Sep
20
2023
Are Scholarships Taxable?

Are Scholarships Taxable?

By | Financial Independence, student_loan, Terminology | Comments Off on Are Scholarships Taxable?

Generally, scholarships used to pay for qualified educational costs at an eligible educational institution aren’t considered taxable income. The same goes for any grants used to pay for college tuition and fees.

However, there are some cases in which scholarship or grant money may be taxable. For example, if you have money left over after covering your qualified education expenses and use it for other costs (such as room and board or school supplies not required by your program), these funds typically count as taxable income.

If you or your student received scholarship funding, it can be helpful to know ahead if it will contribute to your tax liability. Here’s what you need to know about identifying taxable scholarships and handling filing requirements.

Scholarships That Are Tax-Free

Students can be exempt from paying taxes on their college scholarships if they satisfy certain criteria. For one, they must be enrolled at an accredited college, university, or educational institution that maintains regular attendance.

Additionally, scholarship funds must be used to pay for qualified education expenses — a determination made by the IRS. Under this definition, qualified education expenses include the following:

• Tuition

• Mandatory fees (e.g., athletic and tech fees)

• Textbooks

• Equipment and supplies (e.g., lab equipment)

When it comes to textbooks, equipment, and supplies, anything that is required by your school to complete coursework would be free from taxes. If you use the funding towards an extra-curricular activity, such as a club or intramural sport, however, the amount you spend would be considered taxable.

If the scholarship is used for a certificate or non-degree program, the entire amount is taxable whether or not funds are used for qualified education expenses.

It’s important to note that any scholarship funds leftover after paying for qualified education expenses would become taxable income.

Scholarships Considered Taxable Income

How are scholarships taxable? According to the IRS, scholarships used for expenses outside the scope of qualified education expenses must be reported in gross income — making them taxable.

Scholarship funds used for the following costs are considered taxable by the IRS:

• Room and board

• Travel

• Medical expenses

• Optional equipment (e.g., new computer)

But are scholarships taxable income in any other situations?

Scholarships that are awarded in exchange for services like teaching or research, often known as fellowships, are classified as taxable compensation in most cases. Students would have to pay taxes even if their fellowship money is used to pay for tuition and other qualified education expenses.

However, there are a few exceptions when education-related payments could be tax-exempt. Specifically, students do not have to pay taxes on funds received for required services through the following scholarship programs:

• National Health Service Corps Scholarship Program

• Armed Forces Health Professions Scholarship and Financial Assistance Program

• Student work-learning-service programs operated by a work college

Other forms of financial aid could be considered taxable income as well.

Earnings through the Federal Work-Study program are subject to federal and state payroll taxes. If you stay below 20 hours a week while enrolled full-time, you won’t have to pay FICA (taxes for Medicare and Social Security) taxes.

Even Pell Grants — a federal aid program for students with significant financial need — are taxable if they’re not used for qualified education expenses.

Making it Legal: Reporting Taxable Awards

If a college scholarship is considered taxable, the student would need to report the scholarship (or portion of the scholarship) on their tax return.

Some students may receive a W-2 form from the scholarship provider outlining the taxable amount. Otherwise, they may need to calculate and enter the amount on their own tax return.

The student would report any taxable amount of a scholarship, grant, or fellowship as follows:

• If filing Form 1040 or Form 1040-SR, you would include the taxable portion in the total amount reported on Line 1a of your tax return. If the taxable amount wasn’t reported on Form W-2, enter it on Line 8 of Schedule 1 (and attach the form).

• If filing Form 1040-NR, you would report the taxable amount on Line 8 and fill out and attach a Schedule 1.

If you have questions about whether or not any portion of your scholarship money is taxable and how to report those funds on your tax return, it’s a good idea to consult a tax professional for personalized guidance.

How Education Tax Credits Fit in

Students and their family members may be eligible to claim the American Opportunity Tax Credit (AOTC) or the Lifetime Learning Credit (LLC) if they paid for college and related costs in the past year. Take note that you can’t use both tax credits for the same student in the same year.

To claim either tax credit, you’ll need Form 1098-T from your college. This form shows any reportable transaction for an enrolled student.

To qualify for the AOTC or LLC, you could have paid educational expenses out of pocket or with student loans. Expenses that were paid for by tax-free scholarships are not eligible for a tax credit.

The AOTC and LLC differ in scope and eligibility, so it’s helpful to compare both to see which may apply and provide a greater tax return.

American Opportunity Tax Credit (AOTC)

The AOTC can be used for qualified education expenses — tuition, fees, textbooks, and necessary supplies — for a student’s first four years of college.

The maximum credit currently stands at $2,500 a year for eligible students. This is calculated as 100% of the first $2,000 in qualified education expenses paid for an eligible student plus 25% of the next $2,000 in qualified education expenses.

If the AOTC reduces your taxes to zero, it’s possible to have 40% of the remaining credit (up to $1,000) refunded.

Eligibility for the AOTC is based on the tax filer’s modified adjusted gross income (MAGI). If you’re filing separately, your MAGI must be $80,000 or less to qualify for the full AOTC credit. The threshold is $160,000 for married filing jointly.

It’s possible to receive a reduced AOTC amount if filing separately with MAGI between $80,000 and $90,000 or $160,000 and $180,000 for married filing jointly.

Recommended: 23 Tax Deductions for College Students and Other Young Adults

The Lifetime Learning Credit (LLC)

The LLC can apply to a broader range of expenses than the AOTC. It can be used to claim up to $2,000 for tuition and related educational expenses for undergraduate, graduate, or professional degree courses. Costs of non-degree programs that improve job skills are also eligible for the LLC.

