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Dec

2022

Investing Checklist: Things to Do Before the End of 2023

By Samuel Becker | Growing Wealth, invest, Investing, Preparing for Retirement | Comments Off

There are numerous things that investors can and perhaps should do before the clock strikes midnight on New Year’s Eve, such as maxing out retirement or college savings account contributions, and harvesting tax losses.

Read on to find out what should probably be on your investing checklist for the end of the year, what to consider tackling before your tax return is due in April, and how some simple moves this December can help set you up nicely for 2023 and beyond.

End-of-Year vs Tax-Day Deadlines

Before diving into the year-end investing checklist, it’s important to remember that there are a couple of key distinctions when it comes to the calendar. Specifically, though the calendar year actually ends on December 31 of any given year, Tax Day is typically in the middle of April (April 15, usually). That’s the due date to file your federal tax return, unless you file for an extension.

As it relates to your investing checklist, this is important to take into account because some things, like maxing out your 401(k) contributions must be done before the end of the calendar year, while others (like maxing out your IRA contributions) can be done up until the Tax Day deadline.

In other words, some items on the following investing checklist will need to be crossed off before New Year’s Day, while others can wait until April.

7 Things to Do With Your Investments No Later Than Dec. 31

Here are seven things investors can or should consider doing before the calendar rolls around to 2023.

1. Max Out 401(k) Contributions

Perhaps the most beneficial thing investors can do for their long-term financial prospects is to max out their 401(k) contributions. A 401(k) is an employer-sponsored retirement account, where workers can contribute tax-deferred portions of their paychecks.

There are also Roth 401(k) accounts, which may be available to you, which allow you to preemptively pay taxes on the contributions, allowing for tax-free withdrawals in the future.

You can only contribute a certain amount of money per year into a 401(k) account, however. For 2023, that limit is $22,500, and will increase to $23,000 in 2024. For those over 50, you can contribute an additional $7,500 in 2023, for a total of $30,000 in 2023. In 2024, the contribution limit rises to $23,000, with a $7,500 catch-up provision if you’re 50 and up, for a total of $30,500.

So, if you are able to, it may be beneficial to contribute up to the $22,500 limit for 2023 before the year ends. After December 31, any contributions will count toward the 2024 tax year.

2. Harvest Tax Losses

Tax-loss harvesting is an advanced but popular strategy that allows investors to sell some investments at a loss, and then write off their losses against their gains to help lower their tax burden.

Note that investment losses realized during a specific calendar year must be applied to the gains from the same year, but losses can be applied in the future using a strategy called a tax-loss carryforward. With 2022 having been a particularly rough year in the markets, this may be a beneficial tactic for investors to add to their year-end To Do list. Again, though, tax-loss harvesting can be a fairly complicated process, and it may be best to consult with a professional

3. Consider 529 Plan Contributions

A 529 college savings plan is used to save for education expenses. There are a few different types, but the main thing that investors should focus on, as it relates to their year-end investing checklist, is to stash money into it before January as some states allow 529 contributions as tax deductions.

There is no federal contribution limit for 529 plans in 2022 — instead, the limit is set at the state level. Gift taxes, however, may apply, which is critical to consider.

4. Address Roll-Over Loose Ends

Another thing to check on is whether there are any loose ends to tie up in regard to any account roll-overs that you may have executed during the year.

For example, if you decided to roll over an old 401(k) into an IRA at some point during the year, you’ll want to make sure that the funds ended up with your new brokerage or retirement plan provider.

It may be easy to overlook, but sometimes checks get sent to the wrong place or other wires get crossed, and it can be a good idea to double-check everything is where it should be before the year ends.

5. Review Insurance Policies

Some employers require or encourage employees to opt into certain benefits programs every year, including insurance coverage. This may or may not apply to your specific situation, but it can be a good idea to check and make sure your insurance coverage is up to date — and that you’ve done things like named beneficiaries, and that all relevant contact information is also current.

6. Review Your Estate Plan

This is another item on your investing checklist that may not necessarily need to be done by the end of the year, but it’s a good idea to make a habit of it: Review your estate plan, or get one started!

Your estate plan includes several important documents that legally establish what happens to your money and assets in the event that you die. If you don’t have one, you should probably make it an item on your to-do list. If you do have one, you can use the end of the year as a time to check in and make sure that your heirs or beneficiaries are designated, that there are instructions about how you’d prefer your death or incapacitation to be handled, and more.

7. Donate Appreciated Stocks

Finally, you can and perhaps should consider donating stocks to charity by the end of the year. There are a couple of reasons to consider a stock donation: One, you won’t pay any capital gains taxes if the shares have appreciated, and second, you’ll be able to snag a tax deduction for the full market value of the shares at the time that you donate them. The tax deduction limit is for up to 30% of your adjustable gross income — a considerable amount.

Remember, though, that charitable donations must be completed by December 31 if you hope to deduct the donation for the current tax year.

3 Things for Investors to Do by Tax Day 2024

As mentioned, there are a few items on your investing checklist that can be completed by Tax Day, or in mid-April 2024. Here are the few outstanding items that you’ll have several more months to complete.

1. Max Out IRA Contributions

One of the important differences between 401(k)s and IRAs is the contribution deadline. While 401(k) contributions must be made before the end of the calendar year, investors can keep making contributions to their IRA accounts up until Tax Day 2024, within the contribution limits of course.

So, if you want to max out your IRA contributions for 2023, the limit is $6,500. But people over 50 can contribute an additional $1,000 — and you’ll have until April to contribute for 2023 and still be able to deduct contributions from your taxable income (assuming it’s a tax-deferred IRA, not a Roth IRA).

Further, the limit will increase to $7,000 in 2024, with the same $1,000 catch-up provision, and some taxpayers may be able to deduct their contributions, too, under certain conditions.

