source_product Archives

Q: Is a Stag a Day Trader?

A stag could be considered to be a type of day trader.

Mar

2025

What Is a Stag in the Stock Market?

By Rebecca Lake | Growing Wealth, invest, Investing | Comments Off

A stag is an investor who engages in speculative trading activity. When discussing a stag in stock market terms, you’re using a slang term to talk about day traders who buy and sell securities with a goal of reaping short-term profits.

Stags base their trading strategies around current market movements, relying on technical analysis to help them identify trends, with a focus on initial public offerings (IPOs). That sets them apart from bull and bear speculators, who take a longer view of the market when anticipating price movements.

Stag Definition

Stag isn’t an acronym for anything; instead, it’s a slang term used to describe investors who engage in short-term, speculative trading. Stags aim to benefit from short-term price movements by buying low and selling high. They can trade different types of securities and employ different strategies, either bullish or bearish, in executing trades to achieve maximum profit.

Stags and Market Speculation

To understand stag in stock market terms, it’s helpful to look at the difference between investing and speculation. Investing typically means putting money into the market in the hopes of seeing a long-term result, usually capital appreciation. For example, an investor may purchase 100 shares of a value stock in the hope that those shares will have increased in price by the time they’re ready to sell them 10, 20 or 30 years down the road.

Speculation is different. Investors who engage in market speculation, including stags, focus more on what’s happening in the short term and how they can leverage those trends when trading. Stags will generally accept a higher degree of investment risk in order to turn a profit within a fairly short time frame. They use technical analysis, rather than fundamental analysis, to help them make educated guesses about which way a security is most likely to move.

Is a Stag a Day Trader?

Investors who follow a day trading strategy buy and sell securities to capitalize on large or small price movements throughout the day. For example, they may buy 100 shares of XYZ stock in the morning and sell those shares in the afternoon before the trading day closes. Some day traders may buy and sell the same stock minutes or even seconds apart in order to lock in profits from fluctuating prices.

Following that line of thought, a stag could be considered to be a type of day trader. Both stags and day traders typically require a sizable amount of capital in order to execute trades aimed at making a short-term profit. They also have to be relatively savvy when it comes to using online brokerage platforms to buy and sell securities. And, of course, they have to be willing to accept the risk that goes along with engaging in speculative day trading.

The stag meaning in the stock market isn’t limited to retail investors, however. Institutional investors can also fall under the stag umbrella if they engage in speculative trading activity. Institutional day traders can work with different financial institutions such as private equity funds and hedge funds to execute speculative trades on their behalf.

💡 Quick Tip: Are self-directed brokerage accounts cost efficient? They can be, because they offer the convenience of being able to buy stocks online without using a traditional full-service broker (and the typical broker fees).

Understanding Stag Trading Strategies

Stag investing revolves around active trading strategies and there are different approaches an investor may take in their efforts to secure short term stock profits. The goal with active trading is to beat the market’s performance whenever possible. Stag investors approach that goal by paying attention to market trends and momentum.

For example, if a security’s price is steadily trending upward a stag investor may speculate as to whether that trend will continue or whether a pullback might happen. If the security’s price drops, the investor may choose to buy shares if they believe that the price will rebound and they can sell those shares at a profit later. They can employ a similar strategy with stocks that are in decline already, if they believe that a price reversal lies ahead.

A stag investor may use a stacking strategy to maximize profits. Stack meaning in stock market terms can refer to different things but when discussing day trading, it means aligning trades to move in the same direction. Assuming the investor’s guess about a security’s price movement proves correct, this strategy could help them to multiply profits.

Stag traders may study stock trading charts in order to identify points of support and points of resistance when tracking price movements. They may be looking for signs that a stock is approaching a breakout, which could suggest a substantially higher price in the future. Stock charts can also be useful for telling a stag investor whether a security’s trading volume is moving bearish or bullish, which can hint at which way prices are likely to move in the near term.

Differences Between Stags, Bulls, and Bears

Stags, bulls, and bears are all different animals, so to speak, when it comes to trading. While stag investors focus primarily on the short term, bull and bear speculators take a longer view of the markets.

Bullish speculators are banking on a rise in stock prices over time. So they may buy securities with the expectation that they can turn around and sell them at a higher price. Bearish speculators, on the other hand, have a more pessimistic outlook in that they expect prices to drop. They may sell off short positions in stocks in anticipation of being able to buy those same securities later at a lower price.

Stag investors can act bullish or bearish in their approach to trading, depending on the overall mood of the market. They may even change from bullish to bearish and back again several times over the course of the same trading day as stock prices rise and fall. Again, that’s not unusual considering the short-term nature of stag trading versus the longer outlook assumed by bull and bear traders.

Do Stags Trade IPO Stocks?

An initial public offering, or IPO, marks the first time a company makes its shares available for trade on a public exchange. Investing in IPOs can be highly speculative, as IPO valuations don’t always align with a company’s performance once it goes public. Some highly anticipated IPOs can end up being flops while other IPOs that fly under the radar initially end up delivering better than expected results to investors.

Stag investors may buy IPO stocks if they believe there’s an opportunity to capitalize on volatility in price movements during the first day or first few days of trading. The challenge with IPO investing is that there isn’t a lengthy track record of performance for the investor to study and analyze. Since the stock hasn’t traded yet, the same technical analysis rules don’t apply.

That means stag investors who are interested in IPOs must do a certain amount of homework beforehand. Specifically, they have to study the financial statements and documents released as part of the IPO process. They also have to take the temperature of the markets to get a feel for how well the company is likely to do once it goes public before deciding what type of bet they’re going to make on that stock’s debut.

IPO Flipping

Since stags typically aren’t looking for long-term positions, it’s not unusual for them to buy IPO shares then resell them in a short period of time. For example, they may buy shares of an IPO in the morning and sell before the first day of trading ends if pricing volatility works in their favor. It’s also possible for stag traders to buy into an IPO before the company begins trading on an exchange, then sell their holdings once trading opens.

This practice is referred to as IPO flipping and it works similar to house flipping, in that the investor seeks to buy low and sell high quickly. Flipping IPO stocks isn’t an illegal practice as far as the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is concerned, though it is generally frowned upon.

Brokerage platforms can enforce an IPO flipping policy that outlines what investors are and aren’t allowed to do in order to discourage this practice. For example, SoFi’s flipping policy may impose limits on future IPO investments and/or fees for traders who are identified as flippers.

Stag Trading Strategy Example

Here’s a simple example of how a stag trading strategy might work.

Say a new company is set to launch its IPO with an expected valuation of $35 per share. After studying the company’s financials and market expectations for the launch, a stag investor decides to buy 1,000 shares of the stock 10 minutes after trading opens. Within an hour of the company going public, investor demand pushes the stock’s price up to $45 per share.

