The tax loss carryforward rule allows capital losses from the sale of assets to be carried over from one year to another. In other words, an investor can use capital losses realized in the current tax year to offset gains or profits in a future tax year, assuming certain restrictions are met.
Investors can use a capital loss carryforward to minimize their tax liability when reporting capital gains from investments. Business owners can also take advantage of loss carryforward rules when deducting losses each year.
Knowing how this tax provision works and when it can be applied is important from an investment tax-savings perspective.
Key Points
• Tax loss carryforward allows investors to offset capital losses against future gains, as well as taxable income.
• Investors who take advantage of the tax loss carryforward rule may reduce their overall tax liability.
• Capital loss carryforward rules prohibit violating the wash-sale rule and have limitations on deductions.
• Net operating loss carryforward is similar to capital loss carryforward for businesses operating at a loss.
• Losses can be carried forward indefinitely at the federal level, but capital losses must be used to offset capital gains in the same year.
What Is Tax Loss Carryforward?
Tax loss carryforward, sometimes called a capital loss carryover, is the process of carrying forward capital losses into future tax years. A capital loss occurs when you sell an asset, like a stock, for less than your adjusted basis.
Capital losses are the opposite of capital gains, which are realized when you sell an asset for more than your adjusted basis. In either case, taxes may come into play.
Adjusted basis means the cost of an asset, adjusted for various events (i.e., increases or decreases in value) through the course of ownership.
When you invest online or through a brokerage to purchase a stock or other security, knowing whether a capital gain or loss is short-term or long-term depends on how long you owned it before selling.
• Short-term capital losses and gains occur when an asset is held for one year or less.
• Long-term capital gains and losses are associated with assets held for longer than one year.
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) allows certain capital losses, including losses associated with personal or business investments, to be deducted from taxable income.
There are limits on the amount that can be deducted each year, however, depending on the type of losses being reported.
For example, the IRS allows investors to deduct up to $3,000 from their taxable income if the capital loss is from the sales of assets like stocks, bonds, or real estate. If capital losses exceed $3,000 ($1,500 if you’re married, filing separately), the IRS allows investors to carry capital losses forward into future years and use them to reduce potential taxable income.
A tax loss carryforward generally allows you to report losses realized on assets in one tax year on a future year’s tax return. Realized losses differ from unrealized losses or gains, which are the change in an investment’s value compared to its purchase price before an investor sells it.
IRS loss carryforward rules apply to both personal and business assets. The main types of capital loss carryovers allowed by the Internal Revenue Code are capital loss carryforwards and net operating loss carryforwards.
Capital Loss Carryforward
Another way to describe the process of using capital losses to offset gains is that IRS rules allow investors to “harvest” tax losses, meaning they use capital losses to offset capital gains, assuming they don’t violate the wash-sale rule.
The wash-sale rule prohibits investors from buying substantially identical investments within the 30 days before or 30 days after the sale of a security for the purpose of tax-loss harvesting.
If capital losses are equal to capital gains, they will offset one another on your tax return, so there’d be nothing to carry over. For example, a $5,000 capital gain would cancel out a $5,000 capital loss and vice versa.
Remember that short-term capital losses must be applied to short-term gains, and long-term capital losses to long-term gains, owing to the difference in how capital gains are taxed.
However, if capital losses exceed capital gains, investors can deduct a portion of the losses from their ordinary income to reduce tax liability. Investors can deduct the lesser of $3,000 ($1,500 if married filing separately) or the total net loss shown on line 21 of Schedule D (Form 1040).
But any capital losses over $3,000 can be carried forward to future tax years, where investors can use capital losses to reduce future capital gains.
To figure out how to record a tax loss carryforward, you can use the Capital Loss Carryover Worksheet found on the IRS’ Instructions for Schedule D (Form 1040).
A net operating loss (NOL) occurs when a business has more deductions than income. Rather than posting a profit for the year, the company operates at a loss. Business owners may be able to claim a NOL deduction on their personal income taxes. Net operating loss carryforward rules work similarly to capital loss carryforward rules in that businesses can carry forward losses from one year to the next.
According to the IRS, for losses arising in tax years after December 31, 2020, the NOL deduction is limited to 80% of the excess of the business’s taxable income. To calculate net operating loss deductions for your business, you first have to omit items that could limit your loss, including:
• Capital losses that exceed capital gains
• Nonbusiness deductions that exceed nonbusiness income
• Qualified business income deductions
• The net operating loss deduction itself
These losses can be carried forward indefinitely at the federal level.
Note, however, that the rules for NOL carryforwards at the state level vary widely. Some states follow federal regulations, but others do not.
How Long Can Losses Be Carried Forward?
According to IRS tax loss carryforward rules, capital and net operating losses can be carried forward indefinitely. Note that the loss retains its short- or long-term characterization when carried forward.
It’s important to remember that capital loss carryforward rules don’t allow you to roll over losses without corresponding gains. IRS rules state that you must use capital losses to offset capital gains in the year they occur. You can only carry capital losses forward when and if they exceed your capital gains for the year.
As noted above, the IRS also requires you to use an apples-to-apples approach when applying capital losses against capital gains.
For example, you’d need to use short-term capital losses to offset short-term capital gains. You couldn’t use a short-term capital loss to balance out a long-term capital gain or a long-term capital loss to offset a short-term capital gain.
Example of Tax Loss Carryforward
Assume that you purchase 100 shares of XYZ stock at $50 each for a total of $5,000. Thirteen months after buying the shares, their value has doubled to $100 each, so you decide to sell, collecting a capital gain of $5,000.
Suppose you also hold 100 shares of ABC stock, which have decreased in value from $70 per share to $10 per share over that same period. If you decide to sell ABC stock, your capital losses will total $6,000 – the difference between the $7,000 you paid for the shares and the $1,000 you sold them for.
You could use $5,000 of the loss of ABC stock to offset the $5,000 gain associated with selling your shares in XYZ to reduce your capital gains tax. Per IRS rules, you could also apply the additional $1,000 loss to reduce your ordinary income for the year.
Now, say you also have another stock you sold for a $6,000 loss. Because you already have a $1,000 loss and there is a $3,000 limit on deductions, you could apply up to $2,000 to offset ordinary income in the current tax year, then carry the remaining $4,000 loss forward to a future tax year, per IRS rules.
