Sep
13
2023
5 Common Financial Challenges

5 Common Financial Challenges

By | Budgeting & Goals, Financial Independence, money | Comments Off on 5 Common Financial Challenges

Most people hit financial challenges at some point. Perhaps it’s a bout of overspending, the feeling that you can’t get out from under your credit card debt, or the fact that your budget just won’t balance.

Facing these kinds of situations doesn’t mean that financial security can’t be yours, nor that your money goals are unattainable. Rather, it means that you may need to focus on your finances, reprioritize, and adopt some new habits to get on track.

Here, you’ll learn about five of the most common and vexing money challenges you may encounter, as well as some smart solutions that can help you take control of your finances.

1. Monthly Spending Exceeds Income

Many people struggle with the fact that their monthly outflow (or spending) outpaces their monthly inflow (or take-home income). The imbalance can cause you to rely on credit cards, and make it nearly impossible to save for the future, or even for a rainy day.

To help get your cash flow into balance, you may want to set up a basic budget. While a budget may sound restrictive, it can actually simplify your finances and make it easier to make everyday spending decisions.

A good way to start is to go through the last few months of financial statements and receipts, then tally up your average monthly income (after taxes) and average monthly spending. You may also want to break down expenses by categories, and then group categories into necessary and unnecessary spending.

It can also be helpful to actually ​track your spending for a month, taking note of every latte and lunch out (or by using an app that tracks expenses). Although you may think you know where your money is going, when people tally up all their purchases for a month, they are often surprised to notice that their spending doesn’t always match up with what they thought their priorities were.

Once you see where your money is really going each month, you can then look at your budget critically and search for areas where you can cut back. For example, you might decide you’ll eat out less often, pack your lunch a few days a week, save on a streaming service you rarely watch (buh-bye), or find a cheaper cell phone provider.

You may also want to think about ways you may be able to grow your income, such as negotiating a higher salary, looking for a new (higher-paying) job, or taking on a low-cost side hustle.

💡 Quick Tip: Typically, checking accounts don’t earn interest. However, some accounts do, and online banks are more likely than brick-and-mortar banks to offer you the best rates.

2. Not Having a Financial Cushion

Life can be unpredictable, and unforeseen events, like a loss of income, car breakdown, or visit to the ER, can quickly put you into a hole if you don’t have any emergency savings at your disposal.

Ideally, an emergency fund will have enough cash to cover three- to six months’ worth of living expenses, but even a reserve of $1,000 can save you from having to rely on credit cards or take out a personal loan to handle an unexpected expense.

To start building a buffer, you may want to consider dedicating part of your monthly budget to emergency savings. It can be a good idea to keep this fund in an account that earns more interest than a standard savings account, but still allows you easy access to your money, such as a high-yield savings account, money market account, online savings account, or a checking and savings account.

Even contributions of $50 a month can add up quickly, creating a cushion that can come in handy when a rainy day hits.

Get up to $300 when you bank with SoFi.

No account or overdraft fees. No minimum balance.

Up to 4.20% APY on savings balances.

Up to 2-day-early paycheck.

Up to $2M of additional
FDIC insurance.


3. Carrying a Credit Card Balance Every Month

Credit cards can be both a useful financial tool and an incredibly slippery slope. High-interest rates make the price of the charged items significantly more expensive. And, depending on credit makes it more likely that you’ll spend more than you earn.

As you re-evaluate your budget and work to reduce expenses, you may also want to find a way to pay more than the minimum on your credit card balances. If you have multiple cards, you might try the avalanche method of paying off debt. This involves paying the minimum on all your balances, but putting extra towards the balance with the highest interest rate. Once that’s paid off, you put your extra money towards the debt with the next highest balance, and so on.

Another approach is the snowball method. Here, you pay the minimum on all your debts, but put extra money towards the smallest balance. Once, that’s paid off, you put your extra money towards the next-highest balance, and so on.

Alternatively, you may want to consider consolidating your credit card debt by paying off all your balances with a personal loan. You would then only have one balance to keep up with, ideally with a lower interest rate.

💡 Quick Tip: Are you paying pointless bank fees? Open a checking account with no account fees and avoid monthly charges (and likely earn a higher rate, too).

4. Being Weighed Down by Student Loan Debt

Having a large amount of student debt can demand payments that limit your ability to buy a home or increase your savings. While it can be tempting to put off payment, that only results in paying more interest over time.

Instead, you may want to consider paying more each month in order to get out from under student debt faster. Whether it’s paying $20 or $100 more each month, every bit over the minimum payment helps to make a dent in your debt.

You may also want to put any lump sum of cash you receive, such as a tax refund or bonus, towards your student loan debt. When you make extra payments, however, it’s a good idea to make sure that you select the option for the funds to be applied toward your loan principal (otherwise it may go towards interest).

