help build your score. It’s not necessarily advisable to purchase from these third-party services.

First, a little background info: When you’re trying to build credit, one common strategy is to become an authorized user on an already existing account. For example, your parents might make you a user on their credit card. Good credit history and maintaining a low balance on this account could help you build credit.

When you purchase a tradeline, you enter into a similar agreement with a stranger. You’ll pay a third-party service to set up the transaction. You won’t know the person whose account you’re joining, and you will not be able to use the account. The account will usually remain open to you for a short period of time only.

You are paying for the privilege of being on this account, which will supposedly help positively impact your credit rating.

Is Buying Tradelines Legal?

Technically speaking, buying tradelines through a reliable tradeline service is legal. Congress has said that under the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, authorized users cannot be denied on existing credit accounts, even if the person being authorized is a stranger.

That said, there are times when working with a tradeline service can lead to serious issues:

•   A company may say you can hide bad credit or a bankruptcy using a credit privacy number. In reality, this might be someone else’s Social Security number, landing you in the middle of an identity theft scam.

•   You might also find yourself buying into an account that’s gone into default. You could end up as the primary owner of the account, which could hurt your credit.

•   Also, watch out for companies that use a process called address merging in which the company claims the authorized user (that would be you) lives at the same address as the account holder. This is fraudulent, and it indicates that you are not working with a reliable company.

Risks of Buying Credit Tradelines

Whenever you give out your personal information, including to a tradeline supplier, you are putting yourself at risk of identity theft.

By attempting to take a shortcut to build credit, you also won’t be doing yourself any favors. Beyond the risk of identity theft and other entanglements, you’ll be robbing yourself of the chance to build good financial habits. And this could come back to bite you in the end if you never learn to manage debt responsibly on your own.

How Banking Can Improve Your Credit Report

If you’re looking to positively impact your credit score, there are a number of alternatives to buying tradelines that you can pursue.

•   Always pay your bills on time. Your payment history makes up the bulk of your credit score. Pay close attention to your checking account and bills; make sure you can and do make regular debt payments on time and in full. Consider automated bill pay to help ensure you never miss a payment.

•   Pay down debts. Your available credit plays a large role in the calculation of your credit score. Your credit card utilization ratio, as we mentioned above, shows how much or your available credit you’re using. You can calculate your ratio by dividing credit card balance by loan limit. If your utilization rate is over 30%, build your credit score by paying down your balance. If possible, aim to keep your score at under 10%.

•   Check your credit reports regularly. Learn to read your credit report. Alert the credit bureaus to any inaccuracies. Your credit score should change for the better shortly after a mistake is corrected.

Alternatives to Credit Tradelines

If you’re trying to build credit over time, there are also alternatives to tradelines.

•   Become an authorized user. You may wonder, “Isn’t this what purchasing a tradeline is?” The answer is yes, but it’s far better to become an authorized user on the account of someone you know well or are related to. You’ll have the opportunity to use the account and learn healthy credit habits. Just don’t abuse this privilege.

•   Apply for a secured credit card. Secured credit cards require you to make a security deposit to receive a line of credit. This deposit often becomes your credit limit. These cards are easier for people with no credit history to qualify for, and they help you build credit.

•   Get credit for paying bills. You might look into services that allow you to get credit for on-time payment of bills that usually don’t count towards your credit score. This may include bills for everything from your utilities to your streaming service.

The Takeaway

The tradeline for each of your revolving credit or installment accounts contains all the information necessary to generate your credit score. Understanding your tradelines can help you understand the ways in which you can build your score. Manage those tradelines well, and you may unlock lower interest rates on loans and other elements of financial health.

Here’s another way to boost your financial health: Find the right banking partner.

Interested in opening an online bank account? When you sign up for a SoFi Checking and Savings account with direct deposit, you’ll get a competitive annual percentage yield (APY), pay zero account fees, and enjoy an array of rewards, such as access to the Allpoint Network of 55,000+ fee-free ATMs globally. Qualifying accounts can even access their paycheck up to two days early.


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

Are tradelines good for credit?

The information contained with your tradelines is used to generate your credit score. It reflects how well you manage credit and can therefore be either good or bad, depending on such factors as whether you have been paying back debt on time and how much debt you are carrying.

