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Buying a home is a major life moment. It’s exciting, but also potentially stressful and confusing. Luckily, there are real estate agents to guide you through the process.

Finding a real estate agent who is well connected, hard working, and trustworthy can save consumers time and offer some much-needed peace of mind.

Benefits of Hiring a Good Real Estate Agent

A skilled real estate agent can help a buyer locate their dream home, navigate negotiations, and wrap up all that tedious paperwork. An agent with a strong professional network and familiarity with the housing inventory where you’re hoping to buy may even get early word of so-called “whisper listings” — properties that are about to come on the market.

First-time homebuyers may find an agent’s guidance to be especially helpful. But even seasoned buyers can benefit from expert advice. (If you do feel confident you have the skills to go it alone, buying a house without a real estate agent is possible.)

But you also should know that a 2024 legal settlement created sweeping change to the real estate industry, and the protocol for agents getting paid is still in flux. Revisions by the National Association of Realtors® to the way homebuyers and sellers work with agents on home purchases — and the way those agents are compensated — affect homebuyers and -sellers as well.

If you plan to buy (or sell) a home, it’s important to ask any agent you’re considering hiring how they will be compensated for their work, and to understand the details of an agent’s commission before entering into an agreement.

How to Find a Good Real Estate Agent

In many housing markets, a dizzying number of professionals are standing by to help with your home purchase. Take these steps to choose smartly.

Learn the Terms

Before launching a search for the perfect real estate agent, it can be helpful to brush up on the job titles you may encounter.

Most commonly, consumers will come across real estate agents, Realtors®, and brokers, all of whom can act as agents, but who can have varying levels of experience, education, and certifications.

•   Real estate agent: Holds a license to practice real estate.

•   Realtor®: To have this designation, an agent must be a member of the National Association of Realtors®, which is a trade association.

•   Broker: A real estate agent must complete a certain amount of working hours, have additional education, and may have demonstrated leadership abilities among other agents in order to qualify as a broker.

Keep It Personal

A little networking can go a long way when looking for a good real estate agent.

Asking trusted friends, family members, or neighbors which real estate agent they worked with is a great place to start. Additional avenues that can lead to finding a good real estate agent may include:

•   Checking out local magazines and area “best of” lists featuring real estate agents.

•   Reviewing local real estate association websites.

•   Considering agents who are listed often on for-sale signs in the area.

How to Choose a Real Estate Agent

Once you’ve made a list of possible agents, you’ll want to do your homework.

Leave No Stone Unturned

Just as “location, location, location” is an important factor in buying property, research, research, and more research will help in the search to find a good real estate agent. This is also the time to think seriously about your finances and to start the process of lining up a home mortgage loan, as your real estate agent will ask about your price range.

Recommended: How to Get a Mortgage in 2025

Looking up reviews on websites like Zillow (click on “Find an Agent”) or Realtor.com (“Find Realtors”) can be a good place to find a good real estate agent.

When reading reviews or considering references, it can be helpful to seek answers to the following questions:

•   Does the agent have good communication skills?

•   Is the agent easy to touch base with, and do they have ample availability?

•   Did they show interest in the process even after a deal was under contract?

•   Are they known to regularly have disagreements with other agents?

If you find a real estate agent online or as a result of the agent’s marketing efforts, ask for references before making a decision.

Following a Hiring Process

Narrow the field to a handful of possible agents, then interview them before making a decision.

This process can feel similar to hiring an employee. The interview can give you an idea of what it will be like to work with an agent. Here are some sample questions to ask when interviewing agents:

•   How long have you worked as a real estate agent? Experience is key, especially for first-time buyers or sellers who need extra guidance in a hot market.

•   How many clients do you usually have at once? Their answer will help determine how much time they have to devote to each client and how accessible they will be.

•   Do you work with a team? For busier agents, having team members who can provide assistance can be helpful.

•   What areas do you cover? Finding an agent who is familiar with the area you’re looking in can give you a leg up in your search.

•   How do you prefer to communicate? Make sure your communication styles mesh well together, whether that be over text, phone, or email.

(Selling a home? The interview questions are different. You’d want to ask how the agent would market the home, what fees might be included, and how they would price the home based on recent sales in the area.)

