Articles Tagged with 33602

Maybe you want to make it big as an investor. Maybe you just want a nest egg for retirement or financial security for your family. Whatever the reasons, thousands of Americans everyday make their first steps to becoming active investors.

Before hitting the market though, there’s a lot would-be investors need to know; like understanding the different types of stock and securities investments, and how active an investment approach you’d like to take.

Once you’ve got that down, you’ve got to know the buy-and-sell process of trading. For that, you’ve got to know your order types.

You’ve probably heard the term “diversified portfolio” before. The term brings to mind the image of a robust, varied assortment of assets and securities that not only generate generous returns, but act as a cushion against any one stock or security’s downturn.

Everyone wants a diversified portfolio, from fledgling investors to seasoned pros. However, there’s a fine line between your portfolio being diversified and it just being a hodge-podge.

Diversified portfolio or salad bar portfolio?

The Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) recently reached a settlement sum of $5.5 billion with the U.S. Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) in the agency’s lawsuit.

One down, one to go

This settles at least one of the the two mortgage-baked securities lawsuits against RBS in U.S. courts. Another lawsuit remains pending with the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ). According to the Reuters article, experts are estimating at least $10 billion will go towards the settlement. It is slated to be the largest fine ever paid by the bank in U.S. courts.

Amid the fallout of 2008, when the nation’s banking giants toppled and our economy was sent reeling, Federal legislators and regulators decided that changes were needed. Most of these changes took shape as the Dodd-Frank Act, which provide the framework for much of our current banking regulation and oversight.

You’re probably familiar with Dodd-Frank, at least in part. It’s been a near constant topic of discussion on both Wall Street and Capitol Hill since it took effect. And this conversation has only increased during the Trump Administration.

However, did you know that part of Dodd-Frank requires banks to submit a financial doomsday plan outlining how they will dissolve in the event of a catastrophic collapse?

We’ve all seen bad actors in movies and T.V., but did you know that bad actors can be found on Wall Street and other financial industry institutions? The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) recently released a statement outlining the need for checks-and-balances against bad actors.

What are bad actors?

FINRA defines a bad actor as one within the financial industry “who seeks to evade regulatory requirements and harm investors for their own personal gain”. Essentially, they’re con artists; fraudsters.

A 2016 study by the Tax Policy Center comparing Trump’s then-stated plan and the current tax ratesOne of the big platforms that boosted Trump to the Oval Office was his promise to let business operate unencumbered. Throughout his campaign, he promised a hands-off approach to business, including wide-scale financial deregulation as well as considerable corporate tax cuts.

In fact, Wall Street was riding high post-election on sheer optimism. Financial and industrial stocks soared, reaching record peaks, in anticipation of the big regulatory rollback that was sure to follow.

For businesses, too, hopes were high. The Trump administration promised huge tax cuts for businesses and corporations.

Retirees and pensioners will now have a voice at the negotiating table during Puerto Rico’s bankruptcy, according to a Reuters report. This month, the U.S. Trustee overseeing the filing procedure announced the appointment of a retiree committee.

While retiree committees are usually appointed in municipal bankruptcy filings, it is typically preceded with a formal ruling from the bankruptcy court. However, due to the extreme nature of Puerto Rico’s bankruptcy, the Trustee is acting without a judge’s ruling.

Puerto Rico’s Bankruptcy Overview

We all remember that nastiness about Wells Fargo, right? You know, that little PR debacle where it turned out that, due to unrealistic sales initiatives, Wells Fargo employees initiated accounts fraud against millions of consumers.

After the story broke, Wells Fargo lost a major vote of consumer confidence. The following weeks saw many customers closing accounts and executives getting raked over the coals, culminating in the resignation of the CEO and a large scale termination of employees who had participated in accounts fraud.

Finally, it seemed the dust had settled. The banking giant was ordered to pay out $190 million in federal fines and reparations to affected consumers. The bank also promised a change to corporate culture and initiatives, announcing an end to aggressive sales goals.

Brexit, Meet ‘Banxit’

When Britain announced its decision to formally leave the European Union (EU), it raised a lot of uncertainty. While the decision caused global unsettling, probably the most anxious was the international investment banking community.

Until now, Britain, specifically London, has been the undisputed epicenter of investment banking, next to Wall Street. In fact most top-tier U.S. investment banks housed their international headquarters in London. Now, as Britain enters into formal exit discussions, these banks are beginning to look elsewhere.

In the internet age, cyber crime has become one of the top platforms for investment fraud and financial crimes. Many investors have begun making online investments instead of using traditional investment platforms. With this, comes the need to educate and inform about fraud targeting online investments.

The Securities and Exchange Commission has published an investor bulletin outlining helpful tips and resources to protect your online investments from fraud.

8 Tips for Protecting Online Investments
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