How much will a tradeline build my credit?

Adding a tradeline can actually lower your credit in the short-term. For example, it will lower the average age of your accounts, which can have a negative impact on your length of credit history. However, if you can maintain the account over the long-term and keep up with payments, the new account may help build your credit score.

How do I get tradelines on my credit?

Tradelines are added to your credit report when you open new lines of credit or take out new loans. A tradeline is also added when you become an authorized user on another person’s account.

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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.

SoFi Bank reserves the right to grant a grace period to account holders following a change in Direct Deposit activity or Qualifying Deposits activity before adjusting rates. If SoFi Bank grants you a grace period, the dates for such grace period will be reflected on the APY Details page of your account. If SoFi Bank determines that you did not have Direct Deposit activity or $5,000 in Qualifying Deposits during the current 30-day Evaluation Period and, if applicable, the grace period, then you will begin earning the rates earned by account holders without either Direct Deposit or Qualifying Deposits until you have Direct Deposit activity or $5,000 in Qualifying Deposits in a subsequent 30-Day Evaluation Period. For the avoidance of doubt, an account holder with both Direct Deposit activity and Qualifying Deposits will earn the rates earned by account holders with Direct Deposit.

Members without either Direct Deposit activity or Qualifying Deposits, as determined by SoFi Bank, during a 30-Day Evaluation Period and, if applicable, the grace period, will earn 1.20% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances.

Interest rates are variable and subject to change at any time. These rates are current as of 10/31/2024. There is no minimum balance requirement. Additional information can be found at https://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet.

*Awards or rankings from NerdWallet are not indicative of future success or results. This award and its ratings are independently determined and awarded by their respective publications.

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.

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.

Disclaimer: Many factors affect your credit scores and the interest rates you may receive. SoFi is not a Credit Repair Organization as defined under federal or state law, including the Credit Repair Organizations Act. SoFi does not provide “credit repair” services or advice or assistance regarding “rebuilding” or “improving” your credit record, credit history, or credit rating. For details, see the FTC’s website .

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2024
What Are Get Rich Quick Schemes?

Understanding and Avoiding Get-Rich-Quick Schemes

By | Life & Career, money | Comments Off on Understanding and Avoiding Get-Rich-Quick Schemes

Unless you’re already a millionaire, you might be interested in finding ways to make more money and increase your net worth so you can join the ranks of the rich. You may even be tempted to participate in a get-rich-quick scheme to achieve your goals.

But hold on a minute: Get-rich-quick schemes attract people with the lure of easy money, but all too often, they create more financial problems instead of solving them.

Understanding these scams can help you avoid them — and avoid getting scammed by fraudsters.

Key Points

•   Get-rich-quick schemes promise large amounts of money for little to no investment but often fail to deliver.

•   Scammers use enticing language and false claims to attract victims to these schemes.

•   Examples of get-rich-quick schemes include MLMs (multi-level marketing), work-at-home scams, investment scams, and debt relief scams.

•   Spotting a get-rich-quick scheme involves looking out for upfront payments, misleading claims, secret tips, and unrealistic guarantees.

•   Legitimate alternatives to get-rich-quick schemes include starting a business, investing, and working with financial advisors.

What Is a Get-Rich-Quick Scheme?

Generally speaking, a get-rich-quick scheme is any plan or strategy that promises to put large amounts of money in your bank account for little to no investment. The term “get rich quick” has a less than desirable connotation, since these ventures often fail to live up to their claims.

It’s not uncommon to see get rich-quick-schemes advertised or promoted using language that’s designed to pique consumers’ interest. For example, you might come across a social media influencer that promises to help you “make money while you sleep” or “make money instantly without paying anything.”

That type of wording is often a red flag, and it may be a sign that a get-rich-quick scheme is actually a thinly veiled scam.

Get-rich-quick schemers can also take a more subtle approach and make promises that seem legitimate when taken at face value. Student loan forgiveness scams that claim to be able to help you wipe out student debt in exchange for a fee are a great example of this (you’ll learn more examples of these traps in a minute).