This is an example of tax loss carryforward. All of this assumes that you don’t violate the wash-sale rule when timing the sale of losing stocks.
If you’re investing in a taxable brokerage account, it’s wise to include tax planning as part of your strategy. Selling stocks to realize capital gains could result in a larger tax bill if you’re not deducting capital losses at the same time.
With tax-loss harvesting, assuming you don’t violate the wash sale rule, it’s possible to carry forward investment losses to help reduce the tax impact of gains over time. This applies to personal as well as business gains and losses. Thus, understanding the tax loss carryforward provision may help reduce your personal and investment taxes.
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Individual customer accounts may be subject to the terms applicable to one or more of these platforms.
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Almost 43 million Americans have student loan debt, and borrowers owe an average of $37,853, according to the Education Data Initiative. If you’re grappling with student loan payments and feeling overwhelmed, you may be wondering, “Should I sell my house to pay off debt?”
While the idea may be tempting, it has disadvantages and might negatively affect your financial situation. Read on to learn the benefits and drawbacks of selling your house to pay off student loans, and discover alternative options for repaying your debt.
Key Points
• Weigh the pros and cons before selling a house to pay off student loans.
• Selling a home eliminates a mortgage and could help you repay your loans, but it also means finding a new place to live that’s affordable.
• Understand the financial implications of selling a home, including real estate commissions and other costs and potential taxes.
• Reflect on the emotional and lifestyle impacts of selling your home, including potentially having to relocate.
• Explore alternatives like student loan refinancing and loan forgiveness programs to manage student loan debt without selling your house.
Understanding the Benefits of Selling Your House to Pay Off Student Loans
A mortgage is the biggest debt most Americans have, and student loans are one of the next biggest. It’s understandable then that some borrowers might consider selling one to help pay off the other. Potential benefits of selling a home include:
• Getting a lump sum. When you sell your home, you may end up with a decent chunk of money. Of course, you’ll have to pay off your mortgage first, but as long as you have more value in your house than what you owe on your mortgage, you can take the remaining proceeds of the sale and apply it to your student loans. Depending on how much you get from the sale of the property and how much you owe on your loans, you may be able to pay off your student loan debt completely. And if you can’t pay off your loans completely, you may be able to pay off some of them and consider student loan refinancing to help manage the rest.
• Eliminating monthly payments. By selling your house and paying off your student loans, you get rid of two substantial monthly payments that may have fairly high interest rates. With student loans, some of that interest may have accrued over time. For instance, if you have federal Direct Unsubsidized loans, the interest begins to accrue immediately after the loan is disbursed, and can add up to a sizable amount over time.
• A financial fresh start. Selling a house can also be a new beginning financially. It could help you get out from under a costly mortgage. You can look for a less expensive place to live, and create a new budget accordingly. Repaying student loans will further dial down the debt you owe. You may also be able to direct more money to your child’s college fund or save more for retirement.
Factors to Consider When Selling Your House to Pay Off Student Loans
Along with the potential upsides, however, there are a number of disadvantages to selling your house. It’s important to understand the drawbacks before making such a big decision.
How much you can get for your house is one of the most important factors when determining whether it makes sense to sell. The price you can ask for your home depends on market conditions, supply and demand, and mortgage rates, among other things. Do some research to figure out the current market value of your home. Look at what comparable homes in your area are selling for. Think about whether you could make enough from the sale of your house to pay off what you owe on your mortgage and repay your student loans.
Next, since you’ll need to find a new place to live, explore the different housing options available. You might need to downsize to a more affordable home, move to a less expensive area, or rent instead of buying.
Finally, think about how selling your home could affect your lifestyle. You might end up in a smaller space with less living space, which means you may have to sell some of your furniture. If you have to relocate to a different area, your commute to work might get longer. Think through the various scenarios and make sure you’re comfortable with them.
Navigating the Process of Selling Your House to Pay Off Student Loans
If you decide to move ahead with selling your house, finding the right real estate agent can be critical. Hiring a professional who knows the market can help you price your home for a sale and take some of the stress out of what can be a complex process. Just be aware that there will be costs involved, including a commission to the agent.
You’ll also need to prepare your house for a sale. Clean and declutter your home to make it look bigger and more appealing. Outdoors, mow the lawn, trim the bushes, and generally tidy up so that your house has curb appeal.
Familiarize yourself with the legal and financial aspects of a home sale. For instance, once you have an offer on the house, a potential buyer might ask you to make repairs before they purchase the home. There are also closing costs to consider, as well as the real estate agent’s commission. And if you sell your house for more than you paid for it, you may have to pay capital gains tax (see more on that below). Make sure you understand what’s involved in selling your home and what you are responsible for legally and financially.
Mitigating Challenges and Risks When Selling Your House to Pay Off Student Loans
Talking about selling your home to pay off student loans is one thing. Actually doing it is another. You may feel sentimental about your house, especially if you’ve lived there for a while. As much as you can, try to emotionally detach yourself from your home. Focus instead on the positive, such as getting out of debt and the fresh start ahead of you.
On a more practical level, there may be a capital gains tax on the profit you make from the sale of your home if you sell it for more than you paid for it. Capital gains tax generally depends on your taxable income, your filing status, and how long you owned the home before you sold it. There is an IRS exemption rule, often referred to as a primary residence exclusion, that may help you avoid paying some or all of the capital gains tax. Do some research and check with a financial professional to see if you might qualify for the exclusion.
Exploring Alternatives to Selling Your House to Pay Off Student Loans
Rather than selling your house to pay off student loans, there are some other ways to help manage, and potentially even reduce, your student loan payments. Here are some options to consider.
Student Loan Refinancing
If you have private student loans, or a combination of federal and private loans, student loan refinancing lets you combine them into one private loan with a new interest rate and loan terms. Ideally, you might be able to secure a new loan with a lower rate and more favorable terms. If you’re looking for smaller monthly payments, you may be able to get a longer loan term. However, a longer term means you will likely pay more in interest overall since you are extending the life of the loan.
On the other hand, if your goal is to refinance student loans to save money, you might be able to get a shorter term and pay off the loan faster, helping to save on interest payments. Just be aware that if you refinance federal loans, they will no longer be eligible for federal benefits like federal forgiveness programs.