This credit does not have a limit on the number of years it can be claimed on your tax return. However, the LLC has stricter income requirements.

For Tax Year 2022, the amount of your LLC is gradually reduced (phased out) if your MAGI is between $80,000 and $90,000 ($160,000 and $180,000 if you file a joint return).

You can’t claim the credit if your MAGI is $90,000 or more ($180,000 or more if you file a joint return).

Recommended: Can You Deduct Your Child’s Tuition from Taxes?

Don’t Forget Deductions

If you’re paying interest on a student loan, you may be eligible to deduct up to $2,500 of that interest with the student loan interest deduction. To be eligible, interest payments must be legally obligated and your filing status can’t be married filing separately.

There are also income requirements, which can vary annually, to factor in for the deduction calculation. For the tax year 2022, the filer’s MAGI must be less than $85,000 (or $170,000 if filing jointly) to be eligible for the full $2,500 deduction.

If your MAGI is between $70,000 and $85,000 (or $140,000 and $170,000 if filing jointly), you could qualify for a reduced deduction.


💡 Quick Tip: Need a private student loan to cover your school bills? Because approval for a private student loan is based on creditworthiness, a cosigner may help a student get loan approval and a lower rate.

The Takeaway

Scholarships, grants, and fellowships can help make college more affordable. Not only that, the funds you receive typically aren’t taxable.

A general rule is that your college scholarship is tax-free when it is used to pay for “qualified education expenses.” Exceptions include any part of the scholarship or grant you used to pay for supplemental things (not required for a course) or as payment for work or services you performed.

If scholarships, grants, other aid, and federal student loans are enough to cover the cost of your college education, you may want to consider applying for a private student loan. Loan limits vary by lender, but you can often get up to the total cost of attendance. Interest rates may be fixed or variable and are set by the lender. Generally, borrowers (or cosigners) who have strong credit qualify for the lowest rates.

Keep in mind, though, that private loans may not offer the borrower protections — like income-based repayment plans and deferment or forbearance — that automatically come with federal student loans.

If you’ve exhausted all federal student aid options, no-fee private student loans from SoFi can help you pay for school. The online application process is easy, and you can see rates and terms in just minutes. Repayment plans are flexible, so you can find an option that works for your financial plan and budget.


Cover up to 100% of school-certified costs including tuition, books, supplies, room and board, and transportation with a private student loan from SoFi.

Photo credit: iStock/pixelfit

SoFi Student Loan Refinance
If you are a federal student loan borrower, you should consider all of your repayment opportunities including the opportunity to refinance your student loan debt at a lower APR or to extend your term to achieve a lower monthly payment. Please note that once you refinance federal student loans you will no longer be eligible for current or future flexible payment options available to federal loan borrowers, including but not limited to income-based repayment plans or extended repayment plans.


SoFi Loan Products
SoFi loans are originated by SoFi Bank, N.A., NMLS #696891 (Member FDIC). For additional product-specific legal and licensing information, see SoFi.com/legal. Equal Housing Lender.

SoFi Private Student Loans
Please borrow responsibly. SoFi Private Student Loans are not a substitute for federal loans, grants, and work-study programs. You should exhaust all your federal student aid options before you consider any private loans, including ours. Read our FAQs. SoFi Private Student Loans are subject to program terms and restrictions, and applicants must meet SoFi’s eligibility and underwriting requirements. See SoFi.com/eligibility-criteria for more information. To view payment examples, click here. SoFi reserves the right to modify eligibility criteria at any time. This information is subject to change.

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

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

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Sep
20
2023
woman working on beach

The Importance of Setting Your Long-Term Financial Goals

By | Budgeting & Goals, Financial Independence | No Comments

What are your financial hopes and dreams for your future: to own a second home? Retire by age 50? Send your future kids to college without a single student loan?

Setting those goals for the faraway future is important. Not only can these aspirations help you visualize what you want to achieve, they can set you on the path to take control of your finances and start saving. Typically, these are things you want to achieve that are at least seven years ahead of you or perhaps much further out.

When you establish your goals, you can commit to them, save towards them, and watch your money grow.

The first step involves planning, and here’s where you’ll learn some smart moves to make. You’ll find out how to identify what you want to achieve and then start on the path to making those goals a reality.

Starting by Thinking Big

Setting goals can really fire a person up to achieve big things. Indeed, oft-cited psychological research by Edwin Locke and Gary Latham showed that subjects who were assigned specific, challenging goals were 90% more likely to succeed.

The two researchers went on to publish “A Theory of Goal Setting and Task Performance,” in which they discussed what they’d determined as the five key components of setting achievable goals:

•   Clarity

•   Challenge

•   Commitment

•   Complexity

•   Feedback

What do these mean for your financial goal setting? First, you must have clarity and specificity about exactly what you want to accomplish. It can be helpful to start by making two lists: What’s most financially stressful to you right now, and what you might consider a dream that you’d like to achieve.

While traditional long-term financial goals like saving for retirement or buying a home are worthwhile, they’re so universal that they might seem uninspiring.

Keep in mind that you can and will likely end up working towards those goals as well as some goals that feel personal. Some examples to contemplate:

•   “Start my own bakery business.”

•   “Travel across every continent, writing about it as I go.”

•   “Buy a property in the desert and build a home to rent as an Airbnb.”

•   “Start a scholarship fund for low-income high school students.”

•   “Pay for my parents’ retirement expenses, so they don’t have to worry.”

You probably have general ideas of what your long-term financial goals may be, but getting as specific as possible is what can help you the most. You could take time to do some self-reflection in order to establish your goals. Think, write, and revise.

What about your goals is motivating for you? Can you break your big goals down into smaller benchmarks that also motivate you? Do they feel challenging enough to be aspirational and inspiring? This process will help you set your long-term financial goals so you can then go about achieving them.