At this point, the stag trader could sell and collect a $10 profit per share, less any commission fees their brokerage charges. But they have a hunch the price may climb even higher before the trading day is done so they hold onto their shares. By 3 pm the stock’s price has climbed to $52 per share, at which point the trader decides to sell.

Of course, this example could have gone the other way. It’s not uncommon for an IPO to open trading at a higher price point and drop throughout the day. If the investor’s hunch had proven wrong and the price dropped to $25 per share, they would have had to decide whether to cut their losses or carry over their position for another trading day to see if the price might turn around.

💡 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.

The Takeaway

Stag trading is a term used to describe investors who engage in short-term, speculative trading, and stags aim to benefit from short-term price movements by buying low and selling high. This is common when a company issues stock through an IPO, which may allow an opening for a stag to generate quick returns.

IPO investing can be attractive if you’re hoping to get in on the ground floor of an up-and-coming company. You may also be interested in IPO flipping if you’re an active day trader. Given that this is all fairly advanced, it may be best to speak with a financial professional before trying it for yourself.

Invest in what matters most to you with SoFi Active Invest. In a self-directed account provided by SoFi Securities, you can trade stocks, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), mutual funds, alternative funds, options, and more — all while paying $0 commission on every trade. Other fees may apply. Whether you want to trade after-hours or manage your portfolio using real-time stock insights and analyst ratings, you can invest your way in SoFi's easy-to-use mobile app.

Opening and funding an Active Invest account gives you the opportunity to get up to $1,000 in the stock of your choice.¹

About the author

Rebecca Lake

Rebecca Lake has been a finance writer for nearly a decade, specializing in personal finance, investing, and small business. She is a contributor at Forbes Advisor, SmartAsset, Investopedia, The Balance, MyBankTracker, MoneyRates and CreditCards.com. Read full bio.

Photo credit: iStock/AleksandarGeorgiev

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

Mar

2025

Effects of Social Media on Your Finances

By Rebecca Lake | Budgeting & Goals, Family Finances, money | Comments Off

Social media makes it easy to stay in touch with friends and family, spot the latest trends, and follow the news while enjoying the occasional cat meme. But your social media habits could have a negative effect on your finances if you feel pressured to spend unnecessarily in order to maintain a lifestyle that you can’t really afford.

FOMO, or fear of missing out, is a well-documented phenomenon that can drive people to make decisions based on things they see other people doing on social media. When the concept of FOMO is applied to money, it can lead to overspending and dangerous financial behaviors, all for the sake of getting likes and clicks.

Understanding how social media can hurt your finances can help you break the FOMO cycle and make smarter decisions with your money. Read on to learn:

• The negative financial effects of social media.

• At worst, how social media can impact your finances.

• How to reduce the financial impact of social media.

Negative Financial Effects of Social Media

If you’re busy checking your favorite influencers, you may not realize how social media can actually keep you poor. After all, these people might be making a living on social media, so how can it possibly be bad?

The reality is that social media can influence how you manage your money, along with the balance in your bank account, in a number of ways. If you’re wondering how Twitter or Facebook can impact your finances or whether Instagram and Snapchat are contributing to your lack of cash, here are some of the potentially dangerous side effects to consider.

Overspending

Social media can contribute to impulsive or compulsive spending if you’re constantly trying to keep up with trend-setters or you’re buying “stuff” to satisfy your emotional needs. For example, you might see your favorite beauty influencer touting a new $50 lipstick or $500 dress and decide that you need to buy it too to feel beautiful.

What you might not know is that the influencer is likely being paid to advertise these items on their social media accounts and they didn’t purchase it themselves. In that sense, social media can be a trap for overspending because it’s easy to adopt the mindset that since everyone else seems to be doing it, you should too.

Distractions Causing Less Time for Budgeting and Managing Finances

Social media can also keep you poor if you’re spending so much time online that you’re not staying on top of your financial situation and making sure you’re sticking to your budget. Whether you use an envelope system or the 50/30/20 budget rule, a budget is at its core a personal plan for spending the money that you earn each month. Without a budget, it’s much easier to lose track of expenses and give in to FOMO spending.

You might also turn a blind eye to how much debt you might be racking up as a result of social media-driven spending. By the time you get around to taking a break from social media, you could have a stack of credit card bills to deal with.

Trying to Keep Up With Your Friends

The types of people you surround yourself with can have an impact on how you manage your money. If your social media feeds are full of friends who are going off on expensive vacations, driving flashy cars, or buying big homes, it can be very tempting to try to match those behaviors in your own life.

The problem is that unless your friends are being open about their finances, you don’t really know how they’re able to afford those things. They could be living in a beautiful home, for example, but struggling to make the mortgage payments each month. Or they might drive a luxury vehicle with a four-figure car payment. Or perhaps their family is wealthy and helps them with their bills.

If you try to replicate their lifestyle, it’s possible that you could quickly find yourself struggling financially. On the other hand, developing financial discipline can make it easier to live a lifestyle that you enjoy, without causing yourself unnecessary stress.

Buying Trendy Items

Ever bought something just because you saw it advertised on your social media feeds? That’s one tricky way that social media platforms keep you broke.

You might buy something because the ad makes the item seem as if it will dramatically improve your life. Or perhaps it’s something that everyone else is buying and you want to feel like you’re part of the trend. The trouble is that once the trend eventually dies, you’re stuck with that item and you’re out the money you paid for it.

That’s not just limited to clothes, bags, or accessories either. Many young people turn to “finfluencers” to get their financial, and even investment, advice. This exposes them to potentially bad advice, as well as outright fraud.

Dealing With Constant Advertisements

Ever been searching for something on Google, then you open up social media and see an ad for it? If you’re trying to wrap your head around how Snapchat or Facebook can impact your finances, targeted advertising could be the answer.

The average person can see thousands of ads per day and quite a few of them are concentrated on social media outlets and search engines. And once you see an ad, it’s hard to unsee it. The flashier the ad, the more you might be tempted to click and make a purchase. If you’re trying to quit spending money, ads can be the biggest roadblock to your success.

Falling Into the Trap of an Influencer’s Fantasy Life

At first glance, influencers seem to have it made. They’re living in nice homes and wearing the latest designer clothes, they look perfect, and they’re rich. Or at least, that’s the way it seems.

Following influencers can be harmful to your mental and financial wellbeing if you feel like you need to try to emulate their lifestyle. Once again, you don’t know what their life is like behind the scenes or how they’re financing it. For every big influencer making six or seven figures, there are scores of micro-influencers who are making much less. And in some cases, they may be dressing up their lifestyle for the camera to hide the fact that they’re not truly wealthy. Or they may just be showing off swag that they got for free or are being paid to promote. Try to keep up, and you could see your financial wellness spiral downward.

