Jun
06
2023
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Prenup vs Postnup: What is the Difference?

By | Budgeting & Goals, money | Comments Off on Prenup vs Postnup: What is the Difference?

While prenups and postnups aren’t as romantic as discussing your honeymoon or your dream house, these agreements can be a financial lifesaver if your marriage were to end.

Both prenups and postnups help determine who would get what if you and your spouse got divorced.

These two varieties of agreements carry some significant distinctions. Depending on your circumstances, one may better suit your relationship versus the other.

Here, you’ll learn some of the key ways prenups vs. postnups differ, as well as how to decide if you and your partner would benefit from getting one.

What is a Prenup?

Short for “prenuptial agreement,” a prenup is a legally binding document set up before a couple gets married — hence the “pre” suffix. Prenups may also be known as “antenuptial agreements” or “premarital agreements,” but the bottom line is, they’re contracts drafted before vows are made.

These contracts typically list each party’s assets, including property and wealth, as well as any debts either soon-to-be-spouse might carry.

It then details how these assets will be divided in case the marriage comes to an end, either through a divorce or the death of a spouse.

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Who Needs a Prenup?

Couples who are getting married for the first time and are bringing little to no assets into the marriage may not need to bother with drawing up a prenup.

However, a prenup can be particularly useful if one spouse is coming into the marriage with children from a previous partnership, or if one partner has a large inheritance or a significant estate, or is expecting to receive a large inheritance or distribution from a family trust.

These types of agreements aren’t just used in case of divorce, but also death, which can be particularly important for couples with children from a previous marriage.

If that partner dies, the prenup can define how much of their wealth should be passed onto their children versus their surviving spouse.

Prenups can also be useful for protecting assets earned and property acquired during the course of a marriage, which, without a prenup, are generally considered “shared ownership.”

If one partner wants to maintain a separate claim to acquired wealth or possessions, a prenuptial agreement makes that possible.

A prenup can also keep a high-earning partner from being required to pay alimony to their partner in the case of a divorce. However, in some states, a spouse can’t give up the right to alimony, and the waiver may not be enforced by a judge depending on the way the prenup is drafted.

In the event of divorce, a prenup can also help protect a spouse from being liable for any debt, such as student loan payments in a marriage, the other spouse brought into the union.

What is a Postnup?

A postnup, or postnuptial agreement, is almost identical to a prenup — except that it’s drafted after a marriage has been established.

They may not be as well known as prenups, but postnups have grown increasingly common in recent years, with nearly all 50 U.S. states now allowing them.

A postnup may be created soon after the wedding, if the couple meant to do so but simply didn’t get around to it before the big day, or well afterwards, especially if some significant financial change has taken place in the family.

Either way, a postnup, much like a prenup, does the job of outlining exactly how assets will be allocated if the partnership comes to an end.

Who Needs a Postnup?

Along with being drafted whole cloth, a postnup can be used to amend an existing prenuptial agreement if there have been big changes that mean the initial contract is now outdated.

And although it’s not fun to think about, if a couple feels they’ll soon be facing divorce, a postnup can help simplify one important part of the process before the rest of the legal proceedings take place.

A postnup, like a prenup, can help separate out assets that would otherwise be considered shared, “marital property,” which can be important if one partner obtains an inheritance, trust, piece of real estate, or other possession they want to maintain full ownership over.

Postnups can also be part of a renewed effort for a couple to commit to a marriage that may be facing some obstacles and challenges.

Prenup vs. Postnup: Which is Right for Your Relationship?

While it may be a difficult conversation to face with your fiance or spouse, creating a prenup or postnup can be an important step to help you avoid both headache and heartache later on.

If you don’t make a prenup or postnup, your state’s laws determine who owns the assets that you acquire in your marriage, as well as what happens to that property in the event of divorce or death. State law may also determine what happens to some of the assets you owned before marriage.

While almost any couple can benefit from a frank discussion of who gets what in the worst-case scenario, here are the situations in which you might specifically want to consider a prenup vs. postnup.

Recommended: How to Switch Banks

When to Consider a Prenup

•   If one or both partners have existing children from a previous partnership, to whom they want to lay out specific inheritances in case of death.