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Breaking Your Goals Down

Next comes the harder part — making your commitment to your goals real and tangible. This is where the “complexity” component becomes important. How might you simplify the path you’ll take towards your future?

At this stage, you can take a look at the goals you’ve laid out and prioritize them. Which goals will have the biggest positive impact on your life? Which are most pressing?

Next, you can break down the goal into smaller, shorter-term goals. Any big to-do will likely seem overwhelming without a step-by-step plan in place.

As you prioritize and break down your various long-term goals, you might find it helpful to place dollar amounts on these components.

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Examples of Financial Prioritization

Consider the goals “save for retirement” and “start my own bakery business.” Are you ready to tackle them? Begin with retirement:

•   Ask yourself if it might be important to first focus on any outstanding shorter-term debts. For instance, if you’re in credit card debt, develop a plan to get out from under it.

•   If you don’t have an emergency fund that covers at least three to six months’ worth of your expenses, you could commit to contributing towards it until it’s full. How much will you need to put away on a monthly basis?

•   Next, you could research retirement savings options. You might go through your employer or pursue a separate account on your own. What’s your goal amount of money for this fund? Break down what you’ll need to contribute to get there, month-by-month and year-by-year.

Next, think about starting your own business. To prioritize, you might think about and plan the following:

•   What do you need to learn? Can you do online research and consult your local library?

•   Cultivate a mentor. This can be as easy as finding someone who’s currently a small business owner and asking them out to coffee.

•   Research the dollars and cents. Do your research about the costs of opening and sustaining a bakery. What is required to establish this kind of business? You may be able to read up on business plans online. What fees and expenses are involved? What would a business loan vs. personal loan look like?

These steps can help you dig into your financial goal-setting process.

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Take Action and Be Accountable

Next, explore how you will hold yourself accountable to working towards the benchmarks you’ve identified. Once you’ve identified your goals, prioritized them, broken them down, and put dollar amounts on the pieces that require them, you might find it helpful to find an accountability buddy.

•   Buddy up. You could tell someone you trust (a friend or relative perhaps) about your goals, and set monthly or quarterly check-ins to review progress. Schedule those calls or meetings, and put them in your calendar to make sure they don’t get lost in the ether.

•   Talk to your partner. If you have a partner, be sure to discuss your goals with them — they can help you achieve them and support you as you move forward.

•   Automate your savings. This can help you get started by making the whole process seamless. Whether you are saving to get out of credit card debt as a first step or are growing a retirement fund, having money automatically whisked out of checking and into a savings vehicle can accelerate your progress.

•   Consult with a professional. As you work towards your long-term goals, you may want to meet with a financial professional or business advisor, depending on your needs. They can counsel you on the best way to achieve your long-term financial aspirations.

•   Understand that it’s not always a straight line to success. When you hit speed bumps along the road, you might benefit from reframing negative thoughts like “I’m never going to get there” or “I’m a failure” with less catastrophic ones, like “trial and error is crucial to getting anywhere.”

Setting Yourself Up For Success

No matter what your long-term financial goals are, it’s the planning that helps make them possible.

Creating plans to achieve your long-term goals can help give your life structure and a deeper sense of purpose in all of your actions.

Using tools can help you get where you want to be. Shop around for a financial institution that can be a solid partner for you and offer you helpful ways to better manage your money and grow your wealth.

Interested in opening an online bank account? When you sign up for a SoFi Checking and Savings account with direct deposit, you’ll get a competitive annual percentage yield (APY), pay zero account fees, and enjoy an array of rewards, such as access to the Allpoint Network of 55,000+ fee-free ATMs globally. Qualifying accounts can even access their paycheck up to two days early.


Better banking is here with SoFi, NerdWallet’s 2024 winner for Best Checking Account Overall. Enjoy up to 4.60% APY on SoFi Checking and Savings.

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The SoFi Bank Debit Mastercard® is issued by SoFi Bank, N.A., pursuant to license by Mastercard International Incorporated and can be used everywhere Mastercard is accepted. Mastercard is a registered trademark, and the circles design is a trademark of Mastercard International Incorporated.

SoFi members with direct deposit activity can earn 4.60% annual percentage yield (APY) on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. Direct Deposit means a deposit to an account holder’s SoFi Checking or Savings account, including payroll, pension, or government payments (e.g., Social Security), made by the account holder’s employer, payroll or benefits provider or government agency (“Direct Deposit”) via the Automated Clearing House (“ACH”) Network during a 30-day Evaluation Period (as defined below). Deposits that are not from an employer or government agency, including but not limited to check deposits, peer-to-peer transfers (e.g., transfers from PayPal, Venmo, etc.), merchant transactions (e.g., transactions from PayPal, Stripe, Square, etc.), and bank ACH funds transfers and wire transfers from external accounts, do not constitute Direct Deposit activity. There is no minimum Direct Deposit amount required to qualify for the stated interest rate.

SoFi members with Qualifying Deposits can earn 4.60% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. Qualifying Deposits means one or more deposits that, in the aggregate, are equal to or greater than $5,000 to an account holder’s SoFi Checking and Savings account (“Qualifying Deposits”) during a 30-day Evaluation Period (as defined below). Qualifying Deposits only include those deposits from the following eligible sources: (i) ACH transfers, (ii) inbound wire transfers, (iii) peer-to-peer transfers (i.e., external transfers from PayPal, Venmo, etc. and internal peer-to-peer transfers from a SoFi account belonging to another account holder), (iv) check deposits, (v) instant funding to your SoFi Bank Debit Card, (vi) push payments to your SoFi Bank Debit Card, and (vii) cash deposits. Qualifying Deposits do not include: (i) transfers between an account holder’s Checking account, Savings account, and/or Vaults; (ii) interest payments; (iii) bonuses issued by SoFi Bank or its affiliates; or (iv) credits, reversals, and refunds from SoFi Bank, N.A. (“SoFi Bank”) or from a merchant.