Helpful Tips to Reduce the Financial Impact of Social Media

What happens if you fall into any of the traps above? High credit card debt, empty bank accounts, and increased stress can all be signs that social media may be negatively affecting your money management.

Fortunately, there are some things you can do to reduce the negative impacts social media might be having on your financial life.

Unfollowing Brands and Influencers

Hitting the “unfollow” button on brands and influencers can remove those accounts from your social media feeds. And it can be a major, positive moment in your financial self-care. When you can’t see what an influencer is up to or what a brand is advertising, there’s much less temptation to spend. You can instead focus on following accounts that add to your quality of life in some way (perhaps with money-saving hacks).

Focusing on Yourself and Managing Finances

Turning your attention to mastering personal finance basics is another way to break the cycle of allowing social media to influence your money decisions.

For example, if you don’t have a budget in place yet, you can block off an afternoon or evening to sit down and make one. Or you could spend time researching the benefits of an emergency fund and the best place to open a checking account.

Replacing social media time with these kinds of tasks can help you to improve your financial situation little by little. And the more you learn about personal finance, the more motivated you might become to save more while spending less.

Improving Your Money Mindset by Removing FOMO

Taking the FOMO out of your financial decision-making can go a long way toward bettering your money situation. Instead of automatically allowing yourself to spend, ask yourself why you feel tempted to do so. For example, if you see an influencer sporting a new $500 bag that you’d like to buy, take time to analyze what that bag is really going to cost you.

How many hours of work will you need to do to make the $500 after taxes needed to pay for it? And how often will you use the bag? What will it add to your life? Asking these kinds of questions can help you to decide if a purchase that’s FOMO-driven is truly worth it.

Budgeting for Any Purchases You Make

A budget is a simple but powerful tool for controlling spending. You can use a budget to minimize the negative impacts of social media by committing to only spend money on planned purchases. That means no impulse buys or unanticipated spending.

True financial emergencies can be the exception to this rule. If you’re building an emergency fund, you can use that money to pay for any unexpected expenses that might come along. Otherwise, if it’s not in the budget, you don’t spend it.

Setting a Waiting Period Before Making a Purchase

Applying a temporary 30-day rule can help to curb FOMO. The 30-day rule advocates delaying impulse buys for 30 days to decide whether you really want to spend money on them or not. Taking time to let the idea of the purchase cool off can give you perspective on whether you should spend the money.

At the end of the 30 days, you might decide that the purchase isn’t that necessary after all. Using the 30-day rule can keep you from wasting money on things you don’t need or won’t use.

Setting a Screen Time Limit on Your Phone

The average person spends two and a half hours on social media per day. If you’ve never kept track of how much time you spend scrolling each day, you might be surprised by what it adds up to.

A simple fix is setting limits on screen time. So, for example, you might allow yourself 10 minutes to check social media on your lunch break and another 20 to 30 minutes in the evening. Spending less time on social media can free you up for other things, like managing your finances or developing healthy, inexpensive hobbies.

Deleting Social Media

If you continue to feel like social media is negatively impacting your finances, you could simply delete it altogether. Removing social media apps from your phone means you can’t just scroll mindlessly and find yourself in a sea of ads and promotions.

This action can also make it easier to set limits on screen time if you’re having to open up your laptop to check social media. Yes, you still have your accounts; removing the apps alone won’t delete them.

If you want to take your social media purge to the next level, you can delete your accounts and profiles altogether.

Curating Social Media Feeds

If you don’t want to abandon social media entirely, you could try curating your feeds instead. Social media algorithms are designed to show you more of the things you’re already searching for or suggest things based on your search history. By focusing your searches on things that provide you with real value and inspiration, you may be able to weed out influencers or excessive ads that could lead you to overspend.

Removing Payment Apps From Your Phone

Mobile payment and mobile wallet apps can make buying things online or in stores convenient. Instead of fishing out your debit or credit card and typing in all those digits, you can pay with a click or a tap at checkout.

The problem is that mobile payment apps can make it all too easy to make purchases without thinking. Removing those apps from your mobile device (typically, just by holding your finger on the app till the x appears), unlinking your cards, or deleting your accounts altogether can make it easier to avoid situations where you might spend without thinking. Having to take the extra time to break out your plastic and type in the digits might provide much-needed time to think over the urge to buy.

Improving Financial Accountability

Being accountable to yourself about what you spend can act as a motivator to limit unnecessary or frivolous spending. If you’re having a hard time staying accountable and sticking to your budget, you might enlist the help of a friend or family member to reinforce positive financial behaviors.

For example, if you’re about to spend money on the latest accessory or electronic gadget, you can call up your accountability partner and ask for advice. They can talk you through whether the purchase is a good idea or not and help you put into perspective why you should — or shouldn’t — spend the money.

Managing Finances With SoFi

Being aware of how social media can hurt your finances can help you take steps to counteract its negative impacts. For example, streamlining your financial accounts can make it easier to keep tabs on your money.

Interested in opening an online bank account? When you sign up for a SoFi Checking and Savings account with eligible 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 3.30% APY on SoFi Checking and Savings with eligible direct deposit.

FAQ

Are there positive financial impacts of social media?

Social media can have a positive impact on your finances if you’re following accounts that genuinely help people manage their money better. For example, you might learn about new budgeting techniques, pick up savings hacks, or get tips on how to reduce expenses by following reliable financial accounts on social media.

Does social media lead to debt problems?

Social media can lead to debt problems if you’re charging more than you can pay off on your credit cards or taking out loans to finance a lifestyle that you can’t realistically afford. You might get into a situation where you can’t afford to pay your bills.

What are good financial accounts to follow on social media?

When deciding who to follow on social media for financial tips or advice, do your research. Look at their follower count, but also consider the quality of the advice they’re offering. You can look at their credentials to see if they have any financial certifications, are affiliated with respected financial institutions, or have personal experience dealing with the type of advice they’re offering. And be wary of any influencer whose only goal seems to be to sell something to you.

About the author

Rebecca Lake

Photo credit: iStock/Suwaree Tangbovornpichet

SoFi Checking and Savings is offered through SoFi Bank, N.A. Member FDIC. 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.

Annual percentage yield (APY) is variable and subject to change at any time. Rates are current as of 12/23/25. There is no minimum balance requirement. Fees may reduce earnings. Additional rates and information can be found at https://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet

Eligible Direct Deposit means a recurring deposit of regular income to an account holder’s SoFi Checking or Savings account, including payroll, pension, or government benefit payments (e.g., Social Security), made by the account holder’s employer, payroll or benefits provider or government agency (“Eligible Direct Deposit”) via the Automated Clearing House (“ACH”) Network every 31 calendar days.