Recommended: 15 Questions to Ask When Interviewing Realtors

When It’s Time to Buy

Some real estate agents may request that homebuyers sign a contract known as an agency agreement. Before making any real estate working relationship official, take a close look at the contract to ensure there are no unpleasant surprises down the road.

The agreement may obligate you to only work with the agent for a set period of time. These contracts are not always required, but they provide the real estate agent with more assurance that they will be paid for their services.

Those selling a home also sign a contract, known as a listing agent contract, with the real estate agent who is listing their home. Typically, these agreements include the commission (usually as a percentage of the sale price), listing duration, cancellation clause, responsibilities, disputes, ownership, expiration date, and details regarding dual-agency restrictions in the states where it is allowed.

Good Real Estate Agents’ Tips

You think you’ve found a qualified real estate agent to assist you in buying a house. What now? A good agent will accompany you on home tours, advise you when you are ready to make an offer, and recommend other professionals to assist you in the process, such as a home inspector.

The home-buying process can be complicated and a good real estate agent should hold your hand every step of the way. Your agent will submit your offer on your behalf and provide you with a list of the documents you need to buy a house, including mortgage documents, that you will need for the closing.

The Takeaway

Finding a good real estate agent can be key to closing the best deal as a buyer. A thorough research and interview process can help you land an agent you feel, well, at home with — and who will work hard for you.

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

FAQ

What do buyers want most from real estate agents?

Buyers most want an agent who will help them find the right home, so a well-connected agent familiar with the community and its housing inventory is a top priority.

What is an offer to purchase a home called?

An offer to purchase contract, also called a real estate purchase agreement, contains the address and description of the property, as well as the purchase price, down payment information, other deal terms, and an expiration date. It helps ensure that the buyer and seller are in agreement about the deal.

How do I get the best out of my real estate agent?

Knowing what you are looking for in a home, knowing your budget, and communicating openly about what you like and dislike can help ensure best results. Keep in mind that your real estate agent works on commission: Be organized, only visit properties you are truly interested in, and come to appointments on time.

About the author

Jacqueline DeMarco

Jacqueline DeMarco is a freelance writer who specializes in financial topics. Her first job out of college was in the financial industry, and it was there she gained a passion for helping others understand tricky financial topics. Read full bio.

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SOHL-Q225-022

Many people hit a period of financial hardship at some point in their lives. Maybe there’s a medical emergency and big bills, a job layoff, or a family member in serious need: These and other scenarios can put your money management in a precarious position.

Approximately 73% of Americans report feeling stressed about money, according to an April 2025 CNBC/SurveyMonkey poll. Financial stress can be triggered by anything from the high cost of living to excess debt to worrying about saving for one’s (and one’s family’s) future.

Here, you’ll learn more about what happens when financial hardship hits and how to take steps to improve the situation, from applying for assistance to negotiating with lenders to discovering new sources of income.

What is Financial Hardship?

Everyone probably has their own definition of “economic hardship” that’s based on their own needs and wants. And the federal government has its own criteria for what counts as a “hardship” when it comes to taking an individual retirement account (IRA) distribution, looking for tax relief, or requesting a student loan deferment.

But generally, a financial hardship is when an individual or family finds they can no longer keep up with their bills or pay for the basic things they need to get by, such as food, shelter, clothing and medical care.

Warning Signs

Sometimes financial difficulties can sneak up on a person, and catch them completely off guard. Other times, the warning signs have been there for a while, but were missed or ignored.

Identifying the root cause of financial distress can help give you a head start on working through your money issues. What follows are some red flags that may signal you are headed for financial difficulty or hardship.

Having Credit Card Balances at or Above the Credit Limit

While using credit cards may seem like a good way to get around a short-term lack of funds, the practice could lead to extra fees and negatively impact your credit. The percentage of available credit someone is using — known as a credit utilization ratio — can indicate to lenders how heavily they’re depending on credit cards to get by. And because it’s one of the major factors in determining a person’s overall credit score, financial advisors typically recommend keeping card balances at or below 30% of the limit.