Another option you may want to consider is refinancing your student loans. This means trading in your current loan(s) for one brand new loan through a private lender. The goal with refinancing is to get a lower interest rate while also having the ability to change your loan term (such as cutting the timeline in half). This can be a good option if you have good credit and are currently paying a high interest rate on your student loans. Just be aware that refinancing federal student loans can mean you are not eligible for forgiveness, so think carefully about your decision.

Recommended: 6 Strategies to Pay off Student Loans Quickly

5. Not Saving Enough for Retirement

Retirement saving can be critical if you want to have financial freedom in your future. And even if retirement seems like a long way off, it can be much easier to amass a comfortable nest egg when you start saving and investing early.

Thanks to the magic of compounding interest (when the interest you earn also earns interest), even putting a little bit of money into a retirement fund each month can help you build wealth over time.

If you aren’t maximizing contributions to a 401k, you may want to consider putting as much tax-deferred money as possible into these accounts. If your employer offers matching funds, it can be a good idea to take full advantage of this perk (which is essentially free money).

If you don’t have access to a 401k, or you are able to put any additional money aside to secure your retirement, you may want to consider opening an IRA (keeping in mind that there are annual limits to retirement contributions).

Taking advantage of these savings vehicles can lower your tax burden this year and earn interest for your golden years.

The Takeaway

Dealing with financial challenges is never fun. But many of us have to do it at one time or another during our lives.

Whether you’re living paycheck to paycheck and can’t ever seem to save or you’re trying to bounce back after a financial mistake, there is typically a way to resolve the problem.

It may be as simple as tracking your expenses for a month and setting up a monthly budget. Or, you may need to set up a manageable debt repayment plan to regain control of your finances. And, it’s perfectly fine if your first steps are small.

One small, simple step that may help you keep better track of your finances is to 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.

Photo credit: iStock/iamnoonmai

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.

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

SOBK0923002

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Sep
13
2023
Understanding Funds Availability Rules

Understanding Funds Availability Rules

By | Budgeting & Goals, Financial Independence, money | Comments Off on Understanding Funds Availability Rules

When you deposit money into your bank account, you can’t always use the money right away. Your financial institution may put a hold on a portion of your funds as they process them and make sure they clear. Whether or not all your cash is available can depend on a variety of factors, such as the form of the deposit (say, electronic or a check); the amount of money involved; and when and where the deposit was made (in person? After business hours?). Your money might be ready to use almost immediately, or it could take a few days or even longer.

Federal regulations determine how long banks can take to make deposits available to their clients. And banks and credit unions may have their own internal guidelines as well about processing deposits. It can be a good move to check with your financial institution about their guidelines for clearing deposits so you don’t wind up accidentally overdrawing your account.

That said, here are some important guidelines about when banks typically make funds available to help you manage your money even better.

Why Do Banks Put a Hold on Deposits?

Banks hold deposits to protect themselves, as well as their customers, from losing money. If a check you deposit bounces or some other complication arises, the bank will have an opportunity to fix the problem before you have the opportunity to spend the funds.

While a delay in being able to access your own money may seem like a nuisance, holds can actually help protect you from fraud and fees.

If your bank allows you to spend funds from a check that later bounces, you would have to repay the bank the amount that they gave you, and likely also get hit with a hefty overdraft fee. This is the case regardless of who is at fault.

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How Long Can a Bank Hold a Deposit?

The amount of time it takes for funds to become available can depend on a number of factors, including how long you’ve held your account, your financial history, the type of deposit (e.g., cash, check, direct deposit), and the amount of the deposit.

•   Generally, a bank or credit union has until at least the next business day (a business day is a weekday that is not a holiday) to make most deposits available.

•   Electronic deposits are typically available on the same day. So, one way to make sure your paycheck is available to you quickly is to sign up for direct deposit.

•   Cash deposits may clear immediately or the next business day.

•   The longest a bank can hold funds is usually five business days for money deposited at an ATM of a different bank.

•   While each bank or credit union has its own rules as to when it will let you access the money you deposit, federal law establishes the maximum length of time a bank or credit union can make you wait.

The amount of money deposited can also matter. Here are the rules set by the Federal Reserve.

• Direct Deposit: Day of Deposit

• Wire Transfer: Next Business Day

• First $225 of any non-”next-day” check deposited: Next Business Day

• Cash*: Next Business Day

• U.S. Treasury Check: Next Business Day

• U.S. Postal Service Money Order*: Next Business Day

• State or Local Government Check*: Next Business Day

• Casher’s, Certified, or Teller’s Check*: Next Business Day

• Checks and Money Orders Drawn on Another Account at the Same Financial Institution: Next Business Day

• Federal Reserve Bank and Federal Home Loan Bank Checks*: Next Business Day

• Any Other Checks or Non-U.S. Postal Service Money Orders: Second Business Day After the Day of Deposit

• Deposits of Items Noted by “*” at an ATM Owned by the Customer’s Financial Institutions: Second Business Day After the Day of Deposit

• Deposits Made at an ATM Not Owned by the Customer’s Financial Institution: Fifth Business Day After the Day of Deposit

* Deposited in person

You may want to keep in mind that the hold times listed above are the maximum allowed. It’s possible that your funds will be available sooner.

