Apr
21
2023

How Are Employee Stock Options and RSUs Different?

By | Building Your Career, Growing Wealth, invest, Investing | Comments Off on How Are Employee Stock Options and RSUs Different?

Employee stock options (ESOs) and restricted stock units (RSUs) are two different types of equity compensation. An employee stock option gives an employee the option to buy company stock at a certain price, by a certain date. By contrast, an RSU is the promise that on a future date the employee will receive actual company stock.

Sometimes, employees get a choice between ESOs and RSUs. Understanding how each stock plan works, how they differ — particularly when it comes to vesting schedules and taxes — can help you make a decision that best aligns with your financial goals.

What Are Employee Stock Options (ESOs)?

Employee stock options (ESOs) give an employee the right to purchase their company’s stock at a set price — called the exercise, grant, or strike price — by a certain date, assuming certain terms are met, usually according to a vesting schedule.

If the employee doesn’t exercise their options within that period, they expire.

Companies may offer stock options to employees as part of a compensation plan, in addition to salary, 401(k) matching funds, and other benefits. ESOs are considered an incentive to help the company succeed, so that (ideally) the stock options are worth more when the employee chooses to exercise them.

In an ideal scenario, exercising stock options allows an employee to purchase shares of their company’s stock at an exercise price lower than the current market price — and realize a profit.

Note that while some of the terminology used with regard to employee stock options may sound similar to standard stock options, don’t get the two confused. Options are derivatives traded based on the value of underlying securities, e.g. stocks, bonds, ETFs.

How do ESOs Work?

Generally, ESOs operate in four stages — starting with the grant date and ending with the exercise date, i.e. actually buying the stock.

1. The grant date

This is the official start date of an ESO contract. You receive information about how many shares you’ll be issued, the strike price (or exercise price) for those shares, the vesting schedule, and any requirements that must be met along the way.

2. The cliff

If a compensation package includes ESOs, they’re generally not available on day one. Contracts often include requirements that must be met first, such as working full time for at least a year.

Those 12 months when you are not yet eligible to exercise your employee stock options is called the cliff. If you remain an employee past the cliff date, you get to level up to the vesting period.

Some companies include a 12-month cliff to incentivize employees to stay at least a year. Other companies may have a vesting schedule.

3. The vest

The vesting period is when you start to take ownership of your options and the right to exercise them. Vesting can either happen all at once or take place after a cliff (as noted above), or gradually over several years, depending on your company’s plan.

One common vesting schedule is a one-year cliff followed by a four-year vest. On this timeline, you’re 0% vested the first year (meaning you aren’t eligible for any options), 25% vested at the two-year mark (you can exercise up to 25% of the total options granted), and so on until you own 100% of your options. At that point, you’re considered fully vested.

4. The exercise

This is when you pull the financial trigger and actually purchase some or all of your vested shares.

ESO’s Expiration Date

While the expiration date of stock options isn’t always front and center, it’s important to bear in mind. The strike price you’re given as part of your options package expires on a certain date if you don’t exercise your shares.

One common timeline is 10 years from grant date to expiration date, but specific terms will be in the contract, and it’s important to vet the timing of your ESOs — as part of your career as well as your tax and your long-term financial plan. Again, if you let your stock options expire, you lose the right to buy shares at that price.

Pros and Cons of Employee Stock Options (ESOs)

If you land a job with the right company and stay until you’re fully vested, exercising your employee stock options could potentially lead to gains.

For example, if your strike price is $30 per share, and at the time of vesting the stock is trading at $100 or more per share, you’re getting a great deal on shares.

On the other hand, if your strike price is $30 per share and the company is trading at $10 per share, you might be better off not exercising your employee stock options until the price goes up (when and if it does; there are no guarantees).

That’s why ESOs are considered a form of employee incentive: You may work harder to help the company grow, if you know your efforts could translate to a bigger stock price.

Tax Implications of Employee Stock Options

Given that stock options can generate gains, it’s important to know how they are taxed so you can plan accordingly.

Generally speaking, employers offer two types of stock options: nonqualified stock options (NSOs or NQSOs) and incentive stock options (ISOs).

Nonqualified Stock Options

NSOs are the most common and often the type offered to the general workforce. NSOs have a less favorable tax treatment, because they’re subject to ordinary income tax on the difference between the exercise price and the market price at the time you exercise your options and purchase the stock.

NSOs are then taxed again at the capital gains rate when you sell the shares.

Your individual circumstances, tax filing status, and the terms of your stock options may also play into how you’re taxed, so you may want to consult a professional.

Incentive Stock Options

ISOs are “qualified,” meaning you don’t pay any taxes when you exercise the options — unless you’re subject to the alternative minimum tax (AMT).

You will owe taxes, however, if you sell them at a profit later on. (If you don’t sell, and if the stocks gain or lose value, those are considered unrealized gains and losses.) Any money you make when you sell your shares later would be subject to capital gains tax. If you hold your shares less than a year, the short-term capital gains tax rate equals your ordinary income tax rate, which could be up to 37% for the highest tax bracket.

For assets held longer than a year, the long-term rate is lower: 0%, 15%, or 20%, depending on your taxable income and filing status.

What Are Restricted Stock Units (RSUs)?

Restricted stock units, or RSUs, simply grant employees a certain number of shares stock by a certain date. When employees are granted RSUs, the company holds onto the shares until they’re fully vested.

The company determines the vesting criteria — it can be a time period of several years, a key revenue milestone, and/or personal performance goals. Like ESOs, RSUs can vest gradually or all at once. When the employee gets their shares, they own them outright; employees don’t have to buy RSUs.

How Do Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) Work?