SoFi Bank shall, in its sole discretion, assess each account holder’s Direct Deposit activity and Qualifying Deposits throughout each 30-Day Evaluation Period to determine the applicability of rates and may request additional documentation for verification of eligibility. The 30-Day Evaluation Period refers to the “Start Date” and “End Date” set forth on the APY Details page of your account, which comprises a period of 30 calendar days (the “30-Day Evaluation Period”). You can access the APY Details page at any time by logging into your SoFi account on the SoFi mobile app or SoFi website and selecting either (i) Banking > Savings > Current APY or (ii) Banking > Checking > Current APY. Upon receiving a Direct Deposit or $5,000 in Qualifying Deposits to your account, you will begin earning 4.60% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% on checking balances on or before the following calendar day. You will continue to earn these APYs for (i) the remainder of the current 30-Day Evaluation Period and through the end of the subsequent 30-Day Evaluation Period and (ii) any following 30-day Evaluation Periods during which SoFi Bank determines you to have Direct Deposit activity or $5,000 in Qualifying Deposits without interruption.

SoFi Bank reserves the right to grant a grace period to account holders following a change in Direct Deposit activity or Qualifying Deposits activity before adjusting rates. If SoFi Bank grants you a grace period, the dates for such grace period will be reflected on the APY Details page of your account. If SoFi Bank determines that you did not have Direct Deposit activity or $5,000 in Qualifying Deposits during the current 30-day Evaluation Period and, if applicable, the grace period, then you will begin earning the rates earned by account holders without either Direct Deposit or Qualifying Deposits until you have Direct Deposit activity or $5,000 in Qualifying Deposits in a subsequent 30-Day Evaluation Period. For the avoidance of doubt, an account holder with both Direct Deposit activity and Qualifying Deposits will earn the rates earned by account holders with Direct Deposit.

Members without either Direct Deposit activity or Qualifying Deposits, as determined by SoFi Bank, during a 30-Day Evaluation Period and, if applicable, the grace period, will earn 1.20% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances.

Interest rates are variable and subject to change at any time. These rates are current as of 10/24/2023. 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.

Third-Party Brand Mentions: No brands, products, or companies mentioned are affiliated with SoFi, nor do they endorse or sponsor this article. Third-party trademarks referenced herein are property of their respective owners.

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Sep
19
2023
What Is Forex Trading and How Does it Work?

What Is Forex Trading? A Guide for Beginners

By | Financial Independence, Growing Wealth, invest, Investing | Comments Off on What Is Forex Trading? A Guide for Beginners

Foreign exchange, also known as “FX,” “forex,” or currency trading, is the exchange of different global currencies. The changes in currency values reflect supply and demand. Traders aim to profit by buying and selling currencies based on their shifting values. The shifting values of currencies in the market affect the prices of goods and services all over the world.

The largest financial market in the world, forex is an extremely popular alternative investment, but many individual investors find it too challenging and risky to participate. Forex has the propensity to generate sizable returns for experienced traders, but it’s also complicated.

How Does Forex Trading Work?

Forex operates differently than many other types of investments. The forex market is open for trading 24 hours a day, Monday through Friday. There are four main forex trading centers around the world, covering different time zones: London, New York, Sydney, and Tokyo.

Unlike the stock exchange, there is no physical foreign exchange market. Banks and financial institutions, rather than central exchanges, run the market and all trading takes place over the counter.

All forex trades occur in currency pairs. For instance, an investor can trade U.S. Dollars for Euros, or vice versa. With every transaction they buy one currency and sell the other.

All currencies continuously increase or decrease in value relative to other currencies. Values shift due to international or national events such as elections, wars, economic crises, natural disasters, and more. Bank and federal announcements such as gross domestic product (GDP) and inflation reports, employment figures, and quantitative easing measures can affect currency values. Based on what’s happening in the world, traders make predictions about whether a particular currency will rise or fall in relation to another currency, and trade accordingly.

Traders swap currencies in batches, or lots. A standard lot is 1000,000 units of currency. Traders can also trade mini lots of 10,000 units, or micro lots of 1000 units.

Since traders generally don’t have tens or hundreds of thousands of units of currency to trade, they often use leverage and margin trading to increase their position without having as much capital investment in a trade.

Risks of Forex Trading

One of the primary risks of forex trading involves the use of leverage. Using leverage can result in greater profits, but there is also a risk of losing more money initially invested. The associated risks are one reason that forex institutional investors, rather than individual investors, typically dominate forex trading. For this reason, it’s important to understand the market, the opportunity cost and the risks of day trading before starting to use leverage.

Many investors consider forex an alternative investment, since it may not correlate to stocks and bonds. Alternative investments may have their own unique risks, too, which investors or traders should be aware of.

Benefits of Forex Trading

The use of leverage is also one of the big potential benefits of forex trading, as it allows investors who lack significant resources to make relatively large trades, and thus, generate relatively large returns. Additionally, the forex markets are open longer than stock markets, which may be an advantage for some traders, and there are low barriers to entry, and an extremely liquid market for traders, too.

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

What Are the Major Currency Pairs?