Recommended: 8 Common Online Bank Scams and How to Avoid Them

How Do Get-Rich-Quick Schemes Work?

Get-rich-quick schemes work by drawing people in and using some type of financial incentive as bait. Potential victims may be told that they’ll be able to make a large amount of money very quickly if they just pay a fee or make an initial investment. Or they’ll be told that they can get their debts eliminated for much less than what they owe.

In other cases, a get-rich-quick scheme is a major money scam that’s designed to get people to part with their hard-earned money in exchange for a product or service that will supposedly help them make more money. The purpose of this type of scheme is to get people to purchase something; the individual who’s hawking it can then make money themselves. Put simply, you are unlikely to benefit financially.

Using social media influencers as an example again, an influencer might promote a book or a course that teaches a “proven” system for how to make money online. They encourage their followers to buy the book or course and suggest that if they do so, they’ll be able to grow their income and get rich.

What their followers may not realize is that the influencer is likely getting paid for that promotion. Their posts may be sponsored by the book author or course creator. Or perhaps they’re earning affiliate commissions for referring people to the products. If the influencer convinces enough people to buy whatever it is they’re selling, they might get rich quick while their followers may not.

Technically, influencers and bloggers are required to disclose paid relationships to their audience. But disclosure alone doesn’t convey any guarantee that the product they’re promoting will work the way they say it will. So people buy in, expecting results that they may or may not see.

Recommended: How To Make Money Even With No Job

Are Get-Rich-Quick Schemes Illegal?

Get-rich-quick schemes themselves are not outlawed, though there are numerous regulations that attempt to protect consumers from scammers. As mentioned, influencers are required to disclose relationships they have with the brands that they promote. The Truth in Advertising Act exists to prevent companies or individuals from making false or misleading claims when advertising products and services. Advertisers must also be able to back up the claims they make with scientific evidence, when appropriate.

Whether a get-rich-quick scheme falls within legal boundaries or is illegal can largely depend on the nature of the scheme. Multi-level marketing (MLM) is a great example. What is an MLM? In simple terms, it’s a business structure in which people earn commissions by selling products or services to friends and family members. Mary Kay and Avon are two well-known examples of multi-level marketing operations that are legit.

MLMs are not illegal, but pyramid schemes are. What’s known as a pyramid scheme can resemble an MLM, but the difference is that all the money is made by bringing new people into the program. The person who recruited a new participant earns money by charging them an entry or registration fee or perhaps an introductory product package of some sort. The higher up you are in the pyramid, the more money you can make.

A Ponzi scheme is another type of illegal get rich quick scheme. In a Ponzi scheme, the person or persons at the top promise investors they can double or triple their money. They take the investors’ money and keep it for themselves, paying out nominal amounts to people who invested earlier in the scheme. The scheme can keep going — and continue making the people at the top rich — as long as new investors keep joining. Bernie Madoff, the convicted financial fraudster, was notorious for running one of the largest Ponzi schemes in history.

Recommended: Avoiding Mobile Deposit Scams, Fakes, and Hacks

Examples of Get-Rich-Quick Schemes

Get-rich-quick schemes can take many different forms, and it isn’t always easy to recognize them for what they are. Some of the most common examples of legal (and illegal) get-rich-quick schemes include:

•   MLMs and pyramid schemes disguised as MLMs

•   Work-at-home scams that promise you’ll earn major money

•   Investment scams that promise high returns for very little money

•   Side hustle and online business scams

•   Debt relief and credit repair scams

•   Lottery scams

•   Fake job listing scams

•   Scams related to student loan forgiveness or government benefits

•   Home improvement scams

•   Mystery shopping scams

•   Giveaway or free prize scams

And of course, there’s the ever-enduring “Nigerian prince” scheme. This scam and its many variations promise you a large inheritance, finder’s fee, or compensation in exchange for accepting a deposit into your bank account. Scammers, who claim to be royalty (perhaps hoping that will impress their target and sound legitimate), ask that once you receive the deposit, you send part of the money back to them and keep the rest.

In reality, the scammer is trying to trick you into handing over your bank information, so they can try to use your account number and routing number to cheat you. Or else they ask you to wire them a small amount to cover processing fees before they can send the money along to you. It’s an ongoing get-rich-quick scheme that unfortunately continues to collect victims.