RSUs are priced based on the fair market value of the stock on the day they vest, or the settlement date. The company stocks you receive from your company will be worth just as much as they would be if you purchased them on your own that same day.

If the stock is worth $40 per share, and you have 100 shares, you would get $4,000 worth of shares (assuming you’re fully vested and have met other terms).

Again, the main difference between stock options and restricted stock units is that you don’t have to purchase RSUs.

As long as the company’s common stock holds value, so do your RSUs. Upon vesting, you can either keep your RSUs in the form of actual shares, or sell them immediately to take the cash equivalent. Either way, the RSUs you receive will be taxed as income.

And, of course, if you later sell your shares you may realize a gain or a loss and there will be tax implications accordingly.

Pros and Cons of Restricted Stock Units (RSUs)

One good thing about RSUs, similar to ESOs, is the incentive to stay with the company for a longer period of time. If your company grows during your vesting period, you could see a substantial windfall when your settlement date rolls around.

But even if the stock falls to a penny per share, the shares still awarded to you on your settlement date. Since you don’t have to pay for them, it’s still money in your pocket.

In fact, you may only lose out on money with RSUs if you leave the company and have to forfeit any units that aren’t already vested, or if the company goes out of business.

Tax Implications of RSUs

When your RSU shares or cash equivalent are automatically delivered to you on your settlement date(s), they’re considered ordinary income and are taxed accordingly. In fact, your RSU distributions are actually added to your W-2.

For some people, the additional RSU income may bump them up a tax bracket (or two). In those cases, if you’ve been withholding at a lower tax bracket before your vesting period, you could owe the IRS more money.

As with ESOs, if you sell your shares at a later date and make a profit, you’ll be subject to capital gains taxes.

ESOs RSUs
Definition An employee can buy company stock at a set price at a certain date in the future. An employee receives stock at a date in the future (does not have to purchase them).
Pricing The strike price is set when ESOs are offered to an employee, and they pay that price when they exercise their shares. The share price is based on the fair market value of the stock on the day the shares vest, and employees get the full-value shares.
Tax implications The difference between the strike price and the stock’s value on exercise is considered earned income and added to your W-2, where it’s taxed as income. If you sell your shares later at a profit, you may also be subject to capital gains tax. RSU shares (or cash equivalent) are considered ordinary income as soon as they are vested, and are taxed accordingly.

If you sell the shares later, capital gains tax rules would apply.

The Takeaway

Employee stock options (ESOs) and restricted stock units (RSUs) are two different types of equity or share-based compensation, and they each have their pros and cons.

An employee stock option gives an employee the option to buy company stock at a certain price, by a certain date. An RSU is the promise that on a future date the employee will receive actual company stock (without having to purchase the shares).

Because these types of compensation are often considered incentives, they’re designed to encourage employees to stay with the company for a certain amount of time. As such, employees often don’t get their options (in the case of ESOs) or the actual shares (in the case of RSUs) until certain terms are met. There may be a vesting schedule or company benchmarks or other terms.

Having the option to own stock in your employer company has the potential to provide attractive financial benefits, especially if you believe in the company and its future. This belief in a company’s growth potential is what may drive investors to buy a company’s stock, even if they don’t work there.

If you’re interested in owning and trading stock, it’s easy when you set up an Active Invest account with SoFi Invest®. Members can trade stocks and ETFs.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Claw Promotion: 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.

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Apr
19
2023
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Guide to Understanding and Tracking Robo-Advisor Returns

By | Growing Wealth, invest, Investing | Comments Off on Guide to Understanding and Tracking Robo-Advisor Returns

Robo-advisors — which provide algorithm-generated portfolios to help individuals manage their money — can deliver a range of returns for investors, just like any investment. The fact that these platforms are automated doesn’t mean they provide predictable returns.

Robo-advisors are only automated in the sense that they use sophisticated technology to manage basic portfolios, typically composed of exchange-traded funds (ETFs) or other low-cost investments.

The underlying funds in a robo portfolio are the same or similar to those that regular investors can purchase on their own, thus investors still need to consider the impact of gains and losses, taxes, and fees when thinking about returns.

How Robo-Advisors Help Investors

A robo-advisor is an automated, algorithm-based service that typically offers investors a questionnaire to assess their risk tolerance, time horizon, and investment goals. Based on the investor’s inputs, the automated platform suggests a portfolio that, ideally, matches the investor’s goals and preferences.

Robo-advisor algorithms typically employ some of the principles of modern portfolio theory (MPT) and other quantitative techniques that establish and manage a range of pre-set portfolio options. Investors generally have a choice between more aggressive or more conservative portfolio allocations, but they typically cannot alter the makeup of an automated portfolio (unless that’s a feature specifically offered by a certain platform).

The algorithms used by robo-advisors are often updated to reflect changes in the market, and most rebalance on a regular cadence (e.g. annually) to maintain the desired asset allocation.

Robo Advisor Tools

Robo-advisors may also offer tools to help investors make decisions about their finances. These can include portfolio analysis tools, risk tolerance assessment tools, and educational resources. Investors can use these tools to monitor their portfolios and make informed decisions.

Robo-advisors typically charge an advisory fee for their services, usually a percentage of the total portfolio value. However, the fees are generally much lower than those traditional financial advisors charge.

The goal of robo-advisors is to provide a low-cost and convenient investing option to a wide range of customers, including those who may not have the resources or desire to work with a human, financial advisor.

💡 Recommended: What Is Automated Investing?

Evaluating Robo-Advisor Performance

Evaluating the performance of a robo-advisor is critical for investors interested in using them to build wealth. Although some robo services claim to have proprietary algorithms based on investment theories developed by Nobel Prize-winning economists, these formulas simply inform the technology on the backend; they don’t guarantee a certain return or performance.