•   If one partner has a larger estate or net worth (i.e., if one spouse is significantly wealthier than the other).

•   If one or both partners want to protect earnings made and possessions acquired during the marriage from “shared ownership.”

When to Consider a Postnup

•   If you intended to create a prenup but ran out of time or otherwise didn’t do so before the wedding.

•   If significant financial changes have made it necessary to change an existing prenup or draft a new postnup.

•   If divorce is looking likely or inevitable, and the couple wishes to streamline the process of dividing marital assets before undergoing the rest of the process.

In all cases, prenuptial and postnuptial agreements can help simplify the division of assets in the case of either death or divorce — and in either of those extremely emotionally charged scenarios, every little bit of simplification can help.

However, prenups are sometimes considered more straightforward, since they’re made before assets are combined to become marital property.

Prenups may be more likely to be enforceable than postnups should one partner attempt to dispute it after a divorce.

Recommended: Budget Tips for Life After Divorce

How to Get a Prenup or Postnup

Here are points to consider:

•   For a prenup or postnup agreement to be considered valid by a judge, it must be clear, legally sound, and fair.

•   Couples looking to save money may be able to use a template to create a prenup or postnup themselves.

•   It may still be a good idea, however, for each partner to at least have separate attorneys review the document before either one signs.

•   If your estate is more complex, you may want to consider hiring an attorney to draft the agreement.

•   Either way, having an attorney review the document will help protect your interests and also help ensure that a judge will deem the agreement is valid.

Recommended: How to Manage Your Money Better

Reducing the Odds You’ll Ever Need to Use that Prenup or Postnup

While creating a prenup or postnup can be a smart move for even the most hopeful and romantic of couples, the ideal scenario is a happily-ever-after that leaves those contracts to gather dust.

Fighting about money is one of the top causes of strife among couples, and one of the main reasons married couples land in divorce court.

For some couples, one way to improve their odds might be waiting until they’ve achieved some measure of financial stability before tying the knot.

Walking into a marriage with a solid personal foundation, such as a well-stocked emergency fund and a well-established retirement account, can help partners feel empowered and able to focus on other important relationship goals.

Financial transparency, starting before and/or early in marriage, can also help mitigate marital tension over money.

To achieve more transparency, some couples may want to consider opening up a joint bank account, either after they tie the knot or before if they are living together and sharing household expenses.

While there are pros and cons to having a shared account, merging at least some of your money can help make it easier to track spending and stick to a household budget, while also fostering openness and teamwork.

For couples who’d rather not share every penny (or explain every purchase), having two separate accounts along with one joint account can be a good solution that helps keep money from becoming a source of tension in a marriage.

The Takeaway

Prenuptial and postnuptial agreements are both legal documents that address what will happen to marital assets if a married couple divorces or one of them dies.

A prenup is drafted before marriage, while a postnup can be drafted soon after or many years into marriage. Both agreements can make divorce or the death of a partner significantly less traumatic and help divide assets in an equitable way.

For both couples who are ready to integrate their finances or want to keep their money separate, opening a Checking and Savings account with SoFi makes things easy. Whether a joint account or not, you’ll spend and save in one convenient place, while earning a competitive annual percentage yield (APY) and paying no account fees.

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Interest rates are variable and subject to change at any time. These rates are current as of 12/3/24. There is no minimum balance requirement. Additional information can be found at https://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet.

Financial Tips & Strategies: The tips provided on this website are of a general nature and do not take into account your specific objectives, financial situation, and needs. You should always consider their appropriateness given your own circumstances.

This article is not intended to be legal advice. Please consult an attorney for advice.

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Jun
05
2023
How to Make Talking About Finances Fun, Not a Fight

How to Make Talking About Finances Fun, Not a Fight

By | Family Finances, invest, Life & Career | No Comments

Ask couples what they fight about most, and money is sure to be at the top of the list. Decades of research have shown that common clashes are sparked by different spending habits, different financial values (which influence spending habits), and how to raise financially smart kids.

While dealing with money isn’t always easy, it doesn’t have to drive a wedge in your relationship. These strategies will ensure your financial discussions with your partner are productive and — dare we suggest — maybe even something to look forward to.

