William F. Galvin, Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, at a press conference on Sep. 10, 2018. Galvin championed a state rule governing investment advice, which a judge invalidated in March 2022.

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The fight to protect consumers from bad investment advice has been a multi-year saga.

At first blush, it may seem a losing battle: In March, a judge struck down a Massachusetts rule that aimed to clamp down on unscrupulous investment brokers. The holy grail for consumer advocates an Obama-era U.S. Department of Labor rule to protect retirement investors also died in court in 2018.

Since then, consumer groups have bemoaned a lackluster roster of federal and state oversight.

A number of them say recent measures from the Securities and Exchange Commission and National Association of Insurance Commissioners which outline rules for brokers to give financial advice that's in the "best interest" of clients are basically straw men.

Here's a look at more stories on how to manage, grow and protect your money for the years ahead.

However, there is broad disagreement on this point.

NAIC President Dean Cameron, for example, said its measure was "bipartisan" and a "significant advancement" for retirees. And proponents of the SEC rule call it a monumental leap forward, the culmination of a Dodd-Frank Act directive in 2010 for the regulator to study more stringent rules for brokers.

In addition, many financial industry players who fought the Obama-era advice rule thought it would have negative effects for consumers.

"I think we're in a much better place with the receipt of investment advice for investors," said Lisa Bleier, associate general counsel at the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association (SIFMA), a trade group that represents brokerage firms.

Meanwhile, many legal experts acknowledge that there has been positive change for consumers, despite the debate over how quickly reforms have happened and a granular focus on wins and losses.

"It is two steps forward, one step back," said Fred Reish, an investment-advice expert and partner at the law firm Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath. "But if you ignore those back steps and look at this over a five- or 10-year period, the trend line is definitely toward greater protection for investors, and [especially] for retiree investors.

"You can see a better world developing in the marketplace," Reish added.

Investment advice may not sound like a complex concept. Yet underneath that "simplicity" is a web of rules and regulations.

For example, financial advisors, insurance agents and brokers are beholden to different rules about how they can treat customers when giving advice.

Further, one advisor might have different obligations based on the financial product they recommend to a client (a variable annuity, fixed annuity, life insurance or mutual fund, for example). The rules can also differ based on the type of account in which that investment is bought (perhaps an individual retirement account or a taxable brokerage account).

Advisors and brokers are supposed to disclose all of this (and, in some cases, avoid it outright), but clients may not have the wherewithal to make sense of the legal jargon and rules.

They're sort of tightening the screws.

Andrew Oringer

partner at Dechert

Basically, there are many shades of gray. The perpetual concern of consumer advocates is that loose rules permit advisors to enrich themselves at customers' expense.

This is the thicket into which regulators have waded and intervened. To varying degrees, they've tried placing more of a burden on "salespeople" (advisors, brokers and their firms) to give good advice to clients rather than on consumers to figure out if they can trust that advice. That might involve reducing conflicts of interest relative to the broker's compensation, for example.

The gold standard, for consumer advocates, is a "fiduciary" standard of care.

The fiduciary standard of carerequires that a financial advisor act solely in the client's best interest when offering personalized financial advice.

"You have an increasingly complex financial world, and you have consumers who by and large receive no education, who have no basis for reading 30-page documents and fine print and understanding what the industry terminology means," Reish said. "It's a hard world where consumers have to rely on their advisors.

"It's too complicated and too dense not to do that."

SEC chairman Gary Gensler testifies before a Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee hearing on Sept. 14, 2021 in Washington.

Evelyn Hockstein-Pool/Getty Images

This is happening against the backdrop of a huge demographic shift in the U.S., as thousands of baby boomers hurtle into retirement every day.

Many are making important decisions that will have a bearing on their financial stability over a decades-long retirement: Should I roll money out of my 401(k) plan? Should I use those funds to buy an annuity?

"There have been some wins and some losses, but the trajectory is positive in terms of strengthening standards and not weakening them, by and large," Micah Hauptman, director of investor protection at the Consumer Federation of America, an advocacy group, said of investment-advice rules.