An investor should evaluate robo-advisor performance by considering its historic returns and other key metrics. By assessing the following metrics, investors can better understand the robo-advisor’s performance and how it aligns with their investment goals:

•   Cost: The annual cost to invest with a certain robo advisor is one of the most important factors influencing returns that investors can control.

Robo advisors are generally lower cost than, say, working with a live financial advisor. But automated services charge annual advisory fees, in addition to the expense ratios of the investments in the portfolio. Because fees eat into returns over time, it’s always important to know what the costs are up front.

•   Returns: It may be useful to compare the rate of return of a robo-advisor’s portfolios to those of relevant benchmarks. For instance, investors can look at the returns of their robo-advisor portfolio versus the S&P 500 Index returns. If the robo-advisor performs better than the S&P 500, it may indicate a well-run robo-advisor.

However, past performance is not predictive of future results, but it can provide a general idea of how the robo-advisor’s investments have performed over time.

•   Diversification: Evaluate the diversification of the robo-advisor’s portfolios within and across different asset classes. Portfolio diversification can help manage risk by spreading investments across different types of securities.

•   Rebalancing: Investigate how often and how the robo-advisor’s portfolios are rebalanced and how frequently the underlying investments are reviewed.

•   Customer Service: Check if the robo-advisor provides access to a human advisor or customer support, as this can be an important factor if you need help or have questions.

What Is the Average Robo-Advisor Return?

The average return for a robo-advisor portfolio can vary depending on several factors, such as the portfolio’s specific investments (i.e. its allocation), the robo-advisor’s investment strategy, and overall market conditions.

In general, robo-advisors tend to invest in low-cost index funds and ETFs, which often track the broader market. Therefore, a robo-advisor portfolio’s returns may be similar to a mix of comparable index funds minus any advisory fees charged by the robo-advisor, plus the fees of the underlying funds.

💡 Recommended: ETFs vs Index Funds: Differences and Similarities, Explained

Nonetheless, returns can vary widely depending on the robo-advisor and the portfolio. For example, as of December 31, 2022, the 5-year annualized trailing return for robo-advisors with portfolios with a 60/40 allocation ranged from 2.84% to 5.12%, according to The Robo Report by Condor Capital.

Robo-Advisor Returns

Below are the returns of some robo-advisors compiled by Condor Capital’s The Robo Report. The returns shown in the table are of portfolios with a 60% stock and 40% bond asset allocation, after fees, as of December 31, 2022. All returns for periods longer than one year are annualized.

Robo-Advisor 5-Year trailing returns
Acorns 3.04%
Ally Invest 3.29%
Axos Invest 4.18%
Betterment 3.24%
Charles Schwab 3.15%
E*Trade Core 3.47%
Ellevest 3.75%
Fidelity Go 4.49%
Merrill Edge Guided Investing 3.99%
Personal Capital 4.04%
SoFi 4.13%
Vanguard P.A.S. 4.06%
Wealthfront (Risk 4.0) 5.12%
Zacks Advantage 4.76%
Source: The Robo Report by Condor Capital Wealth Management, as of 12/31/22

Understanding Robo-Advisor Fees

Understanding the different kinds of investment fees associated with robo-advisors, and how they compare to other investment options is critical for investors.

Investment fees are often expressed as a tiny percentage, e.g. 0.25% or 0.50%. But over time fees eat into a portfolio’s returns, making it harder for investors to build wealth. Analyzing robo-advisor expenses will help investors to determine if the robo-advisor is a cost-effective solution for their investment needs.

Note that all investment costs should be spelled out clearly for the investor.

•   Advisory Fees: This is the fee charged by the robo-advisor for managing the investor’s portfolio. It is typically a percentage of a portfolio’s assets under management and many robo-advisors charge less than 0.50%. Some robo-advisors offer fee-free options to their clients.

•   Expense Ratios: An expense ratio is the fee charged by the underlying funds in the portfolio, such as ETFs. It is expressed as a percentage, ranging from 0.05% to 0.50% or more. Some robo-advisors include low-cost ETFs with expense ratios under 0.10%.

•   Account Minimums: Some robo-advisors may have minimum account balance requirements. A minimum account balance means investors must deposit a certain amount to open an account, which can be a headwind to opening an account if the investor starts with a small amount of capital.

•   Commissions: Some robo-advisors charge a commission when buying or selling securities, while others do not.

•   Other Fees: Some robo-advisors may charge additional fees for services such as tax-loss harvesting or closing an account.

Pros and Cons of Robo-Advisors

Robo-advisors are often appealing to many investors because of their hands-off nature. However, as with any financial product or service, there are pros and cons to using a robo-advisor.

Pros and Cons of Robo-Advisors
Pros

 Cons
Relatively low cost Limited personalization
Convenient, and easy to use Limited or no access to personal advice
Diversification Fewer investment options
Automatic rebalancing Minimum balance requirements can limit access to certain features

The pros of using robo-advisors include the following:

•   Low cost: Robo-advisors typically have lower fees than traditional financial advisors, making them an attractive option for people who want to invest but avoid paying high fees. Some robo-advisors charge as little as 0.25% of assets under management, while traditional financial advisors may charge 1% or more. This can make a significant difference over time, especially for people with smaller portfolios.

•   Convenience: Robo-advisors are available 24/7 and can be accessed from anywhere with an internet connection, which makes it easy for people to manage their investments. This convenience can be especially beneficial for people with limited time to manage their investments.

•   Diversification: Robo-advisors use algorithms to create diversified portfolios with a mix of different index funds and ETFs in various asset classes, which can help investors reduce risk and improve returns.