Although we do our best to recognize all Eligible Direct Deposits, a small number of employers, payroll providers, benefits providers, or government agencies do not designate payments as direct deposit. To ensure you're earning the APY for account holders with Eligible Direct Deposit, we encourage you to check your APY Details page the day after your Eligible Direct Deposit posts to your SoFi account. If your APY is not showing as the APY for account holders with Eligible Direct Deposit, contact us at 855-456-7634 with the details of your Eligible Direct Deposit. As long as SoFi Bank can validate those details, you will start earning the APY for account holders with Eligible Direct Deposit from the date you contact SoFi for the next 31 calendar days. You will also be eligible for the APY for account holders with Eligible Direct Deposit on future Eligible Direct Deposits, as long as SoFi Bank can validate them.

Deposits that are not from an employer, payroll, or benefits provider or government agency, including but not limited to check deposits, peer-to-peer transfers (e.g., transfers from PayPal, Venmo, Wise, etc.), merchant transactions (e.g., transactions from PayPal, Stripe, Square, etc.), and bank ACH funds transfers and wire transfers from external accounts, or are non-recurring in nature (e.g., IRS tax refunds), do not constitute Eligible Direct Deposit activity. There is no minimum Eligible Direct Deposit amount required to qualify for the stated interest rate. SoFi Bank shall, in its sole discretion, assess each account holder's Eligible Direct Deposit activity to determine the applicability of rates and may request additional documentation for verification of eligibility.

See additional details at https://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet.
*Awards or rankings from NerdWallet are not indicative of future success or results. This award and its ratings are independently determined and awarded by their respective publications.

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.

SOBNK-Q324-051

Mar

2025

10 Signs That You Are Financially Stable

By Rebecca Lake | Budgeting & Goals, Financial Independence, money | Comments Off

Financial stability can mean different things to different people, and there’s no single way to measure whether someone is financially secure. There are, however, certain money behaviors that can indicate when you’re on the right track. These can include following a budget, growing your savings account, and living within your means vs. accruing high-interest debt.

Knowing how to recognize the signs of being financially stable can help you fine-tune your money plan.

Key Points

• Financial stability can be defined differently for each person, but there are some common indicators of being financially secure.

• Signs of financial stability include following a budget, living below your means, saving money consistently, prioritizing debt repayment, and paying bills on time.

• Financially stable individuals typically have clearly defined financial goals, regularly invest, have the right insurance coverage, make decisions based on their own needs vs. FOMO, and stress less about their finances.

• Achieving financial stability can take time and effort. In addition to making smart money decisions, you may find advice from a financial professional helpful as well.

What Is Financial Stability?

If you search online for a definition of financial stability, the results are usually geared toward organizations or governments, not individual people. For example, the Federal Reserve defines financial stability as “building a financial system that can function in good times and bad, and can absorb all the good and bad things that happen in the U.S. economy at any moment.”

That’s an institutional way to define financial stability, but it’s possible to adapt that to fit personal finance. For instance, creating a budget and adding money to an emergency fund can help you manage money wisely during the good times. It can also allow you to be prepared for the unexpected, such as a job layoff or an emergency expense.

The best way to define financial stability is in a way that has meaning for you. For instance, you might create a personal financial mission statement that outlines your ideal money vision for yourself. For some people, that vision might involve having six months’ worth of expenses in an emergency fund. For another, it might involve putting enough money in their savings account to take a two-week vacation or meeting goals for funding their retirement.

Why Does Financial Stability Matter?

Being financially stable is important because it can influence your overall financial health. When you feel financially secure, it may be easier to pay bills without stress. Or you might have developed the discipline to save money and be excited about it, versus spending everything that you make.

In a nutshell, being financially stable can help you to:

• Have the money that you need to cover day-to-day expenses while working toward financial goals

• Avoid costly debt

• Manage your money without it feeling like a chore or a cause for anxiety

If you’re interested in how to become financially independent, then becoming stable with your money is likely an important first step.

Signs That You’re Financially Stable

Chances are, you might be doing some of the things on this list already. And if you’re not, then these moves could help you to overcome your personal financial challenges.

1. Following a Budget

A budget is the foundation for your financial plan. When you make a budget, you’re dictating where your money goes instead of simply spending without a plan. If you don’t have a budget yet, then making one should be a top priority.

There are a number of budgeting methods you can use, including:

• Cash envelope budgeting

• Zero-based budgeting

• The 50/30/20 rule (you can use a 50/30/20 budget calculator to help you utilize this)

Experimenting with different budget systems can help you find one that works for you.

2. Living Below Your Means

Here’s one of the secrets to how to have financial freedom: Live below your means. This simply means spending less than you earn. Making a budget is central to living below your means because without one, you may not have a clue how much you’re spending each month.

Tracking expenses can be a great way to determine if you’re living below your means. You can write each expense down in a notebook, use a spreadsheet, or link your bank account to a budgeting app. It’s a good idea to track expenses for at least one month to get a realistic idea of what you spend, which can help you to better define your budget.

3. Saving Money Is a Consistent Habit

You may have heard the expression “pay yourself first,” and it’s a wise move. This simply means that before you spend any money on payday, you first deposit some of your earnings into savings. Paying yourself first is a sign of financial stability as it suggests that you have money reserved for emergencies and are also saving for longer-term financial goals.

Setting up direct deposit into savings or scheduling automatic transfers from your checking account each payday are easy ways to automatic savings. When the money is directed to savings automatically, there’s no opportunity for you to spend it.

4. Paying Down Debt Is a Priority

Debt can be a roadblock to reaching your financial goals and too much debt could make you financially unstable. Making an effort to pay down debt (or avoid it altogether) is a sign that you’re committed to living within your means instead of spending money unnecessarily.

If you have debt, consider the best ways to pay it off. For example, the debt snowball method involves paying off debts from smallest balance to highest. The debt avalanche, on the other hand, advocates paying off debts from highest APR to lowest in order to maximize interest savings.

When choosing a debt repayment method, consider how much of your budget you can commit to it. If you’re only able to pay the minimums to your debts, you may need to review your expenses to see where you can cut back or look into debt consolidation.

5. Bills Get Paid On Time

Paying bills late can trigger nasty late fees. What’s more, late payments can lower your credit scores.

A good credit score is a sign of financial stability because it means that you’re responsible with how you use credit. On-time payments can work in your favor while late payments can hurt your score.

If you’ve fallen behind, getting caught up on late payments as soon as possible can help you turn things around. From there, you can commit to paying on time each month. Scheduling automatic payments or setting up payment reminders is an easy way to keep track of due dates.

6. Financial Goals Are Clearly Defined

Setting financial goals can help you to make the most of your money. Financial goals can be short-term, like saving $10,000 for an emergency fund. Or they might be long-term, like saving $1 million for retirement.