2. Max Out HSA Contributions

If you have a health savings account (HSA), you’ll want to make sure you’ve hit your contribution limits before Tax Day, too. The contribution limits for HSAs in 2023 are $3,850 for self-only coverage and $7,750 for family coverage, though depending on your age and a few other factors, there may be some additional things to consider. For 2024, the contribution limits are $4,150 for self-only coverage and $8,300 for family coverage. People over 55 can contribute an additional $1,000 in both 2023 and 2024.

3. Take Your RMD (if Applicable)

If you’re retired, you may need to take a required minimum distribution (RMD) from your retirement account by the beginning of April next year, if it’s your first RMD. But if you’ve taken an RMD before, you’ll need to do so before the end of 2023 — so, be sure to check to see what deadline applies to your specific situation.

This generally only applies to people who are in their 70s, but it may be worth discussing with a professional what the best course of action is, especially if you have multiple retirement accounts.

The Takeaway

Doing a year-end financial review can be extremely beneficial, and a checklist can help make sure you don’t miss any important steps for 2023 — and set you up for 2024. That investing checklist should probably include things like maxing out contributions to your retirement accounts, harvesting tax losses in order to manage your tax bill, and possibly even taking minimum required distributions. Everyone’s situation is different, so you’ll need to tailor your investing checklist accordingly.

Also, it’s important to keep in mind that you may have until Tax Day in April to get some of it done — though it may be good practice to knock everything out by the end of the year. If you’re only beginning to invest, keeping this list handy and reviewing it annually can help you establish healthy financial habits.

You can also start next year off strong by opening an investment account with SoFi Invest, and using SoFi’s secure, streamlined app to buy stocks, ETFs, and more.

Start investing today!

Photo credit: iStock/dusanpetkovic

SoFi Invest®

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

Nov

2022

What Is a Dogecoin Mining Pool?

By Brian Nibley | Growing Wealth, invest, Investing | Comments Off

A mining pool is a collection of miners who pool their resources and share the rewards of mining a proof-of-work (PoW) cryptocurrency like Dogecoin (DOGE).

Individual miners receive a portion of block rewards in proportion to how much hashing power they contribute.

Miners may earn less overall when mining in a pool vs. solo mining, in which an individual tries to solve for a block on their own, using significant time and computing power. But they receive rewards on a more consistent basis and can maintain a profitable operation, even with smaller amounts of computing power.

💡 Recommended: Is Crypto Mining Still Profitable in 2022?

How Does Dogecoin Mining Work?

In order to understand Dogecoin mining and Dogecoin pool mining, it’s important to remember the qualities that distinguish DOGE among the other types of crypto.

What Is DOGE?

Dogecoin (pronounced dohj-coin), or DOGE, is widely known as the first joke cryptocurrency. It was launched in 2013 as a way to poke fun at Bitcoin. Nonetheless, the currency captured people’s attention and a fair amount of investment.

Dogecoin is an altcoin similar to Bitcoin and Ethereum in that it runs on a blockchain network using a PoW system. But the number of coins that can be mined are unlimited (versus the 21 million-coin cap on Bitcoin).

Despite its place as one of the biggest coins by market cap, DOGE trades at one of the lowest prices: $0.084 cents, as of November 18, 2022.

Understanding Dogecoin Mining

Dogecoin mining works in much the same way that mining any other PoW cryptocurrency works. Dogecoin is based off of Litecoin, which forked from the original Bitcoin source code.

The main difference between Bitcoin (BTC) and Dogecoin (DOGE) or Litecoin (LTC) is that the latter two are altcoins that use a mining algorithm known as Scrypt. Bitcoin mining, by contrast, uses an algorithm called SHA-256. Scrypt allows for faster block confirmation times, which means faster transaction times.

Here’s a quick guide to crypto basics and how the mining process works.

• A blockchain is a type of distributed ledger technology (DLT).

• Blockchain networks are the highways on which cryptocurrencies travel.

• The computers that maintain a blockchain network are called “nodes.”

• Some nodes can add new blocks of transactions to the network and gain rewards. These nodes are called “miners.”

• Miners solve complex mathematical problems to process transactions and achieve consensus on the network, ensuring everyone agrees which transactions are valid.

💡 Recommended: How Does Bitcoin Mining Work?

Like gold mining, mining for crypto requires time and energy, whether you’re mining Bitcoin or an altcoin like Dogecoin or Litecoin. But unlike gold mining, computers do all the work in crypto mining. Individuals set up their mining rigs (powerful computer systems) and monitor the process. For some, mining cryptocurrency offers an opportunity to obtain cryptocurrency without buying it on an exchange.

How Do You Pool Mine Dogecoin (DOGE)?

To participate in a Dogecoin mining pool, you must have a crypto wallet that’s compatible with DOGE, and all the necessary hardware and software for mining.

Using a pool involves one extra step: telling the miners where to “point” their hashing power. This typically involves entering a single line of computer code into the mining software. The mining pool will provide the specific command, likely somewhere on its website or in the software itself.

Dogecoin Mining Equipment

Crypto mining requires sophisticated and powerful computers known as Application-Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs). In the case of Dogecoin mining hardware, the ASIC must be specifically designed to run the Scrypt algorithm.

While there might be some pools that allow users to use SHA-256 ASICs, contribute that hashing power to the pool, and take rewards in DOGE, those interested in mining DOGE specifically should stick to Scrypt ASICs.

ASICs take so much electricity that even smaller miners usually require a special power supply to connect to an electrical outlet. They also generate considerable heat, and miners must keep them cool to prevent damage.

In addition to the ASICs and their power supplies, miners will need a laptop or desktop computer. Running the Dogecoin mining software can take a considerable amount of central processing unit (CPU) or graphic processing unit (GPU) power, so that computer probably won’t be able to do much else while the mining is happening.

💡 Recommended: What Is a Bitcoin Mining Pool? Should You Join One?

Pool Mining vs Solo Mining Dogecoin

Before you decide whether you want to pool mine or solo mine DOGE, you want to weigh the pros and cons.

The benefit of mining solo is that 100% of the block reward will go directly to you. But it could be weeks or months before you find a block because there is so much competition.