The cons of using robo-advisors include the following:

•   Limited personalization: Robo-advisors use algorithms to create portfolios, which may not take into account an individual’s unique financial situation or goals. A lack of personalization can be a problem for people with complex financial situations or who have specific investment goals that a robo-advisor may be unable to accommodate.

•   Insufficient access to human advice: Investors may prefer to speak with a human advisor for financial advice and guidance. While some robo-advisors provide access to a financial advisor to help investors, these services can be limited or dependent on a minimum balance. As such they may not meet the needs of some users.

•   Fewer investment options: Some robo-advisors may have limited investment options compared to traditional financial advisors or a self-directed brokerage account. For instance, robo-advisors tend to invest in ETFs rather than individual stocks. If an investor wants to put money into a specific stock or asset, they may want to open a self-directed brokerage account in addition to a robo-advisor portfolio.

Want to start investing?

Our robo-advisor service can offer a portfolio to suit
your needs and risk level – with no SoFi advisory fees!

Can Investors Lose Money With Robo-Advisors?

As with any investment, investors can lose their money with robo-advisors.

There are some precautions that investors can consider when weighing different robo-advisors. The industry is still growing, and computer-generated financial advice may not meet all their needs. In addition, face-to-face meetings can help consumers better understand their financial profile and investment risks.

Also, if a robo-advisor shuts down, consumers may be forced to sell or accept a possibly unrelated replacement service.

Why Do People Use Robo-Advisors?

People use robo-advisors because they are often cheaper than traditional financial advisors, provide a more objective approach to financial decision-making, and offer greater convenience when managing investments.

Investors who are comfortable with the underlying technology that these services use may appreciate having certain investment chores automated for them.

For example, some robo-advisors will automatically rebalance the portfolio according to the investors’ risk tolerance, and investment goals. This ease of rebalancing can help investors maintain their desired risk level and ensure that their portfolio stays aligned with their investment goals.

Additionally, some robo-advisors use automated tax-loss harvesting to help investors minimize their tax liability. Tax-loss harvesting is a technique that involves selling investments that have lost value to offset capital gains from other investments, which can help reduce the amount of taxes you owe. SoFi does not offer automated tax-loss harvesting.

Investing With SoFi

Robo-advisors are a relatively new type of investment service that use algorithms and technology to create and manage portfolios for investors. In recent years, robo-advisors have become increasingly popular as more and more people look for low-cost, convenient ways to invest their money. This has lowered the barrier to entry for many individuals, including younger people, to start investing.

If you’re interested in using a robo-advisor to help you build your portfolio, SoFi can help. With SoFi Invest® automated investing, we recommend a portfolio of exchange-traded funds (ETFs) for you based on your goals and risk tolerance. We’ll rebalance your investments regularly, so your money is always invested how you want it to be. And SoFi doesn’t charge an advisory fee.

See why SoFi is this year’s top-ranked robo advisor.

FAQ

Do robo-advisors work?

Robo-advisors can be effective tools to help people manage their money and achieve their financial goals. Robo-advisors are generally cheaper and more convenient than traditional human financial advisors. However, it is important to research each robo-advisor to insure it is the best fit for your needs, and that you’re comfortable with what a robo platform can and cannot do.

What are the differences between a robo-advisor and a financial advisor?

Robo-advisors are usually less expensive than financial advisors. Robo-advisors typically have lower advisory fees and minimum deposit requirements, while financial advisors often require a minimum deposit and charge a percentage of the assets they manage. Another difference is that robo-advisors provide automated and algorithm-based advice, while financial advisors provide personalized advice and guidance tailored to individual needs and goals.

Are robo-advisors good for retirees?

Robo-advisors can be a good option for some retirees because they can provide a low-cost, automated way to manage investments. However, if a retiree wants more personalized advice or help with tax and estate planning, there may be better options than a robo-advisor.

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.


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

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.
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.

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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Apr
18
2023
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How to Compare Robo Investing Fees

By | Growing Wealth, invest, Investing | Comments Off on How to Compare Robo Investing Fees

Robo-advisor services are known for offering lower fees than traditional brokerages, but the cost of investing with an automated platform also includes underlying expenses investors need to consider. In addition, different robo platforms may charge different fees.

Robo-advisors are computer algorithms that generate automated portfolios for consumers. Robo-advisor fees are listed as a percentage of the assets under management, but also include the expense ratios of the funds in the portfolio, as well as any brokerage fees.

Typical management fees range between about 0.20% to 0.30% annually, and investment costs add on roughly another 10 to 50 basis points. The amount of money an investor puts into the robo-advisor, or the minimum balance, also often dictates how much the fee rate is.

Understanding How

Here’s how robo-advisors work: While the term robo-advisor can mean different things depending on the company that offers the service, investors usually fill out an online questionnaire about their financial goals, risk tolerance, and investment time frames.

On the back end, a computer algorithm then recommends a portfolio of different securities based on those parameters. The portfolio is pre-set, typically with an allocation that’s either more aggressive or more conservative based on the person’s preferences.

A portfolio for someone nearing retirement age would typically have a different allocation versus a portfolio for someone in their 20s, for example. Depending on these details, the service might automatically rebalance the portfolio over time, execute trades, and may even conduct tax-loss harvesting. SoFi’s automated portfolio does offer automatic rebalancing, but not automatic tax-loss harvesting.

First launched in 2008 or 2009, the robo-advisor industry has expanded rapidly in the last 15 years. Assets under management in the U.S. robo-advisor market are projected to reach about $2.76 trillion in 2023, according to Statista (estimates vary). For comparison, the asset-management industry as a whole has $90 trillion.