If you have federal student loans, a federal Direct Consolidation loan allows you to combine all your loans into one new loan, which can lower your monthly payments by lengthening your loan term. The interest rate on the loan will not be lower — it will be a weighted average of the combined interest rates of all of your consolidated loans. Consolidation can streamline your loan payments, and your loans will still have access to federal benefits and protections. However, a longer loan term means you’ll pay more in interest over the life of the loan.
Income-driven Repayment Plans
With an income-driven repayment (IDR) plan, your monthly student loan payments are based on your income and family size. Your monthly payments are a percentage of your discretionary income, which usually means they’ll be lower. At the end of the 20- or 25-year repayment period, depending on the IDR plan, your remaining loan balance will be forgiven.
Loan Forgiveness Programs
You might be able to qualify for student loan forgiveness through a state or federal program. For instance, with Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program, borrowers with federal student loans who work for a qualifying employer such as a not-for-profit organization or the government may have the remaining balance on their eligible Direct loans forgiven after 120 qualifying payments under an IDR plan or the standard 10 year repayment plan.
Also, be sure to check with your state to find out what loan forgiveness programs they might offer.
The Takeaway
Student loan debt can be a major financial burden for borrowers, and selling your home to get out from under that obligation may sound appealing. But selling your house is a major decision. You may be eliminating a mortgage, but you’ll have to find a new affordable place to live. Plus, there are costs involved with the sale of a home and there may be tax implications to deal with as well. Weigh all the pros and cons carefully before selling your home to pay off student loans.
And remember, there are other ways to manage student loan debt, including loan forgiveness, income-driven repayment, and student loan refinancing. Explore all the different options to decide what works best for you. You may be able to reduce your loan payments and keep your home.
Looking to lower your monthly student loan payment? Refinancing may be one way to do it — by extending your loan term, getting a lower interest rate than what you currently have, or both. (Please note that refinancing federal loans makes them ineligible for federal forgiveness and protections. Also, lengthening your loan term may mean paying more in interest over the life of the loan.) SoFi student loan refinancing offers flexible terms that fit your budget.
With SoFi, refinancing is fast, easy, and all online. We offer competitive fixed and variable rates.
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SoFi Student Loans are originated by SoFi Bank, N.A. Member FDIC. NMLS #696891. (www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org). SoFi Student Loan Refinance Loans are private loans and do not have the same repayment options that the federal loan program offers, or may become available, such as Public Service Loan Forgiveness, Income-Based Repayment, Income-Contingent Repayment, PAYE or SAVE. Additional terms and conditions apply. Lowest rates reserved for the most creditworthy borrowers. For additional product-specific legal and licensing information, see SoFi.com/legal.
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Calculating rate of return, as it relates to investing, is a way for investors or traders to get a sense of how much money they stand to gain or lose from their investments. It’s a relatively simple formula and calculation, and can help investors evaluate their overall performance in the markets. It does have some shortcomings, however, such as not accounting for the time value of money or the timing of cash flows. So, there are alternative calculations out there to help get even more accurate results.
Key Points
• The Rate of Return (RoR) measures an investment’s gain or loss as a percentage of its initial value over a specific period.
• Calculating RoR involves identifying the initial and end values, applying the formula, and can be done manually or using tools like Excel.
• RoR helps investors evaluate investment performance, compare different investments, and make informed decisions about resource allocation.
• Understanding RoR is crucial for assessing investment performance, aligning with financial goals, and determining market performance relative to other opportunities.
What Is Rate of Return?
Rate of return is a measure of an investment’s gain or loss, expressed as a percentage of its initial value, over a given period of time. If calculated correctly, your rate of return will be expressed as a percentage of your initial investment. Positive rate of return calculations indicate a net gain on your investment, while negative results will indicate a loss.
Don’t confuse this with the expected rate of return, which forecasts your expected returns using probability and historical performance.
When using the rate of return formula, your chosen time period is referred to as your “holding period.” Regardless of whether your holding period lasts days, months, or even years. It’s important that you keep the time periods consistent when comparing investment performance.
How to Calculate Rate of Return
You can calculate the rate of return on your online investing or other type of investing activity by comparing the difference between its current value and its initial value, and then dividing the result by its initial value.
Multiplying the result of that rate of return formula by 100 will net you your rate of return as a percentage. You’ll know whether you made money on your investment depending on whether your result comes in as positive or negative.
Rate of Return Formula
The standard rate of return formula can be represented as follows:
R = [ ( Ve – Vb ) / Vb ] x 100
In this equation:
R = Rate of return
Ve = End of period value
Vb = Beginning of period value
The aforementioned formula can be applied to any holding period to find your rate of return “R” over that timespan.
“Ve,” your end of period value, should represent the value of your investment, including any interest or dividends earned over your holding period.
Finally “Vb” should represent the value of your initial investment. It will be used as the relative basis on which your investment returns are calculated.
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Example of Calculating Rate of Return
To help you understand how to calculate the rate of return, we’ll walk you through an example. Again, here’s the formula:
R = [ ( Ve – Vb ) / Vb ] x 100
Let’s say an investor buys an investment for $125 a share which pays no dividends. This $125 investment will be your beginning of period value (“Vb”).
After one year, the value of the investment rises to $150 and the investor chooses to sell it. Given that $150 represents the value of the investment at the end of the holding period, $150 will be your end of period value (“Ve”).
To calculate the rate of return, enter the values for Vb and Ve into the rate of return formula. With the correct values in place, your equation should look like this:
R = [ ( $150 – $125 ) / $125 ] X 100
Solving out this formula using order of operations, your calculations should proceed as follows:
R = [ $25 / $125 ] X 100
R = 0.2 X 100
R = 20%
If done correctly, the formula should calculate a one year rate of return of 20%, based on the beginning and end of period values provided.
How to Calculate Rate of Return Using Excel
Calculating the rate of return in Excel simply requires you to enter the right inputs in a few cells; then tie those cells together using a few simple equations.
Excel is a powerful purpose-built application designed to crunch numbers and is a go-to-standard when making investment calculations.
While you can enter these inputs anywhere you want on the spreadsheet, we’ll walk you through an example to get you started. We’ve also restated the rate of return formula here to help you follow along.
R = [ ( Ve – Vb ) / Vb ] x 100
After opening a blank excel spreadsheet on your desktop, start by entering the beginning and of period investment values using the following inputs in the corresponding cells.