Juggling Which Bills Get Paid Each Month

It may be tempting to skip a payment from time to time, hoping to catch up eventually — but there can be short- and long-term consequences for juggling bills. Insurance coverage may be lost. There may be a late fee, or a bill could be turned over to a collection agency.

Utilities can also be shut off, and a deposit might be required to restart the account. Making late payments on a credit card could lead to a higher interest rate on the account. And late payments and defaults can hurt credit scores.

Recommended: How to Organize Bills

Only Making Minimum Payments on Your Credit Cards

It may be necessary to make minimum payments if times are especially tight, and there likely won’t be any short-term harm. But even if you stop making purchases, just the interest charged will keep the account balance growing, possibly extending the amount of time it takes to pay down that debt by months or years.

Often Paying Late Fees or Overdraft Fees

A one-time mistake may serve as an annoying reminder to be more cautious with money management, but if late fees, overdraft and non-sufficient funds fees, and overdraft protection transfers become a regular thing, they can add another layer of worry to your financial burden. (Using alerts, automatic payments, and apps from your financial institution may offer a more effective method to track bills as well as deposits and withdrawals.)

💡 Quick Tip: Make money easy. Open a bank account online so you can manage bills, deposits, transfers — all from one convenient app.

Having a High Debt-to-Income Ratio

Lenders often use a person’s debt-to-income ratio — a personal finance measure that compares the amount of debt you have to your income — to determine if a borrower might have trouble making payments. If a person’s debt-to-income ratio is high, it could make it more difficult to borrow money, or to get a good interest rate on a loan.

Tapping Retirement Savings to Pay Monthly Bills

In certain cases, the IRS will allow an account holder to withdraw funds from a 401(k) or IRA to cover an immediate and heavy financial need (such as medical expenses, payment to avoid eviction or repair home damage) without paying the 10% early withdrawal penalty. But taxes will still have to be paid on those distributions. And taking that money now, instead of letting it grow through the power of compound interest, could have serious repercussions for the future.

Dealing with Financial Hardship

For those who’ve been struggling for a while, or who’ve had a sudden but substantial financial loss, it might feel as though you’ll never recover. But there are several options you might consider taking to get back on track. Some you can do for yourself, while others might require getting financial hardship help from others. And while some might be temporary, others take a longer view. Here are a few:

Reducing Monthly Spending

Creating a monthly budget can help guide your spending decisions and make the most of the money you have. This may involve prioritizing your monthly expenses, starting with the essentials and going down to the “nice to haves.” Once you’ve established which expenses are the most important, you can then look for places to cut back or things to cut out of your budget altogether. Cutbacks may not feel fun, but they can help jump-start your recovery.

For example, could you cut costs if you cooked meals yourself more often? Are you trying too hard to keep up with what friends and family are spending on clothes, vacations, and cars? Are there monthly bills that could be reduced? (For example, you might be able to save money on streaming services, internet, and phone services; manicures and other beauty treatments; or even rent, insurance, or car payments.) It may help to start by tracking expenses for a month or so to get an idea of where money is going, and then sit down and map out a more realistic path for the future.

Creating a Debt Reduction Plan

Along with a budget, it also may be useful to come up with a plan for paying down credit card balances, student loans, and other debt. It’s important to always make the minimum payment on all these bills, if possible, but a personal debt reduction plan could help with prioritizing which bill any leftover money might go toward after all the household expenses are paid each month — or the money might come from a tax refund, bonus check from work, or a gift. Knocking down debts that include high amounts of interest can eventually free up more cash to put toward short- or long-term savings goals.

💡 Quick Tip: If you’re saving for a short-term goal — whether it’s a vacation, a wedding, or the down payment on a house — consider opening a high-yield savings account. The higher APY that you’ll earn will help your money grow faster, but the funds stay liquid, so they are easy to access when you reach your goal.

Looking for Ways to Earn Extra Income

Is there a way to turn a hobby, skill, or interest into some extra funds? Maybe a favorite local business could use some part-time help. Or, if a second job is out of the question, perhaps a side hustle with flexible hours is a possibility. Writers, artists, and designers, for example, may be able to turn their talents into a side business. Babysitting the neighbor’s kids or running errands for an older person are also options. And, of course, on-demand services like Uber and DoorDash are employing drivers, delivery persons, and other workers.

