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Q: What Is Spoofing in Trading?

Spoofing is when traders place market orders—either buying or selling securities—and then cancel them before the order is ever fulfilled. In a sense, it’s the practice of initiating fake orders, with no intention of ever seeing them executed.

Feb

2025

What Is Spoofing in Trading?

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

In the financial space, the term “spoofing” refers to an illegal form of stock market and exchange trickery that is often used to change asset prices. Given that the stock markets are a wild place, and everyone is trying to gain an advantage, spoofing is one way in which some traders bend the rules to try and gain an advantage.

Spoofing is also something that traders and investors should be aware of. This tactic is sometimes used to change asset prices — whether stocks, bonds, or cryptocurrencies.

Key Points

• Spoofing is an illegal trading tactic where traders place and cancel orders to manipulate asset prices, influencing market supply and demand dynamics.

• Traders often use algorithms to execute high volumes of fake orders, creating a false perception of demand that can inflate or deflate security prices.

• The practice of spoofing is a criminal offense in the U.S., established under the Dodd-Frank Act, with serious penalties for those caught engaging in it.

• Significant fines have been imposed on both institutions and individual traders for spoofing, highlighting the risks of detection and legal consequences.

• Investors should remain vigilant against spoofing, as it can distort market activity and impact trading strategies, particularly for active traders and day traders.

What Is Spoofing?

Spoofing is when traders place market orders — either buying or selling securities — and then cancel them before the order is ever fulfilled. In a sense, it’s the practice of initiating fake orders, with no intention of ever seeing them executed.

Spoofing means that someone or something is effectively spamming the markets with orders, in an attempt to move security prices.

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What’s the Point of Spoofing?

Because stock market prices are determined by supply and demand — for instance, the more demand there is for Stock A, the higher Stock A’s price is likely to go, and vice versa — they can be manipulated to gain an advantage. That’s where spoofing comes in.

By using bots or an algorithm to make a high number of trades and then cancel them before they go through, it’s possible for spoofers to manipulate security prices. For a trader looking to buy or sell a certain security, those valuations may be moved enough to increase the profitability of a trade.

Spamming the markets with orders creates the illusion that demand for a security is either up or down, which is then reflected in the security’s price. Because it would require an awful lot of “spoofed” orders to move valuations, spoofers might rely on an algorithm to place and cancel orders for them, rather than handle it manually. For that reason, spoofing is typically associated with high-frequency trading (HFT).

Is Spoofing Illegal?

If it sounds like spoofing is essentially cheating the system, that’s because it is. In the United States, spoofing is illegal, and is a criminal offense. Spoofing was made illegal as a part of the Dodd-Frank Act, which was signed into law in 2010. Specifically, spoofing is described as a “disruptive practice” in the legislation, straight from the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), which is the independent agency responsible for overseeing and policing spoofing on the markets:

Dodd-Frank section 747 amends section 4c(a) of the CEA to make it unlawful for any person to engage in any trading, practice, or conduct on or subject to the rules of a registered entity that —

(A) violates bids or offers;

(B) demonstrates intentional or reckless disregard for the orderly execution of transactions during the closing period; or

(C) is, is of the character of, or is commonly known to the trade as ‘spoofing’ (bidding or offering with the intent to cancel the bid or offer before execution).

Additionally, there are laws and rules related to spoofing under rules from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), too.

Example of Spoofing

A hypothetical spoofing scenario isn’t too difficult to dream up. For instance, let’s say Mike, a trader, has 100,000 shares of Firm Y stock, and he wants to sell it. Mike uses an algorithm to place hundreds of “buy” orders for Firm Y shares — an algorithm that will also cancel those orders before they’re executed, so that no money is actually spent.

The influx of orders is read by the market as an increase in demand for Firm Y stock, and the price starts to increase. Mike then sells his 100,000 shares at an inflated price — an artificially inflated price, since Mike effectively manipulated the market to increase his profits.

Consequences of Spoofing

Because spoofing is a relatively easy way to manipulate markets and potentially increase profits, it’s also a fairly common practice for some traders and firms, despite being against the law. That transgression can cost spoofers if and when they’re caught.

For example, one financial institution was fined nearly $1 billion by the SEC during the fall of 2020 after the company was caught conducting spoofing activity in the precious metals market.

But it’s not just the big players that can be on the receiving end of a smack down by the authorities. During August of 2020, an individual day trader was caught manipulating the markets through spoofing activity — actions that netted the trader roughly $140,000 in profits. The trader was ultimately ordered by the CFTC to pay a fine of more than $200,000.

Despite the cases that make headlines, it’s generally hard to identify and catch spoofers. With so many orders being placed and executed at once (especially with algorithmic or computer aid) it’s difficult to identify fake market orders in real time.

How to Protect Against Spoofing

There are a number of parties that are constantly and consistently trying to gain an edge in the markets, be it through spoofing or other means. For investors, it’s worth keeping that in mind while sticking to an investing strategy that works for you, rather than investing with your emotions or getting caught up in the news cycle.

In a time when a single social media post or errant comment on TV can send stock prices soaring or into the gutter, it’s critical for investors to understand what’s driving market activity.

Test your understanding of what you just read.