Are Get-Rich-Quick Schemes Reliable?

A get-rich-quick scheme can make lots of promises, but they generally fall short when it comes to the delivery. What you can usually count on with a get-rich-quick scheme is that you’ll lose money if you participate. That’s because that’s how these schemes are designed to operate.

Getting money for nothing sounds attractive, and so it’s easy to fall victim to influencer schemes when you see the lavish lives they lead on social media. But there’s a significant difference between rich vs. wealthy and, again, there’s no guarantee that any get-rich-quick scheme will produce the results you want.

Even if you don’t lose money outright, you may only get a small return on investment. Or it can take much longer to see results. For example, say you’re interested in becoming a blogger so you can quit your full-time job. You see a popular writing course advertised by lots of different bloggers who claim to be making six figures a year.

You buy the course, believing that in exchange for your payment of just $497 you’ll soon be on your way to making $10,000 or more each month from home. Except you complete the course and don’t see instant results. In fact, it takes you more than three years to build up your business to the point where you’re making any kind of steady income.

You might eventually get rich, but there’s no “quick” about it. That’s why get-rich-quick schemes are so problematic. They rely on people looking for a shortcut to easy money, despite the reality that building one’s income and net worth typically takes years.

Recommended: Are You Bad with Money? Here’s How to Get Better

Tips to Spot a Get-Rich-Quick Scheme

Identifying a get-rich-quick scam isn’t always easy since some scammers can be so convincing and seem so sincere. And in some cases, schemes for quick riches are based on legitimate ways to make or invest money. If you’re worried about getting conned by a get-rich-quick schemer, here are some of the ways to spot a scam in action.

Upfront Payment

A request for upfront payment is often a dead giveaway that a scam is afoot. Email phishing scams like the “Nigerian prince” scheme are a great example. There are some common credit card scams that fall into this category as well. These scams make false claims about being able to raise your credit scores overnight or wipe out credit card debt instantly, as long as you pay their fee first.

Misleading Headlines With False Claims

Scammers often use clickbait-y headlines to grab consumers’ attention. They can make claims that are grandiose or outright false to get you to click and check out their product or service. You may not realize how misleading those claims are until you’ve bought into the scheme.

Secret Tips and Information

Another tactic scammers may use to get your attention is to tell you they have insider information that they’re willing to share with you to help you get rich. Of course, you’ll only be able to access those secret tips once you’ve purchased something or paid them a fee. It’s particularly important to be wary of those so-called secrets when it comes to investing, since insider trading is illegal.

“100% Success Rate Guaranteed!”

Scammers may also use language that suggests that everyone who’s ever used their product or service has seen success or that success is guaranteed. That could fall under the heading of misleading information in violation of the Truth in Advertising Act. And even if it’s technically true that the success rate is 100%, the results may not be the same for everyone.

Recommended: 8 Ways to Make Your Money Work For You

If It Sounds Too Good to Be True

Here’s perhaps the easier rule for spotting a get-rich-quick scam: if something seems too good to be true, it probably is, as the saying goes. Attempting to fact-check or verify claims that someone is making about a product or service can help to weed out scammers. If you can’t verify any of the claims they’re making, that’s a sign to be wary of their statements.

Going to Trusted Sources, Not Influencers or Celebrities

Influencers and celebrities can make a lot of money promoting products or services that are designed to help you get rich. But again, they may be getting paid for that promotion, so they can’t be considered a reliable source.

Researching get-rich-quick offers through trusted sources is important for separating fact from fiction. For example, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) can be a great resource for reading up on the latest scams targeting consumers.

Unwilling to Share Their Business Model

Transparency is key to rooting out get-rich-quick scammers. Let’s say someone claims to be able to help you make $10,000 by starting your own business from home but is unwilling to tell you how they do it. That’s a sign that you might not want to take them at their word.

“You Do Not Need Any Experience!”

Wouldn’t it be nice if you could make a fortune with no prior experience or knowledge? That’s the hope upon which some get-rich-quick fraudsters capitalize. While there are legitimate ways to make money that don’t necessarily require years of experience, scammers can use that to persuade people to buy into a product or service that leaves you holding the bag. Or they can twist their wording to make it seem like you can make money even without experience, when really, there’s a steep learning curve involved.