You can typically find specifics about your bank’s funds availability policy in the account agreement you received when you opened your account, or you can ask the bank for a copy of their holding policies.

💡 Quick Tip: The myth about online accounts is that it’s hard to access your cash. Not so! When you open the right online checking account, you’ll have ATM access at thousands of locations.

Understanding Cut-Off Times

When you deposit a check, you may think you did it “today.” However, you may have missed the cut-off for starting the deposit process on that calendar day.

If you make a deposit after the cut-off time, your financial institution can treat your deposit as if it was made on the next business day. If the deposit was made late in the day on a Friday, it could actually take three or more days for the money to show up in your account.

By law, a bank or credit union’s cut-off time for receiving deposits is generally no earlier than 2:00 p.m. at physical locations and no earlier than noon at an ATM or elsewhere. Sometimes banks have later deposit times for mobile deposits (made via the bank’s phone app), such as 5 pm.

Get up to $300 when you bank with SoFi.

No account or overdraft fees. No minimum balance.

Up to 4.20% APY on savings balances.

Up to 2-day-early paycheck.

Up to $2M of additional
FDIC insurance.


Deposits That May Take Longer to Become Available

There are certain circumstances under which banks are allowed to hold deposited funds for longer than the times listed above.

When these exceptions apply, there isn’t always a clearly defined limit to the amount of time the bank can hold funds. The bank can generally hold funds for a “reasonable” amount of time.

Exceptions to standard holding times include:

Large Deposits

If a customer deposits more than $5,000, the bank will typically need to make the first $5,000 of the funds available on the second business day, but they are allowed to put a longer hold on the remaining amount.

Redeposited Checks

If a check bounces and then is redeposited, banks may hold the funds for longer than one business day. (You may want to be cautious about accepting future checks from a person or business that has already bounced a check.)

Accounts That Have Been Repeatedly Overdrawn

If a customer has a history of overdrawing their account, the bank may go beyond charging overdraft fees and also hold funds for more time before making them available for use.

Repeatedly overdrawn means that the account has had a negative balance on at least six business days within the past six months, or the account was $5,000 overdrawn more than twice within the past six months. (One note: If you are in this situation, you may want to consider the pros and cons of overdraft protection.)

Reasonable Doubt

If a customer deposits a check that seems suspicious, the bank may hold funds for a longer period of time. A check may seem suspicious if it’s postdated or it’s more than 60 days old. (Typically, how long a check is good for is about 6 months, but it may cause concern after two months has passed.)

New Bank Accounts

If you recently opened a bank account and your account is less than 30 days old, you may experience hold times of up to nine days. Official checks and electronic payments, however, may be partially available the next day.

Emergency Conditions

If there is a communications outage, a natural disaster, or another circumstance that impedes normal bank functions, banks can hold funds until they are able to provide the funds.

The Takeaway

When you deposit a check, you naturally expect the money to show up in your bank account. But there may be a delay between the time you deposit money and the time that those funds are actually available for you to spend.

Banks generally make funds available on the business day after you make a deposit, but there are exceptions.

Direct deposits are typically available sooner, and some checks, such as those larger than $5,000 or older than 60 days, can take longer to clear.

Knowing your financial institution’s policies about holding times can help ensure that you’re able to pay your bills on time, have access to cash when you need it, and don’t get hit with overdraft fees.

Leveraging Technology

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.

Photo credit: iStock/solidcolours

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.

SOBK0923003

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Sep
12
2023
Man looking at charts on tablet

What Is Asset Turnover Ratio?

By | Growing Wealth, invest, Investing, Terminology | Comments Off on What Is Asset Turnover Ratio?

Asset turnover ratio is a calculation used to measure the value of a company’s assets relative to its sales or revenue. It’s used to evaluate how well a company is doing at using its assets to generate revenue.

Similar to cash flow, the asset turnover ratio compares the company’s total assets over the course of a year to its sales. In simpler terms, it shows the dollar amount the company is earning in sales compared to the dollar amount of its assets. It can be calculated annually or over a shorter or longer period of time.

Why Is Asset Turnover Ratio Important?

Although having cash on hand is important for growing and maintaining a business, other types of business assets are also important, as is how a company chooses to use them. Liquid assets can include cash, stock, and anything else the company owns that could be easily liquidated into cash. Fixed assets are things the company owns that are not as easily turned into cash. This could include real estate, copyrights, equipment, etc.

For business owners, asset turnover ratio can be important when applying for loans and learning about their company’s cash flow. A higher asset turnover ratio indicates that a company is efficiently generating sales from its assets, while a low ratio indicates that it isn’t. A higher asset turnover ratio also shows that a company’s assets don’t need to be replaced or discarded, that they are still in good condition.