The Takeaway

Spoofing is meant to gain advantage in the markets, but as such it’s illegal and penalties can be steep. Beyond the spoofers trying to manipulate the market, spoofing has the potential to affect all investors.

If spoofers are manipulating prices for their own gain, that can cause traders and investors to react, not realizing what is going on behind the scenes. While this is more of an issue for active investors or day traders, it’s something to be aware of.

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You may also be interested in:

Market Manipulation: An Overview for Retail Investors

Wash Trading: What Is It and How Does It Work?

What Is a Dark Pool in Trading?

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SoFi Invest®

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

Feb

2025

What Does It Mean If the Fed Is Hawkish or Dovish?

By Kim Franke-Folstad | Financial Independence, invest, Terminology | Comments Off

Table of Contents

Who Decides Monetary Policy?
Why Would the Fed Take a Hawkish Stance?
Why Would the Fed Take a Dovish Stance?
Is It Possible to Be Both Hawkish and Dovish?
How Do Hawkish vs Dovish Policies Affect Savers, Spenders, and Investors?

The Federal Reserve has two primary long-range goals: controlling inflation (hawkish) and maximizing employment (dovish). But these two aims can be at odds, and thus the Fed is often called hawkish or dovish.

While you may be thinking that monetary policy is for the birds, the Fed’s posturing, be it hawkish or dovish at any given time, is incredibly important for setting expectations and determining economic outcomes. That’s critical for investors to understand.

Key Points

• The Federal Reserve has two primary goals: controlling inflation (hawkish) and maximizing employment (dovish).

• Monetary policy decisions are made by the Federal Reserve, which can take a hawkish or dovish stance based on its goals.

• Hawkish monetary policy focuses on low inflation and may involve raising interest rates, while dovish policy prioritizes low unemployment and may involve lowering rates.

• The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC), consisting of 12 members, is responsible for deciding monetary policy.

• Hawkish and dovish policies can impact savers, spenders, and investors through changes in interest rates and economic outcomes.

Who Decides Monetary Policy?

The Federal Reserve, the central bank of the United States, decides monetary policy. And, as mentioned, it can take different postures in achieving its goals. In fact, the Fed is striving to balance what can seem like opposing scenarios. For example:

• A monetary hawk is someone for whom keeping inflation low is the top concern. So if the Federal Reserve seems to be embracing a hawkish monetary policy, it might be because it’s considering raising interest rates to control pricing and fight inflation.

• A dove is someone who prioritizes other issues — especially low unemployment over low inflation. If the Fed seems to tilt toward a dovish monetary policy, it could signify that it plans to keep rates where they are — at least for the time being — because growth and employment are doing fine. Or it may plan to lower rates to stimulate the economy and add jobs.

It’s important to note that the Federal Reserve’s decisions on monetary policy aren’t left to just one person.

People often blame the sitting president or the chairman of the Federal Reserve if they don’t like the way interest rates are going — whether that’s up or down. But the Fed’s direction is determined by a group of central bankers, not by the Fed chair alone.

The 12 members of the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC), who typically meet eight times a year to review economic conditions and vote on the federal funds rate, are responsible for deciding the country’s monetary policy. And they may have varying opinions about what the economy needs. So you might hear that the Fed is hawkish or dovish, or you may hear that an individual policymaker — or policy influencer — is a hawk while another is a dove.

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Why Would the Fed Take a Hawkish Stance?

fed hawkish stance

When fiscal policy advisors in the government or banking industry are described as favoring a hawkish or “contractionary” monetary policy, it’s usually because they want to tighten the money supply to protect the economy from inflation and promote price stability.

If the price of goods and services rises due to inflation, consumers can lose their purchasing power. A moderate inflation rate is considered healthy for the economy. It encourages people to spend or invest their money today, rather than sock it away in a low-interest savings account where it could slowly lose value. The FOMC has determined that an inflation rate of around 2% is optimal for employment and price stability.

If inflation rises above that level for a prolonged period of time, the Fed may decide to pump the brakes to control inflation and keep the U.S. economy on track.

The Fed has several tools for controlling inflation, including raising its federal funds rate and discount rate, selling government bonds, and increasing the reserve requirements for banks. When access to money gets more expensive, consumers and businesses typically borrow less and save more, economic activity slows, and inflation stays at a more comfortable level.

Why Would the Fed Take a Dovish Stance?

A dovish or expansionary monetary policy is the opposite of hawkish monetary policy.

If the Fed is worried about the economy’s growth, it may decide to give it a boost by lowering interest rates, purchasing government securities by central banks, and lowering the reserve requirements for banks. Or, if it thinks employment and growth are on track, it might keep interest rates the same.

With lower interest rates, businesses can borrow more money to expand and potentially hire more workers or raise wages. And when consumers are in a low-interest rate environment created by a dovish monetary policy, they may be more likely to borrow money for big-ticket items like cars, homes, home improvements, and vacations. That increased consumption can also create more jobs. And doves tend to prefer low unemployment over low inflation.

Is It Possible to Be Both Hawkish and Dovish?