Someone who’s financially stable understands the value and importance of setting goals and how to set them effectively. For example, they may follow the SMART rule for goal setting and create money goals which means they are:

• Specific

• Measurable

• Actionable or achievable

• Realistic

• Time-bound

If you’re not setting financial goals yet, consider what you want to do with your money or what kind of lifestyle you’d like to have. If you created a personal financial mission statement that can be a good guide to deciding what kind of goals to set.

7. Regular Investing Is Part of Your Financial Routine

Investing money and saving it are two different things. When you invest money, you’re putting it into the stock market. Investing can help you grow your money faster and build a higher net worth thanks to the power of compounding interest.

There are different ways to invest. If you have a 401(k) or similar retirement plan at work, for example, you may defer 10%, 15%, or more of your income into it each year. At a minimum, it’s a good idea to contribute at least enough to get the full company match (which is akin to free money) if one is offered.

You might also open an Individual Retirement Account and a taxable investment account. With an IRA, you can save for retirement on a tax-advantaged basis. A taxable investment account, on the other hand, is useful for trading stocks, mutual funds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), and other securities without restrictions on how much you can invest.

8. You Have the Right Insurance

Insurance is designed to protect you financially. There are different types of insurance a financially stable person might have, including:

• Homeowners or renters insurance

• Car insurance

• Health insurance

• Disability insurance

• Life insurance

Having the right coverage in place can help to minimize financial losses in a worst-case scenario. If your home or apartment is damaged because of a fire, for instance, then your insurance policy could help you to rebuild or replace your belongings.

Life insurance is also important to have, especially if you have a family. Life insurance can pay out a death benefit to your loved ones if something should happen to you. That means they’re not in danger of becoming financially unstable after you’re gone.

9. FOMO Doesn’t Drive Decision-Making

FOMO, or fear of missing out, can be a threat to financial stability. It’s the modern-day equivalent of keeping up with the Joneses: What it means is that you make financial decisions out of peer pressure or societal pressure. Trying to mimic the lifestyle of social media influencers, for example, can wreck your finances if you’re going into debt with FOMO spending on things that you can’t afford.

Someone who’s financially stable, on the other hand, is relatively immune to FOMO. They don’t buy things on impulse (or at least not often). And they don’t make financial decisions without considering the short- and long-term impacts.

10. There’s No Worrying About Money

Worries about money can keep you up at night if you’re fretting over the bills or debt. Financially stable people don’t have stress over money because they know that they’re in control of their situation. They approach money with a calm, confident attitude.

So how do you reach that zen state with your finances? Again, it can all come down to making smart money decisions like sticking to a budget, saving, and avoiding debt. The more proactive you are about making your money work for you (and finding the right banking partner and financial advisors, if you like), the faster money worries may fade away.

If You’re Struggling to Become Financially Stable

If you recognize that your financial situation isn’t as stable as you’d like it to be, it’s important to consider how you can improve it. Working your way through this list of action items is a good starting point but what if you’re overwhelmed by debt or struggle to make a budget?

In that case, you may benefit from talking to a nonprofit credit counselor or a financial advisor. A credit counselor can help you come up with a plan for budgeting, paying down debt, and getting into a savings routine. And once you begin to gain some stability, you can think about things like investing or insurance.

In addition, you can consult these government sources for more insight:

• Making a budget

• Sticking to a budget

• How to save and invest

• How to save for retirement

The Takeaway

Achieving financial stability can take time, but it’s typically possible if you’re using the right approach to managing money. Taking small steps, such as setting one or two money goals or changing bank accounts, can add up to a big difference in your situation over time.

Better banking is here with SoFi, NerdWallet’s 2024 winner for Best Checking Account Overall.* Enjoy 3.30% APY on SoFi Checking and Savings with eligible direct deposit.

FAQ

How much money is considered financially stable?

The amount of money needed to be considered financially stable is subjective and depends on a person’s individual situation. But generally, having a net worth of $1 million or more can indicate that someone is financially stable or secure and has a good grasp of money management.

What are the signs of a financially stable person?

The most common signs of a financially stable person include having little to no debt (or at least avoiding high-interest debt), being able to make and stick to a budget, having a healthy amount of money in savings, and having a good credit score. Financially stable people tend to see their net worth increase year over year. What’s more, money generally isn’t a source of stress or worry.

At what point are you financially stable?

Someone could be considered financially stable when money is no longer a cause for anxiety or frustration. A financially stable person isn’t necessarily measured by how much money they have. Instead, their stability is based on their overall financial situation and their approach to managing money. They are likely to have savings for emergencies, as well as short- and long-term goals.

About the author

Rebecca Lake

Photo credit: iStock/AsiaVision

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.

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

This content is provided for informational and educational purposes only and should not be construed as financial advice.

Third Party Trademarks: Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Center for Financial Planning, Inc. owns and licenses the certification marks CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER®

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.

SOBK-Q424-058

Mar

2025

What Does Bullish and Bearish Mean in Investing?

By Paulina Likos | Growing Wealth, invest, Investing, Terminology | Comments Off

Markets are often described as being either bullish vs. bearish. These are common terms used to refer to how a market is performing over a shorter or longer period of time. Investors can also be bullish or bearish on a specific stock, a sector, an asset class, or on the economy in general.

Read on to learn more about the definitions of bearish vs. bullish, where the terms bullish and bearish come from, and the bullish and bearish meaning for investors in stocks or other markets.

Key Points

• A bull market features rising stock prices and high investor confidence.

• Bear markets are generally marked by a 20% drop in stock prices and sustained low investor confidence.

• Investor behavior in bull markets includes increased buying and holding of stocks.

• In bear markets, investors tend to move to safer investments and may sell assets.

• Diversifying investments and dollar cost averaging may help manage risks in bear and bull markets.

What Does Bullish Mean?

Bullish refers to stock market sentiment that the direction of the overall market will go up. A market that is increasing in value over a long period of time is said to be in a bull market. A bullish trend means that there may be an upward trend in prices for an asset.

For investors, being bullish means they feel positive about a stock, index, or the overall stock market. For example, if an investor says they are bullish on Stock X, the investor expects the market value of Stock X to increase in the long-term. That bullishness may even compel the investor to buy more shares of the company.

A bullish market is generally one where prices go up by 20% from a previous low for a sustained period.

What Does Bearish Mean?

Bearish refers to a sentiment that the direction of securities or the overall market will move down in price. An investor characterized as a bear believes the stock market will decrease in value, even if current prices are going up. An investor investing in a bearish market may even sell shares of their portfolio if they believe the market will turn negative.

A bear market is one that has fallen 20% from recent highs and remains below that threshold for at least two months. Since investors are bearish during this period, there may be lower trading activity.