"[But] we have a long way to go to get to where investors are getting high-quality, unbiased advice they expect," he cautioned.

General optimism from consumer advocates piggybacks on two recent developments from the Labor Department and the SEC.

The Trump-era labor bureau issued a rule in December 2020 that, most importantly, reflected a change in attitude around the action of recommending a "rollover."

This is when an advisor or broker tells an investor to liquidate savings in a workplace retirement plan like a 401(k) and reinvest those funds in an individual retirement account. This can prove lucrative for brokers (depending on the IRA investment) since they often earn a commission for that sale.

Around $534 billion was rolled from workplace plans to IRAs in 2018 more than seven times the $70 billion of new contributions to IRAs that year, according to the Investment Company Institute, citing most recent IRS data. In 2016, 84% of traditional (pre-tax) IRAs were opened only with money from rollovers.

Xinhua News Agency | Xinhua News Agency | Getty Images

For decades, brokers have been able to avoid a "fiduciary" duty relative to those rollover recommendations due to certain workarounds available under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974.

The Labor Department's 2020 update restricts those workarounds in some cases, according to legal experts.

Rollover advice is now fiduciary (and therefore held to a higher legal standard) if the broker continues to give "regular" advice to that client afterward, financial experts said.

That might include a quarterly or even annual check-in to say that a client's investments look good and to hold steady, or to recommend some buying and selling. (The Labor Department doesn't define what constitutes "regular.")

This Labor Department interpretation is more stringent than its earlier framework and will likely impact how the bulk of brokers give rollover advice, legal experts said.

"The tone of the authority is, '[brokerage firms seeking rollovers had] better be concerned about this,'" said Andrew Oringer, a partner at Dechert who leads the law firm's national fiduciary practice.

"[Brokers' rollover] solicitations will probably look different," Oringer added. "Instead of one that says to a customer, 'Hey, do this,' it'll be one that says, 'Hey, we want you to consider doing this, here's some information, pros and cons, and other available options."

While an improvement, it's still not a strong-enough protection for retirement investors, Hauptman said.

The rollover rules take effect June 30. Many brokerage firms are still determining how best to put these rules into practice and have reached different conclusions, SIFMA's Bleier said.

"There are a variety of ways firms are choosing to interpret it, and I think they have that flexibility to do so," she said.

The Trump-era SEC issued an investment-advice rule Regulation Best Interest in 2019 that consumer advocates thought fell short in many respects.

At the time, SEC Commissioner Robert Jackson Jr., the lone dissenting vote against the measure, said the rule "exposes millions of Americans to the costs of conflicted advice." Not all agreed, though; Commissioner Hester Peirce, for example, said "the balance we have struck is a good one."

"[Regulation Best Interest] is the improvement," Kevin Carroll, associate general counsel at SIFMA, the securities industry trade group, said of the pace of investment-advice reform. "I think it's a wholesale rewriting of the standard of conduct," he added.

Firms had to comply with the new rules by June 2020. The SEC issued a bulletin in March this year that explains how agency staff will investigate certain violations of the regulation among brokerage firms.

The memo outlined conduct the Biden administration will and won't frown upon during its examinations, specifics that weren't present in the original rule and could have been left open to interpretation, according to legal experts.

You can see a better world developing in the marketplace.

Fred Reish

partner at Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath

For example, the SEC memo outlines cost factors a broker must weigh in any advice, including investment fees, transaction costs, tax considerations and distribution fees. The agency also outlines distinct issues brokers must consider for rollovers, among other things.

"They're sort of tightening the screws," Oringer said. "They're putting additional color on the rules that exist."

He offered this explanation: Let's say a particular rule tells individuals to "be good" in their everyday lives, with an open-ended definition of "good"; but guidance later defines "good" as avoiding more than two glasses of alcohol with each meal and getting home before 9 p.m. each night.

Carroll pointed to language in the SEC bulletin as evidence of the overall strength of Regulation Best Interest.

In it, agency staff write that the rule's updated rules for broker behavior, when compared to a fiduciary standard for advisors, "generally yield[s] substantially similar results in terms of the ultimate responsibilities owed to retail investors." (The staff caveats that the rules may "differ in some respects and [can] be triggered at different times.")