Yes. Some economists (and FOMC members) don’t take a completely hawkish or dovish attitude toward monetary policy. They are sometimes referred to as neutral or “centrists,” because they don’t appear to prioritize one economic goal over another. Fed Chair Jerome Powell, for example, has been called a hawk, a dove, a “cautious hawk,” a “cautious dove,” neutral, and centrist in various media reports.

And the media frequently pondered where Powell’s predecessor, U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, stood on the hawk-dove continuum.

The current (as of 2023) FOMC includes members who have been identified as hawkish, dovish, and neutral. That mix of viewpoints can make it difficult to guess the group’s next move — so anxious investors are keeping a close eye out for clues as to what could happen next.

How Do Hawkish vs Dovish Policies Affect Savers, Spenders, and Investors?

Interest rates frequently rise and fall as the economy cycles through periods of growth and stagnation, and those fluctuations impact everyone. Whether you’re a saver, spender, or investor — or, like most people, all three — you can expect those rate changes to eventually impact your bottom line.

For Savers

Savings account rates are loosely connected to the interest rates the Fed sets, so you might not see a difference right away if there’s a cut or a hike.

When the Fed lowers the federal funds rate, however, financial institutions may move to protect their profits by lowering the interest paid on high-yield savings accounts, money market accounts, and certificates of deposit (CDs). That can be frustrating, and it may be tempting to give up on saving or move money to riskier investments. But specialists generally recommend keeping an emergency fund with at least three to six months’ worth of living expenses stashed in a low-risk account that’s easy to access and isn’t tied to the markets.

Savers may want to check out the more competitive rates offered by online accounts. Because online-only financial institutions have a lower overhead, they typically out-yield brick-and-mortar banks’ savings accounts, regardless of what the Fed is doing with its rates.

For Spenders

An increase or decrease in the federal funds rate can indirectly affect the prime rate banks offer their most credit-worthy customers. And it is often used as a reference rate, or base rate, for other financial products, including car loans, mortgages, home equity lines of credit, personal loans, and credit cards.

If interest rates go down, and borrowing gets cheaper, it can encourage consumers to go out and make those purchases — both big and small — that they’ve been wanting to make.

If those interest rates go up, on the other hand, consumers tend to be deterred from borrowing and spending. They might decide to wait for rates to drop before financing a house, a car, or an expensive purchase like an appliance or home renovation.

Impulse spending also can be affected. Spenders might choose to save their money instead — especially if the interest rate goes up on CDs, money market accounts, and other savings vehicles. Or consumers may focus on paying down credit card debt and other loans to avoid paying high interest on big balances, especially if those obligations carry a variable interest rate.

For Investors

There are no guarantees as to how any investment will react to changes in interest rates made by the Fed. Some assets (like bonds) can be more directly impacted than others. But nearly every type of investment you might have could be affected.

One way to reduce your risk exposure is to create a diversified portfolio, with a mix of assets — from stocks and bonds to real estate and commodities, and so on — that won’t necessarily react in the same way to changes in the interest rate (or other economic factors). If your investments all trend up or down together, your portfolio isn’t properly diversified.

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

Test your understanding of what you just read.

The Takeaway

The Federal Reserve has two primary goals: overseeing U.S. monetary policy in order to stabilize prices and control inflation — a stance that’s considered hawkish or contractionary — and maximizing employment, which is considered dovish. While these two aims can seem at odds, the Fed has been striving to take a mostly dovish or neutral stance in recent years.

A recent bout of inflation, however, forced the Fed to change its stance in 2022 and raise interest rates. It’ll likely change its stance again when inflation cools. It’s a never-ending game of posturing, all with the goal of maintaining low unemployment and stable prices.

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Feb

2025

Rate of Return (RoR): Formula and Calculation Examples

By Kenny Zhu | Growing Wealth, invest, Investing | Comments Off

Calculating rate of return, as it relates to investing, is a way for investors or traders to get a sense of how much money they stand to gain or lose from their investments. It’s a relatively simple formula and calculation, and can help investors evaluate their overall performance in the markets. It does have some shortcomings, however, such as not accounting for the time value of money or the timing of cash flows. So, there are alternative calculations out there to help get even more accurate results.

Key Points

• The Rate of Return (RoR) measures an investment’s gain or loss as a percentage of its initial value over a specific period.

• Calculating RoR involves identifying the initial and end values, applying the formula, and can be done manually or using tools like Excel.

• RoR helps investors evaluate investment performance, compare different investments, and make informed decisions about resource allocation.

• Understanding RoR is crucial for assessing investment performance, aligning with financial goals, and determining market performance relative to other opportunities.

What Is Rate of Return?

Rate of return (RoR) is a measure of an investment’s gain or loss, expressed as a percentage of its initial value, over a given period of time. If calculated correctly, your rate of return will be expressed as a percentage of your initial investment. Positive rate of return calculations indicate a net gain on your investment, while negative results will indicate a loss.

Don’t confuse this with the expected rate of return, which forecasts your expected returns using probability and historical performance.

When using the rate of return formula, your chosen time period is referred to as your “holding period.” Regardless of whether your holding period lasts days, months, or even years. It’s important that you keep the time periods consistent when comparing investment performance.

How to Calculate Rate of Return

You can calculate the rate of return on your online investing or other type of investing activity by comparing the difference between its current value and its initial value, and then dividing the result by its initial value.