Most miners choose to join a mining pool. Pool miners receive rewards in proportion to the amount of hashing power they contribute. However, they also have to pay a small fee in exchange for using the pool.

Pros and Cons of Pool Mining	Pros and Cons of Solo Mining
Doesn’t require as much computing power.	Requires a lot of computing power & energy.
Earn rewards proportional to your hashing power.	100% of the mining reward goes to you.
Easier to join a pool than find a block to mine.	Can be hard to find a block to mine.
Must pay pool mining fees, which eat into profits.	Overall costs of solo mining are quite high, which can eat into profits.

Using a Pool to Mine Multiple Coins

Some mining pools mine multiple cryptocurrencies. This allows the pool to switch its mining activities should mining a different coin become more popular depending on the constantly changing variables of price and difficulty.

For example, some pools mine both Dogecoin and Litecoin since both rely on the same mining algorithm. If such a pool’s miners were focused on Dogecoin but the price of DOGE stagnates, it could become harder to mine DOGE due to difficulty increases, meaning reduced profits for miners absent a rise in DOGE. Then they could switch to Litecoin.

Dogecoin Cloud Mining

Mining via the cloud is another option, and you won’t need physical hardware or software. Cloud mining DOGE involves buying a contract for a certain amount of hashing power over a certain amount of time. Essentially, you’re renting computing power from someone else.

Be careful, there have been many cloud mining scams over the years.

How to Join a Dogecoin Mining Pool

Other than the above, most mining pools don’t have any special requirements for joining. They want to make it as easy as possible for new miners to contribute because they take a small fee from each block reward. The more miners in the pool, the more often the pool finds new blocks, and the more fees the pool will generate.

Mining pools often have instructions on their website that teach new miners how to join. It usually involves little more than entering a line of code into a mining program. Computers handle the rest.

Here is a rundown of the steps that an individual will take when joining a mining pool:

Step 1: Obtain the necessary hardware. As noted above, joining a mining pool may require less sophisticated equipment than solo mining.

Step 2: Select a Dogecoin mining pool to join (more in the next section).

Step 3: Download and install the software from the pool’s official site.

Step 4: Set up a DOGE crypto wallet and enter the address into the software (so the software knows where to send the new coins.

How to Find the Best Dogecoin Mining Pool

To choose the best Dogecoin mining pool for you, consider the following factors:

Fees and Costs

Because mining cryptocurrency comes with a significant investment of time and money, miners will want to choose a pool that earns them the greatest profit. That involves a pool with the lowest fees and most equitable reward structure. The biggest Dogecoin pool may or may not be the best, as there are other factors to consider.

For example, the Dogecoin mining pool power cost is also important to consider. Mining requires cheap electricity to be profitable, and for miners to make more money.

In addition, the mining pool itself will charge a fee, maybe 0.5% to 4% of the reward. You’ll want to compare the fees charged by different pools.

Reward Distribution

The reward for each block of transactions is 10,000 DOGE, and it’s split among the mining pool members, in proportion to the hashing power that member contributed to the mining pool. For that reason, computing power does matter when you join a mining pool.

The bigger the pool, the more consistent your rewards will be. So while you might be able to score 10,000 DOGE per month as a solo miner, you could earn the same amount in smaller chunks when you join a mining pool.

Hashing Power

You want a pool with a high combined hashrate. That’s more important than the overall size of the pool. But the size of the pool is also an indicator of how trustworthy/secure it is.

The more hashing power you contribute, the bigger your share of the rewards will be. Hashing power is a function of computing power, so it’s something to consider as you invest in your rig, or cloud mining.

Server Locations

In theory, it may be smarter to join a pool with servers on the same continent, in terms of hash rate needed. Proximity to servers may enhance your rewards.

Security

The security of the mining pool is obviously critical, and there are various aspects to consider. First, you want to ensure that the pool is transparent about its hashrate and payout structures. Does the pool have a real-time dashboard of activity that you can review?

Stability is also important. Does the pool have a lot of down time, which can impact your ability to mine as well as potential profits.

5 Popular Dogecoin Mining Pools

While there are many Dogecoin mining pools, some are more popular. Remember that the number of coins mined is correlated with the pool’s computing power. A larger pool may equal more computing power, but not necessarily. A smaller pool running more high-powered computers would outperform a larger pool with older networks.

1. Aikapool

One of the oldest mining pools, Aikapool doesn’t charge a fee and there are no withdrawal limits. The payout is PROP, or proportional to your hash rate.

2. Prohashing

The Prohashing pool is one of the largest pools and it’s notable for paying in DOGE, vs. converting rewards to BTC or LTC.

3. Multipool

Multipool allows you to mine for more than one type of crypto at once, sometimes called merge mining. So you can mine DOGE and LTC, for example. Multipool charges a fee of about 0.25%.

4. 1CoinPool

1CoinPool has a transparent fee structure, and pays according to the PPS (proportional pay per share, where you get a fixed amount per work submitted). 1CoinPoll operates two mining pools – Litecoin and Dogecoin. Also, there are no fees for withdrawals. This means that the miners are rewarded proportionally as per the hashing power. Furthermore, the coins get automatically added to the wallet.

5. LitecoinPool

Litecoin also has a transparent reward system (PPS), and doesn’t charge fees, including no withdrawal fees.

The Takeaway

Cryptocurrency mining is not an easy task, and won’t be profitable for most people most of the time. All the right variables must align for an individual to make money mining in most instances. Many take up mining as a hobby and as a way to build a small crypto portfolio while contributing to the livelihood of the network of a particular coin.

FAQ

Can Dogecoin still be mined in 2022?

Yes. Despite the ongoing volatility in the crypto markets, mining for many types of crypto continues. There are both solo Dogecoin miners and pool miners still active today.

How long does mining 1 Dogecoin take?

You can’t really mine 1 DOGE, because the rewards for mining a block is 10,000 DOGE. Given that it takes about a minute to mine a block of Dogecoin, depending on your equipment and the size of your mining pool, that’s roughly what it would take to obtain 1 DOGE.