Recommended: 6 Money Habits to Develop Financial Success

Alternatives to Get-Rich-Quick Schemes

Getting rich overnight probably isn’t the cards for most people, unless they happen to win the lottery or a wealthy relative passes away and leaves them a huge inheritance. If you want to get rich (or become wealthy), you’ll most likely need to put in some effort and give it some time.

Here are some legitimate wealth-building alternatives to get-rich-quick schemes:

•   Starting and growing a business

•   Using side hustles to supplement your income

•   Asking for a raise or promotion at work

•   Moving to a higher-paying job with a different company

•   Reducing spending and paying down debt

•   Investing money consistently

•   Working with a financial advisor or wealth manager

Admittedly, these ideas may seem a lot more boring and difficult than get-rich-quick schemes. But they’re all proven ways to increase financial stability and raise your net worth.

Banking With SoFi

Trying to get rich can be a lofty and elusive goal, but you can certainly take steps to improve your financial situation. Keeping your money in the right bank account can be a great place to start.

Interested in opening an online bank account? When you sign up for a SoFi Checking and Savings account with direct deposit, you’ll get a competitive annual percentage yield (APY), pay zero account fees, and enjoy an array of rewards, such as access to the Allpoint Network of 55,000+ fee-free ATMs globally. Qualifying accounts can even access their paycheck up to two days early.


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

Can get-rich-quick schemes be good?

Get-rich-quick schemes often require you to pay money for an investment or product that claims to help you grow your wealth immediately. Typically, though, the results you get can be very different from what you expect. In other words, they are unlikely to be good.

How many businesses are considered get-rich-quick schemes?

There are no definitive statistics on how many businesses are considered to be get-rich-quick schemes. Multi-level marketing companies and direct sales companies often get labeled as get-rich-quick operations, even when those businesses are legitimate. This makes hard numbers difficult to find.

What can I do if I have fallen for a get-rich-quick scheme?

If you’ve fallen for a scam, try to minimize or limit your losses by not funneling any more money into the scheme. If you believe the scheme is illegal, you can report it to the Federal Trade Commission. You could also file a police report and report the scheme to your state attorney general’s office. If a scammer tricked you into handing over your banking or financial information, alert your bank to monitor your account for potentially fraudulent transactions. You may also need to update your login details for financial websites.

Photo credit: iStock/alfexe

SoFi® Checking and Savings is offered through SoFi Bank, N.A. ©2024 SoFi Bank, N.A. All rights reserved. Member FDIC. Equal Housing Lender.
The SoFi Bank Debit Mastercard® is issued by SoFi Bank, N.A., pursuant to license by Mastercard International Incorporated and can be used everywhere Mastercard is accepted. Mastercard is a registered trademark, and the circles design is a trademark of Mastercard International Incorporated.

*Awards or rankings from NerdWallet are not indicative of future success or results. This award and its ratings are independently determined and awarded by their respective publications.

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.

SoFi Bank reserves the right to grant a grace period to account holders following a change in Direct Deposit activity or Qualifying Deposits activity before adjusting rates. If SoFi Bank grants you a grace period, the dates for such grace period will be reflected on the APY Details page of your account. If SoFi Bank determines that you did not have Direct Deposit activity or $5,000 in Qualifying Deposits during the current 30-day Evaluation Period and, if applicable, the grace period, then you will begin earning the rates earned by account holders without either Direct Deposit or Qualifying Deposits until you have Direct Deposit activity or $5,000 in Qualifying Deposits in a subsequent 30-Day Evaluation Period. For the avoidance of doubt, an account holder with both Direct Deposit activity and Qualifying Deposits will earn the rates earned by account holders with Direct Deposit.

Members without either Direct Deposit activity or Qualifying Deposits, as determined by SoFi Bank, during a 30-Day Evaluation Period and, if applicable, the grace period, will earn 1.20% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances.

Interest rates are variable and subject to change at any time. These rates are current as of 10/31/2024. There is no minimum balance requirement. Additional information can be found at https://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet.

