How Much Will a $700,000 Mortgage Cost per Month?

The monthly amount that you pay on a mortgage for $700,000 covers the principal payment and interest, and your exact payment depends on several variables, including your interest rate. A $700,000, 30-year mortgage with a 6% interest rate, for example, costs around $4,200 monthly. However, there may be additional costs that you have to pay throughout the life of the loan, not to mention upfront costs that you must pay when you first close on the home.

The monthly cost of a mortgage depends on the interest rate, the length of the loan, and any additional costs, such as private mortgage insurance (PMI) charged on some loans. Mortgage loan terms are typically from 15 years to 30 years, and the monthly payments for a 15-year loan can be much higher than the payments for a 30-year loan, although, over its lifetime, the 30-year mortgage is typically more costly because interest costs are higher.

Here’s a look at how much a 700,000 mortgage might cost per month for a 15-year or 30-year loan term with various interest rates.

Key Points

•   The monthly cost of a $700,000 mortgage depends on factors like interest rate, loan term, and down payment.

•   Using a mortgage calculator can help estimate monthly payments and determine affordability.

•   Factors like property taxes, homeowners insurance, and private mortgage insurance (PMI) can also affect the overall cost.

•   It’s important to consider your budget and financial goals when determining the affordability of a mortgage.

•   Working with a lender or mortgage professional can provide personalized guidance and help you understand the costs involved.

First-time homebuyers can
prequalify for a SoFi mortgage loan,
with as little as 3% down.


What Is the Total Cost of a $700K Mortgage?

A $700,000 30-year mortgage with a 6% interest rate (which, as noted above, costs around $4,200 monthly) has a total cost of $1,510,867. The same loan over 15 years would have a $5,900 monthly payment and a total cost of $1,063,260. These amounts are simply estimates; exact costs will depend on interest, escrow, taxes, and insurance. A rule of thumb when buying a home is to not pay more than 28% of your gross monthly income. So someone whose monthly mortgage payment is $4,200 would need to take home at least $15,000 a month.

💡 Quick Tip: Buying a home shouldn’t be aggravating. SoFi’s online mortgage application is quick and simple, with dedicated Mortgage Loan Officers to guide you through the process.

The Upfront Costs of a $700K Mortgage

When you buy a house and take out a mortgage, in addition to your down payment, you will have to pay closing costs. Closing costs are mostly the administrative expenses for closing the deal. They include mortgage lender fees, titling fees, insurance fees, taxes, and appraisal fees. These costs are typically not covered by your down payment. Here’s a closer look at some upfront costs a buyer will face.

Earnest money Also known as a deposit, this is the money you put down to show the seller you’re serious about buying their place.

Down payment The amount you pay as a down payment will depend on the type of home loan. A conventional loan without private mortgage insurance (PMI) may call for a 20% down payment. On the other hand, you might get a conventional loan with mortgage insurance with a 3% down payment. A down payment for a Federal Housing Administration loan is typically around 3.5%, and Veterans Affairs loans or U.S. Department of Agriculture loans have no down payment required.

The more you can afford as a down payment, the less interest you will pay because the lender considers you less risky as a borrower.

Closing costs Your lender will charge you fees for administrative services, such as application, origination, and underwriting fees. And then there are transfer taxes associated with transferring the title from the seller to the buyer.

Recommended: First-Time Homebuyer Guide

The Long-Term Costs of a $700K Mortgage

Your mortgage payments pay down the principal and the interest on your loan. Proportionally, more of your payment will go toward interest rather than the principal at the beginning of the loan term, and at the end of the loan term, more of your payment will go toward paying down the principal.

If you paid less than 20 percent as a down payment, your mortgage lender may also require you to pay private mortgage insurance (PMI) on a monthly basis. However, there are also other long-term costs:

Property taxes These can add up to thousands of dollars a year and can change annually, or as often as your town raises taxes.

Home maintenance One rule of thumb is to set aside 1% of your home’s total value each year for maintenance costs.

HOA, condo, or co-op fees If your home is a condo or part of a homeowners association (HOA) or co-op, you will need to pay a monthly fee. The fee covers services such as grounds maintenance, use of a community center, and snow removal. HOA fees can range anywhere from $100 to $1,000.

Homeowners’ and hazard insurance Some areas are designated “high risk” for natural disasters, such as floods, earthquakes, wildfires, or severe storms. If your home is located in one of these areas, you will need to pay hazard insurance, which could cost between 0.25% to 0.33% of the home’s value paid annually.

Recommended: Home Loan Help Center

Estimated Monthly Payments on a $700K Mortgage

The table below shows the estimated monthly payments for a $700,000 mortgage loan for both a 15-year and a 30-year loan with interest rates varying from 5% to 8%.