Where Do the Terms Bullish and Bearish Come From?

While there are several theories as to the origins of bullish vs. bearish. The consensus believes the difference between bullish and bearish reflects the way each animal responds when they attack. When a bull goes into attack mode, it races at its target with confidence. In a bull market, investors are confident that stock prices will rise and correspondingly, the value of the market will trend upward.

When bears attack, they swipe their paws in a downward motion and often in fear. That is why in a bear market, prices drop. When investors are bearish, they do not have confidence in stocks and usually end up selling off some of their investments.

How Bullish Markets Can Impact Investors

In a bull market, demand is greater than supply. There are many investors who want to buy stocks while only a few are willing to sell. Bullish traders tend to have long positions in stocks or other assets.

How Bearish Markets Can Impact Investors

In a bear market, supply is greater than demand — and investors may look to offload their shares when there is not a lot of demand for market participants to buy. As a result, share prices decrease. A bear market is challenging for investors because stock prices keep falling, and that means more losses in an investment portfolio.

Your first instinct may be to sell in a bear market, but to increase chances of securing a profit in the long-term, it may make more sense to remain invested. Bear markets do not last forever.

Still, some investors prefer to adjust their investments in a bear market, turning to defensive stocks like consumer staples, healthcare, or utilities. They also may consider going into safer investments like bonds that offer stable fixed-income.

Bear markets can also present a good buying opportunity for investors who use dollar-cost averaging. This involves investing a fixed amount of money consistently. This way, investors can purchase stocks at a more affordable price.

Tips on Withstanding Bullish vs Bearish Markets

One of the best investing strategies during a bull or bear market is diversification. Diversifying your investment portfolio with different securities in a variety of different industries — along with various asset classes that may fare better in bear vs. bull markets — can help protect a portfolio by potentially minimizing losses and maximizing gains over the long-term.

Diversification means buying shares of companies in different sectors and companies of different sizes, rather than just investing in a select few of stocks, and also investing in different types of assets, such as low-risk bonds as well as stocks.

Stock Market

Investors who are not sure how to pick individual stocks can purchase an exchange-traded fund (ETF) or index fund, which are pre-selected baskets of securities all in one investment vehicle. For example, investors who own a fund that follows the S&P 500 will see their investments perform in line with that index.

In an ETF, investors own hundreds of companies, which means they don’t need to painstakingly choose one or two companies, rather, they own the entire index. Investing in these types of securities may be a strategy that utilizes diversification principles to help protect value.

The Takeaway

A market doesn’t necessarily have to be either bearish or bullish. It can actually be neither. The stock market can be in a state that is relatively flat. This may mean there are normal market fluctuations leading to either small gains or small losses.

Even if markets experience a sharp decline or rise in the short-term, this still cannot be defined as bearish or bullish because bull and bear markets are maintained over a period of time.

Opening and funding an Active Invest account gives you the opportunity to get up to $1,000 in the stock of your choice.¹

FAQ

Does being bearish mean that you want to sell your assets?

“Bearish” means general pessimism about the direction of the market. In some cases, people are not even aware of a bear market until it’s over because it’s difficult to predict the direction of the markets. Investors who are invested for the long run do not pay attention to the peaks and troughs of the market and may take a dollar-cost averaging approach by investing consistently over time in both bear and bull markets.

How can you tell if a market is bearish or bullish?

Predicting and timing the markets is a challenging task. However, if stock prices have fallen by more than 20% from their recent peaks, and remained there for more than two months, that’s typically considered a bear market. A sustained increase in prices is a bull market.

Photo credit: iStock/NoSystem images

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

SOIN-Q125-090

Mar

2025

5 Investment Opportunities to Consider in 2025

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

Investment opportunities are different ways to put your money to work, and they can include any number of things, such as buying assets and waiting for them to appreciate, or investing in real estate or a business opportunity.

There are varying degrees of risks and potential rewards with each option, but if you’re looking to put your money to work this year, you may want to consider a range of ideas. Every idea needs to be vetted, of course, and it’s important to do your due diligence before investing. Only you can decide which opportunities make sense, given your goals and long-term plans.

Key Points

• Investment opportunities may include buying assets, investing in real estate, or investing in a business opportunity.

• Each opportunity comes with varying degrees of risk and potential rewards.

• Examples of investment opportunities may include bonds, real estate or REITs, ETFs and passive investing, automated investing, and investing in startups.

• Buying precious metals like gold and silver are also potential investment opportunities.

• Investors should do their due diligence and consider their goals and long-term plans before investing.

1. Bonds

Bonds are a common type of investment, and are actually debt instruments that are often used to diversify or balance the risk profile of a portfolio.

Types:

There are many different types of bonds. The most common, and generally considered to be the lowest-risk category of bonds, might be the U.S. Treasury bonds, typically called treasuries.

The Treasury regularly auctions off both short-term and long-term Treasury bonds and notes. These bonds are, generally, thought to be one of the safest investments on the market, as they’re guaranteed by the U.S. government. The only way for investors to lose their entire investment would be for the U.S. government to become insolvent, which has never occurred.

Governments are not the only entities that issue bonds. Corporations can also raise money by offering corporate bonds. These types of bonds tend to be riskier, but they often pay a higher rate of interest (known as the yield).

Benefits:

Investing in bonds is relatively low-risk compared to assets like stocks. So, it can be a conservative investment strategy, designed to seek a small-but-safe return.

Governments, municipalities, and companies issue bonds to investors who lend them money for a set period of time. In exchange, the issuer pays interest over the life of the loan, and returns the principal when the bond “matures.” Individuals can buy them on bond markets or on exchanges.

Upon maturity, the bond-holder gets their original investment (known as the principal) back in full. In other words, a bond is a loan, with the investor loaning another party money, in exchange for interest payments for a set period of time.

Risks and Challenges:

Bonds generally don’t generate returns like stocks or other assets do. So, investors may want to temper their expectations. Aside from that, bonds also have risks, including that the issuer could default, changes to interest rates can affect their values.

How to Get Started:

Investors can purchase bonds through their brokerage account, or even directly from issuers, in some cases. For example, it’s possible to buy Treasury bonds directly from the U.S. government.

2. Real Estate or REITs

Real estate is the largest asset class in the world, with a market cap well into the hundreds of trillions of dollars. Accordingly, there are a lot of opportunities for investors to add real estate, in some form, to their portfolio.

Types of Real Estate Investments:

When thinking about investing in real estate, residential properties may be one of the first things that comes to mind, such as buying a single family home. But owning property, like a home, can come with an array of responsibilities, liabilities, and expenses. In that way, it’s different from owning a stock or bond.