How Robo-Advisor Fees Work

Robo-advisor fees are calculated using the expense ratios of the underlying funds, and the percentage of assets subtracted each year for costs associated with managing the investment.

In recent years, expense ratios in the asset-management world have been pressured lower as cheaper index-tracking competitors have flooded the market. That’s arguably a benefit of ETFs that some investors have experienced.

Today’s robo-advisor platforms generally charge management fees of 0.25% on an annual basis, which is typical for the industry. But investors will encounter a wide range of fees from robo advisors, owing to the investments used by that company to build their portfolio offerings.

Expense ratios can range from a few basis points to half a percentage point on top of the management fee.

Minimum balance requirements, as well as additional features like automated rebalancing or access to a live advisor, can also play into the cost you’re going to pay.

💡 Recommended: What Are ETFs and How Do They Work?

Other Factors to Consider About Robo-Advisors

When picking a robo-advisor, investors can consider several factors like minimum balance, historical performance returns, as well as benefits such as automated rebalancing, and access to a human advisor (which is typically limited on these platforms, or depending on how much money you’ve invested).

In addition to the management fees, some robo-advisors typically charge a brokerage and a set-up fee as well. The ETFs within each portfolio have their own expense ratios that add to the cost of investing.

Tax implications may also be a consideration. Some robo platforms offer automatic tax-loss harvesting, which may help a portfolio to be more tax efficient.

Why Are Robo-Advisor Minimum Balances Important?

Minimum balances are important in the asset-management industry because they can be the gate-keeper to individuals who want to entrust money with a financial advisor. Traditional asset management firms often have large minimum balance requirements for clients. At the high end, private wealth managers could require minimums of $5 million.

The reason being that traditional wealth management advisors offer their clients a well-coordinated team of professionals (e.g. tax accountants, estate planners, and so on).

The opposite is true of automated platforms. Robo advisors rely on an algorithm, charge lower fees and have lower minimums, but they provide few, or very limited additional services other than the automated porfolio itself.

The lower minimum balances of robo-advisors have opened the door for newer or younger investors who may not have yet grown their investable assets, and whose financial needs may not be complex.

The minimum balances are also intrinsically tied to how robo-advisors make money, since the annual management fees is a percentage taken from an investor’s assets under management. The automated portfolio, which is usually made up of low-cost index funds an ETFs, also includes the expenses of those underlying funds.

Robo-Advisor Fee Comparison

Here are the fees and tiered fee structures of some robo-advisors compiled from the fourth-quarter 2022 edition of Backend Benchmarking’s Robo Report, which has been cited by numerous business publications. All data as of 12/31/22.

Robo-Advisor Advisory Fees
(does not include expense ratio of underlying funds or other costs)		 Minimum Balance
Acorns $3/month for Personal
$5/month for Personal Plus		 No minimum
Ally Financial 0.30% annually; no management fee for cash-enhanced portfolio $100
Axos Invest 0.24% $500
Betterment $4/month or 0.25% annually for $20,000 on deposit (or $250 monthly deposits); 0.40% for premium Digital: no minimum; Premium: $100,000
E*Trade Core 0.30% annually $500
Ellevest $5 or $9/month based on tier level Digital: no minimum; Private Client: $1 million
Fidelity Go no fee for balances less than $25,000; 0.35% for balances $25,000 and above $10 minimum; access to live advisory services: $25,000 min.
FutureAdvisor 0.50% $5,000
Personal Capital 0.89%; tiered pricing at higher asset levels $100,000
Schwab Intelligent Portfolios: No fee (digital only); Intelligent Portfolios Premium: $300 initial planning fee, $30/month subscription Intelligent Portfolios: $5,000; Intelligent Portfolios Premium: $25,000
SigFig No fee for first $10,000; 0.25% annually for balance over $10,000 $2,000
SoFi No advisory fee $1
TD Ameritrade Automated Investing: 0.30% plus minimum account fee of $75/year. Automated Investing Plus: 0.60% plus minimum account fee of $250/year Automated Investing: $5,000; Automated Investing Plus: $25,000
Titan Invest 1% annually for $10,000 or more; $5 monthly for $10,000 or less $100 for Titan Flagship; $10,000 for Titan Opportunities and Titan Offshore
USBank Automated Investor 0.24% $1,000
Vanguard Digital Advisor 0.20% annually [includes underlying fund fees and management fees] $3,000
Wealthfront 0.25% annually $500 [some portfolio features may require a higher minimum]
WellsFargo 0.35% [discounted pricing may be available] $500
Zacks Advantage 0.70%; discounted tiered pricing with higher deposits $25,000

Source: Backend Benchmarking

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Robo-Investing For High-Net-Worth Individuals

The table above shows several examples of tiered fee structures where robo-advisors have higher minimums. Such robo-advisors may be targeting high-net-worth individuals (HNWI), or investors who have a liquid net worth of $1 million or more.

Traditionally, HWNI have been targeted by private wealth managers but robo-advisors have also marketed to them, particularly millennial HNWI. Robo-advisors can be an automated alternative to the face-to-face tailored financial advice and planning that private wealth managers typically offer to such consumers.

The Takeaway

Robo-advisors are famous for their rock-bottom fees. However, investors will find that there’s actually a wide range in costs and how robo-advisors charge for their services. The minimum balances investors are required to make can determine what sort of fees investors pay. Many robo platforms offer tiered pricing, depending on how much money is on deposit.

Investors will also pay additional fees for the cost of investing in ETFs and a potential set-up payment. Investors often pay extra for services such as portfolio rebalancing, tax-loss harvesting and educational opportunities.