Interest rate

15-year term

30-year term

5% $5,567 $3,779
5.5% $5,752 $3,997
6% $5,941 $4,221
6.5% $6,133 $4,450
7% $6,328 $4,684
7.5% $6,526 $4,922
8% $6,728 $5,166

How Much Interest Is Accrued on a $700K Mortgage?

The amount of interest accrued on a $700,000 mortgage will depend on the length of the loan and the interest rate. A shorter loan term will mean less accrued interest. For example, for a 15-year loan for $700,000 with a 6% interest rate, the interest would amount to around $363,259 over the life of the loan. For a 30-year loan with a 6% interest rate, the interest would be more than double at $810,867.

Amortization Breakdown for a $700K Mortgage

An amortization schedule for a mortgage loan tells you when your last payment will be and how much of your monthly payment goes toward paying off the principal and how much goes toward paying off the interest. At the beginning of the loan term, most of your payment will go toward the interest.

Below is the mortgage amortization breakdown for a $700,000 mortgage with a 6% interest rate for a 30-year loan.

Year

Beginning balance

Interest paid

Principal paid

Ending balance

1 $700,000.00 $8,596.08 $41,766.16 $691,403.92
2 $691,403.92 $9,126.27 $41,235.97 $682,277.65
3 $682,277.65 $9,689.16 $40,673.09 $672,588.49
4 $672,588.49 $10,286.76 $40,075.48 $662,301.73
5 $662,301.73 $10,921.23 $39,441.02 $651,380.50
6 $651,380.50 $11,594.83 $38,767.42 $639,785.67
7 $639,785.67 $12,309.97 $38,052.27 $627,475.70
8 $627,475.70 $13,069.22 $37,293.02 $614,406.48
9 $614,406.48 $13,875.30 $36,486.94 $600,531.18
10 $600,531.18 $14,731.10 $35,631.14 $585,800.07
11 $585,800.07 $15,639.68 $34,722.56 $570,160.39
12 $570,160.39 $16,604.30 $33,757.94 $553,556.09
13 $553,556.09 $17,628.42 $32,733.82 $535,927.66
14 $535,927.66 $18,715.70 $31,646.54 $517,211.96
15 $517,211.96 $19,870.05 $30,492.20 $497,341.91
16 $497,341.91 $21,095.59 $29,266.65 $476,246.32
17 $476,246.32 $22,396.72 $27,965.52 $453,849.60
18 $453,849.60 $23,778.10 $26,584.14 $430,071.50
19 $430,071.50 $25,244.68 $25,117.56 $404,826.82
20 $404,826.82 $26,801.72 $23,560.53 $378,025.10
21 $378,025.10 $28,454.79 $21,907.46 $349,570.31
22 $349,570.31 $30,209.82 $20,152.43 $319,360.50
23 $319,360.50 $32,073.09 $18,289.15 $287,287.40
24 $287,287.40 $34,051.29 $16,310.95 $253,236.11
25 $253,236.11 $36,151.50 $14,210.74 $217,084.61
26 $217,084.61 $38,381.25 $11,981.00 $178,703.36
27 $178,703.36 $40,748.52 $9,613.73 $137,954.85
28 $137,954.85 $43,261.80 $7,100.45 $94,693.05
29 $94,693.05 $45,930.09 $4,432.15 $48,762.96
30 $48,762.96 $48,762.96 $1,599.29 $0.00

What Is Required to Get a $700K Mortgage?

Let’s say you want to buy a home for $875,000 with a down payment of 20% or $175,000. To qualify for a 30-year mortgage loan of $700,000 with a 6% interest rate, you would need to earn around $180,000 annually. For a 15-year loan, you would need to earn around $253,000 annually.

This calculator shows you how much of a mortgage you can afford based on your gross annual income, your monthly spending, your down payment, and the interest rate.

The Takeaway

When calculating how much a mortgage loan for $700,000 will cost per month, the principal and interest are two of the biggest components. However, there are other costs that may be included, such as private mortgage insurance. And don’t forget about closing costs as well.

The length of the loan will drastically affect the amount of interest paid over the life of the loan. For example, the interest paid on a 30-year loan versus a 15-year loan with a 6% interest rate could be more than double.

Looking for an affordable option for a home mortgage loan? SoFi can help: We offer low down payments (as little as 3% - 5%*) with our competitive and flexible home mortgage loans. Plus, applying is extra convenient: It's online, with access to one-on-one help.


SoFi Mortgages: simple, smart, and so affordable.

FAQ

What will the monthly payments be for a $700K mortgage?