There are four types of pairs in the FX market:

•   Major Pairs: Seven currencies comprise 80% of the global forex market. These major pairs include EUR/USD, USD/JPY, GBP/USD, and USD/CHF

•   Minor Pairs: Traded less often, many of these pairs don’t include USD. Minor pairs include EUR/GBP, GBP/JPY, and EUR/CHF

•   Exotics: Exotic pairs include one major currency and one currency from an emerging or smaller market. These include EUR/CZK, USD/PLN, and GBP/MXN

•   Regional Pairs: Based on geography, these pairs include, such as AUD/NZD and EUR/NOK

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Three Markets to Trade Forex

There are three ways to trade in the forex market, used by both short- and long-term traders.

Spot Forex Market

This involves the physical exchange of currencies. Since it happens physically in real time, traders can complete this type of transaction on the spot. Traders can buy and sell derivatives based on the spot forex market through over-the-counter exchanges.

Forward Forex Market

In this type of forex trading, traders agree to buy or sell a specific amount of a currency at a set price on a set future date.

Futures Forex Market

In the futures market, contracts for these forward transactions are bought and sold.

How to Read Forex Quotes

It can be a bit confusing at first to read and understand forex pairs. This is how to read them.

Here’s an example: EUR/USD 1.13012

The currency on the left (EUR) is the base currency. It is always equal to one unit, which in this case would be 1€.

The currency on the right (USD) is called the quote currency or counter currency.

The number 1.13012 is the value of the quoted currency relative to one unit of the base currency. In this example, 1€ = $1.13012. If the base currency (EUR) rises in value, the quoted currency number increases since one unit of the base currency can buy more of the quoted currency, and vice versa.

When trading forex, investors are buying the base currency, in this case EUR. So, if they want to buy EUR they buy the EUR/USD pair, and if they want to buy USD they sell the EUR/USD pair.

Understanding Bid and Ask

Another important part of reading forex quotes are the bid and ask prices. The bid price is the amount that the dealer pays for the base currency, while the ask price is the price for which they will sell it. Bid prices are always lower than ask prices. The difference between these two prices is known as the spread. A lower spread is better for traders.

Using the example above, the ask price tells a trader how much USD they will need to spend to purchase one unit of EUR. The bid price tells them how much USD they will buy when they sell one unit of EUR.

Generally, the bid and ask are shown as bid/ask. For example, EUR/USD 1.13012/23 would mean that the bid price is 1.13012 and the ask price is 1.13023. A trader could sell 1€ for $1.13012 or buy 1€ for $1.13023.

Forex Trading Terms to Know

“Pips” may be the most important term for forex traders to know.

In forex trading, the units that measure the spread, earnings, and losses are called pips, which are the smallest price movement between pairs of currencies. These are similar to points in the stock market. The actual value of a pip changes depending on the currency pair, but it generally refers to a movement in the fourth decimal place of a currency pair. Micro pips or pipettes are the decimal places after the fourth decimal place.


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

The Takeaway

Forex trading involves trading foreign currencies, and typically involves a handful of main currency pairs. The forex markets are relatively easy to learn, have low barriers to entry, and allow for the use of leverage, making them attractive to many investors.

Forex is a popular alternative investment and can be a great way to diversify a portfolio. However, it does involve a significant amount of understanding and practice, and can be very risky. If direct forex investing seems daunting, you can still get exposure to forex markets by purchasing ETFs or other funds that focus on foreign currencies.

Ready to expand your portfolio's growth potential? Alternative investments, traditionally available to high-net-worth individuals, are accessible to everyday investors on SoFi's easy-to-use platform. Investments in commodities, real estate, venture capital, and more are now within reach. Alternative investments can be high risk, so it's important to consider your portfolio goals and risk tolerance to determine if they're right for you.


Invest in alts to take your portfolio beyond stocks and bonds.

FAQ

Why does forex trading matter for average consumers?

The forex markets can have an impact on prices for consumers, which is why they may be a matter of concern for the typical person. Exchange rates internationally may be affected, which can possibly change prices.

What are the biggest differences between investing in stock and forex?

The forex markets tend to be more liquid and volatile than the stock market, as well as more voluminous, which may make them more attractive to investors. The markets are also open longer, and applicable fees for forex trades may be lower, too.

What is considered a large investment in forex trading?

Forex trades are done in “lots,” and a large lot may involve $100,000 trades while using leverage. This could only include $1,000 in actual capital, and if executed, would likely be considered a large trade for the forex markets.

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Alternative investments, including funds that invest in alternative investments, are risky and may not be suitable for all investors. Alternative investments often employ leveraging and other speculative practices that increase an investor's risk of loss to include complete loss of investment, often charge high fees, and can be highly illiquid and volatile. Alternative investments may lack diversification, involve complex tax structures and have delays in reporting important tax information. Registered and unregistered alternative investments are not subject to the same regulatory requirements as mutual funds.
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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.

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19
2023
Understanding the different personal finance ratios

Guide to Understanding Different Personal Finance Ratios

By | Budgeting & Goals, Financial Independence, money | Comments Off on Guide to Understanding Different Personal Finance Ratios

Understanding your personal finances is the first step in taking control of your money and making it work harder for you.

One valuable tool for determining your financial status involves using personal finance ratios. These are akin to formulas that show the relationship between numbers and how your cash is tracking.

For instance, you might look at how your debt is versus your income or how your budget categories are stacking against versus your take-home pay. Calculating and considering these figures can help you manage your money better as well as achieve your short- and long-term goals.

To help you put these important ratios to use, this guide shares eight formulas to help you optimize your money.

Emergency Fund Ratio

An emergency fund is the cash you keep on hand to pay for unexpected expenses, such as a job loss, a large medical bill, or a roof repair.

This fund acts as a safety net so you don’t have to go into debt or raid your long-term savings accounts to take care of the situation.