Both experienced and novice investors can try robo-advising, and automated platforms may support a range of short- or long-term goals. SoFi Invest offers both active investing and automated investing options.

See why SoFi is this year’s top-ranked robo advisor.

Advisory services provided by SoFi Wealth LLC, an SEC-registered investment advisor.
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.

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.
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.

Fund Fees
If you invest in Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) through SoFi Invest (either by buying them yourself or via investing in SoFi Invest’s automated investments, formerly SoFi Wealth), these funds will have their own management fees. These fees are not paid directly by you, but rather by the fund itself. these fees do reduce the fund’s returns. Check out each fund’s prospectus for details. SoFi Invest does not receive sales commissions, 12b-1 fees, or other fees from ETFs for investing such funds on behalf of advisory clients, though if SoFi Invest creates its own funds, it could earn management fees there.
SoFi Invest may waive all, or part of any of these fees, permanently or for a period of time, at its sole discretion for any reason. Fees are subject to change at any time. The current fee schedule will always be available in your Account Documents section of SoFi Invest.

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Apr
17
2023
Brokerage Account vs. Cash Management Account

Cash Management Accounts (CMAs) vs Brokerage Accounts: How They Compare

By | Growing Wealth, invest, Investing | Comments Off on Cash Management Accounts (CMAs) vs Brokerage Accounts: How They Compare

Investors need a brokerage account to buy and sell securities, but they can also take advantage of a cash management account (CMA), which is offered by a brokerage firm. It can be easy to confuse the two types of accounts, even though they are quite different.

To provide some clarity about the difference between a brokerage account vs. cash management, this article will examine some of the pros and cons of each. Let’s start with some definitions.

What Is a Cash Management Account?

Cash management accounts can offer similar features as the traditional checking or savings accounts that banks offer. CMAs allow you to deposit money and earn a set interest rate. Most provide access to your money via debit cards, in addition to checks.

What Is a Brokerage Account?

Brokerage accounts allow customers to deposit money which can then be used to buy and sell investments such as stocks, bonds, mutual funds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), and other securities.

There are three main types of brokerage accounts.

•   A full-service brokerage firm usually provides a range of financial services including financial advice and automated investing.

•   A discount brokerage offers lower fees in exchange for fewer financial planning services.

•   Online brokerages allow you to trade via the internet and often charge the lowest fees.

Recommended: How Does a Brokerage Account Work?

Similarities Between a Cash Management Account and Brokerage Account

Although brokerage and CMA accounts work in different ways, there are some similarities.

Both Offered by Brokerages

Both types of accounts are offered by brokerage firms. When you open a brokerage account and link it to a CMA at the same firm, it can provide a convenient way for customers to transfer assets from one account to another when they buy and sell securities.

The Potential to Earn Returns

When considering a brokerage account vs a cash management, remember that they both offer customers the potential to earn money on deposits or investments.

In a self-directed brokerage account you have the potential to earn returns from your investments, although you also face the risk of loss that likewise comes with investing in stocks, bonds, and other securities.

A cash management account is generally a safer place to keep your money. The risk of losing money is lower than putting your money into securities, and you’ll earn interest on your deposits. But those rates are generally lower than the gains you might see from other investments.

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The Brokerage Account vs Cash Management: What Are the Differences?

Cash management accounts and brokerage accounts work in different ways. CMAs mirror traditional savings and checking accounts and brokerage accounts are strictly for investments. Here are the details:

Earnings Come From Different Places

In a brokerage account, potential earnings come from the gains you might see when investing in stocks, bonds, and other investments. Investing in securities also comes with the risk of losses.

Earnings in cash management accounts come from the interest rate paid on your balance. Usually, these rates are similar to the rates paid in traditional savings accounts.

CMAs also act like traditional checking accounts because you can use checks or a debit card for purchases. But traditional checking accounts don’t usually pay interest, or if they do the rate is often lower than a CMA.

Earnings on Brokerage Accounts Are Potentially Higher Over Time

Over time, the average return of the stock market has substantially outperformed what you can earn from interest in a savings account. With those potential earnings comes market risk, meaning you may experience losses too, especially in the short-term.

To manage a brokerage account or work with a broker, you need to take into account your tolerance for market risk and what combination of stocks and bonds is right for your financial goals.

Insurance Is Provided by Different Sources

When you open a new bank account, up to $250,000 of your cash deposits are covered by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC). Some banks, however, participate in programs that extend the FDIC insurance1 to cover millions.

Most brokerage accounts, however, are insured by the Securities Investor Protection Corporation (SIPC) in the event of theft, fraud, or if the broker fails. The SIPC offers up to $500,000 of coverage total, per person, if such a loss were to occur. The SIPC does not cover investment losses.

Cash management accounts have so-called sweep accounts, which are insured by the FDIC. Here’s how it works: CMAs sweep funds into a variety of FDIC-insured banks. If you make a $200,000 deposit, for example, your money may be split into four $50,000 deposits in four different bank accounts. (The CMA provider manages this process — you only see your total CMA balance.)

Before your money is moved into the different accounts, your deposit is protected by SIPC insurance if the brokerage is an SIPC member.

What Money in These Accounts Can Be Used for

Because CMA accounts have checking and/or debit cards, you can use that money for purchases or bill paying or ATM withdrawals.

Money kept in a brokerage account is strictly used for trading securities. But by linking a CMA to your brokerage account, you can easily transfer cash from one to the other, for investing purposes.

The Takeaway

When considering a brokerage account vs. cash management, it helps to know what makes these accounts different, and how they can work together. While a brokerage account is for trading securities, and comes with the risks associated with investing in securities, a cash management account (CMA) is similar to a traditional checking or savings account. There’s almost no risk of losing money, and your deposits can earn interest. Because both are offered at brokerage firms, you can have both, and use your cash management account as a place to keep funds you don’t wish to invest.