The longer your loan term, the lower your monthly payment on a mortgage loan, but you will pay more interest over the life of the loan. The exact monthly payment for a $700,000 mortgage will depend on the interest rate and the loan term. The payment for a $700,000 30-year mortgage with a 6% interest rate is approximately $4,200. For a 15-year loan with the same interest rate, the monthly payment is around $5,900.

How much do I need to earn to afford a $700K mortgage loan?

To buy a home for $875,000 with a down payment of 20% or 175K, and with a 30-year mortgage loan of $700,000 with a 6% interest rate, you would need to earn around $180,000 annually. For a 15-year loan, you would need to earn around $253,000 annually.

How much down payment is required for a $700K mortgage loan?

The down payment you will pay will depend on the type of mortgage and the lender. Some lenders accept 3%, while some expect 20%. If your down payment is less than 20%, you might have to add private mortgage insurance (PMI) to your monthly payments.


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*SoFi requires Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI) for conforming home loans with a loan-to-value (LTV) ratio greater than 80%. As little as 3% down payments are for qualifying first-time homebuyers only. 5% minimum applies to other borrowers. Other loan types may require different fees or insurance (e.g., VA funding fee, FHA Mortgage Insurance Premiums, etc.). Loan requirements may vary depending on your down payment amount, and minimum down payment varies by loan type.

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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What Is Crowdfunding? Definition & Examples

What Is Crowdfunding? Definition & Examples

Crowdfunding allows businesses to raise capital by pooling together small amounts of money from many investors. This can include private investors, institutional investors, friends, and family. There are different types of crowdfunding, but they tend to share a common goal: helping entrepreneurs raise money for their business.

Entrepreneurs may raise money from the public through social media platforms or crowdfunding websites. This is an alternate take on the traditional methods of financing a business through equity or debt. Crowdfunding offers some advantages to business owners who may not qualify for traditional loans or would prefer to avoid them. There are, however, some potential downsides to know if you’re interested in exploring crowdfunding for business.

What Is Crowdfunding?

Crowdfunding is more or less exactly what it sounds like: funding that comes from the crowd. Note, though, that regulators like the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) have their own definition of crowdfunding — but for our purposes, a broad definition will do the trick. Generally, crowdfunding for business is subject to federal securities laws. That means any efforts to raise capital through the crowd require SEC registration.


💡 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.

[ipo_launch]

History of Crowdfunding

The concept of raising capital as a collective effort is not a new one.

For example, Ireland launched several loan funds in the 1700s and 1800s to help less-advantaged people gain access to credit. A group of wealthier citizens pooled their money together to provide the funding for those loans.

More recently, online crowdfunding began at the start of this century. In 2003, ArtistShare became the first crowdfunding website, allowing people to collectively fund the efforts of artists. At the time, the platform used the term “fan-funding” rather than crowdfunding to describe its mission.

In 2006, entrepreneur Michael Sullivan coined the term “crowdfunding,” using it to describe an ultimately failed video-blog project for which he was seeking backers.

Crowdfunding began to move into the mainstream in 2008 and 2009, with the launch of companies such as Indiegogo and Kickstarter, respectively. Those websites allow supporters to help people build projects or businesses, but they do not receive equity in return.

In 2012, President Barack Obama signed into law the Jumpstart Our Business Startups (JOBS) Act, which included a provision allowing equity crowdfunding. This permitted early-stage businesses to sell securities to raise funds via online platforms. The SEC followed up with the adoption of Regulation Crowdfunding to oversee the crowdfunding provisions included in the JOBS Act.

How Does Crowdfunding Work?

In general, crowdfunding works by allowing multiple people to contribute money to a common cause. To launch a campaign, an entrepreneur will set up an account on an online crowdfunding platform.

Instead of presenting their product or service and their business plan to professional investors like venture capital firms, they’ll share it with the public and appeal for funds from them. The entrepreneurs will typically select a time period during which the investors can put money into the campaign to help it achieve its crowdfunding goal.

Crowdfunding is not a loan, in the traditional sense. The entrepreneur does not get the money they need to launch or scale your business from a lender. Instead, they tap into capital markets sourced from a group of people, which can include people they know as well as strangers.

With crowdfunding, anyone can invest but there are limits on the amount that can be invested in Regulation Crowdfunding during a 12-month period. These limits reflect their net worth and income.

Here’s a brief look at how crowdfunding works:

•   If either your annual income or net worth is less than $107,000 you can invest up to the greater of either $2,200 or 5% of the lesser of your annual income or net worth during any 12-month period.