A higher ratio is preferable for investors, as well. Investors can look at the asset turnover ratio when evaluating the risk of investing in a company, or when comparing similar companies to one another. Each industry has different norms for asset turnover ratios, so it’s best to only compare companies within the same sector. For instance, a utility company or construction company is more likely to have a higher number of assets than a retail company.

Know, too, that asset turnover ratio is only one of many calculations that comprise the list of financial ratios that investors can employ.


💡 Quick Tip: How do you decide if a certain trading platform or app is right for you? Ideally, the investment platform you choose offers the features that you need for your investment goals or strategy, e.g., an easy-to-use interface, data analysis, educational tools.

Formula for Calculating Asset Turnover Ratio

It’s fairly simple to calculate asset turnover ratio, which is one reason it’s such a useful tool for investors. Asset turnover ratio can be calculated using the following formula, which divides total (net) sales or revenue by average total assets:

Asset turnover = Net Sales / Average Total Assets

Which can also be shown as:

Asset turnover = Net Sales / ((Beginning Assets + Ending Assets) / 2 )

Where:

Net Sales = Gross annual sales minus returns, allowances, and discounts. Total sales can be found on a company’s income statement (typically part of an earnings report).

Beginning Assets = Assets at the beginning of the year

Ending Assets = Assets at the end of the year

Total Assets = Generally a company will include calculated average total assets on their balance sheet. However, sometimes additional calculations will need to be made.

Calculating Total Assets

The value of a company’s total assets includes the value of its fixed assets, current assets, accounts receivable, and liquid assets (cash).

•   Accounts receivable are accounts that hold expected revenues that come from when customers use credit to buy goods and services.

•   Fixed assets are generally physical items such as equipment or real estate.

•   Current assets are things that the company predicts will be converted into cash within the next year, such as inventory or accounts receivable that will be liquidated.

The formula for calculating total assets is:

Total Assets = Cash + Accounts Receivable + Fixed Assets + Current Assets

Example of Calculating Asset Turnover Ratio

To give an example of the ratio calculation, if a company has $2,000,000 in average assets and $500,000 in sales over the course of a year, the calculation of its asset turnover would be:

500,000 / 2,000,000 = 0.25 = 25% asset turnover ratio

Interpreting Asset Turnover

Sticking with the example above, we’ve calculated a 25% asset turnover ratio. What that means, exactly, is that the company’s assets generated 25% of net sales over the course of the year. In other words, every $1 in assets that the company owns generated $0.25 in net sales revenue. Again, this can be helpful when using various business valuation methods and trying to determine whether an investment fits your overall strategy.

Factors that can Cause Low Asset Turnover

There are several reasons why a company might have a low asset turnover. These include:

•   More production capacity than is needed

•   Inadequate inventory management

•   Poor methods of customer money transaction

•   Poor use of fixed assets

The ratio can also change significantly from year to year, so just because it’s low one year doesn’t mean it will remain low over time.

What Is a Good Asset Turnover Ratio?

Investors can use the asset turnover ratio as part of comparing and evaluating stocks. But what is considered a good number for asset turnover?

In general, the higher the number the better — and a number higher than 1 is ideal. This is because a value greater than 1 means the dollar value generated by assets is greater than the dollar amount that the assets cost. A higher number means a company is generating sales efficiently and not wasting assets.

Conversely, a number less than 1 means that assets are generating less than the amount of their dollar value. If a company isn’t effective at generating sales with its assets, it most likely wouldn’t be a great investment — which, again, is important to know if you’re building an investment portfolio.

Since each industry has its own standards for a “good” asset turnover ratio, there isn’t one specific number to look for. For companies in the utilities industry, ratios are generally lower than companies in retail.

Companies can work on improving their asset turnover ratio by increasing sales, decreasing manufacturing costs, and improving their inventory management. Other ways they can improve include adding new products and services that don’t require the use of assets, and selling any unsold inventory still on hand.

What Does a High Ratio Imply About a Company?

If you’re using technical analysis techniques to get some clarity around a company as a possible investment target, you’ll want to get down to brass tacks: What, exactly, is a high ratio telling you?

The answer is that a high ratio implies that a company is in good standing. It’s generating value with its assets, which can signal that it may be a solid investment. But, again, there are no guarantees.

Limitations of Using Asset Turnover Ratio

While asset turnover ratio is a useful tool for evaluating companies, like any calculation, it has its limitations. It is useful for comparing similar companies, but isn’t a sufficient tool for doing a complete stock analysis of any particular company.

Also, a company’s asset turnover ratio could vary widely from year to year, making it an unreliable measure for potential long-term investments. Even if the ratio has been similar in years past, this doesn’t mean it will continue to remain consistent. However, investors can look at the long term trendline of the ratio to get a general indication of whether it’s improving or not.

Since asset turnover is typically calculated once a year, if a company made even a few large purchases this could skew their ratio. This is fairly common, as companies might have certain monthly expenses but occasionally need to invest large sums of money into equipment, office renovations, or other common business needs.