Considering a Loan to Consolidate Bills

Getting a personal loan for debt consolidation won’t make money problems go away completely — but it might make managing payments a little simpler. With just one monthly payment (instead of separate bills for every credit card or loan) it can be easier to keep tabs on how much is owed and when it’s due.

Because interest rates for personal loans are typically lower than the interest rates credit card companies offer (especially if a rate went up because of late payments), the payoff process for that debt could go faster and end up costing less. (Generally, lenders offer a lower interest rate to those who have a higher credit score; borrowers who are already behind on their bills may pay a higher interest rate or have more trouble getting a loan.)

Student loan borrowers also may want to look into consolidating and refinancing with a private lender to get one manageable payment and, possibly, save money on interest with a shorter term or a lower interest rate. Refinancing may be a solution for working graduates who have high-interest, unsubsidized Direct Loans, Graduate PLUS loans, and/or private loans.

Just keep in mind: Federal loans carry some special benefits that private loans don’t offer, including public service forgiveness and economic hardship programs, so it’s important for borrowers to be clear on what they’re getting and what they might lose if they refinance.

Notifying and Negotiating

Ignoring credit card payments and other debts won’t make them disappear. Borrowers who can clearly see they’re headed for financial trouble may wish to notify their credit card company or lender and try to work out a more manageable payment arrangement. (There are debt settlement companies that will do the negotiating, but they charge a fee for their services.)

A credit card issuer may agree to a reduced, lump-sum payment or a repayment plan based on the borrower’s current income, or it may offer a hardship program with a lower interest rate, lower minimum payments, and/or reduced penalties and fees. The options available could depend on why a customer fell behind, or if they’ve had problems before.

Financial hardship assistance is sometimes offered by mortgage lenders. Because these lenders generally don’t want their borrowers to foreclose on their homes, it’s in their best interest to work with borrowers when they get in trouble. The lender may be willing to help the borrower get caught up by forgiving late payments, or they may change the interest rate of the loan or lower the payment.

If you have federal student loans and are experiencing financial hardship, you might qualify for a special repayment plan, such as pay-as-you-earn, or an income-based repayment plan.

It can also be helpful to reach out to service providers (such as water, electricity, internet) and let them know you are experiencing financial difficulties. Providers may be willing to work with you and you may be able to come to an agreement well before any shut-off actions go into effect. This can also save you from late fees, or going into collections.

Getting Financial Help

There are also a number of government programs designed specifically to help people overcome sudden financial hardships. Those who’ve lost a job may be entitled to unemployment benefits. If that job provided health insurance, you may want to look into COBRA to see if you can maintain affordable health insurance. Those who were injured at work may be entitled to workers’ compensation.

Also, some people facing financial hardship may qualify for state or federal benefits like Medicaid or Social Security Disability.

Though not free, a financial professional who specializes in planning, saving, and investing may be a worthwhile investment. They may be able to offer a fresh perspective and help create a path to financial freedom. There may also be free or low-cost debt counselors available via non-profit organizations.

Preparing for Current and Future Challenges

Once you’ve developed your personal plan for overcoming financial hardship, you can begin working on your goals of becoming more financially independent. If the cause of your hardship is temporary (you were out of work but quickly found a new job, for example), it may take just a few months to get back on your feet. If the problems are more difficult to overcome (you’ve lost income through a divorce, or you or a loved one has an ongoing medical condition that requires expensive treatment), the timeline could be much longer. Once you’ve put your plan in place, you may want to review it on a regular basis, and perhaps do some fine-tuning.

The Takeaway

Many people go through periods of financial hardship, and often for reasons that are beyond their control. But that doesn’t mean they are out of options. There are many simple and effective steps you can take. Cutting monthly expenses, consolidating debt, and getting outside assistance are moves that can help you get back on the right financial track.

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.

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SOBNK-Q225-031

Investment funds are financial tools that effectively allow investors to pool their resources to buy into a collection of securities. It’s relatively common and easy for beginning investors to dip their toes in the market with investment funds for a variety of reasons.

But there are many types of investment funds, and the purported benefits of a specific fund may not be the right choice for each investor. With that in mind, it’s generally a good idea to have a deeper understanding of investment funds before buying into one.