•   If both your annual income and net worth are equal to or more than $107,000 you can invest up to 10% of your income or net worth, whichever is less but not more than $107,000 during any 12-month period.

If you’re an accredited investor, there are no limits on how much you can invest. An accredited investor has earned income of at least $200,000 ($300,000 for married couples) in each of the two prior years and a net worth of over $1 million. Individuals who hold certain financial professional certifications can also get accredited investor status.

Crowdfunding vs IPO

It’s important to note that crowdfunding is not the same as launching an Initial Public Offering (IPO). IPOs involve taking a company public and offering shares to investors through a new stock issuance. This is another way businesses can raise capital.

The IPO process begins with getting an accurate business valuation. Once a company goes public, an IPO lock-up period prevents insiders who already own shares from selling them for a certain time period. This period may last anywhere from 90 to 180 days. When it’s over, investors can buy and sell shares of the company on public exchanges.

For businesses, an IPO could be an effective way to raise capital if there’s sufficient demand among investors who are interested in buying stock at IPO price. Meanwhile, IPO investing may be attractive to investors who are interested in getting on the ground floor of start-ups and early-stage companies.

How Many Types of Crowdfunding Are There?

There are different types of crowdfunding you can use to raise capital for your business. Each one works differently, though entrepreneurs may choose to use one or all of them for business fundraising. Here’s a closer look at how the various types of crowdfunding work.

Rewards-Based Crowdfunding

Rewards-based crowdfunding allows you to raise capital from the crowd in exchange for some type of reward. For example, say you’re launching a start-up that produces eco-friendly water bottles. In exchange for funding your campaign, you may choose to offer your backers samples of your product.

This type of crowdfunding can be helpful for testing the waters, so to speak, to gauge interest in your product. If your campaign succeeds, that could be a sign that there’s sufficient consumer interest in your offerings. But if your efforts to raise capital fizzle, it could mean your idea needs some tweaking.

Donation-Based Crowdfunding

Donation-based crowdfunding allows you to raise funds on a donation basis, with no rewards offered. With this type of crowdfunding, you’re asking people to give money to your cause. Succeeding with this type of crowdfunding campaign may depend less on the product or service you’re trying to launch than on the story behind your business.

Equity Crowdfunding

Equity crowdfunding allows you to raise capital for your business by offering unlisted shares or equity in your business to investors. This is the type of crowdfunding that falls under the Regulation Crowdfunding heading.

Equity crowdfunding can be better than rewards-based or donation-based crowdfunding if you need to raise large amounts of money for your business. The tradeoff, however, is that you have to be sure that you’re observing SEC regulations for launching this type of campaign and you’ll need to spend time carefully determining the value of your business.

Peer-to-Peer Lending

Peer-to-peer (P2P) lending is another type of crowdfunding that allows businesses to raise capital through pooled loans. With this kind of crowdfunding, you borrow money from a group of investors. You then pay that money back over time with interest.

Getting a peer-to-peer loan may be preferable if you’d rather not give up equity shares in the business or deal with regulatory issues. And a P2P loan may be easier to qualify for compared to traditional business loans.

There is, however, the cost to consider. If you have a lower credit score, you could end up with a higher interest rate which would make this type of loan more expensive.

Pros and Cons of Crowdfunding

Relying on different crowdfunding methods can benefit businesses in a number of ways. Companies may lean toward crowdfunding in lieu of other financing methods, including debt financing with loans or equity financing through angel investors or venture capitalists. There are, however, some potential drawbacks associated with crowdfunding for business. Here’s a quick rundown of how both sides compare.

Crowdfunding Pros

•   Raise capital without trading equity. Venture capital and angel investments require businesses to trade equity or ownership shares for capital. Depending on the types of crowdfunding you’re using, you may not have to give up any ownership to get the capital you need.

•   Increased visibility. Launching a crowdfunding campaign online through a funding platform and/or social media could help attract attention from investors and potential clients or customers alike, increasing brand awareness.

•   Get funding when you can’t qualify for loans. If you’re having trouble getting approved for a business loan or start-up loan, crowdfunding could help you access the capital you need without having to meet a lender’s strict standards.

Crowdfunding Cons

•   Requires time and effort. Launching a successful crowdfunding campaign means doing your research to understand who your campaign is likely to reach and what kind of response it’s likely to get. In that sense, it can seem more complicated than filling out a loan application.

•   No guarantees. Using crowdfunding to raise capital for your business is risky because there’s no guarantee that your campaign will attract the type or number of investors you need. It’s possible that you may put in a lot of work to promote a campaign only to come up short with funding.

•   Fees. Crowdfunding platforms typically charge fees to launch and run a campaign. The fees can vary from platform to platform but it’s important to factor the costs in if you’re considering this fundraising method.