Formula: Monthly Expenses X 6 = Emergency Fund Ratio

To calculate your target emergency fund, you’ll want to add up your essential monthly expenses, or the minimum amount of money you need to live for one month. That includes your mortgage or rent, insurance, utilities, and groceries.

One common rule of thumb is to then multiply this by three months (as a bare minimum); while others may aim for six months. This gives you a good number to shoot for keeping in your emergency fund.

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Liquid Net Worth Ratio

This formula is essentially an extension of your emergency fund. If you were to need funds as a result of an unplanned event or emergency, this metric looks at how many months of expenses would be covered by your liquid assets — funds that can be easily and quickly converted into cash.

Formula: Liquid Assets/Monthly Expenses = Liquidity Ratio

Liquid assets include your checking and savings accounts, as well as cash-like equivalents. For this number, you do not want to include other assets that are not liquid, such as your home, car, or tax-advantaged retirement savings accounts.

Monthly expenses include essential expenses that you accounted for above to determine your emergency fund ratio.

A common goal: maintaining a liquidity ratio of between three and six months.

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Personal Cash Flow Ratio

Cash flow is a term often associated with companies. But this can also be a simple yet powerful personal finance ratio because it tells you how much is flowing in vs. flowing out of your accounts each month.

Knowing how much cash flow you have is useful because it tells you exactly how much money you have available to pay down debt or save or invest for your future.

Formula: Monthly (After Tax) Income – Monthly Expenses = Personal Cash Flow Ratio

To calculate this, you’ll want to add up all of your average monthly take-home income, including your paycheck, any side hustles, and income from any investments or savings accounts that are available to you for spending.

Next, you can look at credit card and bank statements, as well as receipts, for the past several months to come up with the average amount you are spending each month. This includes necessities like mortgage or rent and utilities, and also discretionary spending such as eating out and entertainment.

You can then subtract your spending number from your income number and you’ll have your net cash flow. If that number isn’t where you want it to be, you can use these calculations as a starting point to make adjustments.

Generally, the higher your cash flow, the better off you are.

Housing-to-Income Ratio

This ratio is vital to helping you understand how much you can afford to spend on your home, whether you buy or rent. It is also an important metric that mortgage lenders use when they decide whether or not to approve your loan.

Formula: Monthly Housing Costs/Gross Monthly Income = Housing Ratio

It’s important to use total housing costs when you calculate this ratio. This includes: your monthly mortgage payments (or rent payments), property taxes, insurance, and utilities.

You can then compare that total cost to your gross monthly income (income before taxes are deducted). Financial experts often recommend keeping this number to 28% or less. In some high cost-of-living areas, closer to 40% can be common.

The lower this number, the more affordable your housing costs are and the more income you have for other financial goals.

Debt-to-Income Ratio

The debt-to-income ratio is often used to determine a company’s ability to pay its debts. It works for individuals as well. It tells you what percentage of your income is being used to repay debts.

Formula: Monthly Debt Payments/Monthly Gross Income = Debt-to-Income Ratio

To calculate your debt payments, you’ll want to include credit card, student loan, and other consumer debt, as well as your mortgage payments. Your gross income is how much you earn each month before any deductions or taxes are taken out.

The common wisdom is to keep your debt at or below 36% of your gross income, but the lower your debt-to-income ratio, the financially healthier you likely will be.

Many people are surprised when they calculate this number to find just how much of their income is going to repay debt, often at high interest rates. This ratio can help you rethink that situation.

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Net Worth Ratio

Personal net worth is a measurement of an individuals’ total wealth. Your net worth ratio gives a little bit broader perspective than your debt-to-income ratio because it takes your total assets into account.

It is calculated as the total value of all your assets minus the total value of all your liabilities.

Formula: Total assets – Total Liabilities = Net Worth Ratio

To find this ratio, you’ll want to add up the current market values of all of your assets including your home, stock and bond holdings, checking and savings accounts, and any other financial accounts.

Next you’ll want to calculate your total liabilities. This includes any debt such as mortgages, credit card balances, car loans, personal loans and 401(k) loans.

You can then subtract your liabilities from your assets. The resulting number is, hopefully, positive, and the higher that positive number, the better for your financial health.

This is a snapshot of your net worth at this moment. You may want to calculate this metric periodically, perhaps quarterly or annually, to track your wealth. Ideally, you should see increases over time.

Savings Ratio

Since saving for the future is such a key part of personal finances, it makes sense there would be a personal finance ratio to help you gauge how you’re doing.

Your savings rate is expressed as what percent of your gross income you are putting away for the future, including retirement and other shorter-term financial goals.

Formula: Savings/Gross Income = Savings Ratio

To calculate this, you’ll want to add up your annual savings in any retirement accounts, including employer-sponsored retirement plans such as 401(k)s, traditional and Roth IRAs and taxable accounts earmarked for retirement. Do not include your emergency fund or college savings accounts.

Compare that savings to your annual gross income (your earnings before taxes and deductions are taken out).

Generally speaking, you want to aim for a saving rate of 10% to 20%. Younger people may want to aim for a 10 percent savings ratio, and then gradually increase their savings rate as their income increases.

50/30/20 Budget Ratio

The 50/30/20 formula can help you manage your budget no matter what your income. It proves a simple guideline as to how to apportion your income so you can afford to pay your bills, have some fun, and also put money into savings.

Formula: 50% Essential Spending + 30% Discretionary Spending + 20% Savings = Budget Ratio

Essential needs are the largest allocation at 50% of monthly take-home income. These are bills you must pay including mortgage or rent, utilities, health insurance, and groceries. Housing will likely take up a big chunk of this category.

With this formula, you’ll want to keep discretionary spending at no more than 30% of your monthly take-home income. These are most likely the things you do for fun, like dining out, travel, clothing beyond what you need for work, and entertainment.