What Is an Investment Fund?

Broadly speaking, an investment fund is a collection of funds from different people that is used to buy financial securities. Investors get the advantages of investing as a group (purchasing power) and own a portion, or percentage of their investments equal to the money they have contributed.

There are different types of investment funds, including mutual funds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), and hedge funds. Typically, these funds are managed by a professional investment manager who allocates investors’ money based on the type of fund and the fund’s goal. For this service, investors are generally charged a small fee that is a percentage of their investment amount.

What Is a Mutual Fund?

Mutual funds are a popular type of investment fund for a reason: they are an easy way to purchase diversified assets — from stocks and bonds to short-term debt — in one transaction.

One of the fundamental ideas that led to the creation of mutual funds was to provide individual investors with access to investments that might be more difficult to obtain or manage on their own. A retail investor with $1,000 probably wouldn’t be able to effectively recreate a portfolio that tracks the S&P 500, let alone rebalance it quarterly.

But thanks to the creation of mutual funds, investors can pool all of their money together into a collective fund to invest in the same markets by choosing from custom-packaged funds with specific focuses and inexpensive share prices.

Different Types of Mutual Funds

There are a number of different types of mutual funds, each of which offer something distinct to the investor.

Equity Funds

Also known as stock funds, equity funds are a type of mutual fund that invests in a specific asset class, principally in stocks. Equity fund managers seek to outperform the S&P 500 benchmark by actively investing in growth stocks and undervalued companies that may provide higher returns over a period of time than the fund’s benchmark.

Equity funds have higher potential returns but are also subject to higher volatility as well. It’s common for equity funds to be actively managed and thus typically charge higher operating fees. Funds with higher stock allocations are more popular with younger investors as they allow for growth potential over time.

While equity is a specific asset investment by itself, some mutual funds focus on more precise criteria:

Fund Size (Market Cap)

Some funds only include companies with a defined market cap (market value). Different tiers of company sizes can perform differently in different economic conditions, and companies can be viewed as more or less risky based on their market cap. Fund sizes are categorized by the following:

•   Large-cap (More than $10 billion)

•   Mid-cap ($2 billion to $10 billion)

•   Small-cap ($300 million to $2 billion)

Industry/Sector

These are funds that focus specifically on a single industry or sector, such as technology, health care, energy, travel, and more. Owning shares in different sector mutual funds provides portfolio diversity and can potentially enhance returns if a particular industry experiences a tailwind.

Growth vs Value

Some funds differ in their investment style, focusing on either value or growth. Growth stocks are expected to provide outsized returns, though these tend to be higher risk, whereas value stocks are considered to be undervalued.

International/Emerging Markets

Domestic stocks are not the only equity investment options, as some funds focus exclusively on international and emerging markets. International and emerging market funds provide geographic diversity — exposure to companies operating in different countries and countries with growing markets.

Bond Funds

Like stock mutual funds, bond funds are pools of investor funds that are invested in short- or -long-term bonds from issuers such as the U.S. government, government agencies, corporations, and other specialized securities. Bond funds are a common type of fixed-income mutual funds where investors are paid a fixed amount on their initial investment.

Seeing as how bonds are frequently thought of as a less-risky investment than stocks and offer less growth, bond funds are popular among investors who are looking to preserve their wealth.

Index Funds

This type of fund is constructed to track or match the makeup and performance of a financial market index such as the S&P 500. They provide broad market exposure, low operating expenses, and relatively low portfolio turnover. Unlike equity funds, an index fund’s holdings only change when the underlying index does.

Index fund investing has exploded in popularity in recent years due to its low costs, passive approach, and abundance of options to pick from. Investors may choose from a number of indices that focus on different sectors such as the S&P 500 (financial and consumer), Nasdaq 100 (technology), Russell 2000 (small-cap), and international indices.

Balanced Funds

Also known as asset allocation funds, these hybrid funds are a combination of investments in equity and fixed-income with a fixed ratio, such as 80% stocks and 20% bonds. Balanced funds offer diversification by spreading funds across different asset classes and consequently trade some growth potential in an attempt to mitigate some risk.