💡 Quick Tip: The best stock trading app? That’s a personal preference, of course. Generally speaking, though, a great app is one with an intuitive interface and powerful features to help make trades quickly and easily.

Drawbacks of Asset Turnover Ratio in Stock Analysis

The limitations outlined above play into some of the potential drawbacks of the asset turnover ratio when analyzing stocks, too. Mostly, it comes down to the fact that as a single ratio, which doesn’t reveal the total health or financial picture for a single company. For that reason, it’s probably a good idea to use the ratio in tandem with other analysis tools and methods.

For instance, other ratios that can be used to gain an understanding of a company’s financials are the debt-to-equity ratio, its P/E ratio, and even looking at its net asset value.

The Difference Between Asset Turnover and Fixed Asset Turnover

Fixed asset turnover and asset turnover are two different ratios that can tell you about a company, and for investors, it’s important to understand the difference between the two.

In short, and to recap, asset turnover ratio looks at average total assets of a company — “total,” in this case, being the important qualifier. On the other hand, fixed asset turnover ratio looks at a company’s fixed assets to measure performance.

Investing With SoFi

Knowing how to calculate asset turnover ratio can be useful for investors who are evaluating companies as they start building an investment portfolio. While the formula is simple — Asset turnover = Net Sales / Average Total Assets — it’s important to remember that the calculations work best when comparing companies within one industry, rather than across various industries.

Additionally, there are other metrics by which to evaluate a company or value its stock. The asset turnover ratio can be helpful, but it has its limitations. As always, speak with a financial professional if you feel like you’d benefit from more guidance.

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

For a limited time, opening and funding an Active Invest account gives you the opportunity to get up to $1,000 in the stock of your choice.

FAQ

How can you improve asset turnover ratio?

Some ways that a company can improve its asset turnover ratio include increasing its revenues, selling some of its assets, renting or leasing assets rather than purchasing them, and optimizing its inventory and ordering systems.

Is an asset turnover of 1.5 good?

Yes, an asset turnover ratio of 1.5 is a sign that a company is on solid financial footing. It indicates that a company’s total assets are generating enough revenue from its current assets.

Can asset turnover ratio be negative?

Yes, and a negative asset turnover ratio would be a signal that a company lost money during the year, rather than earned it. A negative number represents that its liabilities or expenditures exceeded its assets.

SoFi Invest®

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

SoFi Invest encompasses two distinct companies, with various products and services offered to investors as described below: Individual customer accounts may be subject to the terms applicable to one or more of these platforms.
1) Automated Investing and advisory services are provided by SoFi Wealth LLC, an SEC-registered investment adviser (“SoFi Wealth“). Brokerage services are provided to SoFi Wealth LLC by SoFi Securities LLC.
2) Active Investing and brokerage services are provided by SoFi Securities LLC, Member FINRA (www.finra.org)/SIPC(www.sipc.org). Clearing and custody of all securities are provided by APEX Clearing Corporation.
For additional disclosures related to the SoFi Invest platforms described above please visit SoFi.com/legal.
Neither the Investment Advisor Representatives of SoFi Wealth, nor the Registered Representatives of SoFi Securities are compensated for the sale of any product or service sold through any SoFi Invest platform.

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.

Probability of Member receiving $1,000 is a probability of 0.028%.

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Sep
12
2023
What is Buying Power? Definition & Formula

Guide to Buying Power

By | Growing Wealth, invest, Investing | Comments Off on Guide to Buying Power

Buying power refers to an investor’s ability or resources on hand to buy securities or investments. Investors who trade securities through an online brokerage account or margin account may see references to buying power or excess equity when reviewing the amount of money they have available to purchase securities.

Put differently, buying power is a determination of an investor’s ability to make trades at any given time. Understanding the differences in what it means to have more or less power to buy stocks, options or crypto can help with shaping investment decisions.

What Is Stock Buying Power?

Buying power, or excess equity, is a measure of how much capital an investor has available to trade stocks, options, and other securities. There are different ways to measure buying power, depending on the type of account an investor has. Completing trades can reduce an investor’s ready capital while selling securities and depositing the cash into their trading account can increase it.

There’s no standard buying power definition; instead, it’s simply a way to gauge an investor’s ability to trade, based on the financial resources they have in their trading account. It can also be thought of, or related to the purchasing power of the dollar.

Buying Power vs Purchasing Power

Buying power, in this sense, is not the same thing as purchasing power, however. Purchasing power refers to the amount of goods or services a given unit of currency can purchase, when factoring in inflation. Often purchasing power comes up during discussions of how inflation may affect a portfolio’s returns.

Buying Power vs Consumer Buying Power

Further, a consumer’s buying power or consumer purchasing power is a measure of how much a consumer has on hand to buy goods or services, not only investments or financial securities. Again, in this sense, the concept is broader and doesn’t relate strictly to investing.

How Does Buying Power Work?