"That's the SEC saying Reg BI is working," Carroll said.

"It is young [and] I'm sure there will be further enhancements," said Carroll, adding: "[The rule] is doing what it's supposed to do, and has a lot of eyes on it."

The strength or weakness of the Labor Department and SEC actions depend on how the agencies oversee these standards and those are liable to change based on the whims of new presidential administrations.

"Ultimately, [success] really depends on how these rules are enforced and it's too early to tell how enforcement will move the ball forward for investors," Hauptman said.

Further, last month's ruling against Massachusetts' investment advice rule likely won't have a chilling effect on other states that hope to change their own standards, legal experts said. The judge invalidated the rule for a fairly narrow procedural reason instead of a larger one dealing with the rule's substance, experts said.

William Galvin, secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, championed the state investment rule.

"I do not think any general conclusions can be drawn from the decision of the Massachusetts Court invalidating the Secretary's fiduciary duty rule," Marcia Wagner, founder of The Wagner Law Group, said in an e-mail.

Galvin's office hasn't yet decided whether it will appeal the decision, according to spokeswoman Debra O'Malley.

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The fight to protect consumers against bad investment advice is advancing, but slowly - CNBC

Vermont Business Magazine This Earth Day, Friday April 22, Goodwill Northern New England is reducing waste by investing $1.5 million in new methods of storing and transporting clothing and household donations. For years, the nonprofit used big cardboard boxes and wooden pallets to move items, and large metal racks to store the boxes. Starting this week, Goodwill now will use much more sustainable materials that are safer for employees, waste less material, and save money by being so durable. Goodwill expects this sustainability project to pay for itself in less than three years.

Every single shirt donated to Goodwill goes into one of these cardboard boxes before hitting a sales floor the scope of this project is huge.

Our donation centers and warehouses use tens of thousands of these large cardboard boxes each year, said Kossi Gamedah, the Senior Vice President of Retail, Logistics, and Supply Chain Operations. This investment will improve the work environment for our teammates, and reduce our expenses and carbon footprint. By reducing expenses, we can invest more in Goodwills programs that help people achieve their life and work goals.

Goodwill Northern New England handles between 50 to 60 million pounds of donations every year, diverting those items from landfills in Maine, NewHampshire and Vermont. This new investment is part of Goodwills larger sustainability plan in its retail operations. In 2017, the nonprofit voluntarily banned single use plastic bags from its stores. In 2021, it upgraded its fleet of tractor trailers to reduce its carbon footprint.

Sustainability is a core value at Goodwill were all about reuse, after all.When we learned about a new, sustainable approach to meet our storage needs, it just made sense to try to do right by the Earth, our employees and the people who support our work through their donations by taking this greener path, said Rich Cantz, President and CEO of Goodwill NNE.

The nonprofit spent $500,000 a year to replace broken cardboard boxes and wood pallets. The boxes could not stack up very high, because they lose their shape and strength. The new materials stack high and without any shelving. The new materials stack together like Legos. This space savings means Goodwill can fill its trucks, which will reduce transportation emissions and costs. It also means warehouses and the sorting area in the back rooms of every Goodwill store will be safer and can hold more donations in these sturdier materials.

With this new approach, we can take full advantage of every inch of space in each of our trucks, Cantz said. Taking full advantage of our logistics process helps us meet our bottom-line values of helping people, planet and Goodwill's programs.

Goodwill is phasing in these changes. Any still-useful boxes and pallets will be used until theyve fulfilled their useful purpose.

Goodwill Northern New England is a nonprofit social enterprise in Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont. Revenue from its thrift stores support its mission to help people achieve independence and personal stability. Goodwill NNEs programs include workforce training programs, group homes that support adults with disabilities, active community supports for adults with disabilities, AmeriCorps programs and two business-cleaning services. Goodwill NNE operates two brain injury clinics to help people get back to their lives after a brain injury. For more information visitGoodwillNNE.org.