Meet Regularly — but Don’t Discuss Money

When couples fight about money, the classic mistake is to think that having a regular “money talk” will help solve things. Unlikely.

That’s because the source of most financial disagreements is that one person’s values don’t line up with the other’s. In order to truly ease money stress, you have to start by understanding the bigger wants and needs and priorities of your partner.

Make time to meet regularly and focus on things you both want out of life. It doesn’t have to be a long conversation — maybe 30 minutes, or an hour.

Come Prepared

Consider bringing a list of topics to each meeting, but don’t expect to cover them all. There will be other meetings, and it’s more important to leave each conversation with a sense that you understand each other better. You might raise some common questions:

Do you want kids? Do you want pets? Do you want to live a certain lifestyle? Start a business? Retire early? Send the kids to private school vs. public?

How important is it to have a vacation each year, or is it more important to have a beautiful home — or both?

Do you both believe in working hard and playing hard? Working to live or living to work? These may sound like cliches, but dig into each topic to get at each person’s core feelings.

Create a Safe Space

A key aspect of these non-money talks has to be a spirit of openness, not criticism or judgment. You’re trying to get to know one another in a slightly different way. Ask questions, take time to listen to each other’s answers.

While these sessions may seem uncomfortable at first, having these non-financial conversations may actually prevent important issues from causing conflicts.

Again, keep these conversations fairly short. The idea is to find common ground, and that may not happen right away. So don’t expect to agree, expect to learn something new about your partner.

Look for Shared Goals and Points of Agreement

Even couples that fight about money, also agree on plenty of financial issues. Be sure to pay attention as you discover these points in common, and celebrate the fact that you have them.

Knowing that you have financial goals and priorities in common, not just pain points, can build your confidence and momentum and lead to the good part of all this: Having more fun because you’re not stressed about money squabbles!

Address Financial Topics as Organically as You Can

Rather than set up more meetings (who has time?), you can use your newfound empathy and sense of shared values to tackle topics as they come up naturally in your day-to-day lives.

Now you can talk about spending when you get the credit card bill, or when you have to make a tough choice between two competing priorities. In some ways it’s less stressful to discuss whether to refinance the house or set up a Roth IRA when that question comes up organically, rather than trying to anticipate bigger issues.

Be sure to take the opportunity to make sure you’re including something fun in your financial plan. Money is for the future, and it’s also for the present, so make sure you enjoy it.

Let Go of Resentment

Financial inequity between partners — say, if one person has a lot of debt or there’s a large disparity between incomes — can be a common source of tension.

If you feel like one person’s debt is holding you both back, remember that it doesn’t have to last forever. There are many strategies for paying off debt — talking it through will help you find the right path for you both. You might also decide to meet with a financial advisor who can help you prioritize, budget, and sometimes even refinance to break even faster.

In cases of income disparity, it may help to reframe each partner’s contribution to the household. Yes, one person may bring in more (or all) of the household income, but be clear on the non-monetary intangibles that the other person is contributing. Cooking, cleaning, watching the kids, caring for aging relatives — these duties all add up and represent what each of you is bringing to the household.

Reward Yourselves

Create incentives to stick with your financial meeting schedule. Maybe that means taking your laptops to your favorite coffee shop, or treating yourselves to a movie night afterward.

Another idea is to reward yourselves as a couple after you hit a predetermined financial goal or milestone. For example, every month you successfully increase your emergency fund by a target amount, you might choose to enjoy a nice restaurant meal.

Even a free indulgence — like a walk around your favorite lake after the discussion — can be effective. Just make it something that you both enjoy (bonus points if it’s something that you don’t do all the time so it feels extra special). That way, you’ll look forward to it.

The Takeaway

The best way to take the sting out of discussing finances with your partner is to start by getting in sync as people, understanding each other’s values and perspectives. Scheduling time to talk monthly (or whatever cadence works for you) allows you to also savor the ways you are on the same page already, and what some of those shared goals are.