To determine which account is right for you or if you should have both, it’s best to look closely at your financial goals and determine what type of returns and account features suit your aims.

SoFi Checking and Savings is an all-in-one account that blends the features of checking and savings accounts. With the special “vaults” feature, you can separate your savings from your spending, earn competitive interest on your total balance, and pay no account fees or monthly fees.

Create a SoFi Banking account today and bank better.

FAQ

Are brokerage accounts and cash management accounts the same?

No. Brokerage accounts are used to buy and sell securities. Cash management accounts act more like traditional bank savings and checking accounts, but are provided by brokerage and other non-bank financial institutions. Sometimes the accounts may be linked. But the accounts earn money from different sources.

Can you keep cash in a brokerage account?

No. You can use cash deposits in your brokerage account only to purchase securities. A cash management account, on the other hand, is similar to a traditional savings or checking account, so cash balances are welcome (and earn interest).

Do cash management accounts and brokerage accounts work together?

In most cases, yes. If you have a CMA and a brokerage account at the same brokerage firm and the accounts are linked, you can use your CMA to move cash into your brokerage account in order to execute trades. You can also transfer the money from sales of securities into your CMA for safekeeping. The combination gives you the ability to purchase stocks, bonds, mutual funds and other securities, but also offers the flexibility, liquidity and interest earnings of traditional bank accounts.

Photo credit: iStock/Aja Koska

1SoFi Bank is a member FDIC and does not provide more than $250,000 of FDIC insurance per depositor per legal category of account ownership, as described in the FDIC’s regulations. Any additional FDIC insurance is provided by banks in the SoFi Insured Deposit Program. Deposits may be insured up to $2M through participation in the program. See full terms at SoFi.com/banking/fdic/terms. See list of participating banks at SoFi.com/banking/fdic/receivingbanks.

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 4.00% 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 4.00% 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 4.00% 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 12/3/24. 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.

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.
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Apr
14
2023
overhead view of businessman working, looking at business charts and graphs

Guide to Share Lending

By | Growing Wealth, invest, Investing | Comments Off on Guide to Share Lending

Share lending is when investment firms loan shares to borrowers as a way to collect additional revenue on stocks they already hold. This produces another revenue stream on equities that would otherwise sit untraded in their portfolios.

The borrowers of the shares are often short sellers, who give collateral in the form of cash or other securities to the lenders.

What Is Share Lending?

Share lending is very much as it sounds: Institutions lend out shares of stock to other investors in order to generate more revenue.

The lenders tend to be pension funds, mutual funds, sovereign wealth funds, and exchange-traded fund (ETF) providers, since these types of firms tend to be long-term holders of equities.

Brokerages can also practice securities lending with shares in retail investors’ brokerage accounts. Share lending can help such firms keep management fees down for their clients.

Share lending is also known as securities lending, as the practice can extend beyond equities to bonds and commodities. Securities lending has become more popular in recent years as increased competition in the brokerage space drove down management fees to near-zero, and investment firms sought other sources of revenue. Worldwide revenue from securities lending totaled $9.89 billion during 2022.

Share lending is also useful to investors who are shorting stock, because those investors need to borrow shares in order to open their positions.

Critics argue that the practice comes at the expense of fund investors, since investment firms forgo their voting rights when they loan out shares. They might also try to own stocks that are easier to rent out.

Other concerns about share lending include a lack of transparency, and an increase in counterparty risk. That said, because short-sellers often use margin trading as a way to increase their potential returns, they’re likely used to assuming risk.

How Securities Lending Works

Here’s a deeper breakdown of how share lending works:

1.    Institutional investors use in-house or third-party agents to match their shares with borrowers. Such agents receive a cut of the fee generated by the loan.

2.    The fee is agreed upon in advance and typically tied to how much demand there is for the lent-out security on the market.

3.    The institutional investor or lender often reinvests the collateral in order to collect additional interest or income while their shares are out on loan.

4.    Borrowers tend to be other banks, hedge funds, or broker-dealers, and sometimes include other lending agents. When the borrower is done using the shares, they return them back to the lender.

5.    If the collateral posted was in the form of cash, a percentage of the revenue earned from reinvesting is sometimes given back to the borrower.

Retail investors should learn whether their brokerage offers securities lending or share-lending programs. If you have a margin account at a brokerage or with a specific investing platform, there’s a good chance that you may be eligible or given access to a share-lending program. But you’ll need to ask your specific brokerage for details.

For some dividend stocks, investors could get some form of payment from the borrower, rather than the dividend itself. This payment may be taxed at a higher rate than a dividend payout.

Share Lending and Short Selling

In order to short a stock, investors usually first borrow shares. They then sell these shares to another investor or trader, with the hope that when or if the stock’s price falls, the short seller can buy them back and pocket the difference, before returning the loaned shares.

In share lending, a share can only be loaned out once — but when the borrower is a short seller, they can sell it, and the new buyer can lend it again. This is why the short stock float — the percentage of the share float that is shorted — can rise above 100% in a stock.

The fee generated by lending out shares depends on their availability. A small number of stocks tend to account for a large proportion of revenue in securities lending.

Criticism of Securities Lending

The lack of transparency in securities lending is a concern for many investors — both retail, and institutional.

The Dark Side of Share Lending

In December 2019, Japan’s Government Pension Investment Fund, among the world’s largest, announced that it would halt stock lending, saying the practice is not in line with its goals as a long-term investor. They further cited a lack of transparency regarding the identity of the individuals or entities borrowing the loaned securities, as well as their motivations for borrowing.