Generally, real estate investments take the form of actual real estate — such as a home, apartment building, or commercial property — or through shares of REITs, which are real estate investment trusts. These are similar to “real estate ETFs,” in a way.

REITs are popular among passive-income investors, as they tend to have high dividend yields because they are required by law to pass on 90% of their amount of their income to shareholders.

Historically, REITs have often provided better returns than fixed-income assets like bonds, although REITs do tend to be higher-risk investments.

There are many different types of REITs. Some examples of the types of properties that different REITs might specialize in include:

◦ Residential real estate

◦ Data centers

◦ Commercial real estate

◦ Health care

Benefits:

Real estate tends to appreciate over time, but there are many factors that can affect property values. REITs can also allow investors to gain exposure to the real estate world without the hassle and liability of owning physical property, though they do come with risks.

Risks and Challenges:

For people with smaller amounts of capital, investing in physical real estate might not be a realistic or desirable option — first and foremost. Annual property taxes, maintenance and upkeep, and paying back mortgage interest can add to the cost of treating a home as an investment. It’s also worth remembering that residential properties can appreciate or depreciate in value, too.

Other real-estate investment options involve owning multi-family rental properties (like apartment buildings or duplexes), commercial properties like shopping malls, or office buildings. These tend to require large initial investments, but those who own them could potentially see significant returns from rental income. (Naturally, few investments guarantee returns and rental demands and pricing can change over time).

As for REITs, these have certain pros and cons, like other investments, and generally are high-risk investments. But companies can be classified as REITs if they derive at least 75% of their income from the operation, maintenance, or mortgaging of real estate. Additionally, 75% of a REITs assets must also be held in the form of real property or loans directly tied to them. So, there may need to be some research before an investment is made.

How to Get Started:

Shares of a REIT can be purchased and held in a brokerage account, just like a stock or ETF. To buy some, it’s often as simple as looking up a specific REIT’s ticker symbol.

Buying real property is a much more complicated process, and speaking with a real estate agent might be a good place to start — not to mention a financial professional.

3. ETFs and Passive Investing

Passive investing, which refers to exchange-traded funds (ETFs), mutual funds, and other instruments that track an index and do not have an active manager, have become increasingly popular over the years.

Weighing the merits of passive vs. active investing is an ongoing debate, with strong advocates on both sides.

Types:

Passive investing tends to be lower cost compared with active investing, and over time these strategies tend to do well. Passive investing can include buying ETFs or index funds, or even mutual funds.

An ETF is a security that usually tracks a specific industry or index by investing in a number of stocks or other financial instruments.

ETFs are commonly referred to as one type of passive investing, because most ETFs track an index. Some ETFs are actively managed, but most are not.

These days, there are ETFs for just about everything — no matter your investing goal, interest area, or industry you wish you invest in. Small-cap stocks, large-cap stocks, international stocks, short-term bonds, long-term bonds, corporate bonds, and more.

Benefits:

Some potential advantages of ETFs include lower costs and built-in diversification. Rather than having to pick and choose different stocks, investors can choose shares of a single ETF to buy, gaining some level of ownership in the fund’s underlying assets.

Thus, investing in ETFs could make the process of buying into different investments easier, while potentially increasing portfolio diversification (i.e., investing in distinct types of assets in order to manage risk).

Overall the biggest advantage to passive investing is that it’s hands-off, and as such, relatively cheaper (in terms of saving on fees and commissions) compared to an active approach.

Risks and Challenges:

Specific ETFs or funds may have their own risks — those risks will largely depend on the securities, industries, or other factors contained within each one. But in a more broad sense, if there is a challenge or downside to a passive investment strategy, it may be that there’s the possibility of missing out on appreciation within specific stocks or assets.

That said, passive investing is supposed to be a relatively low-risk approach, but it’s not risk-free.

How to Get Started:

Perhaps the simplest way to start passive investing is to buy ETFs or index funds through your brokerage account. It can be that simple.

4. Automated Investing

Another form of investing involves automated portfolios called robo advisors, as well as target-date mutual funds, which are often used in retirement planning.

Types:

Automated investing often incorporates a “robo-advisor” to handle the heavy lifting. Typically, a robo advisor is an online investment service that provides you with a questionnaire so you can input your preferences: e.g. your financial goals, your personal risk tolerance, and time horizon. Using these parameters, as well as investing best practices, the robo advisor employs a sophisticated algorithm to recommend a portfolio that suits your goals.

These automated portfolios are pre-set, and they can tilt toward an aggressive allocation or a conservative one, or something in between. Typically, these portfolios are built of low-cost exchange-traded funds (ETFs). These online portfolios are designed to rebalance over time, using technology and artificial intelligence to do so.

You can use a robo investing as you would any account — for retirement, as a taxable investment account, or even for your emergency fund — and you typically invest using automatic deposits or contributions.

Some investors may also use a target-date fund to automate their investing. Target-date mutual funds, which are a type of mutual fund often used for retirement planning and college savings, also use technology to automate a certain asset allocation over time.

By starting out with a more aggressive allocation and slowly dialing back as years pass, the fund’s underlying portfolio may be able to deliver growth while minimizing risk. This ready-made type of fund can be appealing to those who have a big goal (like retirement or saving for college), and who don’t want the uncertainty or potential risk of managing their money on their own.

Benefits:

The biggest benefit of automated investing is that it’s, well, automated! It’s a hands-off approach, which means you don’t need to worry about what’s happening with your portfolio on a day to day basis – though it can still be wise to monitor regularly. Again, if you want to take a set-it-and-forget-it approach to investing, this may be worth checking out.

Risks and Challenges:

Some investors may not like handing the reins off to an algorithm or robo-advisor. Accordingly, the approach may oversimplify your portfolio, costing you potential gains (or avoiding losses). And, of course, technology isn’t perfect, so it’s possible that there could be a glitch in a system somewhere, and other cybersecurity risks in the mix.

How to Get Started:

There are numerous robo-advisors on the market — check some of them out, do a bit of research, and choose one. You can also look at specific target-date mutual funds that could be a good fit, and start investing in those.

5. Gold and Silver

Investing in precious metals is another way to put your money to work.

Types:

Gold is one of the most valued commodities. For thousands of years, gold has been prized because it is scarce, difficult to obtain, has many practical uses, and does not rust, tarnish, or erode.

Silver has historically held a secondary role to gold, and today, serves more of an industrial role. For those looking to invest in physical precious metals, silver will be a relatively affordable option.

Benefits:

Gold, silver, and related securities are sometimes considered to be “safe havens,” meaning most investors perceive them as low risk. This asset class tends to perform well during times of crisis (and conversely tends to drop when the economy is going well), but past trends don’t guarantee that gold will perform one way or the other.