Don’t try to meet about big hairy financial goals that aren’t on the table yet. You do have to plan ahead, but it’s also important (and less stressful) to address money matters as they arise naturally. Then, get back to the fun of living your lives together the rest of the time.

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

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

SoFi Invest®

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

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

Financial Tips & Strategies: The tips provided on this website are of a general nature and do not take into account your specific objectives, financial situation, and needs. You should always consider their appropriateness given your own circumstances.

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

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May
31
2023
Diamond Hands? Tendies? A Guide to Day Trading Terminology

A User’s Guide to New Day Trading Lingo

By | Growing Wealth, invest, Investing, Terminology | Comments Off on A User’s Guide to New Day Trading Lingo

A new interest in trading and investing in recent years has sparked new nicknames, jargon, and day trading lingo. For most, the jargon used on Wall Street and in other facets of the financial industry was largely unknown outside of the markets. But with more and more people trading and investing, it can be helpful to know what certain terms and phrases actually mean.

Note, of course, that language is always evolving, and that there may be even newer phrases out there that we’ve yet to include!

Popular Day Trading Lingo in 2023

Tendies

This term is short for chicken tenders, which is a way of saying gains or profits or money. The phrase originated with self-deprecating jokes by 4Chan users making fun of themselves as living with their mothers, who rewarded them with chicken tenders, or tendies.

STONKS

This is a playful way of saying stocks, or of referring more broadly to the world of finance. The obvious misspelling is a way of making fun of the market, and to mock people who lose money in the market. It became a popular meme — of a character called Meme Man in front of a blue board full of numbers — used as a quick reaction to someone who made poor investing or financial decisions.

Diamond Hands

This is an investor who holds onto their investments despite short-term losses and potential risks. The diamond refers to both the strength of their hands in holding on to an investment, as well as the perceived value of staying with their investments.

Paper Hands

This is the opposite of diamond hands. It refers to an investor who sells out of an investment too soon in response to the pressure of high financial risks. In another age, they would have been called panic sellers.

YOLO

When used in the context of day trading or investing, the popular acronym for the phrase “you only live once” is usually used in reference to a stock a user has taken a substantial and possibly risky position in.

Bagholder or Bag Holder

This is a term for someone who has been left “holding the bag.” They’re someone who buys a stock at the top of a speculative runup, and is stuck with it when the stock peaks and rolls back.

To the Moon

This term is often accompanied by a rocket emoji. Especially on certain online stock market forums, it’s a way of expressing the belief that a given stock will rise significantly.

GUH

This is similar to the term “ugh,” and people use it as an exclamation when they’ve experienced a major loss. It came from a popular video of one investor on Reddit who made the sound when they lost $45,000 in two minutes of trading.

JPOW

This is shorthand for Jerome Hayden “Jay” Powell, the current Federal Reserve Chair, also popular on online forums as the character on the meme “Money Printer Go Brrr.” Both refer to Federal Reserve injections of capital in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as “quantitative easing” policies.

Position or Ban

This is a demand made by users on the WallStreetBets (WSB) subreddit to check the veracity of another user’s investment suggestions. It means that a user has to deliver a screenshot of their brokerage account to prove the gain or loss that the user is referencing. It’s a way of eliminating posters who are trying to manipulate the board. Users who can’t or won’t show the investments, and the gain or loss, can face a ban from the community.

Recommended: What is a Brokerage Account and How Do They Work?

Roaring Kitty

This is the social media handle of Keith Gill, the Massachusetts-based financial adviser who’s widely credited with driving the 2021 GameStop and meme stock rally with his Reddit posts and YouTube video streams.

Apes Together Strong

This refers to the idea that retail investors, working together, can shape the markets. It is sometimes represented, in extreme shorthand, by a gorilla emoji. And the phrase comes from an earlier meme, which references the movie Rise of Planet of the Apes, in which downtrodden apes take over the world. In the analogy, the apes are retail investors. And the idea is that when they band together to invest in heavily-shorted stocks like GameStop, they can outlast the investors shorting those stocks, and make a lot of money at the expense of professional traders, such as hedge funds.

Hold the Line

This is an exhortation to fellow investors on WSB. It is based on an old infantry battle cry. But in the context of day traders, it’s used to inspire fellow board members not to sell out of stocks that the forum believes in, but which have started to drop in value.