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.

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26
2024

What Happens to a Direct Deposit if It Goes to a Closed Account?

By | Family Finances, Life & Career, money | Comments Off on What Happens to a Direct Deposit if It Goes to a Closed Account?

If a direct deposit goes to a closed account, it won’t vanish into the ether. This kind of issue can usually be resolved, and the money can get to its intended destination or be reclaimed.

It’s a common enough hiccup when a direct deposit goes to a bank account that is closed. Maybe the account holder shut it or the financial institution did, but either way, the money can be tracked and re-directed.

Key Points

•   Direct deposits to closed accounts are usually returned to the sender.

•   The bank may hold onto the funds and give the account holder time to reopen the closed account.

•   Banks may issue a paper check to the individual who owns the closed account.

•   To avoid a misdirected deposit, it’s important to double-check account numbers and cancel direct deposits before closing a bank account.

What Is a Closed Account?

A closed account refers to a deactivated or terminated account; in other words, it’s no longer open and available for deposits and withdrawals. The account holder, a custodian or the account, or the banking institution can usually close an account.

Why might a bank close an account? This can be what happens when your bank account is negative and you fail to replenish it and/or pay overdraft fees. Or perhaps the bank has seen activity they don’t think is legitimate, among other reasons.

Once this happens, it’s generally not possible to deposit funds by direct deposit or otherwise into the account. Often the term “closed account” refers to a checking or savings account, but it can also refer to a derivative trading, auto loan, brokerage, or credit card account.

What Can Happen to a Direct Deposit if It Is Sent to a Closed Account?

Sometimes, you may have gone to the trouble of setting up direct deposit in the past, but then the account later winds up closed. You might wonder what happens if a direct deposit is sent to a closed account.

Most banks have a standard process they follow when misdirected money is received. Here are a few different situations that can play out.

Direct Deposit Will Be Returned to the Sender

In many cases when someone tries to send money to a closed bank account, the bank will simply return the funds to the sender or decline the transaction. It can take about five to 10 days for funds to be returned to the sender. This timeline can speed up if the account holder to whom the deposit was intended is in good standing with the bank.

Bank Can Possibly Hold Funds

If a deposit is issued to a closed account, the bank may choose to hold onto the funds and may give the account holder time to reopen a closed bank account. Reopening a closed account, however, is only possible in a couple of scenarios. It’s not a sure thing.

Sometimes, a situation arises with what is known as a dormant account. This means there hasn’t been any activity over a period of time except for interest accruing. You may be able to get the account fully up and running again by contacting your financial institution.

In other cases, you might be able to reopen an account that is frozen. In the case of a frozen account, you may not be able to withdraw funds due to the financial institution’s decision (perhaps there is activity that doesn’t seem legitimate) or a court order (that is, a judgment against you). In some of these scenarios, you may be able to fix a frozen account by talking with your bank, or you may need legal assistance.

Banks may be more willing to work with customers if this is the first time a situation like this (meaning a dormant or frozen account) has happened. If a deposit was intended for you and you are able to reopen your account, this issue can resolve quickly—possibly within 24 hours.

Bank May Issue a Paper Check

Some banks choose to issue a paper check to the individual who owns the closed account. Other times, the company or individual with whom you set up direct deposit may get their funds back from the bank and then may make the payment via a paper check.

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When Does a Bank Return a Direct Deposit to the Sender?

If a bank receives a direct deposit for a closed account or for a faulty account number, they may choose to return the direct deposit to the sender or to simply decline the transaction.

Can a Direct Deposit Reopen a Closed Account?

Occasionally, a direct deposit being sent to a closed account can trigger its reopening. A bank may choose to give a customer the chance to reopen their account. They might hold onto the funds until the account is reopened so they can complete the direct deposit.

This happens very much on a case-by-case, bank-by-bank decision. Communication with your financial institution can be very important in this situation.

Recommended: How Long Does a Direct Deposit Take to Go Through?

What Can I Do if My Direct Deposit Was Sent to a Closed Account?

If a direct deposit was sent into a closed account, the best thing to do is to contact the bank the funds were sent to. This can help you resolve the issue as quickly as possible. Every bank has its own processes for handling situations like this. Yours can help you understand what the best next steps may be.