Cell B2: End of period value of investment (“Ve”)
Cell B3: Beginning of period value of investment (“Vb”)
It’s a good idea to enter a description of what each cell represents in the corresponding column “A” cells, to help you remember what each value means.
Now that we have all the necessary inputs for our formula, it’s time to tie them together. We’ve broken this step into several cells for ease of understanding.
Cell B4: Type in “=B2-B3”
This cell calculates the difference in value between your end of period (“Ve”) and beginning of period (“Vb”) investment.
Cell B5: Type in “=B4/B3”
This cell will divide the difference in value (Cell B5), by the beginning of period value (Cell B3), to obtain a decimal measure of your rate of return.
Cell B6: Type in “=B5*100”
Multiplying the decimal metric from cell B5 by 100 will calculate your resulting rate of return as a percentage.
If done correctly, cell B6 should show your rate of return.
Note: For more advanced Excel users, the same result can be obtained by entering: “=(B2-B3)/B3*100” within a single cell. You can try this in any blank cell to double check your work.
Considerations When Using Rate of Return
The main advantages of the rate of return calculation is that it’s simple and easy to calculate. It gives you a straightforward method to measure the profitability of an investment over any time period.
However, its simplicity does result in some shortcomings, particularly when it comes to more complex investments with numerous cash flows. We dive into these limitations below.
What are the Limitations of Simple Rate of Return?
The main limitations of the simple rate of return calculation are that it ignores the time value of money and timing of cash flows.
The time value of money is an important concept when it comes to finance, as it explains that money today is always worth more than the same sum of money paid in the future. This is due to the inherent earnings potential of cash held now.
In tandem with the concept above, the simple rate of return calculation also fails to account for the timing of cash flows.
Cash flows are particularly important when dealing with more complex portfolios or investments that might have multiple reinvestment periods over time or multiple dividend payouts.
The simple rate of return calculation, in some ways, oversimplifies the rate of return into a simple accounting measure over an arbitrary amount of time. To address these shortcomings, professionals typically use alternate measures like internal rate of rate (IRR) and annualized rate of return.
Annualized Rate of Return Formula
The annualized rate of return is a slightly more complicated formula that solves the compatibility issues of the simple rate of return calculation by standardizing all calculations over an annual period.
The annualized rate of return formula can be exhibited as follows.
Ra = ( Ve / Vb ) 1 / n – 1 X 100
Where,
Ra = Annualized Rate of Return
Ve = End of period value
Vb = Beginning of period value
n = number of years in holding period
Annualized rate of return (Ra) standardizes your rate of return on an annual basis; this allows you to make fair comparisons with other annualized performance figures.
“Ve,” your end of period value, represents the value of your investment at the end of the holding period, including any interest or dividends earned.
“Vb” represents the value of your initial investment.
Other Types of Return Formulas
There are a multitude of other return metrics that can help you evaluate performance.
While the calculations for these metrics fall outside the scope of this reading, we touch on some of the most commonly used ones and why they’re used.
• Internal Rate of Return (IRR): This represents the expected annual compound growth rate of a specific investment and is usually used to help determine whether an investment is worthwhile.
• Return on Invested Capital (ROIC): Measures a firm’s profitability in relation to the total debt and equity invested by stakeholders.
• Return on Equity (ROE): Measures a firm’s net income in relation to the total value of its shareholder’s equity.
How Investors Can Use Rate of Return
Retail investors, institutional investors, and even corporate decision makers use the rate of return to gauge the performance of their investments over time. It’s useful when compared against a benchmark index, return expectations, or other investment options to gauge how your investment performed on a relative basis.
When comparing investment returns, it’s important to make sure you’re making fair comparisons to ensure you’re making apples-to-apples comparisons. For example, the S&P 500 might not serve as a fair benchmark for a portfolio invested 100% in international equities, as these are substantially different investment types. Benchmark comparisons give meaning to your rate of return and help you evaluate whether you’re outperforming on a relative basis.
The Takeaway
Knowing how to calculate your rate of return gives you a useful tool for evaluating your investments’ performance. The best part about the rate of return calculation is that it can be done over almost any timespan, provided the returns you’re trying to compare have the same holding period.
Investors can calculate rate of return by hand, or by using an online spreadsheet. The same is true for annualized rate of return — which helps to standardize return rates over longer periods. Those are fairly simple ways to gauge investment returns, but there are a number of other metrics that help you assess and compare investment returns, so be sure to use the tool that aligns best with what you need to know.
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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.
While most investors are familiar with stocks, bonds, and cash, there is a world of investment opportunities beyond these assets.
Alternative investments are those outside of traditional assets. While they can be higher risk, alternatives can offer various potential upsides for investors, such as diversifying an existing investment portfolio, higher returns compared to stocks and bonds, and the opportunity to earn passive income.
Key Points
• Alternative investments include assets other than stocks, bonds, and cash, such as collectibles, commodities, derivatives, real estate, private equity, venture capital, hedge funds, and more.
• Alternative investments may provide portfolio diversification, as they often have a low correlation with traditional asset classes.
• Alternative investments have the potential to generate higher risk-adjusted returns compared with traditional assets, though this also comes with higher risk.
• Alternative investments tend to be illiquid, not as transparent as other financial assets, and may include the risk of total loss.
• You can invest in alternative investments through mutual funds, ETFs, interval funds, REITs, MLPs, or by working with an experienced asset manager.
What Are Alternative Investments?
Alternative investments — commonly known as alts — are those that are different from conventional investment categories such as stocks, bonds, and cash. Alts include a wide variety of securities as well as tangible assets such as commodities, foreign currencies, real estate, art and collectibles, venture capital, derivative contracts, and more.
Alts typically have a lower correlation with traditional asset classes, meaning they tend to move independently of them, and thus they may provide investment portfolio diversification. They also have the potential to generate higher returns when compared to stocks and bonds, and some are structured to provide passive income to investors. But alts typically include higher-risk assets and strategies, which can be illiquid and harder to track, owing to a lack of transparency.
Alts used to be accessible mainly to high net-worth and accredited investors, but now they’re available to a range of investors, thanks to the emergence of vehicles such as mutual funds and ETFs that include various alts and strategies.