Saving for future financial goals accounts for the remaining 20% of monthly take-home income. This includes retirement savings, saving for a house, tuition savings, saving to repay debt, etc.

The Takeaway

Personal finance ratios can give you a clear snapshot of your financial health in a variety of areas and help you make better decisions about money management and future planning.

Rather than making a best guess, personal financial ratios give you an edge in your analysis by using simple math. Once you’ve done some of these calculations, you may discover that you want to make some changes, such as watching your spending more closely and/or putting more money into savings each month.

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SoFi members with direct deposit activity can earn 4.60% annual percentage yield (APY) on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. Direct Deposit means a deposit to an account holder’s SoFi Checking or Savings account, including payroll, pension, or government payments (e.g., Social Security), made by the account holder’s employer, payroll or benefits provider or government agency (“Direct Deposit”) via the Automated Clearing House (“ACH”) Network during a 30-day Evaluation Period (as defined below). Deposits that are not from an employer or government agency, including but not limited to check deposits, peer-to-peer transfers (e.g., transfers from PayPal, Venmo, etc.), merchant transactions (e.g., transactions from PayPal, Stripe, Square, etc.), and bank ACH funds transfers and wire transfers from external accounts, do not constitute Direct Deposit activity. There is no minimum Direct Deposit amount required to qualify for the stated interest rate.

SoFi members with Qualifying Deposits can earn 4.60% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. Qualifying Deposits means one or more deposits that, in the aggregate, are equal to or greater than $5,000 to an account holder’s SoFi Checking and Savings account (“Qualifying Deposits”) during a 30-day Evaluation Period (as defined below). Qualifying Deposits only include those deposits from the following eligible sources: (i) ACH transfers, (ii) inbound wire transfers, (iii) peer-to-peer transfers (i.e., external transfers from PayPal, Venmo, etc. and internal peer-to-peer transfers from a SoFi account belonging to another account holder), (iv) check deposits, (v) instant funding to your SoFi Bank Debit Card, (vi) push payments to your SoFi Bank Debit Card, and (vii) cash deposits. Qualifying Deposits do not include: (i) transfers between an account holder’s Checking account, Savings account, and/or Vaults; (ii) interest payments; (iii) bonuses issued by SoFi Bank or its affiliates; or (iv) credits, reversals, and refunds from SoFi Bank, N.A. (“SoFi Bank”) or from a merchant.

SoFi Bank shall, in its sole discretion, assess each account holder’s Direct Deposit activity and Qualifying Deposits throughout each 30-Day Evaluation Period to determine the applicability of rates and may request additional documentation for verification of eligibility. The 30-Day Evaluation Period refers to the “Start Date” and “End Date” set forth on the APY Details page of your account, which comprises a period of 30 calendar days (the “30-Day Evaluation Period”). You can access the APY Details page at any time by logging into your SoFi account on the SoFi mobile app or SoFi website and selecting either (i) Banking > Savings > Current APY or (ii) Banking > Checking > Current APY. Upon receiving a Direct Deposit or $5,000 in Qualifying Deposits to your account, you will begin earning 4.60% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% on checking balances on or before the following calendar day. You will continue to earn these APYs for (i) the remainder of the current 30-Day Evaluation Period and through the end of the subsequent 30-Day Evaluation Period and (ii) any following 30-day Evaluation Periods during which SoFi Bank determines you to have Direct Deposit activity or $5,000 in Qualifying Deposits without interruption.

SoFi Bank reserves the right to grant a grace period to account holders following a change in Direct Deposit activity or Qualifying Deposits activity before adjusting rates. If SoFi Bank grants you a grace period, the dates for such grace period will be reflected on the APY Details page of your account. If SoFi Bank determines that you did not have Direct Deposit activity or $5,000 in Qualifying Deposits during the current 30-day Evaluation Period and, if applicable, the grace period, then you will begin earning the rates earned by account holders without either Direct Deposit or Qualifying Deposits until you have Direct Deposit activity or $5,000 in Qualifying Deposits in a subsequent 30-Day Evaluation Period. For the avoidance of doubt, an account holder with both Direct Deposit activity and Qualifying Deposits will earn the rates earned by account holders with Direct Deposit.

Members without either Direct Deposit activity or Qualifying Deposits, as determined by SoFi Bank, during a 30-Day Evaluation Period and, if applicable, the grace period, will earn 1.20% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances.

Interest rates are variable and subject to change at any time. These rates are current as of 10/24/2023. 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.

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Sep
18
2023
Computer Science vs. Computer Engineering: What's the Difference?

Computer Science vs Computer Engineering: What’s the Difference?

By | Financial Independence, student_loan, Terminology | Comments Off on Computer Science vs Computer Engineering: What’s the Difference?

While the terms “computer science” and “computer engineering” are often used interchangeably, they are actually separate fields that focus on different aspects of computer technology. Simply put, computer science is the study of all aspects of computers with an emphasis on software systems, while computer engineering focuses more on designing and building hardware systems.

Whether you choose to major in computer science or computer engineering, some — but not all — of the coursework will be the same. However, the types of jobs you will be best-suited for will differ. Which path is best for you will depend on your skill set and career interests. Here’s what you need to know about computer science vs. computer engineering.

What Is Computer Science?

Those working in computer science focus mainly on computing theory, programming algorithms and models to develop software or computer systems that people utilize around the globe. A computer science program will typically cover topics like design and analysis of algorithms, data analysis, an introduction to operating systems, and different programming languages. Computer scientists generally focus on software and are typically the ones to create algorithms that make programs like artificial intelligence, machine learning, cloud computing, and even video games work.


💡 Quick Tip: Fund your education with a low-rate, no-fee SoFi private student loan that covers all school-certified costs.