DD

This refers to the term “Due Diligence,” and is used to indicate a deeply researched or highly technical post.

HODL

“HODL” is an abbreviation of the phrase “Hold On For Dear Life.” It’s used in two ways. Some investors use it to show that they don’t plan to sell their holdings. And it’s also used as a recommendation for investors not to sell out of their position — to maintain their investment, even if the value is dropping dramatically. HODL (which is also used in crypto circles) is often used by investors who are facing short-term losses, but not selling.

KYS

This is short for “Keep Yourself Safe,” and it is a rare bearish statement on WSB and other boards. It’s a way of advising investors to sell out of a given stock.

The Takeaway

Many retail traders have found a new home on message boards — and created a new language in the process. Some of the phrases are based on pop culture and memes, others are appropriated from terms used for decades. No matter the origins, it’s clear that the investors using these phrases are evolving the way retail investors talk about investing online and maybe IRL as well.

Learning to speak the language of the markets can be helpful, too, so that you don’t miss anything important when researching investment opportunities. That doesn’t mean it’s absolutely necessary, but it may help decipher some of the messages on online forums.

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

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

Photo credit: iStock/FG Trade

SoFi Invest®

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

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

Financial Tips & Strategies: The tips provided on this website are of a general nature and do not take into account your specific objectives, financial situation, and needs. You should always consider their appropriateness given your own circumstances.

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

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May
31
2023

The Pros & Cons of Thematic ETFs

By | Growing Wealth, invest, Investing | Comments Off on The Pros & Cons of Thematic ETFs

Thematic ETfs are a subset of funds that allow investors to make targeted bets on a specific trend. ETF providers have used them to cover a wide range of themes in recent years, allowing investors to use them to gain exposure to themes as wide-ranging as the gig economy, renewable energy, gender equality, and even pet care.

But some market observers warn that thematic ETFs tend to be too narrow in their focus and have a history of underperforming the broader market. Here’s a deeper dive into thematic ETFs and the pros and cons of including them in an investor’s portfolio.

What’s a Thematic ETF?

ETFs, or exchange-traded funds, bundle many assets into one product, so when an investor purchases a share of an ETF, it gives them exposure to all the holdings in that fund. They’re similar to mutual funds, but ETFs are listed on an exchange so they can be bought or sold at any time of day. Thematic ETFs, then, invest in securities that focus on a single theme, concept, or industry.

Over the years, interest in thematic ETFs has increased as more retail investors have entered the stock market and gravitated towards niche sectors that represent technological or societal shifts.

This flexibility is one of the benefits of ETFs, along with the ability to diversify at a low cost. Traditional ETFs tend to be inexpensive and track some of the broadest, well-known benchmarks in the world, like the S&P 500.

In contrast, thematic ETF tend to group stocks in a much more targeted way, grouping similar companies together, for example, to give investors exposure to a more narrow subset of the overall market.

Why Invest in Thematic ETFs?

Thematic ETFs allow an investor to gain exposure to emerging technologies, like cloud computing, electric vehicles, artificial intelligence, blockchain tech, or even robotics. It’s perhaps the wide range of options that makes thematic ETFs attractive to some investors.

But the basic vehicle of an ETF can also have some big advantages for investors. That is, ETFs have a built-in degree of diversification, which can help many investors get an out-of-the-box element of risk mitigation in their portfolios — though ETFs are far from a risk-free or safe investment. ETFs are also relatively easy to trade, and can be purchased or sold on the stock market similar to shares of a company.

With that in mind, there are still pros and cons to thematic ETFs for investors to consider.

Pros of Investing In Thematic ETFs

There can be benefits to investing in thematic ETFs:

•   Buying a thematic ETF can make it convenient to invest in a specific sector or trend an investor is interested in. For instance, instead of buying a number of companies in a niche space that appears to be growing, an investor can simply buy an ETF.

•   Thematic ETFs can capture interesting societal or technological trends, giving investors quick access to a group of companies representing such changes.