This became a bigger concern for investors after the “cum-ex” scandal in Germany, where borrowed shares were allegedly used in a tax evasion scheme.

Voting Rights Transferred

Another one of the biggest criticisms of share lending is that shareholder voting rights attached to the actual stock are transferred to the borrower.

This practice challenges the traditional model, in which institutional investors vote and push for change in companies in order to maximize shareholder value for their investors. Money managers can recall shares in order to cast a vote in an upcoming shareholder meeting. But there are concerns that they don’t, and it’s unclear how often they do.

A Hidden Problem

Another concern is that share lending programs incentivize money managers to own stocks that are popular to borrow, but may underperform. A 2017 paper entitled “Distortions Caused By Lending Fee Retention,” updated in July 2022, found that mutual funds that practice securities lending tend to overweight high-fee stocks which then underperform versus funds that do not rent out shares.

Pros and Cons of Share Lending

There are numerous pros and cons to share lending.

Pros

The most obvious upside for investors is that they may be able to open up an additional revenue stream to increase their returns by lending their shares. Along the same lines, share lending can also help investors turn otherwise dormant investments into return-boosters, under the right circumstances.

Also, lending shares allows for investors to lend their shares to short-sellers — thereby greasing the wheels of the market and allowing short-sellers to do their work. It adds liquidity to the market, in other words.

Cons

One downside to share lending is that retail investors should take note that securities that have been loaned are not protected by the Securities Investor Protection Corporation (SIPC). The SIPC, however, does protect the cash collateral received for the loaned securities for up to $250,000.

There can also be negative tax consequences when lending out shares of stock. You don’t receive dividends for the stocks you’ve loaned out, but you do get Payment in Lieu that’s equal to the value of the dividends paid on loan shares. Unfortunately, though, these payments are taxed at your marginal tax rate, not the more favorable dividend rate.

Another concern is the increase in counterparty risk (similar to credit risk). Let’s say a short seller’s wager goes sour. If the shorted stock rallies enough, the short seller could default and there’s a risk that the collateral posted to the lender isn’t enough to cover the cost of the shares on loan.

Finally, there may be additional and special criteria that investors need to meet in order to qualify for share-lending programs. This will depend on individual brokerages or platforms, however. And a final note: If you use a platform that allows you to buy or trade fractional shares, those fractional shares may not be eligible for share lending, either.

Pros and Cons of Share Lending
Pros

 Cons
Potential to earn more revenue Lack of SIPC protection
Allows investors to boost returns from dormant investments Increased counterparty risk (the borrower may default)
Adds liquidity to short-seller market You’re taxed at the marginal rate on payments in lieu of dividends
Investors may need to qualify

The Takeaway

Share lending or securities lending is a potential source of revenue for institutional investors and brokerage firms, who rent out shares that otherwise would have sat idly in portfolios. The practice has ramped up in recent years as management and brokerage fees have shrunk dramatically due to competition and the popularity of index investing.

There are pros and cons, however, as there’s always a risk that a borrower could default. That’s offset, naturally, by the chance to earn additional revenue and boost your ultimate returns. But there are no guarantees.

If you’re interested in investing in stocks, you can start building your portfolio with SoFi Invest. When you open an Active Invest account, you can start trading stocks online with SoFi Invest’s secure, streamlined platform today. And you may qualify for share lending, which could bring in some income.

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 are the risks of share lending?

Some of the biggest risks of share lending are counterparty risk (or, the risk that a borrower will default and not be able to return your shares); the fact that you may lose SIPC protection on your shares; and that you may need to qualify in order to actually lend shares.

What exactly happens when you lend shares?

When you lend shares, ownership is temporarily transferred to a borrower, who transfers other shares or investments to the lender as collateral. The borrower also pays the lender a fee for the privilege of borrowing their shares.

Does share lending save money?

It doesn’t necessarily save money, but it can be a way to earn more money or drive more revenue from your owned investments. By lending out shares, you can garner fees from borrowers, amounting to a boost to your overall return.

For members enrolled in the Apex Fully Paid Securities Lending Program, securities are lent based on the Master Securities Lending Agreement. Members are eligible to receive a monthly payment if Apex lends out any securities. The payment is a percentage of the total net proceeds earned, which is subject to change. There are risks with share lending, for a detailed review of those risks please review the Important Disclosure. Members may opt out of the Securities Lending Program at any time by sending us a message via chat.
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.

Claw Promotion: 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.

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Terms and conditions apply. SOFI RESERVES THE RIGHT TO MODIFY OR DISCONTINUE PRODUCTS AND BENEFITS AT ANY TIME WITHOUT NOTICE. To qualify, a borrower must be a U.S. citizen or other eligible status, be residing in the U.S., and meet SoFi's underwriting requirements. Not all borrowers receive the lowest rate. Lowest rates reserved for the most creditworthy borrowers. If approved, your actual rate will be within the range of rates at the time of application and will depend on a variety of factors, including term of loan, evaluation of your creditworthiness, income, and other factors. If SoFi is unable to offer you a loan but matches you for a loan with a participating bank, then your rate may be outside the range of rates listed above. Rates and Terms are subject to change at any time without notice. SoFi Personal Loans can be used for any lawful personal, family, or household purposes and may not be used for post-secondary education expenses. Minimum loan amount is $5,000. The average of SoFi Personal Loans funded in 2023 was around $33K. Information current as of 2/26/24. SoFi Personal Loans originated by SoFi Bank, N.A. Member FDIC. NMLS #696891 (www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org). See SoFi.com/legal for state-specific license details. See SoFi.com/eligibility for details and state restrictions.

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

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