💡 Quick Tip: Newbie investors may be tempted to buy into the market based on recent news headlines or other types of hype. That’s rarely a good idea. Making good investment choices shouldn’t stem from strong emotions, but a solid strategy.

How to Decide If Crowdfunding Is Right for Your Business

If you look at some of the most successful crowdfunding examples, you’ll see that it’s possible for companies to raise large amounts of capital this way. Some of the most successful crowdfunding campaigns, in terms of outpacing their original funding goals, include:

•   The Micro, a 3D printer that raised $3.4 million in 11 minutes, easily surpassing its original $50,000 fundraising goal

•   Reading Rainbow, which raised over $5 million and broke the Kickstarter record for having the most backers of any project

•   Pono, which met its $800,000 goal within a day of campaign launch and went on to raise more than $6 million

•   Pebble smartwatch, which with more than $10 million raised is the most funded Kickstarter campaign of all time

Whether crowdfunding, an IPO, or some other source of capital is right for your business depends on how much capital you need to raise, whether you’re interested in or able to qualify for loans, and what types of crowdfunding you’re interested in. Weighing the pros and cons and comparing crowdfunding to other types of equity and debt financing can help you decide what may work best for your business.

The Takeaway

Crowdfunding involves raising capital for a business venture by soliciting a large number of small investors. Crowdfunding can also have appeal for investors as well, though it’s important to understand how SEC regulations work. It has pros and cons for both entrepreneurs and investors.

If you’re interested in funding up-and-coming companies without having to observe net worth and income requirements, IPO investing could make more sense. But that also comes with its pros and cons, and some significant risks.

Ready to invest in your goals? It’s easy to get started when you open an investment account with SoFi Invest. You can invest in stocks, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), mutual funds, alternative funds, 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/oatawa

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.

Investing in an Initial Public Offering (IPO) involves substantial risk, including the risk of loss. Further, there are a variety of risk factors to consider when investing in an IPO, including but not limited to, unproven management, significant debt, and lack of operating history. For a comprehensive discussion of these risks please refer to SoFi Securities’ IPO Risk Disclosure Statement. IPOs offered through SoFi Securities are not a recommendation and investors should carefully read the offering prospectus to determine whether an offering is consistent with their investment objectives, risk tolerance, and financial situation.

New offerings generally have high demand and there are a limited number of shares available for distribution to participants. Many customers may not be allocated shares and share allocations may be significantly smaller than the shares requested in the customer’s initial offer (Indication of Interest). For SoFi’s allocation procedures please refer to IPO Allocation Procedures.


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What Is a Carry Trade in Currency Markets?

What Is A Currency Carry Trade in Forex Markets?

Carry trade is a strategy used by some traders who invest in currency markets to take advantage of differences in interest rates. In a carry trade, an investor buys or borrows a security or asset at a low interest rate, and then uses it to invest in another security or asset that provides a higher rate of return.

Carry trades have some clear uses in the foreign exchange market, or “forex” market. Given that they can be used to drive returns, they can be important for investors of all stripes to understand.

What Is a Carry Trade?

In a carry trade, forex traders borrow money at a low interest rate in order to invest it in an asset with a higher rate of return. In the forex markets, the currency carry trade is a bet that one foreign currency will hold or increase its value relative to another currency.

Of course, this investing strategy hinges on whether or not interest rates and exchange rates are in the traders’ favor. The wider the exchange rate between two currencies, the better the potential returns for the investor.

Recommended: What Is Forex Trading?

Even so, a carry trade strategy can be a relatively simple way to increase an investor’s returns, assuming they understand the difference in interest rates. In that way, it’s similar to understanding “spread trading” as they relate to stocks.


💡 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.

How Do You Execute a Carry Trade?

Executing a carry trade can seem nebulous without an example. Here’s a runthrough.

Carry Trade Example

Imagine that the U.S. dollar has a 1% interest rate, but the British pound has a 2% interest rate. A trader could take 100 U.S. dollars, and then invest that 100 dollars into the equivalent number of pounds (according to the exchange rate), and earn a higher return in interest. The discrepancy in interest rates allows traders to take advantage and earn higher returns.

This is a rather simplistic carry trade example, professional traders and investors can engage in complex carry trade strategies, and even employ the use of a carry trade formula to help them figure out expected returns, and whether the strategy is worth pursuing in a given situation.

Rather than simply buying one currency with another, traders often execute a carry trade that involves borrowing money in one currency and using it to purchase assets in another currency. In this scenario, traders want to borrow the money at the lowest possible interest rate, and do so using a weak or declining currency.