How much Dogecoin could you mine in just 1 day?

Again, it depends on the number of blocks you have access to — either as a solo miner or as a pool miner — and how much hashing power you have. The supply of DOGE is unlimited, but you can only earn 10,000 DOGE per block of transactions that are confirmed.

Photo credit: iStock/Thirawatana Phaisalratana

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.

Crypto: Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies aren’t endorsed or guaranteed by any government, are volatile, and involve a high degree of risk. Consumer protection and securities laws don’t regulate cryptocurrencies to the same degree as traditional brokerage and investment products. Research and knowledge are essential prerequisites before engaging with any cryptocurrency. US regulators, including FINRA , the SEC , and the CFPB , have issued public advisories concerning digital asset risk. Cryptocurrency purchases should not be made with funds drawn from financial products including student loans, personal loans, mortgage refinancing, savings, retirement funds or traditional investments. Limitations apply to trading certain crypto assets and may not be available to residents of all states.

Terms and conditions apply. Earn a bonus (as described below) when you open a new SoFi Digital Assets LLC account and buy at least $50 worth of any cryptocurrency within 7 days. The offer only applies to new crypto accounts, is limited to one per person, and expires on December 31, 2023. Once conditions are met and the account is opened, you will receive your bonus within 7 days. SoFi reserves the right to change or terminate the offer at any time without notice.

First Trade Amount		Bonus Payout
Low	High	Bonus Payout
$50	$99.99	$10
$100	$499.99	$15
$500	$4,999.99	$50
$5,000+		$100

SOIN0822016

Nov

2022

Should You Invest With Friends?

By Anna Davies | Growing Wealth, invest, Investing | Comments Off

Investing with friends can seem like an intriguing concept. Instead of being the sole decision maker, you can share financial and knowledge-based resources to come up with a compelling investment strategy that serves your collective goals.

Investing with friends may also be a way to make a substantial impact in a cause you believe in, such as raising funds to invest in a friend’s startup or business venture.

And investing is something you’re likely already using as a way to connect. According to SoFi’s research, 70% of SoFi Invest members talk about investing with friends, family, or colleagues at least once a week. So it might make sense to some people to pool that passion and capital and begin investing together.

Of course, investing with friends also comes with some particular concerns you’ll want to consider in advance:

• Who controls the investment account and how are investment decisions made?

• What is the process if one person wants to remove their portion of the investment?

• How will any returns be distributed?

• Does the investment have a set length of time, or will it continue in perpetuity, or until all parties have decided to withdraw or buy out their investment?

Talking through scenarios like this can be helpful. It can also be helpful to come up with some sort of contract that outlines contingencies, so you know everyone is on the same page.

Pros and Cons of Investing With Friends

There are a number of upsides to investing with friends, but also some reasons to be cautious.

Pros	Cons
Friends can enjoy trust and similar POVs	Friends may rely on an honor system rather than proper procedures
May be able to reach compromises more easily	Strong emotions can lead people to make impulsive money choices
Friends add enthusiasm and support

Pros

When you invest with your friends, you enjoy a certain amount of trust and, often, similar values and perspectives on life. This can make it easier to explore new opportunities and set goals together.

Friends may have the ability to overcome disagreements and reach necessary compromises — a big plus when it comes to managing money.

Last, friends can cheer each other on, and pool enthusiasm as well as funds to generate momentum, and sustain commitment.

Cons

On the flip side, being friends sometimes leads people to rely on a “handshake” or honor system for doing business, rather than setting up proper protocols, paperwork, and protections.

This is understandable — you want to believe your friends have your back in all cases — but financial endeavors often function better with firewalls in place. That’s because, as much as you may like your friends, they’re only human. They may drop the ball, forget important details, or put their own interests ahead of yours.

In a similar vein, the camaraderie of good friends can generate a lot of enthusiasm for certain ideas or investment choices. But when it comes to money, as many behavioral finance studies have shown, emotions around money can lead people astray. It’s usually smarter to have a few guardrails in place, to guide any group.

What to Talk About Before You Invest With Friends

Before pooling resources, it may be wise to talk a little about how you each approach investing.

Maybe one friend is a Warren Buffett aficionado, while another is eager to invest in crypto.

Maybe one friend is eager to hit a specific financial goal while another is looking at investing with friends as a way to start an investment club to diversify their portfolio.

Before pooling resources, it’s a good idea to talk about how you each approach the market.

It can also be a good time to talk through all the what-ifs you can think of, including:

• What if our investments lose money?

• What if one of us needs the money for an emergency?

• What if more people want to invest in the future?

Finally, make sure your goals are aligned. Are you looking for specific investment opportunities?

Some friend groups get together for what is called impact investing, or socially conscious investing — investing in companies that have positive social, environmental, and environmental impact on the world.

Other friends may pool their money to gain access to investment opportunities that may have a minimum investment threshold, such as private investments and alternative investments like venture capital.

Once you’re all on the same page, you can then assess different methods of investing as a group of friends.

How Do You Start Investing With Friends?

There are a few different ways to start investing with friends.

Set Up a Brokerage Account

One way to invest with friends is to designate someone as the account holder, and have them open a brokerage account online with your group’s pooled resources. But that method may not allow for safeguards to protect your capital, or empower each individual investor with decision-making power.

Opening a brokerage account for your pooled funds may work for groups where there is one designated, trusted leader who manages the execution of trades, and where everyone involved agrees about the group investing style, whether active investing or some other strategies.

💡 Recommended: How to Open a Brokerage Account

Create an LLC

You may also choose to invest with friends as a show of faith for a mutual friend or family member’s startup or business venture. In this case, it can be helpful to create a limited liability company (LLC). And LLC can provide a structure for raising and investing cash, as well as making sure there is an agreement laid out as to potential returns on the investment and whether investors will have any power in the direction and decisions the company makes.