The lack of liquidity for most alts means that determining the fair market value of these assets can be quite challenging. Often there is little by way of public data available regarding price changes or asset appreciation or depreciation, making it difficult to assess historical performance.
💡 Quick Tip: While investing directly in alternative assets often requires high minimum amounts, investing in alts through a mutual fund or ETF generally involves a low minimum requirement, making them accessible to retail investors.
Alternative investments, now for the rest of us.
Start trading funds that include commodities, private credit, real estate, venture capital, and more.
Types of Alternative Investments
The following list encompasses some common types of alternative investments and alternative strategies available to investors today.
1. Real Estate
• Summary: You can invest in real estate by owning rental property, investing in commercial real estate, industrial real estate, healthcare facilities, and more. Investors can also buy into Real Estate Investment Trusts, or REITs.
• Pros and cons: Although real estate tends to hold its value over time, there are no guarantees. Different properties can be vulnerable to a host of factors including business trends, land values, interest rate risk, and more.
• Summary: Commodities are raw materials that include agricultural products (e.g. grain, meat), precious metals such as gold, silver, copper, energy (including renewables), and more. Generally, investors participate in commodity trading using futures contracts, index funds, mutual funds, or ETFs.
• Pros and cons: Some investors consider commodities a good hedge against inflation and they have the potential to deliver a profit. However, commodities can suffer from any number of unexpected risk factors, from weather conditions to supply chain breakdowns and more.
• Summary: Private equity firms invest capital in companies that aren’t publicly traded, often with the aim of taking over the company. Because PE is a high-stakes endeavor, these opportunities are generally available to high net-worth and accredited investors. Now, however, retail investors can gain exposure to private funds through vehicles such as interval funds.
• Pros and cons: Private equity is considered a high-risk investment, but if a private company goes public or gets acquired, these investments may perform well. The risk with private equity investments is that these are often focused on distressed companies, with a complex track record, and sometimes startups (see Venture Capital below).
• Summary: VC investing is a way of putting money into startups with the hope of later gains, though there is no guarantee of a return. Investors can buy a slice of startup or private companies, through equity crowdfunding platforms (which differ from traditional crowdfunding in that investors own equity in the company) and interval funds.
• Pros and cons: Venture capital investing is considered a subset of Private Equity, as noted above. It can be risky because if the startup fails, investors may lose all of their money. On the other hand, if a startup does well, investors may see a significant profit.
• Summary: Private credit involves direct loans made to companies from non-bank entities. Private credit can be a more expensive way to borrow, but it can be faster for the companies needing capital, and for investors it offers the potential for steady interest payments.
• Pros and cons: Private credit funds tend to see greater inflows when the stock market is underperforming, and they usually pay higher rates than conventional fixed income instruments. The risk here is that most PC funds offer only quarterly redemptions — so they’re quite illiquid — and they can be vulnerable to defaults.
• Summary: Works or art and other types of collectibles (e.g., wine, jewelry, antiques, cars, rare books) can personally appeal to investors, and may grow in value over time. It’s also possible to invest in fractional shares of art, or in shares of an art-focused fund.
• Pros and cons: Investing in art or collectibles may provide a hedge against inflation or other market factors. That said, the price of upkeep, insurance, and maintenance can be considerable. And while some pieces may gain value over time, art and collectibles can also be subject to changing trends and tastes. Fraud is another risk to consider.
7. Hedge Funds
• Summary: Hedge funds offer investors access to alternative investing strategies, like arbitrage, leveraged trades, short-selling, and more. Hedge funds aren’t as heavily regulated as other types of funds, so they’re able to make riskier investments and lean into aggressive strategies, with the goal of delivering outsized returns.
• Pros and cons: While hedge fund managers sometimes deliver a significant profit, they charge high fees and investment minimums that often put them beyond the reach of mainstreet investors. Today, investors may be able to access mutual funds, ETFs, funds of funds, or other vehicles that employ similar alternative strategies.
8. Farmland/Timberland
• Summary: Like many types of real estate, farmland and timberland tend to hold their value over time, as long as they remain productive. This type of property can be similar to commodities in that there is potential profit in the products that come from the land (e.g. produce and timber).
• Pros and cons: Owners of farmland can lease out the land to earn income, which can be profitable for investors. The potential downside of investing in farmland and timberland are the environmental and weather-related risks that can impact both the value of the land and its productivity.
9. Infrastructure
• Summary: Infrastructure refers to the physical structures that economies depend on: roads and highways, bridges and tunnels, energy pipelines, and more. Municipal bonds are one way to invest in infrastructure, as are some types of REITs (real estate investment trusts).
• Pros and cons: As a non-cyclical type of asset, infrastructure investments may offer the benefit of less exposure to market risk factors, steady cash flows, and low variable costs. The risks of infrastructure investments include political and environmental factors that can impact or delay the execution of a project.
10. Foreign Currencies
• Summary: Foreign currencies are an example of an alternative investment that can be highly liquid, and thus easier to trade.
• Pros and cons: Currency trading is known for its volatility, and currency traders often make leveraged trades, assuming a high degree of risk. Retail investors may find it potentially less risky to invest via mutual funds, ETFs, foreign bond funds, and even certain types of CDs (certificates of deposit), although the underlying volatility of most currencies will influence the performance of these investments as well.
💡 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 choices shouldn’t stem from strong emotions, but a solid investment strategy.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Alternative Investments
In sum, alternative investments are certainly worth considering given their potential advantages, but it’s important to keep in mind the possible disadvantages to make the best choices in light of your own goals and risk tolerance.
Advantages
• May offer the potential for higher risk-adjusted returns.
• Are typically not correlated with traditional stock and bond markets, so they may help diversify a portfolio and mitigate risk.
• May have the potential to deliver passive income.
• Some alts may hedge against inflation or interest rate fluctuations.
• May appeal to an individual’s personal interests: e.g., art, wine, memorabilia.
Disadvantages
• Are often higher risk, or can be subject to greater volatility.
• Can be less liquid than traditional investments due to limited availability of buyers and lack of a convenient market.
• Often limited to high net-worth and accredited investors.
• May have higher minimum investment requirements and higher upfront fees.
• May have less available public data and transparency about performance, making it difficult to determine a financial asset’s value.