Multiplying the result of that rate of return formula by 100 will net you your rate of return as a percentage. You’ll know whether you made money on your investment depending on whether your result comes in as positive or negative.

Rate of Return Formula

The standard rate of return formula can be represented as follows:

R = [ ( Ve – Vb ) / Vb ] x 100

In this equation:

R = Rate of return

Ve = End of period value

Vb = Beginning of period value

The aforementioned formula can be applied to any holding period to find your rate of return “R” over that timespan.

“Ve,” your end of period value, should represent the value of your investment, including any interest or dividends earned over your holding period.

Finally “Vb” should represent the value of your initial investment. It will be used as the relative basis on which your investment returns are calculated.

Example of Calculating Rate of Return

To help you understand how to calculate the rate of return, we’ll walk you through an example. Again, here’s the formula:

R = [ ( Ve – Vb ) / Vb ] x 100

Let’s say an investor buys an investment for $125 a share which pays no dividends. This $125 investment will be your beginning of period value (“Vb”).

After one year, the value of the investment rises to $150 and the investor chooses to sell it. Given that $150 represents the value of the investment at the end of the holding period, $150 will be your end of period value (“Ve”).

To calculate the rate of return, enter the values for Vb and Ve into the rate of return formula. With the correct values in place, your equation should look like this:

R = [ ( $150 – $125 ) / $125 ] X 100

Solving out this formula using order of operations, your calculations should proceed as follows:

R = [ $25 / $125 ] X 100

R = 0.2 X 100

R = 20%

If done correctly, the formula should calculate a one year rate of return of 20%, based on the beginning and end of period values provided.

Considerations When Using Rate of Return

The main advantages of the rate of return calculation is that it’s simple and easy to calculate. It gives you a straightforward method to measure the profitability of an investment over any time period.

However, its simplicity does result in some shortcomings, particularly when it comes to more complex investments with numerous cash flows. We dive into these limitations below.

Recommended: What Is a Good Rate of Return?

What are the Limitations of Simple Rate of Return?

The main limitations of the simple rate of return calculation are that it ignores the time value of money and timing of cash flows.

The time value of money is an important concept when it comes to finance, as it explains that money today is always worth more than the same sum of money paid in the future. This is due to the inherent earnings potential of cash held now.

In tandem with the concept above, the simple rate of return calculation also fails to account for the timing of cash flows.

Cash flows are particularly important when dealing with more complex portfolios or investments that might have multiple reinvestment periods over time or multiple dividend payouts.

The simple rate of return calculation, in some ways, oversimplifies the rate of return into a simple accounting measure over an arbitrary amount of time. To address these shortcomings, professionals typically use alternate measures like internal rate of rate (IRR) and annualized rate of return.

Annualized Rate of Return Formula

The annualized rate of return is a slightly more complicated formula that solves the compatibility issues of the simple rate of return calculation by standardizing all calculations over an annual period.

The annualized rate of return formula can be exhibited as follows.

Ra = ( Ve / Vb ) 1 / n – 1 X 100

Where,

Ra = Annualized Rate of Return

Ve = End of period value

Vb = Beginning of period value

n = number of years in holding period

Annualized rate of return (Ra) standardizes your rate of return on an annual basis; this allows you to make fair comparisons with other annualized performance figures.

“Ve,” your end of period value, represents the value of your investment at the end of the holding period, including any interest or dividends earned.

“Vb” represents the value of your initial investment.

Other Types of Return Formulas

There are a multitude of other return metrics that can help you evaluate performance.

While the calculations for these metrics fall outside the scope of this reading, we touch on some of the most commonly used ones and why they’re used.

• Internal Rate of Return (IRR): This represents the expected annual compound growth rate of a specific investment and is usually used to help determine whether an investment is worthwhile.

• Return on Invested Capital (ROIC): Measures a firm’s profitability in relation to the total debt and equity invested by stakeholders.

• Return on Equity (ROE): Measures a firm’s net income in relation to the total value of its shareholder’s equity.

How Investors Can Use Rate of Return

Retail investors, institutional investors, and even corporate decision makers use the rate of return to gauge the performance of their investments over time. It’s useful when compared against a benchmark index, return expectations, or other investment options to gauge how your investment performed on a relative basis.

When comparing investment returns, it’s important to make sure you’re making fair comparisons to ensure you’re making apples-to-apples comparisons. For example, the S&P 500 might not serve as a fair benchmark for a portfolio invested 100% in international equities, as these are substantially different investment types. Benchmark comparisons give meaning to your rate of return and help you evaluate whether you’re outperforming on a relative basis.

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The Takeaway

Knowing how to calculate your rate of return gives you a useful tool for evaluating your investments’ performance. The best part about the rate of return calculation is that it can be done over almost any timespan, provided the returns you’re trying to compare have the same holding period.

Investors can calculate rate of return by hand, or by using an online spreadsheet. The same is true for annualized rate of return — which helps to standardize return rates over longer periods. Those are fairly simple ways to gauge investment returns, but there are a number of other metrics that help you assess and compare investment returns, so be sure to use the tool that aligns best with what you need to know.

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.