In creating an LLC, it may be helpful to seek legal advice to help create a contract so that everyone is on the same page and there is no confusion as to how money is used and what the return on investment will look like for investors.

Investing in Real Estate With Friends

Real estate can be expensive, so pooling your resources with friends may make sense.

There are a number of different ways to invest in real estate with friends. Among the most common:

• You might buy a long-term investment property, like a rental property.

• You could buy a short-term investment property, where you renovate and flip a home, for example.

• You could invest in a shared property where you and your friends live, or a property where one or more friends might live, with an agreement to sell it at a certain point, ideally for a profit.

However you approach your joint real estate venture, be sure to do research into the different types of business arrangements and real estate agreements that might suit your aims. Given how expensive and complicated real estate can be — even owning a shared home — and how many legalities could come into play, it’s best to get professional advice.

Investing in a Friend’s Business

While history abounds with successful businesses started by friends, think carefully before investing your own funds in a friend’s new venture. Ideally, you want to approach the question of whether to invest in your friend’s enterprise with your business hat on, so to say.

• Wait to be asked. Just because your friend is on fire about their new startup doesn’t mean they want you or your money involved. If they ask for your advice, rather than money, that could be a lower-stakes way to provide support.

• Kick the tires. If your friend does want you to invest, pretend you work on Wall Street. Read their business plan. Ask hard questions: how they’re raising capital, what kind of audience they’ve identified, and so on. Before deciding to put your own money into a project, you want to know it’s solid.

• Sign on the dotted line. Don’t attempt to do business with friends over a beer and a handshake. Lay out all the terms and expectations in a contract that protects all parties.

• Set emotional boundaries. You’re friends first, so have some rules in place that help you navigate when and where to talk business.

The Takeaway

For many people, there are tangible benefits to investing with friends: shared wisdom and experience, supporting each other’s financial goals, and in some cases the profits that may come from your joint venture. But there are disadvantages as well. It can be tempting to trust friends to do the right thing, when having a contract might provide more structure and clearcut consequences if an investment project goes awry.

There are many things to consider before investing with friends, and many different ways to go about it. In some cases, you might want to create an LLC with friends, to safeguard your own interests and make sure everyone is in agreement on the details of the arrangement.

If you’re not quite ready to invest your money directly with other people, and you want to gain more experience and wisdom on your own, you can start by actively trading stock with SoFi Invest.

SoFi’s investing platform has a feature available for Active Investing members that allows them to opt-in to share their investment portfolios, so you can see how your friends are doing and the market moves they’re making. Dollar amounts are hidden, but you can follow the holdings of friends who also have opted-into this feature, look at watchlists, and comment on trades.

You can also see you and your friends on a dynamic leaderboard with other members. This is a seamless way to see your friends’ investing behaviors, ask questions, and connect on investment decisions — while still keeping your finances separate.

Take a step toward reaching your financial goals with SoFi Invest.

FAQ

Is it a good idea to invest with a friend?

Investing with friends can offer some distinct advantages, including the power of combined finances, similar values, and basic trust. On the downside, though, friends might be tempted to do business with a handshake, rather than spelling out details and expectations clearly in an agreement or contracts that protects everyone involved.

Can a group of friends invest in stocks?

Friends can invest in stocks together in a few different ways. A set of friends can form an investment group or club, where they pool money and agree on a stock-picking strategy. It’s also possible for friends to invest in fractional shares.

How do I start an investing group with friends?

There are many different books and websites that can offer steps and guidelines for setting up an investment group with your friends.

SoFi Invest®

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

Nov

2022

7 Bitcoin Scams to Avoid in 2023

By Samuel Becker | Growing Wealth, invest, Investing | Comments Off

The crypto market is rife with fraud, and Bitcoin scams are very common. While crypto itself may be relatively new in the financial world, many of the more common rackets involving cryptos use old school tricks and common deceit to achieve their goals. These can involve fake exchanges, social engineering scams, and more.

Almost all types of fraud — be they Bitcoin scams or run-of-the-mill phishing attempts — are rooted in a schemer’s ability to gain a victim’s trust. Many crypto investors can be easily swayed by hype and con artists, too, which means they need to remain vigilant when considering investing in Bitcoin or other cryptos. Here are some of the more common Bitcoin and cryptocurrency scams, some things to look out for, and what to do if you fall victim to one of them.

Common Bitcoin Scams to Avoid

1. Fake Cryptocurrency Exchanges

One way to attract potential crypto investors who are eager to get in on the action? Create a cryptocurrency exchange — even if it isn’t real.

Fake crypto exchanges exist, and in some cases, have been used to scam investors out of their money. For fraudsters, it can be as easy as luring crypto investors with the promise of free Bitcoin or another crypto to get them to sign up for the exchange. Then, after making an initial deposit, victims may find that none of it was real, and they’ve been bilked out of their deposit.

As for how to avoid these fake exchanges? Sticking to the known, established crypto exchanges is a start. Think twice before creating an account with a new or unfamiliar exchange, and be sure to do some research to make sure it’s above board before making any moves. Refer to industry sites and newsletters, message boards and forums, and other reputable sources of information to find out more about an exchange’s credentials and reputation.

And it never hurts to remember the age-old adage: If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

2. ICO and Fake Cryptos

If you’re familiar with buying IPO stocks, then ICOs should ring a bell. ICO stands for “initial coin offering,” and is similar to an IPO. It’s when a new coin or crypto makes its market debut. That’s sure to attract some attention, right? That’s what fraudsters think, too. And it’s why some people looking to invest in ICOs may fall victim to a fake ICO scam.

An ICO scam might work like this: A fake ICO is teased, asking investors to pony up some cash to get in early. Money is exchanged, but the ICO never occurs, and investors never get their money back.

These types of scams are common. So much so that the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) even published a website that simulates them, only to lead you to educational tools when you try to invest, instead of stealing your money.