Risks and Challenges:

Precious metals are volatile, and the industry itself is volatile as well. Also, for investors who are buying physical precious metals, they may face a challenge in storing them and keeping them safe from thieves. You may need to even get insurance on physical assets, or add them to an existing insurance policy.

How to Get Started:

Buying physical gold or bullion (which comes in coins and bars) isn’t the only way to invest in gold and silver. There are many related securities that allow investors to gain exposure to precious metals. There are ETFs that tend to track the prices of gold and silver, respectively. Other ETFs provide an easy vehicle for investing in gold and silver mining stocks. So, there are some different ways to invest in the field.

Companies that explore for and mine silver and gold tend to see their share prices increase in tandem with prices for the physical metals.

The Takeaway

The investment opportunities described above are just some potential points of entry for investors in 2025. Investors can look to the stock, bond, or crypto markets for new ways to put their money to work, or consider active strategies vs. passive (i.e. index) strategies. They can look at commodities, like precious metals, or automated portfolios.

All these investment opportunities come with their own set of potential risks and rewards. There are no guarantees that choosing X over Y will increase your investment returns. It’s up to each investor to weigh these options, especially in light of current economic trends, such as inflation and rising rates.

Opening and funding an Active Invest account gives you the opportunity to get up to $1,000 in the stock of your choice.¹

FAQ

What is the most popular thing to invest in right now?

Stocks, bonds, and ETFs tend to be among the most popular investments at any given time, though the specific popularity among those classes can vary wildly.

What are some of the best investment opportunities for beginners?

For beginning investors, investing in ETFs, index funds, or mutual funds may be a simple way to get started. Those assets will give investors exposure to broad parts of the market.

What are the lowest risk investment opportunities?

Generally, the investment with the lowest risks are Treasuries, but even those are not risk-free. Bonds tend to be less risky than stocks, too.

What are the highest risk investment opportunities?

There are many high-risk investments out there, including cryptocurrencies, certain stocks, REITs, and even venture capital all have a relatively high risk compared to, say, Treasuries.

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

SoFi Invest is a trade name used by SoFi Wealth LLC and SoFi Securities LLC offering investment products and services. Robo investing and advisory services are provided by SoFi Wealth LLC, an SEC-registered investment adviser. Brokerage and self-directed investing products offered through SoFi Securities LLC, Member FINRA/SIPC.

For disclosures on SoFi Invest platforms visit SoFi.com/legal. For a full listing of the fees associated with Sofi Invest please view our fee schedule.

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.

¹Probability of Member receiving $1,000 is a probability of 0.026%; If you don’t make a selection in 45 days, you’ll no longer qualify for the promo. Customer must fund their account with a minimum of $50.00 to qualify. Probability percentage is subject to decrease. See full terms and conditions.
Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs): Investors should carefully consider the information contained in the prospectus, which contains the Fund’s investment objectives, risks, charges, expenses, and other relevant information. You may obtain a prospectus from the Fund company’s website or by emailing customer service at [email protected]. Please read the prospectus carefully prior to investing.

Investment Risk: Diversification can help reduce some investment risk. It cannot guarantee profit, or fully protect in a down market.

Mutual Funds (MFs): Investors should carefully consider the information contained in the prospectus, which contains the Fund’s investment objectives, risks, charges, expenses, and other relevant information. You may obtain a prospectus from the Fund company’s website or clicking the prospectus link on the fund's respective page at sofi.com. You may also contact customer service at: 1.855.456.7634. Please read the prospectus carefully prior to investing.Mutual Funds must be bought and sold at NAV (Net Asset Value); unless otherwise noted in the prospectus, trades are only done once per day after the markets close. Investment returns are subject to risk, include the risk of loss. Shares may be worth more or less their original value when redeemed. The diversification of a mutual fund will not protect against loss. A mutual fund may not achieve its stated investment objective. Rebalancing and other activities within the fund may be subject to tax consequences.

SOIN-Q125-074

What Is a Stag in the Stock Market?

Stag Definition

Stags and Market Speculation

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

Access stock trading, options, alternative investments, IRAs, and more. Get started in just a few minutes.

Is a Stag a Day Trader?

Understanding Stag Trading Strategies

Differences Between Stags, Bulls, and Bears

Do Stags Trade IPO Stocks?

IPO Flipping

Stag Trading Strategy Example

The Takeaway

Effects of Social Media on Your Finances

Negative Financial Effects of Social Media

Overspending

Distractions Causing Less Time for Budgeting and Managing Finances

Trying to Keep Up With Your Friends

Buying Trendy Items

Dealing With Constant Advertisements

Falling Into the Trap of an Influencer’s Fantasy Life

Increase your savings with a limited-time APY boost.*

Helpful Tips to Reduce the Financial Impact of Social Media

Unfollowing Brands and Influencers

Focusing on Yourself and Managing Finances

Improving Your Money Mindset by Removing FOMO

Budgeting for Any Purchases You Make

Setting a Waiting Period Before Making a Purchase

Setting a Screen Time Limit on Your Phone

Deleting Social Media

Curating Social Media Feeds

Removing Payment Apps From Your Phone

Improving Financial Accountability

Managing Finances With SoFi

FAQ

Are there positive financial impacts of social media?

Does social media lead to debt problems?

What are good financial accounts to follow on social media?

10 Signs That You Are Financially Stable

What Is Financial Stability?

Why Does Financial Stability Matter?

Signs That You’re Financially Stable

1. Following a Budget

2. Living Below Your Means

3. Saving Money Is a Consistent Habit

4. Paying Down Debt Is a Priority

5. Bills Get Paid On Time

6. Financial Goals Are Clearly Defined

7. Regular Investing Is Part of Your Financial Routine

8. You Have the Right Insurance

9. FOMO Doesn’t Drive Decision-Making

10. There’s No Worrying About Money

If You’re Struggling to Become Financially Stable

The Takeaway

FAQ

How much money is considered financially stable?

What are the signs of a financially stable person?

At what point are you financially stable?

What Does Bullish and Bearish Mean in Investing?

What Does Bullish Mean?

What Does Bearish Mean?

Where Do the Terms Bullish and Bearish Come From?

How Bullish Markets Can Impact Investors

How Bearish Markets Can Impact Investors

Tips on Withstanding Bullish vs Bearish Markets

Stock Market

The Takeaway

FAQ

Does being bearish mean that you want to sell your assets?

How can you tell if a market is bearish or bullish?

5 Investment Opportunities to Consider in 2025

1. Bonds

Types:

Benefits:

Risks and Challenges:

How to Get Started:

2. Real Estate or REITs

Types of Real Estate Investments:

Benefits:

Risks and Challenges:

How to Get Started:

Increase your savings
with a limited-time APY boost.*

Student Loan
Refinancing

Personal
Loans

Online
Investments