How to Make Money in Stocks
The stock market’s average return is a cool 10% annually — better than you can find in a bank account or bonds. So why do so many people fail to earn…
James Royal, Ph.D.
James F. Royal, Ph.D., is a former NerdWallet writer. His work has also been featured in the Washington Post, New York Times and the Associated Press.
Posts by James Royal, Ph.D.:
What Are Sin Stocks?
Sin stocks sound sexier than the reality — this is finance, after all. These stocks are shares of companies engaged in industries that some people consider unethical or immoral. The…
A European Vacation You Can Afford
I first heard of the Camino de Santiago (translated into the Way of St. James) when I lived in Germany from 2000 to 2003. It was not “a thing” for…
Market Order vs. Limit Order: When to Use Which
When you’re ready to buy or sell a stock or fund, you have two main ways to determine the price you’ll trade at: the market order and the limit order.…
What Is Preferred Stock?
Investors looking to buy stock in a company may be able to choose between two main types of stock: preferred stock (aka preferred shares or preferreds) or common stock. What…
What Is Smart Beta, and Can It Give Your Portfolio a Boost?
Smart beta investing strategies have become incredibly popular. From 2012 to 2017, the value of smart beta funds grew at almost 30% annually, and surpassed $1 trillion in assets in…
How Do I Fund an IRA?
Individual retirement accounts are a great way to save for your retirement tax-free. What’s not so great is figuring out how you can scrape the money together to take full…
Should You Auto-Reinvest IRA Dividends?
Dividend reinvestment can be a real boon to investors, especially within an individual retirement account, where you’re protected from certain tax consequences. Inside an IRA, you can reinvest your full…
Bitcoin Taxes in 2020: A Guide to Tax Rules for Cryptocurrency
With bitcoin, you can run afoul of the IRS in a few surprising ways, so it pays to learn the rules. The big picture? Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies that you…
What Is the Average Stock Market Return?
The average stock market return is about 10% per year for nearly the last century. The S&P 500 is often considered the benchmark measure for annual stock market returns. Though 10% is the…