Cons of Investing In Thematic ETFs

However, there can be downsides of thematic ETFs too:

•   Thematic ETFs can be very narrow and small in assets. And many may be relatively new to the market, meaning they don’t have much of a track record. This makes it more likely that they could close as well.

•   Part of the reason many of these thematic ETFs end up performing poorly is because sometimes by the time the ETF hits the market, the theme has already experienced its 15 minutes of fame.

•   There’s evidence that thematic ETFs tend to underperform the broader market.

•   Costs for thematic ETFs may also be higher, so investors might pay higher fees.

How to Choose a Thematic ETF

It can be very helpful to users to read the ETF prospectuses to make sure they understand the products they are putting money into. Investors can also do more research into the specific companies the ETF is invested in.

Timely themes, which might tap into current market movements, often start out strong but may drop off (and fast). Typically, the ETF that lands on the market first can have a big first-mover advantage — and end up being the go-to ETF for that theme.

Investors often consider the costs of the fund and what kinds of returns it’s had. Past performance is not necessarily a good predictor of future returns, but it may still provide a sense of its volatility.

The Takeaway

Thematic ETFs move away from the original tenets of index investing, which focused on providing very broad exposure to an asset class or sector. Instead, thematic funds instead allow investors to wager on niche, trendy market sectors. They’ve been popular because they allow for very targeted wagers on technological or societal trends people see around them.

They do have risks, though. Trends can lose steam, for instance, and these funds also tend to be more expensive than traditional ETFs and have a history of underperforming the broader market. They can, however, make for an additional option for investors building a portfolio.

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

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Why Index Fund Returns Vary from Fund to Fund

Why Index Fund Returns Vary from Fund to Fund

By | Growing Wealth, invest, Investing | Comments Off on Why Index Fund Returns Vary from Fund to Fund

The performance of index funds can vary based on which index the fund tracks and how the stock market performs as a whole. Index funds can offer a simplified approach to portfolio building when the primary goal is to meet, rather than beat, the market’s performance.

In simple terms, these mutual funds or exchange-traded funds (ETFs) seek to track the performance of a particular stock market index or benchmark. While these funds can offer some insulation against volatility, it’s important to understand which factors drive index funds returns.

What are Index Funds, Exactly?

An index fund is a type of mutual fund that’s designed to track the performance of a stock market index, by investing in some or all of the securities tracked by that particular index.

An index represents a collection of securities, which may include stocks, bonds, and other assets. Stock indexes can cover one particular sector of the market or a select grouping of companies. Examples of well-known stock indices include the S&P 500 Index and the Russell 2000 Index.

What Determines Index Fund Returns?

Even though they tend to have a similar purpose and function inside a portfolio, the return on index funds isn’t identical from one fund to the next. Some index funds can lose money, too. Factors that can influence index funds’ returns include:

•   Which specific index they track

•   Whether that index is:

◦   Cap-weighted, in which each security is weighted by the total market value of their shares.

◦   Price-weighted, in which the per share price of each security in the index determines its value.

◦   Equal-weighted, in which all of the securities being tracked are assigned an equal weight for determining value.

•   Number of securities held by the fund

•   Geographic classification of fund securities

•   Expense ratio and fees

•   Overall market conditions

•   Tracking error

Together, these factors can influence how well one index fund performs versus another.

Index Tracking

First, consider which benchmark an index fund tracks. There can be significant differences in the makeup of various indexes. For instance, the S&P 500 covers the 500 largest publicly traded companies while the Russell 2000 Index includes 2000 small-cap U.S. companies.

Large-cap stocks can perform very differently from small-cap stocks, which translates to differences in index fund returns. Between the two, large-cap companies tend to be viewed as more stable while smaller-cap companies are seen as riskier. Large-cap companies may fare better during periods of increased market volatility but in an extended downturn, small-cap companies may outperform their larger counterparts.

Index Weighting

Cap-weighted, price-weighted, and equal-weighted indexes all have the potential to perform differently, because each company’s stock may have different weight in each of these types of funds. For example, if a stock in an equal-weighted index filled with 500 stocks performs poorly, those shares represent 1/500th of performance. On the other hand, if the same stock performs poorly in a cap-weighted fund and it happens to have a very high market cap, it may represent a larger percentage of performance.