As mentioned above, alternative investments used to be limited to institutional investors and high net-worth investors, but they’re now available to average investors through mutual funds, ETFs, and sometimes even through companies’ IRAs.
If you’re thinking about adding alternative investments to your portfolio, finding the right brokerage and/or asset manager can help you incorporate alts into your portfolio in the way that makes sense for your long-term plan. SoFi, for example, is working with knowledgeable asset fund managers in the alts space to provide access to mutual funds across a variety of categories.
Once you’ve identified the types of alternative investments that would suit your goals, your risk tolerance, and your plan (e.g., you might prefer commodities to owning art), you can look for the funds that would help you buy into these alternative asset classes.
Here are some of the more traditional methods to invest in alternatives:
ETFs
An exchange-traded fund, or ETF, is an investment vehicle that enables investors to buy a group of stocks, bonds, commodities, or other securities in one bundle, thus promoting investment diversification and efficiency. They’re widely available, usually through major investment fund companies.
Interval Funds
These closed-end funds are not traded on the secondary market and have limitations on redemptions (among other risks and restrictions). But because the funds are highly illiquid and have infrequent redemptions, fund managers may use alternative investments to pursue higher yields.
MLPs
A master limited partnership, or MLP, is a business partnership that’s publicly traded on an exchange. While an MLP may sound like a company, these partnerships have a different type of structure and are restricted to natural resources and energy-related products and sometimes real estate.
MLPs can provide the liquidity of stocks, but the tax treatment can be complex — and they are higher risk than regular equities.
Mutual Funds
A mutual fund is an investment vehicle that pools money from many investors in order to invest in different securities. Mutual funds may hold any combination of stocks, bonds, money market instruments, or cash and cash equivalents.
They may also include alternative investments, such as real estate, commodities, or investments in precious metals.
REITs
A real estate investment trust, or REIT, is a way of investing in shares of different types of real estate within a single fund. REITs invest in companies that own, operate, or finance a wide variety of real estate types.
Things to Consider When Investing in Alts
Alternative investments are complex, and while the risk may be worth the potential reward for some investors, there are some additional caveats to bear in mind about these assets.
How Are Alternative Investments Taxed?
Unlike conventional asset classes, which are typically subject to capital gains tax or ordinary income tax, different alts can receive very different tax treatments, even when investing in these assets via a mutual fund or ETF. When investing in alts, it’s wise to involve a professional to help address the tax-planning side of the equation.
What Role Should Alts Play in Your Portfolio?
Remember, because alts don’t generally move in sync with traditional asset classes, they may offset certain risk factors. And while alts come with risks of their own, including volatility and lack of transparency, within the context of your portfolio as a whole, alts, and funds that invest in alts, may enhance returns. Some alts can provide passive income as well as gains.
It’s important to know, however, that alternative investments are higher risk, tend to be more illiquid, and less transparent. As such, alts should typically only be one part of your portfolio to complement other assets. Some advisors, for example, recommend up to a 10% allocation for alternative investments, though this number can vary.
The Takeaway
Alternative investments have the potential for high returns and may offer portfolio diversification. The scope and variety of these investments means investors can look for one (or more) that suits their investing style and financial goals. Unlike more conventional investments, alts tend to be higher risk, more expensive, and subject to complex tax treatment.
It’s important to research and do due diligence on any alternative investment option in order to make the best purchasing decisions and reduce risk. While some alternative investments are less accessible, others can be purchased through vehicles such as mutual funds and ETFs.
Ready to expand your portfolio's growth potential? Alternative investments, traditionally available to high-net-worth individuals, are accessible to everyday investors on SoFi's easy-to-use platform. Investments in commodities, real estate, venture capital, and more are now within reach. Alternative investments can be high risk, so it's important to consider your portfolio goals and risk tolerance to determine if they're right for you.
Invest in alts to take your portfolio beyond stocks and bonds.
FAQ
Are ETFs considered alternative investments?
Generally no. For the most part, exchange-traded funds (ETFs) are passive investments — meaning they track an index — and typically that index is for a conventional asset class like stocks or bonds. That said, some ETFs track niche parts of the market, including certain types of alternative strategies, including options, long-short strategies, managed futures, real estate investment trusts (REITs), and more.
Are alternative investments worth it?
For some investors, choosing to add alts to their portfolio might be worth it because alternative assets can add diversification (which can help manage risk), and alts may enhance returns over time. But alts also come with their own set of risk factors, including the fact that some alternative assets are illiquid, and are not regulated like other financial products.
How do alternative investment funds work?
Alternative investment funds work in a range of ways. A mutual fund focused on alternative strategies, like derivatives, is likely to be actively managed and employ techniques like leverage or short selling. Before investing in an alternative fund, it’s wise to make sure you understand the underlying strategy, assets, and fees.
What are the key characteristics of alternative investments?
Alternative investments may offer portfolio diversification with low correlation to traditional assets, potentially higher returns, and may provide protection against inflation or interest rate fluctuations. However, they can be illiquid, may have redemption restrictions, and determining their real-world value can be challenging due to limited transparency and public data.
An investor should consider the investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses of the Fund carefully before investing. This and other important information are contained in the Fund’s prospectus. For a current prospectus, please click the Prospectus link on the Fund’s respective page. The prospectus should be read carefully prior to investing.
Alternative investments, including funds that invest in alternative investments, are risky and may not be suitable for all investors. Alternative investments often employ leveraging and other speculative practices that increase an investor's risk of loss to include complete loss of investment, often charge high fees, and can be highly illiquid and volatile. Alternative investments may lack diversification, involve complex tax structures and have delays in reporting important tax information. Registered and unregistered alternative investments are not subject to the same regulatory requirements as mutual funds.
Please note that Interval Funds are illiquid instruments, hence the ability to trade on your timeline may be restricted. Investors should review the fee schedule for Interval Funds via the prospectus. 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.
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 email customer service at https://sofi.app.link/investchat. Please read the prospectus carefully prior to investing.