That can create higher profits when they close the deal and pay back the borrowed money. In general, carry trade is a short-term strategy, rather than one focused on the long-term.

Recommended: Short-Term vs Long-Term Investments

Is a Carry Trade Risky?

The concept of a carry trade is simple, but in practice, it can involve investment risk.

Most notably, there’s the risk that the currency or asset a trader is investing in (the British pounds in our previous example) could lose value. That could put a damper on a trader’s expected returns, as it would eat away at the gains the difference in interest rates could provide. Currency prices tend to be very volatile, and something as mundane as a monthly jobs report released by a government can cause big price changes.

The greater the degree of leverage an investor uses to execute a carry trade, the higher the potential returns — and the larger the risk. In addition to currency risk, the carry trade is subject to interest rate risk. Given the risks, carry trades in the currency markets may not be the most appropriate strategy for investors with a low tolerance for risk.


💡 Quick Tip: When you’re actively investing in stocks, it’s important to ask what types of fees you might have to pay. For example, brokers may charge a flat fee for trading stocks, or require some commission for every trade. Taking the time to manage investment costs can be beneficial over the long term.

The Takeaway

Carry trades are one way for investors or traders to generate returns, although the approach involves some risks that aren’t present in other types of investment strategies. While the carry trade concept is straightforward, it can quickly get complex when institutional investors put it in place.

Carry trades can be advanced trading tools or strategies. For that reason, they may not be appropriate for all investors or traders. If you feel like you’re in over your head, it may be a good idea to speak with a financial professional for guidance, or to do some more homework to further your understanding.

Ready to invest in your goals? It’s easy to get started when you open an investment account with SoFi Invest. You can invest in stocks, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), mutual funds, alternative funds, 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/akinbostanci

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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What’s the Reflation Trade?

What’s the Reflation Trade?

The reflation trade is a bet that certain sectors of the market perform well immediately after a recession or economic crisis. Essentially, it’s a bet on cyclical stocks at the beginning of a market recovery.

Reflation is the inflation that typically comes immediately after a low-point in the economic cycle — often after economic stimulus, and the reflation trade is the purchase of specific stocks or sectors believed to outperform in that type of environment.

Reflation vs Inflation

While both reflation and inflation are characterized by rising prices, they are not the same thing.

Reflation is a recovery of prices lost during an economic downturn along with employment growth, and many economists see reflation as a healthy sign of an improving economy. It often accompanies economic stimulus, and may reflect monetary policy designed to stimulate spending and halt deflation.

Inflation, on the other hand, does not look at employment or any other economic factors. It is the rise in prices beyond their “normal” range, and poses a threat to economic recovery, since it can reduce the purchasing power of consumers and make it more expensive to borrow money.

Reflation is also different from what happens during stagflation, in which prices go up but wages don’t follow.


💡 Quick Tip: If you’re opening a brokerage account for the first time, consider starting with an amount of money you’re prepared to lose. Investing always includes the risk of loss, and until you’ve gained some experience, it’s probably wise to start small.

Understanding Reflation Trade Opportunities

Reflation doesn’t just mean that the market as a whole will rise as economic activity returns to normal or even higher levels. Instead there’s a focus on certain sectors as they reflate after a decline.

For example, some investors might see reflationary dynamics in sectors like hospitality or dining during a pandemic, along with travel and tourism. It may also be noticeable, under those circumstances, in more indirectly affected sectors like energy and materials.

Again, assuming an economy suffers a pandemic, part of the reflation trade could be a switch from purchases of goods to services, as people go out more, whether it’s movie theaters, restaurant meals, theme parks and hotels. These are the sectors that would perform well if the reflation thesis turned out to be true.

Investors interested in the reflation trade can invest in individual stocks, or get more diversified exposure by investing in sector-specific exchange-traded funds (ETFs) or index funds.

Get up to $1,000 in stock when you fund a new Active Invest account.*

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*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.

Reflation Trade Sectors

While hospitality stocks might make sense for investors considering a reflation trade, there are other sectors that typically perform well in most deflationary environments. Here’s a look at a few of them:

Financial Stocks

Banks and other financial institutions tend to do well after an economic recession, since they can benefit from both higher interest rates and ramped up consumer spending.

Value Investing

Companies that deliver steady, long-term growth often get undervalued during economic downtimes, meaning that they’re poised for better performance as the market begins to improve. That’s the logic behind value investing.

Bonds

When interest rates are rising–in either the short- or the long-term — investing in bonds may benefit from a reflationary market.

Commodities

Since commodities tend to perform well during both periods of inflation and periods of economic growth, they’re a favored investment among those looking for a reflationary trade. As such, commodities trading could be an attractive area in a reflationary market.