The bank may or may not play a role in getting the funds to you. In some cases, you may need to deal directly with the payor. But in either case, your financial institution should be able to give you guidance.

Also, remember that while it can be stressful when a direct deposit goes to a closed account, the money won’t be lost. You should be able to get your funds back.

Avoiding a Misdirected Direct Deposit

To avoid having a direct deposit sent to a closed account, it’s best to get ahead of the issue. These are some steps you can take to help avoid a misdirected direct deposit.

•   Double-check account numbers on direct deposit forms. Whenever filling out a new direct deposit form, it’s a good idea to double (if not triple) check the account numbers on the form. Likewise, if you are expecting a recurring direct deposit to a closed bank account, it’s important to get it redirected to a current open account and carefully check that the digits are correct.

•   Cancel direct deposits before canceling a bank account. To help avoid any issues with direct deposits, it’s a good idea to cancel or alter any direct deposits before closing a bank account. Then, you can make sure payments are heading to a bank account that can receive the funds. That way, any issues can be resolved before the account closes so the money doesn’t get stuck in limbo.

Recommended: Are You Bad with Money? Here’s How to Get Better

Banking With SoFi

Interested in opening an online bank account? When you sign up for a SoFi Checking and Savings account with direct deposit, you’ll get a competitive annual percentage yield (APY), pay zero account fees, and enjoy an array of rewards, such as access to the Allpoint Network of 55,000+ fee-free ATMs globally. Qualifying accounts can even access their paycheck up to two days early.


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

Can a direct deposit go into a closed account?

If a direct deposit goes to a closed account, there are several outcomes that vary bank to bank. In some cases, the financial institution may hold onto the funds and let the customer reopen their account to claim the money; it might send the funds back to the payer or decline the transaction; or it may choose to issue a paper check to the payee.

How long does it take for a payment to bounce back from a closed account?

If an individual or business issues a direct deposit to a closed account, the bank may choose to either decline the transaction or send the funds back to the payer. If they choose to send the funds back to the payer, it typically takes anywhere from five to 10 days for them to get their money back.

What happens to money refunded to a closed bank account?

A few different scenarios can happen if money is refunded to a closed bank account. The bank can simply decline the transaction or to send the funds back to the payer. Other options include issuing a paper check to the payee or possibly holding onto the funds and giving the payee the option to reopen their closed account.

Photo credit: iStock/MissTuni

SoFi® Checking and Savings is offered through SoFi Bank, N.A. ©2024 SoFi Bank, N.A. All rights reserved. Member FDIC. Equal Housing Lender.
The SoFi Bank Debit Mastercard® is issued by SoFi Bank, N.A., pursuant to license by Mastercard International Incorporated and can be used everywhere Mastercard is accepted. Mastercard is a registered trademark, and the circles design is a trademark of Mastercard International Incorporated.

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.

SoFi Bank reserves the right to grant a grace period to account holders following a change in Direct Deposit activity or Qualifying Deposits activity before adjusting rates. If SoFi Bank grants you a grace period, the dates for such grace period will be reflected on the APY Details page of your account. If SoFi Bank determines that you did not have Direct Deposit activity or $5,000 in Qualifying Deposits during the current 30-day Evaluation Period and, if applicable, the grace period, then you will begin earning the rates earned by account holders without either Direct Deposit or Qualifying Deposits until you have Direct Deposit activity or $5,000 in Qualifying Deposits in a subsequent 30-Day Evaluation Period. For the avoidance of doubt, an account holder with both Direct Deposit activity and Qualifying Deposits will earn the rates earned by account holders with Direct Deposit.

Members without either Direct Deposit activity or Qualifying Deposits, as determined by SoFi Bank, during a 30-Day Evaluation Period and, if applicable, the grace period, will earn 1.20% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances.

Interest rates are variable and subject to change at any time. These rates are current as of 10/31/2024. There is no minimum balance requirement. Additional information can be found at https://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet.

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.

*Awards or rankings from NerdWallet are not indicative of future success or results. This award and its ratings are independently determined and awarded by their respective publications.

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