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

Feb

2025

Guide to Transferring 401(k) to a New Job

By Jamie Cattanach | Budgeting & Goals, Growing Wealth, invest, Investing | No Comments

It’s easy to forget about an old 401(k) plan when changing to a new job. Some people may forget about it because the company that manages the 401(k)never reminds them. Others are aware of their old account, but they put off the rollover because they think it will be difficult to do.

But by not rolling over your 401(k), you might be losing some serious cash. Here are a few key reasons to prioritize a 401(k) rollover.

Key Points

• Rolling over a 401(k) may save an employee money if their new employer’s 401(k) plan or a rollover IRA charges lower fees.

• Rolling over a 401(k) to a new employer’s plan or into a rollover IRA might provide access to better investment options.

• There’s no requirement to roll over a 401(k) to a new employer’s plan, but consolidating 401(k) savings may make managing them easier.

• If an employee requests that the funds from a 401(k) rollover be sent to them directly, they have 60 days to send the funds to the new 401(k) plan or IRA account. If they miss the deadline, they may be taxed and have to pay a penalty, since the IRS generally considers this an early withdrawal.

• Some 401(k) plans offer financial services, such as financial advisor consultations, to help employees manage their plan.

3 Reasons to Transfer Your 401(k) to a New Job

Rolling over a 401(k) can have some significant benefits. Here are three main reasons to consider rolling over a 401(k):

1. You May Be Paying Hidden Fees

Certain fees go into effect when you open a 401(k), which typically include administrative, investment, and custodial fees.

Employers may cover some of these fees until you leave the company. Once you’re gone, that entire cost might shift to you. If the fees are high, rolling over a 401(k) to a plan with lower fees can be advantageous.

2. You Might Be Missing Out on Certain Types of Investments

If you aren’t happy with the investment options in your old plan and your new employer allows you to roll over your old 401(k), you might gain access to a broader range of investment vehicles that better aligns with your financial goals.

Just be aware that investments come with risk, so it makes sense to consider your personal risk tolerance when choosing investment options.

Also, if you leave your 401(k) where it is, you may forget about it and your portfolio may no longer have your desired asset allocation as you get older. It’s important to keep tabs on your investments to ensure they are on track and appropriate for your time horizon and goals.

3. You Could Lose Track of Your 401(k) Account

It’s more common than you might think for people to lose track of old 401(k) accounts. According to one estimate, there are more than 29 million forgotten 401(k) accounts in the U.S. By rolling over a 401(k) to a new plan, you’ll know where your money is.

Losing track of a 401(k) account is not necessarily the fault of an investor — it may simply be logistics. It’s harder and more time-consuming to juggle multiple retirement accounts than it is to manage one. Plus, if you change jobs several times throughout the years, you could end up with a few different 401(k) plans to keep track of.

Do You Have to Rollover Your 401(k) to a New Employer?

You aren’t required to roll over your 401(k) to a new employer’s plan. If you have more than $7,000 in the old 401(k) account, you can leave the funds where they are. But keep in mind that you will no longer be able to make contributions to the account. In fact, one reason you might want to roll over the money into an individual retirement account (IRA) is that you can make annual contributions. In 2024 and 2025, you can contribute up to $7,000 in an IRA, and those 50 and older can contribute up to $8,000.

What happens to your 401(k) when you leave your job and you have between $1,000 and $7,000 in your account? In that case, your former employer may not allow you to keep it there. Instead, they might roll over the 401(k) into an IRA in your name. If you have less than $1,000 in your 401(k), the employer will typically cash out the funds and send you a check for the amount.

¹Terms and conditions apply. Roll over a minimum of $20K to receive the 1% match offer. Matches on contributions are made up to the annual limits.

What to Do With Your 401(k) After Getting a New Job

When you get a new job, and you have a 401(k) from your previous employer, you have several options. As mentioned above, you can leave the money in your old employer’s 401(k) plan if you have more than $7,000 in the account. But if you have less than that in account, or you don’t like your old employer’s 401(k) plan, you can do one of the following:

Roll Over a 401(k) to Your New Employer’s Plan

If your new employer offers a 401(k) plan and you are eligible to participate, you can roll the money over from your old plan to the new plan. Consolidating your 401(k)s can help you manage all of your retirement savings in one place.

The process is usually simple. You can request that the 401(k) administrator at your old company move the funds into your new employer’s plan through what’s known as a direct transfer.

Roll Over a 401(k) to an IRA

An IRA is another option for your 401(k) funds. Rolling a 401(k) into an IRA can give you more control over your investment options, and you can do it through a direct transfer of funds from your old employer to a new IRA account you set up. Just keep in mind that IRAs don’t come with employer-provided benefits, such as matching contributions.

Recommended: IRA vs 401(k): What Is the Difference?

Cash Out Early

You can also choose to cash out your 401(k). However, if you’re younger than 59 ½, you will have to pay taxes on the money, and perhaps an additional 10% early withdrawal penalty.

Under some qualifying circumstances, the 10% fee may be waived, such as when the funds will be used for eligible medical expenses. But if there are no qualifying circumstances in your situation, think carefully about cashing out your 401(k) to make sure it’s the right choice for you.