Small Cap Stocks

Investments in small cap stocks tend to increase in value after recessions or during periods of growth, making them another asset that investors might consider in a reflationary market.


💡 Quick Tip: It’s smart to invest in a range of assets so that you’re not overly reliant on any one company or market to do well. For example, by investing in different sectors you can add diversification to your portfolio, which may help mitigate some risk factors over time.

The Takeaway

The reflationary trade is a bet on specific sectors of the economy or certain types of asset classes in the aftermath of an economic downturn. If you’re interested in incorporating the reflation trade into your portfolio, you could do so either via individual stocks or by buying sector-specific exchange-traded funds (ETFs) or mutual funds.

But note that the economy is a complicated thing, and that there are cycles it naturally takes, but it’s also susceptible to all sorts of other events. That includes natural disasters, political changes, or even pandemics and other global crises. With that in mind, it can be difficult to be sure of what sort of environment the economy is in, exactly, at any given time.

Ready to invest in your goals? It’s easy to get started when you open an investment account with SoFi Invest. You can invest in stocks, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), mutual funds, alternative funds, 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/eugenesergeev

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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What Is the Average Retirement Age?

The average retirement age in the US is age 65 for men and age 62 for women, but those numbers don’t reveal the extremely wide range of ages at which people can and do retire.

Some people retire in their 50s, some in their 70s; some people find ways to keep pursuing their profession and thus never completely “retire” from the workforce. The age at which someone retires depends on a host of factors, including how much they’ve saved, their overall state of health, and their desire to keep working versus taking on other commitments.

Still, having some idea of the average age of retirement can be helpful as a general benchmark for your own retirement plans.

What Is the Average Age of Retirement in the US?

Overall, the average retirement age in the U.S. is 64.

Age 65 may be what most of us think of as the best age to retire, but not all regions of America are hitting this goal. According to the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, the average U.S. retirement age in:

•   Hawaii, Massachusetts, and South Dakota is 66.

•   Washington, D.C., is 67.

•   Residents of Alaska and West Virginia it’s 61.

A lower cost of living may be what’s helping West Virginia residents retire so young. West Virginia was one of the 10 most states in the country with the lowest costs of living, according to a 2023 study by Consumer Affairs.

Recommended: Cost of Living by State

While those previously mentioned states give a look at two ends of the average retirement age spectrum in the United States, many states have an average retirement age that falls closer to what one might expect.

Colorado, Connecticut, Iowa, Kansas, Maryland, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Dakota, Rhode Island, Texas, Utah, Vermont, and Virginia all have an average retirement age of 65.

Expectations vs Reality

Expectations can lead to disappointment. Any kid with an overly ambitious wishlist for Santa Claus knows that.

Now imagine a person spending most of their adult life expecting to retire at 65 and then realizing their retirement savings just isn’t enough. Ideally, that won’t happen, but it has happened to many.

According to The Employee Benefit Research Institute’s Retirement Confidence Survey Summary Report, the expected average age of retirement in 2023 was 65. However, as noted previously, the Census places the average retirement age in the US at 64. Retiring earlier than planned could lead to not having enough money to retire comfortably.

How to Know When to Retire

Not everyone retires early by choice. More than four in 10 people retired earlier than they expected, mostly because of health problems, disabilities, or changes within their organizations.

It can be difficult for workers to exactly predict at what age they will retire due to circumstances that may be out of their control.

In order to bridge any financial gap caused by not having enough retirement savings, 51% of pre-retirees expect they will earn an income during their retirement by working either full time or part time.

While the survey found that respondents are aware of what they need their retirement savings to look like, there is a gap between their expectations and their actions.

Seventy-nine percent of pre-retirees reported that they agree they should be doing more to prepare for their retirement. However, only 48% reported having a strong retirement plan in place, with 19% of Gen Xers and 31% of millennials admitting to not saving for retirement at all.

A lack of awareness seems to be leading to a lack of preparedness: 25% of pre-retirees surveyed said they aren’t sure how much money they are currently saving for retirement.


💡 Quick Tip: Before opening any investment account, consider what level of risk you are comfortable with. If you’re not sure, start with more conservative investments, and then adjust your portfolio as you learn more.

How Much You Should Have Saved for Retirement?

To retire comfortably, the IRS recommends that individuals have up to 80% of their current annual income saved for each year of retirement. With the average Social Security monthly payment being $1,177, retirees may need to do a decent amount of saving to cover the rest of their future expenses.

This is something to keep in mind when choosing a retirement date.