What Is Computer Engineering?

Computer engineers generally focus on creating, testing, and evaluating the technology for hardware and software interfaces. If you choose computer engineering as your major, the program will likely cover topics like computer architecture, computer networks, and physics. It is a computer engineer’s job to develop new processors, microchips, and other components that physically go into computers and smartphones to make them work each and every time someone clicks the “on” button. This field may often require a combination of electrical engineering skills and computer science knowledge.

Similarities and Differences Between Computer Science and Computer Engineering

While computer science and computer engineering are two distinct areas of study, there are similarities between the two. Both professions, for example, involve working with computers. Both also involve data and math and work to advance the field of computing. Because of these similarities, both areas of study could share prerequisites and coursework at your chosen college or university.

Computer Science vs Computer Engineering Job Outlook

Individuals with a computer science or computer engineering degree may be qualified for a variety of different types of tech positions in a wide range of industries. Here’s a closer look.

Computer Science Job Outlook

There’s some good news for those looking at becoming computer scientists in the near future. According to the most recent data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) , the employment of computer and information research scientists is projected to grow 21% from 2021 to 2031, much faster than the average for all occupations.

What’s more, computer and information research scientists earned a median of $131,490 per year in 2021.

The types of jobs you may be able to get with a computer science degree include: software developer, database administrator, web developer, project manager, full-stack developer, engineering manager, user interface designer, information security analyst, information technology specialist, mobile application designer or developer, and more.

Computer Engineering Job Outlook

According to the BLS, the employment rate for computer hardware engineers is projected to grow much more slowly over the same timeframe. From 2021 to 2031, the job market for computer hardware engineers is expected to grow 5%, which is as fast as average as the average occupation.

The positive? The average salary for computer hardware engineers is still comparatively high, sitting at a comfortable $128,170 per year in 2021. And while many entry level jobs in computer science require a master’s degree, entry-level computer engineering positions generally only require a bachelor’s degree, which can save both time and money.

As computer scientists, those with a computer engineering degree could qualify for roles under a variety of job titles. These include: telecommunications engineer, computer architect, communication engineer, network systems engineer, systems architect, and simply, computer engineer.

Recommended: Return on Education for Bachelor’s Degrees

Computer Science vs Computer Engineering — Which One Is Better?

The question of “which is better, computer science or computer engineering?” really comes down to personal choice. To make this decision for yourself, it may be a good idea to consider what your dream computing job looks like.

Computer scientists can typically specialize in the following areas:

•   Artificial Intelligence

•   Human-Computer Interaction

•   Software Engineering

•   Mobile and Web Computing

•   Game Design

•   Computer Graphics

•   Data Science

•   Programming languages

Computer engineers can typically specialize in the following areas:

•   Hardware systems

•   Robotics and Cybernetics

•   Computer and Network Security

•   Distributed Computing

•   Embedded Systems

As you can see, both computer science and computer engineering are related. However, each comes with unique and exciting specialty areas. Which one is better will depend on your skills, interests, and goals.

The First Step to Becoming A Computer Scientist or Computer Engineer

While computer science is expected to experience more growth in the coming years than computer engineering, both fields can lead to a varied, lengthy, and well-paid career. Both also generally require at least a four-year college degree, which can be a significant financial investment. Once you pinpoint some schools and programs that interest you, you’ll likely need to figure out how you’ll manage the financial side of getting a computer science or computer engineering degree.

Fortunately, there are a number of ways to cover your college costs. A great place to start is by filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). This form puts you in the running for grants, scholarships, work-study positions, and federal student loans.

If financial aid and savings aren’t enough to cover the full cost of attendance (COA) for college, you might next look into getting a private student loan. Unlike federal student loans, which are provided by the government, private student loans are available through banks, credit unions, and online lenders. Rates tend to be higher than federal student loans, but borrowing limits are typically higher. These loans are not need-based and generally require a credit check. Borrowers (or cosigners) with excellent credit tend to qualify for the lowest rates.

Keep in mind that private student loans may not offer the same borrower protections that federal student loans offer, such as Public Service Loan Forgiveness or income-driven repayment plans.


💡 Quick Tip: Need a private student loan to cover your school bills? Because approval for a private student loan is based on creditworthiness, a cosigner may help a student get loan approval and a lower rate.

The Takeaway

While there is some overlap between computer science and computer engineering, the terms refer to two different majors and tech specialties that lead to different types of jobs after you graduate. Computer science tends to focus on computer theory and software, whereas computer engineering is more focused on computer design and hardware.

A career in either field can be rewarding, both financially and intellectually, though job growth is expected to be higher in computer science than computer engineering over the next eight years.

If you’ve exhausted all federal student aid options, no-fee private student loans from SoFi can help you pay for school. The online application process is easy, and you can see rates and terms in just minutes. Repayment plans are flexible, so you can find an option that works for your financial plan and budget.


Cover up to 100% of school-certified costs including tuition, books, supplies, room and board, and transportation with a private student loan from SoFi.

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Please borrow responsibly. SoFi Private Student Loans are not a substitute for federal loans, grants, and work-study programs. You should exhaust all your federal student aid options before you consider any private loans, including ours. Read our FAQs. SoFi Private Student Loans are subject to program terms and restrictions, and applicants must meet SoFi’s eligibility and underwriting requirements. See SoFi.com/eligibility-criteria for more information. To view payment examples, click here. SoFi reserves the right to modify eligibility criteria at any time. This information is subject to change.

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.

External Websites: The information and analysis provided through hyperlinks to third-party websites, while believed to be accurate, cannot be guaranteed by SoFi. Links are provided for informational purposes and should not be viewed as an endorsement.

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