As with any investment, it is a wise idea to do your research before putting money behind a crypto ICO. Try to find out as much as you can about the company in question — from sources other than itself or the tease that first grabbed your interest. And take advantage of tools like the ones provided by the SEC or groups like FINRA, to help build some background knowledge about what you’re investing in.

3. Social Engineering Scams

Many of the same tactics used in money scams or to con people out of their personal information are used in the crypto sphere, too. That includes things like hacking, social media scams, phishing attempts, and more.

For instance, crypto investors may get an email asking them to update their password or personal information on a crypto exchange — a phishing attempt, which is meant to trick users into providing their credentials. With that information, a fraudster could, potentially, gain access to an investor’s holdings and liquidate them.

The numerous types of social engineering scams mean that investors need to be extra judicious when being asked to reset their passwords or in their interactions in social media.

4. Ponzi Schemes

Ponzi schemes are very similar to pyramid schemes. They are, in essence, a game of hot potato, with investors who’ve been involved for a longer period of time being paid with the proceeds and investments from newer investors. It’s a common scheme in financial circles that has found its way to the crypto world.

The government has gone after Ponzi schemers in the crypto community, and that includes those that use Bitcoin to lure in fresh investors. In fact, government regulators say that they root out and prosecute many Ponzi scheme cases every year, which includes those involving cryptocurrencies.

One typical red flag indicating a Ponzi scheme (or nearly any type of fraud): the promise of investing your money at no risk to you with the guarantee of huge profits.

5. Pump-and-Dump Bitcoin Scams

For investors who are even somewhat familiar with the stock market, “pump-and-dump” should be a familiar term — especially after the Gamestop headlines of early 2021.

A pump-and-dump scheme involves a number of traders or investors buying up an asset (say, Bitcoin for example, or a penny stock) which causes its value to increase. Then, with values high, they sell it all off — or “dump” it. Investors who bought in during the initial run-up are often caught underwater as a result.

Naturally, this same play can be run with cryptocurrencies. Government regulators, such as the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), have warned that pump-and-dump schemes can be particularly effective in the crypto sphere, and warn investors to do their homework before making any investment decisions.

6. Rug Pull Scams

A rug pull is a type of scam that is similar to ICO scams, in that a hyped up crypto project ends up being vaporware — it doesn’t actually exist. It may be common to see a crypto “aped” on social media or in crypto circles by founders or developers in an effort to gin up interest and get investors on board.

Then, the developer or creator simply disappears with investors’ money. In other words, investors have had the rug pulled out from under them. It doesn’t take much for a scammer to gin up hype, especially if they’re something of a showman, so these types of scams are somewhat prevalent in the crypto space.

7. Man-in-the-Middle Scams

A man-in-the-middle scam or attack involves a third party intercepting information between an investor and their exchange, or another investor. The scammer is able to gain access to sensitive information, like passwords or wallet keys, and use them to swipe your assets.

Scammers can pull these scams off by intercepting wireless internet signals and some technical trickery. They’re not the most common scams, but many investors may be at risk nonetheless.

How to Spot a Bitcoin Scam

As mentioned, most Bitcoin scams are age-old tricks used in many other areas of the financial world. As such, there are some common red flags to keep an eye out for.

Big Promises

If a project or crypto is promising massive returns on your investment, your radar should be going off as a possible scam. This is true for other types of scams as well, but in order to generate a large pool of potential schemes, a scammer needs to get people’s attention — by making big promises. If they do, tread carefully.

Scammers Often Request Up-Front Crypto Payments

It’s relatively uncommon that you’d be asked to pay upfront with cryptocurrency for a good or service. As such, this can be a common refrain from scammers. And if they take your money (or Bitcoin) and run, you’ll have little or no recourse. So, if someone asks you to send them Bitcoin with promises of delivering later, use caution.

Appeals to Emotion

A common tactic scammers use is to appeal to someone’s emotions — this is why dating scams are so common. If you find yourself growing close to someone (or believing that you are, anyway) and they start asking you to send them crypto for one reason or another, it could be another sign that you’re being scammed.

Ways to Protect Yourself from Bitcoin Scams

Given that there are a lot of people out there trying to swipe your Bitcoin, here are some ways to protect yourself from Bitcoin scams.

Stick to Known Exchanges

The crypto space is largely unregulated, and as such, there can be a lot of questionable exchanges and platforms out there. While you can create accounts and trade on many of them, it may be best practice to stick to ones that are well-known or generally well-regarded.

There are many bigger exchanges out there that are popular among traders and investors. You can easily look some of them up, too. This isn’t to say that a smaller exchange is a scam, necessarily, but your odds of falling victim are likely higher on a small, unfamiliar exchange than you are on a larger one.

Do Your Homework

It should go without saying, but before you sign up for an exchange or invest in a cryptocurrency of any kind, do some research. There should be supporting materials out there (white papers, etc.) or reviews to take a look at, so do some digging around to see what other people are saying before diving in yourself.

Tread Carefully

Aside from doing some research, you should always exercise a level of caution when investing. For instance, if you’re getting emails from a crypto founder or someone else in the space, always check the sender address on emails like this — one riddled with typos or oddball fonts is likely to be a fake.

It’s important to be careful on social media, too. Imposter social media accounts may contact you and ask for investments or deposits, only to take your money and run. A good rule of thumb? Go with your gut, and don’t trust social media accounts — it’s all too easy for bots or others to create fakes.

What to Do if You’ve Fallen Victim to a Bitcoin Scam

If you do fall victim to a Bitcoin scam — which is entirely possible, as many people do — there may not be much you can do to get your money back. Again, since crypto is still outside the scope of most government regulators, your assets or money may be as good as gone.

You can, and perhaps should, report it, however. You can report crypto fraud to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the CFTC, the SEC, the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), and you can also consider lodging a complaint with the exchange on which you were scammed — is applicable.

The Takeaway

Bitcoin scams, and those involving other cryptocurrencies, are very common. They can take numerous forms, too, such as rug pulls, fake ICOs, and even Ponzi schemes. You can take measures to protect yourself, however, and learn to recognize a scam when you see one. A good rule of thumb is that if something sounds too good to be true, it usually is.