To understand how buying power works, it helps to understand when this term comes into play. The types of accounts that use or reference buying power include:

•   Margin trading accounts

•   Cash brokerage accounts

•   Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs)

Margin trading involves using leverage, or borrowing cash, from a broker-dealer to purchase securities using the assets in a brokerage account as leverage or collateral.

Margin trading can increase an investor’s buying power above what they’d have in a cash account or IRA account. (Cash accounts and IRAs don’t use margin or leverage.) While trading on margin can enhance risk, it can also double the amount of capital an investor has available to make trades with.

Note, too, that there are distinctions that are important to understand when discussing leverage vs margin.

Pattern day trading can also increase buying power for margin investors who prefer active trading versus a buy-and-hold approach. The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) defines a pattern day trader as any investor who executes four or more day trades within five business days, provided that the number of day trades represents more than 6% of the investor’s total trades in the margin account for that same five-day period.

Buying Power Example

Assume that an investor has $10,000 in cash in a margin account. They want to use that $10,000 to purchase shares of stock. The stock has a 50% initial margin requirement. In that case, the investor’s buying power calculation looks like this:

$10,000 in cash divided by 50% initial margin requirement = $20,000 in margin buying power

Now, assume that same investor has $100,000 in cash instead to purchase stocks with. Using the same initial margin requirement, the calculation looks like this:

$100,000 in cash divided by 50% initial margin requirement = $200,000 in margin buying power

It’s important to remember that the value of the stocks the investor owns can determine the value of their margin account. When the value of the account increases, that can lead to more gains for the investor but it can also increase their odds of a margin call.

How To Calculate Buying Power

The method of calculating buying power depends on the kind of account involved. With a brokerage account or IRA, this calculation is simple. An investor would simply add up the amount of cash they have available to trade. So if someone has $20,000 in cash in their brokerage account they’d have $20,000 in buying power.

With margin accounts, buying power is typically double the amount of equity they have in their accounts. So an investor who has $25,000 in a margin account would have $50,000 of stock buying power in that instance.

With pattern day trading, the buying power is four times the amount of equity. So, if an investor has $50,000 in cash or equity with which to trade, they could have up to $200,000 in buying power using pattern day trading rules. It’s important to note that if an investor exceeds their day trading margin limits, their brokerage may issue a margin call.

Margin Calls

A margin call can happen if the value of securities in a margin account drops below a set level, as determined by the brokerage. When that occurs, the investor may need to deposit cash or other securities in their account or sell securities to make up a shortfall. The more leverage a brokerage allows, the more difficult it can be for an investor to fill the gap when there’s a margin call.

What Happens if You Don’t Have Enough Buying Power?

If you lack buying power as an investor, you simply won’t be able to place trades on your chosen platform. If you try to execute a trade and lack the buying power, the trade will simply not execute. The specifics may depend on your chosen exchange or platform, of course, but generally speaking, a lack of buying power means that you lack the ability to buy.

Where to Find Your Buying Power

Where you can find your buying power will depend on the specific platform or exchange you’re using, but typically, you’ll be able to find it somewhere in your account information or balances. For instance, if you’re investing with SoFi, you can find your buying power displayed in your account near its overall performance in the performance section of your Active Invest account.

How To Use Buying Power

If you’re interested in trading stocks, options, or other securities, having more buying power can work in your favor. Trading on margin can allow you to invest larger amounts of money and it has the potential to magnify your investment returns.

Say you have only $5,000 to invest. You open a margin account and your brokerage allows an additional $5,000 in buying power for a combined total of $10,000. You use this $10,000 to purchase 500 shares of stock which are trading at $20 each.

The stock’s price doubles to $40 per share. Now your shares are worth $20,000. You decide to sell, paying back the $5,000 margin loan to your broker. You also pay $500 in interest for the loan. That leaves you with $14,500 in profit.

Now, say you used $5,000 to buy 250 shares of that same stock. Once the stock’s price doubles to $40, you sell them and rake in a $10,000 profit. You’re still coming out ahead but trading on margin would have given you more buying power and thus more profits.

When using buying power to your advantage, you do have to consider the risks as well. Just as margin trading can increase your profits, it can also increase losses if the securities you purchase decline in value. In the event of a margin call, you’d have to liquidate some of your holdings or deposit extra cash to cover the difference.

Investing With SoFi

As noted, an investor’s buying power refers to how much they have at their disposal to purchase various investments and securities. Understanding how buying power works matters, especially if you’re a day trader or you’re trading on margin. And even if you’re a beginning investor, it’s still important to know what this means when it comes to your first brokerage account or IRA.

If you feel like you still need some guidance in calibrating your investment strategy, or furthering your understanding of buying power, it may be beneficial to speak with a financial professional.

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

For a limited time, opening and funding an Active Invest account gives you the opportunity to get up to $1,000 in the stock of your choice.

FAQ

What is buying power in simple terms?

Buying power, as it relates to investing, refers to how much an investor has to spend on investments, and can include cash in their account, as well as margin.

Why is buying power important?