What Happens to Your 401(k) if You’ve Been Fired?

If you’ve been fired, you will still have access to the funds you’ve contributed to the account as well as the fully vested employer contributions, known as the 401(k) vested balance.

And as long as you have more than $7,000 in the account, you’ll generally have the same options covered above — you can keep the 401(k) where it is, roll it over to your new employer’s plan, roll it over to an IRA at an online brokerage, or cash it out.

How Long Do You Have to Transfer Your 401(k)?

If you are rolling over your 401(k) to a new employer’s plan or into an IRA, you generally have 60 days from the date you receive the funds to deposit them into the new account. If you don’t complete the rollover within 60 days, the funds will be considered a distribution and they’ll be subject to taxes and penalties if you are under the age of 59 ½.

Advantages of Rolling Over Your 401(k)

Rolling over your 401(k) to your new employer’s plan may provide several benefits. Here are a few ways this option might help you.

One Place for Tax-Deferred Money

Transferring your 401(k) to your new employer’s plan can help consolidate your tax-deferred dollars into one account. Keeping track of and managing one 401(k) account may simplify your money management efforts.

A Streamlined Investment Strategy

Not only does consolidating your old 401(k) with your new 401(k) make money management more straightforward, it can also streamline your investments. Having one account may make it easier to coordinate your investment strategies, target your asset allocations, monitor your progress, and make any adjustments as needed.

Financial Service Offerings

Some 401(k) plans offer financial services, such as financial planner consultations to do such things as answer employees’ questions and help them with general financial planning. If your previous employer didn’t provide this and your new plan does, taking advantage of it may be helpful to you.

Disadvantages of Transferring 401(k) to a New Job

There are some potential drawbacks of rolling over a 401(k) to a new employer’s plan to consider as well. These may include:

• Loss of certain investment options: Your new employer’s plan may offer different investment options than your old plan, and you may lose some options you liked. The new plan might also offer fewer investment options, limiting your ability to diversify your portfolio.

• Increased fees: The new employer’s plan may have higher fees associated with it, which could eat into your investments over time.

• Possible delays: The process of rolling over your 401(k) can take time, which could cause delays in accessing your funds.

How to Roll Over Your 401(k)

So, how do you transfer your 401(k) to a new job? If you’ve decided to roll your funds into your new employer’s 401(k), these are the steps to take:

1. Contact your new plan’s administrator to get what’s known as the account address for the new 401(k)plan, and then give that information to your old plan’s administrator.

2. Complete any necessary paperwork required by your old and new employers for the rollover.

3. Request that your former plan administrator send the funds directly to the new plan. You can also have them send a check to you (it should be made out to the new account’s address), which you then give to the new plan’s administrator.

401(k) Rollover Rules

You may select a direct rollover, trustee-to-trustee transfer, or indirect rollover when rolling over your 401(k) to a new plan.

With a direct rollover, your old employer makes out a check to the new account address. Because the funds are directly deposited into the new account, no taxes are withheld.

With a trustee-to-trustee transfer, the old plan administrator sends the funds to the new plan via an electronic transfer.

With an indirect rollover, the check is payable to you, with 20% withheld for taxes. You’ll have 60 days to roll over the remaining funds into your employer’s plan or an IRA or other retirement plan.

Rolling Over a 401(k) Into an IRA

If you choose to roll your 401(k) funds into an IRA, the process is relatively straightforward. Here are the typical steps to take to roll over a 401(k) into an IRA:

1. Choose an IRA custodian: This is the financial institution that will hold your IRA account. Some popular choices include brokerage firms, banks, credit unions, and online lenders.

2. Open an IRA account: Once you have chosen an IRA custodian, you can open an IRA account. You will need to provide personal information such as your name, address, and Social Security number.

3. Request a 401(k) distribution: Contact the plan administrator of your old employer’s 401(k) and request a distribution of your account balance. You will need to specify that you want to do a “direct rollover” or “trustee-to-trustee” transfer to your new IRA account, since these are the most straight forward transfers.

4. Provide IRA custodian information: Give the 401(k) plan administrator the IRA custodian’s name, address, and account information, so they know where to send the funds.

5. Wait for the funds to be transferred: The process of transferring funds can take several weeks.

6. Monitor the account: Once the rollover is complete, check your IRA account to ensure that it has been funded and that the balance is correct.

7. Invest your funds: After the funds have been transferred to your IRA account, you can begin making investments with the money.

Your 401(k) plan administrator may have specific procedures for rolling over your account, so be sure to follow their instructions. Also, as noted above, there are some rules to follow, such as the 60-day rollover rule. It’s essential to abide by these to avoid penalties.

Test your understanding of what you just read.

The Takeaway

There are benefits to rolling over a 401(k) after switching jobs, including streamlining your retirement accounts and making it easier to manage them. You may choose to roll over your 401(k) into a new employer’s plan, or into an IRA that you manage yourself, which could give you more investment options to choose from. Be sure to weigh the pros and cons of the different choices to help decide which one is best to help you save for retirement.

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FAQ

Should I roll over my 401(k) to a new employer?