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2022

Decentralized Stablecoins: Types and How They Work

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

What Are Decentralized Stablecoins?

Decentralized stablecoins, like any type of stablecoin, are cryptocurrencies that have a value pegged to a particular external asset, such as a national fiat currency like the U.S. dollar, or a commodity. In theory, being pegged to a real-world asset helps prevent volatility.

What makes decentralized stablecoins different from centralized stablecoins is that they have full transparency and they are non-custodial, meaning a company or centralized party doesn’t control them. Any collateral that backs the stablecoin is transparent to users, so they know it really exists.

Decentralization allows for a trustless and secure system in which a centralized party can’t tamper with the supply of the coin or pretend they have assets to back the coin that they really don’t. Instead, smart contracts and algorithms automatically control the coin’s supply.

There are a few different types of decentralized stablecoins. In this article we will look at the different types, and the pros and cons of this type of crypto asset.

The Need for Decentralized Stablecoins

Stablecoins were created as a crypto version of traditional currencies, which are typically backed by central banks and governments, and often pegged to real-world assets like cash or commodities (e.g. gold or silver).

As a result many stablecoins have a 1:1 ratio with fiat currencies like the U.S. dollar or the euro. So, are all stablecoins decentralized? No, most are still centralized.

Understanding Stablecoins

Stablecoins were launched so that traders could keep funds in an exchange to keep them available for trading, and have them in a stable asset that wouldn’t change in value.

Prior to the creation of stablecoins, any time a trader sold a coin they would have to move their money back into a fiat currency, and sometimes even move it off the crypto exchange completely, making it really inconvenient for day traders.

The emergence of stablecoins helped traders cope in periods of volatility, since they could move funds into a stablecoin temporarily, until they were ready to go back into the crypto market.

That said, having a form of crypto pegged to tangible assets (like fiat currencies) with real-world value hasn’t been a complete success. In fact, the stablecoin market has been plagued with allegations of fraud and other malfeasance, including questions of whether some coins actually had sufficient reserves.

With Decentralized Stablecoins Came More Security and Transparency

In order to make stablecoins more secure and transparent, decentralized stablecoins are being developed. (In order to understand why this is important, it helps to know what decentralized finance is, aka DeFi, and how it’s challenging traditional finance.)

Stablecoin values are kept stable through a process of controlling their circulating supply. With many stablecoins, this is done by the issuing company that created the coin. With decentralized stablecoins, this is typically accomplished using algorithms.

When the value of a decentralized stablecoin moves higher or lower than the value of its underlying asset, the algorithm adjusts the supply — sometimes by burning or removing coins — to bring it back to the desired 1:1 ratio.

Thus, decentralized stablecoins are considered trustless. Much of the reason traders are attracted to crypto is the ability to transact without middlemen and centralized parties. Therefore, stablecoins are heading in the direction of decentralization — which is how most cryptocurrencies work.

How Decentralized Stablecoins Work

Decentralized stablecoins use algorithms and smart contracts to control the supply of the token to maintain its stable value. If the price of the stablecoin starts veering up or down from the value of the asset it is pegged to, then the supply of the stablecoin can be adjusted to get the price back to where it should be.

With normal stablecoins this is done by the issuing centralized party. Ultimately, decentralized stablecoins could be created that aren’t backed by any external asset — which is basically what algorithmic stablecoins are. But it’s hard to put together a list of decentralized stablecoins right now.

Uses of Decentralized Stablecoins & the Need for Them

Decentralized stablecoins have similar uses to regular stablecoins. Day traders can easily move funds between crypto and stablecoins if they want to avoid volatility or wait to make another purchase. They provide a secure and efficient way to transfer funds almost anywhere in the world, and in some cases users can earn interest on them as well.

5 Types of Decentralized Stablecoins

What is a decentralized stablecoin, exactly? There are several types of decentralized stablecoins that provide different functionality and security for users. Below are the main types available on the market today:

1. Elastic Supply Chains

What Are They?

Most decentralized stablecoins fall within the category of elastic supply chains. These coins use automated contracts with user incentives to stabilize the value of the coin so it stays pegged to the external asset.

How Do They Work?

This type of decentralized stablecoin uses an elastic supply monetary policy. When the value of the stablecoin falls below the value of the pegged asset, stablecoin owners are incentivized to keep holding the stablecoin because they earn a high interest rate on it.

When the value of the stablecoin goes back up, the interest rate earned goes down. To earn interest, users have to lock up their coins until the value of the stablecoin goes back to the value of the pegged asset.

When the value of the stablecoin rises above the pegged value, the supply of the stablecoin is increased, and vice versa.

One risk with this type of decentralized stablecoin is that users will choose to sell off their coins instead of staking them. When this happens, the value of the decentralized stablecoin no longer matches the value of the pegged asset, and users lose trust in the stablecoin.

Examples

• Ampleforth

• BitBay

• Kowala

• NuBits

• Xank

• Ndau

• StableUnit

2. Collateralized-Debt Positions

What Are They?

Decentralized stablecoins that use Collateralized-Debt Position (CDP) systems involve user-deposited collateral and smart contracts to maintain the value of the coin.

How Do They Work?

First, a stablecoin user deposits collateral into a smart contract. Then they are loaned stablecoins equal to the value of the collateral they deposited, and they pay interest on the loan. Basically the users loan money into the pool backing the coin and by doing so they enable the coin to exist so they can use it. This is similar to the way fiat currency works using fractional reserve banking systems. However, unlike the fiat system, decentralized stablecoins are generally fully backed or over-collateralized. This is important to know when buying and selling cryptocurrencies.

Examples

• MakerDAO

• Alchemint

• Augmint

3. Self-Collateralized Stablecoins

What Are They?

Self-collateralized stablecoins are similar to CDP coins, except that the collateral users deposit is crypto instead of fiat currency. Also, users of these coins don’t always have to pay interest on their loans.