Shares of ETFs must be bought and sold at market price, which can vary significantly from the Fund’s net asset value (NAV). Investment returns are subject to market volatility and shares may be worth more or less their original value when redeemed. The diversification of an ETF will not protect against loss. An ETF may not achieve its stated investment objective. Rebalancing and other activities within the fund may be subject to tax consequences. Fund Fees
If you invest in Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) through SoFi Invest (either by buying them yourself or via investing in SoFi Invest’s automated investments, formerly SoFi Wealth), these funds will have their own management fees. These fees are not paid directly by you, but rather by the fund itself. these fees do reduce the fund’s returns. Check out each fund’s prospectus for details. SoFi Invest does not receive sales commissions, 12b-1 fees, or other fees from ETFs for investing such funds on behalf of advisory clients, though if SoFi Invest creates its own funds, it could earn management fees there.
SoFi Invest may waive all, or part of any of these fees, permanently or for a period of time, at its sole discretion for any reason. Fees are subject to change at any time. The current fee schedule will always be available in your Account Documents section of SoFi Invest.
Tax Information: This article provides general background information only and is not intended to serve as legal or tax advice or as a substitute for legal counsel. You should consult your own attorney and/or tax advisor if you have a question requiring legal or tax advice.
Investment Risk: Diversification can help reduce some investment risk. It cannot guarantee profit, or fully protect in a down market.
Financial Tips & Strategies: The tips provided on this website are of a general nature and do not take into account your specific objectives, financial situation, and needs. You should always consider their appropriateness given your own circumstances.
If you ask any financial advisor when you should start saving for retirement, their answer would likely be simple: Now, or in your 20s if possible.
It’s not always easy to prioritize investing for retirement. If you’re in your 20s or 30s, you might have student loans or other goals that seem more “immediate,” such as a down payment on a house or your child’s tuition. But starting early is important because it can allow you to save much more. In fact, setting aside a little every year starting in your 20s could mean an additional hundreds of thousands of dollars of accumulated investment earnings by retirement age.
No matter what age you are, putting away money for the future is a good idea. Read on to learn more about when to start saving for retirement and how to do it.
Key Points
• Starting to save for retirement in your 20s is ideal, as it gives your money more time to potentially grow and benefit from compounding. Compounding occurs when any earnings received are added to your principal balance, so future earnings are calculated on this updated, larger amount.
• Assessing personal financial situations and retirement goals is crucial when determining how much to save for retirement, regardless of age.
• Individuals in their 30s, 40s, 50s, or 60s can still successfully start saving for retirement, with different strategies tailored to each age group.
• Regular contributions and taking advantage of employer-sponsored plans are key steps in building a solid retirement savings strategy at any age.
This article is part of SoFi’s Retirement Planning Guide, our coverage of all the steps you need to create a successful retirement plan.
What Is the Ideal Age to Start Saving for Retirement?
Ideally, you should start saving for retirement in your 20s, if possible. By getting started early, you could reap the benefits of compound interest. That’s when money in savings accounts earns interest, that interest is added to the principal amount in the account, and then interest is earned on the new higher amount.
Starting to save for retirement in your 20s can allow you to save much more. In fact, setting aside a little every year starting in your 20s could mean an additional hundreds of thousands of dollars of accumulated investment earnings by retirement age.
That said, if you are older than your 20s, it’s not too late to start saving for retirement. The important thing is to get started, no matter what your age.
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1Terms and conditions apply. Roll over a minimum of $20K to receive the 1% match offer. Matches on contributions are made up to the annual limits.
The #1 Reason to Start Early: Compound Interest
If you start saving early, you could reap the benefits of compound interest.
CFP®, Brian Walsh says, “Time can either be your best friend or your worst enemy. If you start saving early, you make it a habit, and you start building now, time becomes your best friend because of compounded growth. If you delay — say 5, 10, 15 years to save — then time becomes your worst enemy because you don’t have enough time to make up for the money that you didn’t save.”
Here’s how compound interest works and why it can be so valuable: The money in a savings account, money market account, or CD (certificate of deposit) earns interest. That interest is added to the balance or principle in the account, and then interest is earned on the new higher amount.
Depending on the type of account you have, interest might accrue daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly, twice a year, or annually. The more frequently interest compounds on your savings, the greater the benefit for you.
Investments — including investments in retirement plans, such as an employee-sponsored 401(k) plan or a traditional or Roth IRA — likewise benefit from compounding returns. Over time, you can see returns on both the principal as well as the returns on your contributions. Essentially, your money can work for you and potentially grow through the years, just through the power of compound returns.
The sooner you start saving and investing, the more time compounding has to do its work.
💡 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.
Saving Early vs Saving Later
To understand the power of compound returns, consider this:
If you start investing $7,000 a year at age 25, by the time you reach age 67, you’d have a total of $2,129,704.66. However, if you waited until age 35 to start investing the same amount, and got the same annual return, you’d have $939,494.76.
Age
Annual Return
Savings
25
8%
$2,129,704.66
35
8%
$939,494.76
As you can see, starting in your 20s means you may save double the amount you would have if you waited until your 30s.
Starting Retirement Savings During Different Life Stages
Retirement is often considered the single biggest expense in many peoples’ lives. Think about it: You may be living for 20 or more years with no active income.
Plus, while your parents or grandparents likely had a pension plan that kicked off right at the age of 65, that may not be the case for many workers in younger generations. Instead, the 401(k) model of retirement that’s more common these days requires employees to do their own saving.
As you get started on your savings journey, do a quick assessment of your current financial situation and goals. Be sure to factor in such considerations as:
• Age you are now
• Age you’d like to retire
• Your income
• Your expenses
• Where you’d like to live after retirement (location and type of home)
• The kind of lifestyle you envision in retirement (hobbies, travel, etc.)
To see where you’re heading with your savings you could use a retirement savings calculator. But here are more basics on how to get started on your retirement savings strategy, at any age.
Starting in Your 20s
Starting to save for retirement in your 20s is something you’ll later be thanking yourself for.
As discussed, the earlier you start investing, the better off you’re likely to be. No matter how much or little you start with, having a longer time horizon till retirement means you’ll be able to handle the typical ups and downs of the markets.
Plus, the sooner you start saving, the more time you’ll be able to benefit from compound returns, as noted.
Start by setting a goal: At what age would you like to retire? Based on current life expectancy, how many years do you expect to be retired? What do you imagine your retirement lifestyle will look like, and what might that cost?
Then, create a budget, if you haven’t already. Document your income, expenses, and debt. Once you do that, determine how much you can save for retirement, and start saving that amount right now.