It depends on your specific situation and goals. You might consider rolling over your 401(k) to your new employer if the new plan offers better investment choices or if consolidation leads to lower account fees. Another potential benefit is convenience — it’s easier to manage one account than two. That said, if control is most important to you, rolling over your 401(k) to an IRA, and having more investment options, may be the better choice for you.

How long do you have to move your 401(k) after leaving a job?

If the balance in your 401(k) is $7,000 or more, you can typically leave it there as long as you like. If your balance is $1,000 to $7,000, your former employer may not allow you to leave it there and instead might roll over the 401(k) into an IRA. If you have less than $1,000 in your 401(k), the employer will typically cash out the 401(k) and send you a check for the amount.

Once you initiate the rollover process, you typically have 60 days from the date of distribution to roll over your 401(k) from your previous employer to an IRA or another employer’s plan. Otherwise, it may be considered a taxable distribution and may be subject to penalties. This is primarily the case for indirect rollovers, but check with your plan administrator for specific details.

How do I roll over my 401(k) from my old job to my new job?

To roll over your 401(k) from your old job to your new job, you should contact the administrator of your new employer’s 401(k) plan and ask for the account address for the plan. Next, give the account address to your old plan’s administrator and ask them to transfer the funds directly to the new 401(k).

What happens if I don’t roll over my 401(k) from my previous employer?

Depending on the amount of money in your account, you don’t necessarily need to roll it over. If you have more than $7,000 in your 401(k), you can generally leave it with your old employer, as long as the plan allows it. But if you have less than $7,000 in your account, your employer may not allow you to leave it there. In that case, they might move it to an IRA for you, or send you a check for the money, if it’s less than $1,000.

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.

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.

SOIN-Q424-038

Feb

2025

SPAN Margin: How It Works, Pros & Cons

By Mike Zaccardi, CMT, CFA | Growing Wealth, invest, Investing, Terminology | Comments Off

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

Many brokerage accounts require traders to maintain a margin account when trading options, which involves depositing funds or securities as collateral to reduce the risk of potential losses.

The SPAN system determines margin requirements on options and futures trading accounts by considering key factors, such as volatility, price changes, and portfolio composition to conduct a one-day risk global assessment.

In this sense, options margin is quite different from the margin accounts used for trading stocks and other securities, where margin refers to the use of debt to increase a position.

Key Points

• SPAN stands for Standardized Portfolio Analysis of Risk, and is used by brokerages, investment banks, and exchanges to estimate a portfolio’s worst-case risk scenario for options and futures trading.

• The SPAN system incorporates factors like market volatility, price changes, time decay, and portfolio composition to ensure margin requirements align with a trader’s risk exposure, so there is enough collateral to cover potential losses.

• The SPAN margin calculation evaluates risk scenarios using sophisticated algorithms that automate the margin-setting process.

• Advantages of using SPAN include a holistic portfolio approach and potentially lower margin requirements; disadvantages involve fluctuations in daily margin requirements due to changing market conditions.

• Though the SPAN risk assessment and modeling method was developed for the derivatives markets, it is now employed as a risk-management tool for other financial instruments as well.

What Does SPAN Stand For?

SPAN stands for standardized portfolio analysis of risk, and is a framework used by exchanges and financial institutions to ensure that options and futures traders have enough collateral to cover potential losses.

Today, many derivative exchanges use the SPAN system for risk analysis.

What Is SPAN Margin?

The SPAN margin calculation helps options traders understand risk in their portfolios, and assists brokers in managing risk by ensuring that options and futures margin traders have enough collateral in their accounts to cover potential losses.

The SPAN system relies on algorithmic calculations to estimate a portfolio’s one-day worst-case risk scenario.
SPAN margin is calculated using key inputs such as the strike price, time decay, market volatility, price changes, and position offsets, among other factors.

What Is a Stock Margin Account?

The margin in an options or futures account is different from how a stock margin account functions when making stock trades on margin. When trading stocks and other securities, margin allows traders to use leverage (i.e., borrow funds) to increase their position. The risk of using a margin account is the potential for steep losses, possibly exceeding the initial investment.

By contrast, SPAN is used by options and futures exchanges around the world to determine a trader’s one-day worst-case scenario based on their portfolio positions. This risk modeling ensures the correct amount of collateral is deposited.

Margin requirements can be determined in an automated way from the calculation’s output.

How Does SPAN Margin Work?

The SPAN margin calculation uses modeled risk scenarios to determine margin requirements on options and futures. Some key variables included in the algorithm are strike prices, risk-free interest rates, price changes in the underlying assets, volatility shifts, and the effect of time decay on options.

Not all options positions have margin requirements. Buying options, for example, typically does not require margin, while selling (or writing) options requires a deposit to mitigate potential risks.

In essence, the options seller exposes the broker to risk when they trade. To reduce the risk that the trader won’t be able to pay back the lender, margin requirements establish minimum deposits that must be kept with the broker. (This is different from the margin requirements needed in a stock trading account.)

Instead of relying on fixed or static figures, the SPAN system automates the margin-setting process, relying on sophisticated algorithms and a range of inputs. SPAN margin looks at the worst-case scenario in terms of one-day risk, so the margin requirement output will change each day.