How Do They Work?

First, users deposit collateral that was generated by blockchains or smart contracts. Then they receive a loan of stablecoins equal in value to the amount they deposited.

Examples

• Sweetbridge

• Bitshares

• Synthetix

4. Bond Redemption Coins

What Are They?

This type of decentralized stablecoin uses a bond exchange system to keep the coin price stable.

How Do They Work?

For example, Basis is a stablecoin pegged to the value of the U.S. dollar. When the value of Basis dips beneath $1, Basis users burn their Basis tokens and in exchange they receive Basis Bonds. Once the price of Basis goes back up to $1, users can exchange their Basis Bonds back to Basis coins.

There are 25 different bonds that Basis users can choose from, and they earn $0.2 for each Basis coin they burn. Conversely, when the price of Basis goes over $1, new Basis coins are created and sent to holders of Basis Shares until the price goes back down to $1.

Examples

• Basis

5. Collateral-Redemption Coins

What Are They?

Collateral-redemption coins are similar to CDP-based coins in that stablecoins are created when users deposit collateral into a pool. However, CDP coins require users to receive stablecoins for all of the collateral they deposit, and they must pay interest on the loan.

Collateral-redemption systems let users just receive a portion of funds from their deposited collateral without paying any stability or penalty fees. Also, collateral-redemption systems let users deposit many different types of tokens into the smart contract collateral pool.

How Do They Work?

For example, let’s say a user deposits $200 worth of Bitcoin and $200 worth of ETH. They then receive 400 stablecoins. After that, they deposit just 9 stablecoins and take out $5 worth of ETH and $4 worth of Bitcoin from the collateral pool of the stablecoin’s smart contract. The 9 stablecoins that are deposited are burned so that the coin keeps a constant collateral-to-debt ratio.

Examples

• Reserve Protocol

Pros and Cons of Decentralized Stablecoins

There are several upsides to decentralized stablecoins but they have some downsides as well.

Pros	Cons
Increased transparency	Many decentralized stablecoins are only partially decentralized and are still in an experimental phase of development.
Cuts so equal number of pros and cons	There is a risk that a stablecoin will have a price meltdown
Increased security	If the value of the external asset tanks, so will the stablecoin
More efficient than other stablecoins at maintaining value, so losses are potentially less	Many decentralized stablecoins are not yet widely adopted. There’s a chance that they won’t exist long term or won’t have high liquidity
There have been legal challenges with issuing stablecoins that are solved with decentralized stablecoins	Traders can earn interest on some stablecoins

Multi-Currency and Single-Currency Coins

Some stablecoins are backed by one particular fiat currency, while others are backed by a basket of currencies. For instance, Libra’s original goal was to release a stablecoin backed by 30 different fiat currencies. However, they then shifted their plan to say they might still create a multi-currency asset, but it would be backed by single-currency stablecoins.

Investing in Crypto

Stablecoins are just one of many types of crypto individuals can buy. They are a useful tool for day traders who want a convenient way to keep funds in exchanges and avoid volatility, but stablecoins have been fraught with problems. Decentralized stablecoins are still evolving, and could someday change how crypto is traded.

FAQ

Is USDT a decentralized stablecoin?

USDT, also known as Tether, is one of the first stablecoins and it is pegged to the U.S. dollar. It is not a decentralized stablecoin. It was the first fully centralized stablecoin and is managed by Tether Limited.

Are there any truly decentralized stablecoins?

There are a handful of stablecoins that claim to be fully decentralized, including: DAI, EOSDT, DeFi Dollar (DUSD), and GHO (a multi-collateralized stablecoin launched this year by AAVE). But it’s safe to say that decentralized stablecoins still face certain challenges in terms of transparency and maintaining a stable 1:1 value.

Is Bitcoin a stablecoin or not?

Bitcoin is not a stablecoin; it’s the oldest and largest form of cryptocurrency on the market. Bitcoin’s value is not pegged to the value of an external asset, but rather is determined by market forces, like any other crypto.

Photo credit: iStock/akinbostanci

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Investing Checklist: Things to Do Before the End of 2023

End-of-Year vs Tax-Day Deadlines

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What Is a Dogecoin Mining Pool?

How Does Dogecoin Mining Work?

What Is DOGE?

Understanding Dogecoin Mining

How Do You Pool Mine Dogecoin (DOGE)?

Dogecoin Mining Equipment

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Pool Mining vs Solo Mining Dogecoin

Using a Pool to Mine Multiple Coins

Dogecoin Cloud Mining

How to Join a Dogecoin Mining Pool

How to Find the Best Dogecoin Mining Pool

Fees and Costs

Reward Distribution

Hashing Power

Server Locations

Security

5 Popular Dogecoin Mining Pools

1. Aikapool

2. Prohashing

3. Multipool

4. 1CoinPool

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FAQ

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How long does mining 1 Dogecoin take?

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Should You Invest With Friends?

Pros and Cons of Investing With Friends

Pros

Cons

What to Talk About Before You Invest With Friends

How Do You Start Investing With Friends?

Set Up a Brokerage Account

Create an LLC

Investing in Real Estate With Friends

Investing in a Friend’s Business

The Takeaway

FAQ

Is it a good idea to invest with a friend?

Can a group of friends invest in stocks?

How do I start an investing group with friends?

7 Bitcoin Scams to Avoid in 2023

Common Bitcoin Scams to Avoid

1. Fake Cryptocurrency Exchanges

2. ICO and Fake Cryptos

3. Social Engineering Scams

4. Ponzi Schemes

5. Pump-and-Dump Bitcoin Scams

6. Rug Pull Scams

7. Man-in-the-Middle Scams

How to Spot a Bitcoin Scam

Big Promises

Scammers Often Request Up-Front Crypto Payments

Appeals to Emotion

Ways to Protect Yourself from Bitcoin Scams

Stick to Known Exchanges

Do Your Homework

Tread Carefully

What to Do if You’ve Fallen Victim to a Bitcoin Scam

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