If your 20s have come and gone and you haven’t started investing in your retirement, your 30s is the next-best time to start. While there may be other expenses competing for your budget right now — saving for a house, planning for kids or their college educations — the truth remains that the sooner you start retirement savings, the more time they’ll have to grow.
If you’re employed full-time, one easy way to start is to open an employer-sponsored retirement savings plan, like a 401(k). We’ll get into details on that below, but one benefit to note is that your savings will come out of your paycheck each month before you get taxed on that money. Not only does this automate retirement savings, but it means after a while you won’t even miss that part of your paycheck that you never really “had” to begin with. (And yes, Future You will thank you.)
When it comes to how much you should have saved for retirement by 40, one general guideline is to have the equivalent of your two to three times your annual salary saved in retirement money.
Once you have high-interest debt (like debt from credit cards) paid off, and have a good chunk of emergency savings set aside, take a good look at your monthly budget and figure out how to reallocate some money to start building a retirement savings fund.
Not only will regular contributions get you on a good path to savings, but one-off sources of money (from a bonus, an inheritance, or the sale of a car or other big-ticket item) are another way to help catch up on retirement savings faster.
Starting in Your 50s
In your 50s, a good ballpark goal is to have six times your annual salary in your retirement savings by the end of the decade. But don’t panic if you’re not there yet — there are a few ways you can catch up.
Specifically, the government allows individuals over age 50 to make “catch-up contributions” to 401(k), traditional IRA, and Roth IRA plans. That’s an additional $7,500 in 401(k) savings, and an additional $1,000 in IRA savings for 2024 and 2023.
The opportunity is there, but only you can manage your budget to make it happen. Once you’ve earmarked regular contributions to a retirement savings account, make sure to review your asset allocation on your own or with a professional. A general rule of thumb is, the closer you get to retirement age, the larger the ratio of less risky investments (like bonds or bond funds) to more volatile ones (like stocks, mutual funds, and ETFs) you should have.
Starting in Your 60s
It’s never too late to start investing, especially if you’re still working and can contribute to an employer-sponsored retirement plan that may have matching contributions. If you’re contributing to a 401(k), or a Roth or traditional IRA, don’t forget about catch-up contributions (see the information above).
In general, when you’re this close to retirement it makes sense for your investments to be largely made up of bonds, cash, or cash equivalents. Having more fixed-income securities in your portfolio helps lower the odds of suffering losses as you get closer to your target retirement date.
Investing in retirement and wealth accounts is a great way to jump-start saving and investing for your golden years, whether you invest $10,000 or just $100 to get started.
The first step is to open an account or use the one that’s already open. You could also increase your contribution. If you’re opening an account, you may want to consider one without fees, to help maximize your bottom line.
Ready to invest for your retirement? It’s easy to get started when you open a traditional or Roth IRA with SoFi. SoFi doesn’t charge commissions, but other fees apply (full fee disclosure here).
Easily manage your retirement savings with a SoFi IRA.
FAQ
Is 20 years enough to save for retirement?
It’s never too late to start investing for retirement. If you’re just starting in your 40s, consider contributing to an employer-sponsored plan if you can, so that you can take advantage of any employer matching contributions. In addition to regular bi-weekly or monthly contributions, make every effort to deposit any “windfall” lump sums (like a bonus, inheritance, or proceeds from the sale of a car or house) into a retirement savings vehicle in an effort to catch up faster.
Is 25 too late to start saving for retirement?
It’s not too late to start saving for retirement at 25. Take a look at your budget and determine the max you can contribute on a regular basis — whether through an employer-sponsored plan, an IRA, or a combination of them. Then start making contributions, and consider them as non-negotiable as rent, mortgage, or a utility bill.
Is 30 too old to start investing?
No age is too old to start investing for retirement, because the best time to start is today. The sooner you start investing, the more advantage you can take of compound returns, and potentially employer matching contributions if you open an employer-sponsored retirement plan.
Should I prioritize paying off debt over saving for retirement?
Whether you should prioritize paying off debt over saving for retirement depends on your personal situation and the type of debt you have. If your debt is the high-interest kind, such as credit card debt, for instance, it could make sense to pay off that debt first because the high interest is costing you extra money. The less you owe, the more you’ll be able to put into retirement savings.
And consider this: You may be able to pay off your debt and save simultaneously. For instance, if your employer offers a 401(k) with a match, enroll in the plan and contribute enough so that the employer match kicks in. Otherwise, you are essentially forfeiting free money. At the same time, put a dedicated amount each week or month to repaying your debt so that you continue to chip away at it. That way you will be reducing your debt and working toward saving for your retirement.
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.
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.
Tax Information: This article provides general background information only and is not intended to serve as legal or tax advice or as a substitute for legal counsel. You should consult your own attorney and/or tax advisor if you have a question requiring legal or tax advice.
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 email customer service at https://sofi.app.link/investchat. Please read the prospectus carefully prior to investing.
Shares of ETFs must be bought and sold at market price, which can vary significantly from the Fund’s net asset value (NAV). Investment returns are subject to market volatility and shares may be worth more or less their original value when redeemed. The diversification of an ETF will not protect against loss. An ETF may not achieve its stated investment objective. Rebalancing and other activities within the fund may be subject to tax consequences. Fund Fees
If you invest in Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) through SoFi Invest (either by buying them yourself or via investing in SoFi Invest’s automated investments, formerly SoFi Wealth), these funds will have their own management fees. These fees are not paid directly by you, but rather by the fund itself. these fees do reduce the fund’s returns. Check out each fund’s prospectus for details. SoFi Invest does not receive sales commissions, 12b-1 fees, or other fees from ETFs for investing such funds on behalf of advisory clients, though if SoFi Invest creates its own funds, it could earn management fees there.
SoFi Invest may waive all, or part of any of these fees, permanently or for a period of time, at its sole discretion for any reason. Fees are subject to change at any time. The current fee schedule will always be available in your Account Documents section of SoFi Invest.
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 Trademarks: Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc. (CFP Board) owns the certification marks CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER®, CFP® (with plaque design), and CFP® (with flame design) in the U.S., which it awards to individuals who successfully complete CFP Board's initial and ongoing certification requirements.
Disclaimer: The projections or other information regarding the likelihood of various investment outcomes are hypothetical in nature, do not reflect actual investment results, and are not guarantees of future results.
SOIN0623043