The analysis is done from a total-portfolio perspective since all assets are considered. For example, the SPAN margin calculation can take excess margin from one position and apply it to another.

Pros and Cons of SPAN Margin

There are upsides and downsides to SPAN margin in options and futures trading.

The Advantages

The key advantage of SPAN margins is that it is intended to cover potential losses.

Net option sellers benefit from SPAN’s holistic portfolio approach. SPAN combines options positions when assessing risk. If you have an options position with a substantial risk in isolation, but another options position that offsets that risk, SPAN considers both. The effect is a potentially lower margin requirement.

On top of that, futures options exchanges that use the SPAN margin calculation allow Treasury bills to be margined.

The Downsides

Changing market conditions can result in significant fluctuations in daily margin requirements.SPAN margin isn’t without its challenges. One big drawback is how much margin requirements can shift from day to day. If the market gets volatile or prices move suddenly, you might find yourself scrambling to meet a higher margin call to keep your positions open.

Another issue is the complexity. SPAN’s calculations aren’t always easy to follow, especially for newer traders. Unlike simpler, fixed-margin systems, SPAN relies on a lot of variables, so you might not always know what to expect with your margin needs.

Although SPAN’s portfolio-wide approach is helpful, it can sometimes create confusion. Margin offsets across different positions might be hard to follow unless you’re closely tracking how everything is allocated. This makes it important to stay on top of your portfolio and understand how SPAN applies to your trades.

The Takeaway

SPAN margin is a helpful risk-management tool for options trading. Algorithms determine margin requirements based on a one-day risk analysis of a trader’s account, taking into consideration factors such as market volatility and position size.

By considering the entire portfolio, SPAN helps ensure that margin requirements are in line with a trader’s risk exposure. This provides a more dynamic, accurate approach to managing risk.

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

Plus, SoFi offers educational resources — including a step-by-step in-app guide — to help you learn more about options trading. Trading options involves high-risk strategies, and should be undertaken by experienced investors. Currently, investors can not sell options on SoFi Active Invest®.

Explore SoFi’s user-friendly options trading platform.

🛈 While SoFi does not offer futures trading at this time, investors may purchase put and call options on SoFi’s options trading platform.

FAQ

What does SPAN stand for in margin trading?

SPAN margin stands for “standardized portfolio analysis of risk.” It is a system used by many options and futures exchanges worldwide to gauge a portfolio’s risk level, and ensure that the trader has enough collateral to cover potential losses.

How is SPAN margin used?

SPAN margin is used to manage risk. It calculates the amount of good-faith deposit a trader must add to their account in order to engage in options or futures trading. To help ensure that traders maintain adequate collateral for their positions, mitigating risks to the broker, exchanges use the SPAN system to calculate a worst possible one-day outcome and set a margin requirement accordingly.

What is a SPAN calculation?

SPAN is calculated using risk assessments. That means an array of possible outcomes is analyzed based on different market conditions using the assets in a portfolio. These risk scenarios specify certain changes in variables such as price changes, volatility shifts, and decreasing time to expiration in options trading.

Photo credit: iStock/NakoPhotography

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.

Options involve risks, including substantial risk of loss and the possibility an investor may lose the entire amount invested in a short period of time. Before an investor begins trading options they should familiarize themselves with the Characteristics and Risks of Standardized Options . Tax considerations with options transactions are unique, investors should consult with their tax advisor to understand the impact to their taxes.
Disclaimer: The projections or other information regarding the likelihood of various investment outcomes are hypothetical in nature, do not reflect actual investment results, and are not guarantees of future results.
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 $50 within 30 days of opening the account. Probability of customer receiving $1,000 is 0.028%. See full terms and conditions.

SOIN-Q125-097

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Is Spoofing Illegal?

Example of Spoofing

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The Takeaway

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3 Reasons to Transfer Your 401(k) to a New Job

1. You May Be Paying Hidden Fees

2. You Might Be Missing Out on Certain Types of Investments

3. You Could Lose Track of Your 401(k) Account

Do You Have to Rollover Your 401(k) to a New Employer?

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What to Do With Your 401(k) After Getting a New Job

Roll Over a 401(k) to Your New Employer’s Plan

Roll Over a 401(k) to an IRA

Cash Out Early

What Happens to Your 401(k) if You’ve Been Fired?

How Long Do You Have to Transfer Your 401(k)?

Advantages of Rolling Over Your 401(k)

One Place for Tax-Deferred Money

A Streamlined Investment Strategy

Financial Service Offerings

Disadvantages of Transferring 401(k) to a New Job

How to Roll Over Your 401(k)

401(k) Rollover Rules

Rolling Over a 401(k) Into an IRA

The Takeaway

FAQ

Should I roll over my 401(k) to a new employer?

How long do you have to move your 401(k) after leaving a job?

How do I roll over my 401(k) from my old job to my new job?

What happens if I don’t roll over my 401(k) from my previous employer?

What Does SPAN Stand For?

What Is SPAN Margin?

What Is a Stock Margin Account?

How Does SPAN Margin Work?

Pros and Cons of SPAN Margin

The Advantages

The Downsides

The Takeaway

FAQ

What does SPAN stand for in margin trading?

How is SPAN margin used?

What is a SPAN calculation?

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