One example of a balanced fund is a target-date retirement fund, which automatically rebalances the investments from higher-risk stocks to lower-risk bonds as the fund approaches the target retirement date.

Money Market Fund

This low-risk, fixed-income mutual fund invests in short-term, high-quality debt from federal, state, or local governments, or U.S. corporations. Assets commonly held by money market funds include U.S. Treasuries and Certificates of Deposit. These funds are usually among the lowest-risk types of investments.

Alternative Funds

For those seeking portfolio diversity beyond traditional stocks and bonds, it may be worth considering alternative investment funds. Alternative funds focus on other specific markets, such as real estate, commodities, private equity, or others. They tend to be higher risk in exchange for the potential to offer higher returns.

These asset classes generally make up a small percentage of one’s portfolio, if at all, and serve as a hedge to heavier-weighted allocations to traditional sectors. Rather than investing in companies of a particular index or market cap, alternative funds may be composed of shares of natural gas drilling companies, real estate investment trusts (REITs), intellectual property rights, or more.

Benefits of Investing in Mutual Funds

While no two funds are the same, mutual funds are a popular choice for investors of all types for a variety of reasons.

Diversification

Mutual funds serve as a sort of investment basket that contains many different assets, some with the same general focus and others with multiple focuses. Rather than being all-in on one particular investment, mutual funds offer diversity across multiple investments.

This allows investors to cast a wider net and benefit when one or multiple of their basket investments performs well. Conversely, when one investment in a mutual fund does poorly, the loss may be mitigated by also having other investments that are performing comparatively well. Some types of funds offer greater diversification across different asset classes, such as stocks and bonds.

Performance

Mutual funds that aim to track indices or focus on growth stocks typically yield similar market performance compared to the benchmark index. This is more or less the same goal of a buy-and-hold strategy, as fund performance often, but not always, mirrors the tracked index.

Low Maintenance

Mutual funds are relatively easy to use and require little to no maintenance. They allow investing in multiple asset classes through one investment vehicle without having the investor sift through and make individual decisions. All of these decisions are usually provided by an active fund manager whose responsibility is to provide profitable returns for investors based on the fund’s general focus or target.

Mutual funds also provide a degree of functionality. One convenient feature is the ability to set a passive monthly investment amount and to automatically reinvest dividends. Many mutual funds pay investors dividends on an annual, quarterly, or even monthly basis. Dividends are calculated based on the underlying companies’ earnings and distributed to the fund, which then passes them along to fund investors. Another feature of mutual funds is the ability to reinvest dividends, thus compounding both mutual fund holdings and dividends in perpetuity.

Liquid

Mutual funds are transacted frequently. Investors are able to easily buy or redeem mutual fund shares daily at the market open. Shares in funds tend to be relatively affordable as they typically have a low net asset value (NAV), allowing even novice investors to buy shares with a low starting amount. Compare this to ETFs which can be transacted repeatedly at any time during market hours, but the price can rise to seemingly out-of-reach levels for a beginner.

Active Management

Mutual funds are usually actively managed by a professional fund manager who’s responsible for operating the fund, whether it be to allocate investor money, rebalance the fund’s investments, or distribute dividends to investors.

While mutual funds tend to have relatively low fees, investors are subject to an annual fee, also known as an expense ratio, that is calculated as a percentage of each individual’s holdings in the fund and automatically paid to the fund manager for their services. Fund fees vary, so in some cases it may be helpful to compare fees before investing.

Can I Lose Money in a Mutual Fund?

With investing, there is no such thing as a sure thing. So, yes, you can lose money in a mutual fund. It is possible to lose all of your money in a mutual fund if the securities in the fund drop in value.

As always, it’s prudent to research exactly what’s contained in a particular mutual fund before investing any capital. Ultimately, it’s every investor’s responsibility to determine their own risk tolerance and investing strategy that meets their personal needs.

The Takeaway

Investment funds are a practical and beginner-friendly way to start investing in financial markets. Even with beginner knowledge concerning what is a mutual investment fund, mutual funds have the propensity to provide a hands-off and potentially low-cost way to start building wealth. But again, your mileage may vary, as not all funds are alike.

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.