For these reasons, it’s also important to know how many securities are held by the fund. The more financial securities in a given fund, the greater the likelihood that a poorly performing one will be balanced by others.

Geographic Classification

Even when two index funds both follow the same formula with regard to market capitalization, returns can still differ if each fund offers a different geographic exposure. For example, a fund that tracks a global market index and includes a mix of international and domestic stocks may not yield the same results as an index fund that focuses exclusively on U.S. companies.

Funds that track global indexes can also differ when it comes to how they characterize certain markets. For instance, what one fund considers to be a developed country may be another index fund’s emerging market. That in turn can influence index fund returns.

Expense Ratio and Fees

Index funds are generally passive, rather than active, since the turnover of assets inside the fund is typically low. This allows for lower expense ratios, which represent the annual cost of owning a mutual fund or ETF each year, expressed as a percentage of fund assets. Generally, index funds carry lower expense ratios compared to actively managed funds but they aren’t all the same in terms of where they land on the pricing spectrum.

The industry average expense ratio for index funds tends to be a bit more than 0.5%, though it’s possible to find index funds with expense ratios well below that mark. The higher the expense ratio, the more you’ll hand back in various fees to own that index fund each year, reducing your overall returns.

In terms of fees, some of the costs you might pay include:

•   Sales loads

•   Redemption fees

•   Exchange fees

•   Account fees

•   Purchase fees

When comparing index fund costs, it’s important to keep the expense ratio, fees, and historical performance in mind. Finding an index fund with an exceptionally low expense ratio, for instance, may not be that much of a bargain if it comes with high sales load fees. But a fund that charges a higher expense ratio may be justifiable if it’s consistently outperformed similar index funds year over year.

Tracking Error

Tracking errors can significantly impact your return on index funds. This occurs when an index fund doesn’t accurately track the performance of its underlying index or benchmark.

Tracking errors are often tied to issues with the fund, rather than its index. For example, if a fund’s composition doesn’t accurately reflect the composition of the index it tracks then performance results are more likely to be skewed. Excessive fees or a too-high expense ratio can also throw a fund’s tracking off.

What Are Good Index Fund Returns?

What is a good return on investment for an index fund? Given that the return on index funds can vary, the simplest answer may be to look at the stock market’s historical performance as a whole.

The S&P 500 Index is often used as a primary market benchmark for measuring returns year over year. The average annualized return for the S&P 500 Index since its inception — including dividends and adjusted for inflation — is 8.7%. Following that logic, a good return on investment for an index fund would be around the same.

You could also use the fund’s individual index as a means of measuring its performance. Comparing the fund’s performance to the index’s performance month to month or year over year can give you an idea of whether it’s living up to its expected return potential.

Are Index Funds a Good Investment?

Index funds may appeal to one type of investor more than another, which is why it’s always important to do your research before determining what will be a good fit for your portfolio.

Investors who prefer a low-cost, passive approach may lean toward index investing for growing potential for wealth long-term. Index funds can offer several advantages, including simplified diversification and consistent returns over time.

For example, if your investment goals include keeping costs low while producing consistent returns with lower fees, then index investing maybe a good choice. You may also appreciate how easy it is to buy index funds or ETFs and use them to create a diversified portfolio.

Index funds can help with pursuing a goals-based investing approach, which focuses on investing to meet specific goals rather than attempting to beat the market. When comparing index funds, pay attention to the fund makeup, its costs, historical performance, turnover ratio and the potential for tracking errors.

The Takeaway

A number of factors helps explain why different index funds have different returns — including, but not limited to, which index they track and how it’s weighted, the geographic classification of the fund securities, expense ratios, and overall market conditions.

But keep in mind: Unless you have a crystal ball, there’s no way to predict exactly how an index fund will perform. But getting to know what differentiates one index fund or ETF from the next can help with making more informed decisions about which ones to buy.

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

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

SoFi Invest®

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

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

Financial Tips & Strategies: The tips provided on this website are of a general nature and do not take into account your specific objectives, financial situation, and needs. You should always consider their appropriateness given your own circumstances.

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

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

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