It’s Never Too Early to Start Saving for Retirement

Retirement can last 30 years or more. As lovely as that sounds, financial security is key to enjoying a relaxing retirement.

Any day is a good day to start saving, but saving for retirement while a person is young could help put them on the path toward a more secure retirement. The more years their savings have to grow, the better.

“A very helpful habit,” explains Brian Walsh, CFP® at SoFi, “Is truly automating what you need to do. Recurring contributions. Saving towards your goals. Automatically increasing those contributions. That way you can save now and save even more in the future.”

The Department of Labor (DOL) estimates that for every 10 years a person waits to begin saving for retirement, they will have to save three times as much every month to play catch-up.

3 Steps to Start Preparing for Retirement

It’s not enough to have an idea of the best time to retire. To really reach that goal, it’s important to have a financial plan in place. These steps break down how to prepare for retirement.

Step 1: Estimate how much money you’ll need

One of the first steps a person could take toward their retirement saving journey is to estimate how much money they need to save. There is a retirement savings formula that can help you estimate: Start with your current income, subtract your estimated Social Security benefits, and divide by 0.04. That’s the target number of retirement savings per year you’ll need.

Step 2: Set up retirement saving goals

It might be worth considering what retirement savings plans are available, whether that is an employer-sponsored 401(k), an IRA, or a simple savings account. Contributing regularly is key, even if big contributions can’t be made to retirement savings right now.

Making small additions to savings can add up, especially if extra money from finishing car payments, getting a holiday bonus, or earning a raise can be diverted to a retirement savings account.

If an employer offers a 401(k) match, it might be beneficial to take advantage of that feature and contribute as much as the employer is willing to match.

Along with receiving free money from an employer, there are also tax benefits of contributing to a 401(k). Contributions to a 401(k) happen pre-tax — that lowers taxable income, which means paying less in income taxes on each paycheck.

In addition, 401(k) contributions aren’t taxed when deposited, but they are taxed upon withdrawal. Withdrawing money early, before age 59 ½, also adds a 10% penalty.

Step 3: Open a Retirement Account

If access to an employer-sponsored 401(k) plan isn’t available — or even if it is — investors might want to consider opening an IRA account. For investors who need a little help sticking to a retirement savings plan, they could consider setting up an automatic monthly deposit from a checking or savings account into an IRA.

In 2023, IRAs allow investors to put up to $6,500 a year into their account ($7,500 if they’re older than 50). There are two options for opening an IRA — a traditional IRA or a Roth IRA, both of which have different tax advantages.

Traditional IRA

Any contributions made to a traditional IRA can be either fully or partially tax-deductible, and typically, earnings and gains of an IRA aren’t taxed until distribution.

Roth IRA

For Roth IRAs, earnings are not taxable once distributed if they are “qualified”—which means they meet certain requirements for an untaxed distribution.

Late to the Retirement Savings Game?

Starting to save for retirement late is better than not starting at all. In fact, the government allows catch-up contributions for those over the age of 50. Catch-up contributions of up to $7,500 in 2023 are allowed on a 401(k), 403(b), SARSEP, or governmental 457(b).

A catch-up contribution is a contribution to a retirement savings account that is made beyond the regular contribution maximum. Catch-up contributions can be made on either a pre-tax or after-tax basis.

As retirement gets closer, future retirees can plan their savings around their estimated Social Security payments. The official Retirement Estimator tool provided by the U.S. Social Security office could help by basing the estimate on an individual’s actual Social Security earnings record.

While this estimate is not a guarantee, it might give a retiree — or anyone planning when to retire — an idea of how much they might consider saving to supplement these earnings.

Social Security benefits can begin at age 62, which is considered the Social Security retirement age minimum. However, full benefits won’t be earned until full retirement age, which is 65 to 67 years old, depending on birth year.

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

Invest with as little as $5 with a SoFi Active Investing account.

FAQ

Does the average retirement age matter?

The age at which you retire affects your Social Security benefit. For instance, if you retire at age 62, your benefit will be about 30% lower than if you wait until age 67.

What is the full retirement age for Social Security?

The full age of retirement is 67 for anyone born in 1960 or later. Before that, the full retirement age is 66 for those born from 1943 to 1954. And for those born between 1955 to 1959, the age increases gradually to 67.

How long will my retirement savings last?

One strategy you could use to help determine how long your retirement savings might last is the 4% rule. The idea behind the rule is that you withdraw 4% of your retirement savings during your first year of retirement, then adjust the amount each year after that for inflation. By doing this, ideally, your money could last for about 30 years in retirement. However, your personal circumstances and market fluctuations may affect this number, which means it could vary. It’s best to use the 4% rule only as a general guideline.


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.

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.

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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