Buying power gives an investor an idea of what they have to work with, and how they can leverage their assets and holdings to reach their financial goals. Understanding buying power may be particularly important for day traders or margin traders.

What is buying power vs cash?

Cash could refer to the investments you can afford to make with your wholly-owned assets, whereas buying power can also incorporate what you can borrow (margin) to purchase investments.

Photo credit: iStock/solidcolours

SoFi Invest®

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

SoFi Invest encompasses two distinct companies, with various products and services offered to investors as described below: Individual customer accounts may be subject to the terms applicable to one or more of these platforms.
1) Automated Investing and advisory services are provided by SoFi Wealth LLC, an SEC-registered investment adviser (“SoFi Wealth“). Brokerage services are provided to SoFi Wealth LLC by SoFi Securities LLC.
2) Active Investing and brokerage services are provided by SoFi Securities LLC, Member FINRA (www.finra.org)/SIPC(www.sipc.org). Clearing and custody of all securities are provided by APEX Clearing Corporation.
For additional disclosures related to the SoFi Invest platforms described above please visit SoFi.com/legal.
Neither the Investment Advisor Representatives of SoFi Wealth, nor the Registered Representatives of SoFi Securities are compensated for the sale of any product or service sold through any SoFi Invest platform.

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.

Probability of Member receiving $1,000 is a probability of 0.028%.

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Sep
12
2023
What Are Over-the-Counter (OTC) Stocks?

What Are Over-the-Counter (OTC) Stocks?

By | Growing Wealth, invest, Investing | Comments Off on What Are Over-the-Counter (OTC) Stocks?

Over-the-counter (OTC) stocks are not traded on a public exchange like the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) or Nasdaq. Instead, these stocks are traded through a broker-dealer network. Additionally, the over-the-counter market can also include other types of securities. The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority regulates broker-dealers that engage in OTC trading.

For investors, it can be important to understand the meaning of OTC stocks, and where these securities might fit into your portfolio before trading them.

What Are OTC Stocks?

As mentioned, an OTC stock is one that trades outside of a traditional public stock exchange. As such, in order to grasp OTC stock trading and how it works, it helps to have a clear understanding of public stock exchanges.

A stock exchange — like NYSE or Nasdaq — is a regulated environment in which buyers and sellers can trade shares of publicly listed companies. Before a stock can be listed on an exchange for public trading, it first has to meet the guidelines established by that exchange (for example, a company that wants to be listed on the Nasdaq must meet the Nasdaq listing requirements).

Companies may opt to trade shares in the over-the-counter market (meaning, they trade through a broker-dealer) if they’re unable to meet the listing requirements of a public exchange. OTC trading may also appeal to companies that were previously traded on an exchange but have since been delisted.

Also, stocks that are traded on an exchange are called “listed stocks,” while those that trade OTC are often called “unlisted stocks.”

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

How to Buy OTC Stocks

Investors interested in purchasing OTC stocks may not need to change their investing strategy much, because depending on the exchange or platform they use to buy listed investments, they may be able to buy OTC stocks in much the same way.

Again, this will largely depend on the platform being used, but many — but not all — exchanges or platforms allow investors to trade OTC stocks. This can be done by searching for the OTC stock on the platform and placing an order. Investors may need to know the specific stock ticker they’re looking for, however, so there may be a bit of initial homework involved.

Types of OTC Securities

OTC trading tends to focus on equities, i.e. stocks. In fact, it’s even common to see penny stocks being traded over the counter, or used as a common example of an OTC security. But stocks don’t make up the entirety of OTC trading activity. Other types of investments that can be traded OTC include:

•   Derivatives

•   Corporate bonds

•   Government securities

•   Foreign currency (forex)

•   Commodities

Altogether, there are thousands of securities that trade over the market. These can include small and micro-cap companies, large-cap American Depositary Receipts (ADRs), and foreign ordinaries (international stocks that are not available on U.S. exchanges). Companies that trade over the counter may report to the SEC, though not all of them do.

Types of OTC Markets

In the U.S., the majority of over-the-counter trading takes place on networks operated by OTC Markets Group. This company runs the largest OTC trading marketplace and quote system in the country (the other main one is the OTC Bulletin Board, or OTCBB). While companies that trade their stocks on major exchanges must formally apply and meet listing standards, companies quoted on the OTCBB or OTC Markets do not have to apply for listing or meet any minimum financial standards.

OTC Markets Group organizes OTC stocks and securities into three distinct markets:

•   OTCQX

•   OTCQB

•   Pink Sheets

OTCQX

OTCQX is the first and highest tier, and is reserved for companies that provide the most detail to OTC Markets Group for listing. Companies listed here must be up-to-date with regard to regulatory disclosure requirements and maintain accurate financial records.

Penny stocks, shell corporations, and companies that are engaged in a bankruptcy filing are excluded from this grouping. It’s common to find stocks from foreign companies (e.g. foreign ordinaries) listed here.

OTCQB

The middle tier is designed for companies that are still in the early to middle stages of growth and development. These companies must have audited financials and meet a minimum bid price of $0.01. They must also be up-to-date on current regulatory reporting requirements, and not be in bankruptcy.

Pink Sheets

The Pink Sheets or Pink Open Market has no minimum financial standard that companies are required to meet, nor do they have reporting or SEC registration requirements. These are only required if the company is listed on a Qualified Foreign Exchange.

Be forewarned: OTC Markets Group specifies that the Pink Market is designed for professional and sophisticated investors who have a high risk tolerance for trading companies about which little information is available.

💡 Quick Tip: How do you decide if a certain trading platform or app is right for you? Ideally, the investment platform you choose offers the features that you need for your investment goals or strategy, e.g., an easy-to-use interface, data analysis, educational tools.

Pros and Cons of OTC Trading

Investing can be risky in general, but the risks may be heightened with trading OTC stocks. But trading higher risk stocks could result in bigger rewards if they’re able to produce above-average returns.

When considering OTC stocks, it’s important to understand how the positives and potential negatives may balance out — if at all. It’s also helpful to consider your personal risk tolerance and investment goals to determine whether it makes sense to join the over-the-counter market.

Trading OTC Stocks: Pros and Cons
OTC Stock Trading Pros OTC Stock Trading Cons
Over-the-counter trading may be suitable for investors who are interested in early stage companies that have yet to go public via an IPO. Micro-cap stocks and nano-cap stocks that trade over the counter may lack a demonstrated track record of positive performance.
Investing in penny stocks can allow you to take larger positions in companies. Taking a larger position in a penny stock could amplify losses if its price declines.
May appeal to active traders who are more interested in current pricing trends than fundamentals. Limited information can make it difficult to assess a company’s financials and accurately estimate its value.
Trading cryptocurrency on an OTC exchange could help minimize hacking or security risks. OTC securities are subject to less regulation than stocks listed on a public exchange, which may increase the possibility of fraudulent activity.
OTC trading makes it possible to invest in foreign companies or companies that may be excluded from being listed on a public exchange. OTC stocks may be more illiquid than stocks traded on a public exchange, making it more difficult to change your position.

The Takeaway

OTC stocks are those that trade outside of traditional exchanges. Since OTC stocks trade outside of traditional exchanges like the NYSE or Nasdaq, the OTC market gives you access to different types of securities, including penny stocks, international stocks, derivatives, corporate bonds, and even cryptocurrency.

If you’re interested in OTC trading, the first step is to consider how much risk you’re willing to take on and how much money you’re willing to invest. Having a baseline for both can help you to manage risk and minimize your potential for losses.

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

For a limited time, opening and funding an Active Invest account gives you the opportunity to get up to $1,000 in the stock of your choice.

FAQ

How do OTC stocks differ from stocks listed on major exchanges?

The primary difference between OTC stocks and stocks listed on major exchanges is exactly that: OTC stocks aren’t not listed on major U.S. stock exchanges. They can still be traded, however, but how they’re listed (or not listed) is the primary differentiator.

How can I buy or sell OTC stocks?

Many investors can use their preferred brokerage or platform to buy and sell OTC stocks. Not all brokerages or investment platforms allow investors to do so, but many do, and trading them often involves searching for the appropriate ticker and executing a trade.

Are there any specific regulations or reporting requirements for OTC stocks?

There are reporting standards for OTC stocks, but those standards are not as stringent as listed stocks. Depending on the OTC market on which an OTC stock trades, more or less reporting may be required.

What are the main factors to consider when researching OTC stocks?

Investors should consider many factors in the OTC market, but among them are volatility, liquidity and trading volume, and applicable regulations. These three factors may have the biggest impact on how an OTC stock performs going forward, though that’s not guaranteed.

Are there any restrictions or limitations on trading OTC stocks?

Not really, other than an exchange, brokerage, or platform perhaps not allowing users or investors to trade OTC stocks or securities. In that case, investors can look for another platform on which to execute trades that does allow OTC trading.

Photo credit: iStock/JohnnyGreig

SoFi Invest®

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

SoFi Invest encompasses two distinct companies, with various products and services offered to investors as described below: Individual customer accounts may be subject to the terms applicable to one or more of these platforms.
1) Automated Investing and advisory services are provided by SoFi Wealth LLC, an SEC-registered investment adviser (“SoFi Wealth“). Brokerage services are provided to SoFi Wealth LLC by SoFi Securities LLC.
2) Active Investing and brokerage services are provided by SoFi Securities LLC, Member FINRA (www.finra.org)/SIPC(www.sipc.org). Clearing and custody of all securities are provided by APEX Clearing Corporation.
For additional disclosures related to the SoFi Invest platforms described above please visit SoFi.com/legal.
Neither the Investment Advisor Representatives of SoFi Wealth, nor the Registered Representatives of SoFi Securities are compensated for the sale of any product or service sold through any SoFi Invest platform.

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.

Probability of Member receiving $1,000 is a probability of 0.028%.

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