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Goodwill unboxes a huge investment in sustainability - Vermont Biz

COLUMBUS, Ga. & SAN MATEO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Synovus Bank today announced that it has signed an agreement to strategically invest in Qualpay resulting in a 60% ownership interest. Qualpay is a provider of a cloud-based platform that combines a payment gateway with robust merchant processing solutions, which allows merchants and independent software vendors (ISVs) to easily integrate payments into their software or websites. The completion of the investment is subject to the satisfaction or waiver of customary closing conditions, including receipt of necessary regulatory approvals.

Beyond growing Qualpays core business propelling the platform's ability to enter new vertical markets and help a widening range of industries bridge to a better payments and reporting experience Synovus has also chosen to leverage Qualpays payments technology as an integral part of Maast, the banks new money-as-a-service offering that will launch later this year. Maast will combine embedded payments and embedded banking on one platform, accessed via a common integration layer and a single onboarding experience. Maast will provide a quick and easy way for ISVs to offer payment processing, deposit accounts, debit cards, and loans as features in their software, under their brand, backed by Synovus.

Additionally, the investment will boost Qualpay's unique offering to ISVs of an easy-to-use, flexible, configurable, and individually-branded experience aligned with customer needs and the growing payment facilitator market.

This investment in Qualpay demonstrates our commitment to delivering innovative solutions that scale at the speed of business, said Kevin Blair, Synovus president and CEO. Maast will help ISVs simplify the integration and delivery of value-added solutions while deepening customer relationships, enabling them become the go-to provider for software, payments, and banking services in the markets they serve.

Qualpay is excited to partner with Synovus to propel our growth into platform-as-a-service and augment with embedded finance, said Craig Gass, CEO of Qualpay. As we enter this new phase of growth, well provide ISVs best-in-class customer service from both the merchant and partner side in a way that is simply unmatched by other industry players. Weve enjoyed a long, fruitful relationship with Synovus, and we are extremely pleased to be chosen to support Maast in the delivery of this innovative fintech solution.

Synovus Bank, a Georgia-chartered, FDIC-insured bank, provides commercial and retail banking and a full suite of specialized products and services, including private banking, treasury management, wealth management, mortgage services, premium finance, asset-based lending, structured lending, and international banking through 272 branches in Georgia, Alabama, South Carolina, Florida, and Tennessee. Synovus is a Great Place to Work-Certified Company and is on the web at synovus.com, and on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram.

Qualpay is a technology-first payments platform. Qualpay simplifies and improves the payments process for merchants across a range of industries. Qualpay also helps ISVs create value for their customers with elegantly embedded banking and payment services. Their solutions utilize the most up-to-date technology to reduce costs and streamline back-office operations. Qualpays comprehensive system addresses and resolves the payment challenges B2B and B2C businesses face, ensuring a stronger, more robust infrastructure that allows companies to focus on growing their business. Qualpay's reporting intelligence and data analytics allow customers to manage their payment finances quickly and efficiently, saving time and money. Simply put, Qualpay provides a better way to manage payments. For more information, please visit http://www.qualpay.com.

Maast, a wholly owned subsidiary of Synovus Bank, is a new money-as-a-service fintech platform expected to launch in late 2022 that will combine embedded payments and embedded banking on one platform, accessed via a common integration layer and a single onboarding experience. Maast will provide a quick and easy way for independent software vendors (ISVs) to offer their customers payment processing, deposit accounts and loans as features integrated with their software, under their brand, backed by Synovus. Maast will support a robust set of payment acceptance features aligned with vertical market requirements and customer needs, and its free linked business checking account will simplify enrollment, funding, reconciliation, reporting, and support. To learn more, visit http://www.maast.com.

Centerview Partners LLC served as financial advisor to Synovus on this transaction, while Alston & Bird served as legal advisor. Nomura Securities International, Inc. acted as exclusive financial advisor to Qualpay, while Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati acted as its legal advisor.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains statements that constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of, and subject to the protections of, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All statements other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements. You can identify these forward-looking statements through Synovus use of words such as believes, anticipates, expects, may, will, assumes, should, predicts, could, would, intends, targets, estimates, projects, plans, potential and other similar words and expressions of the future or otherwise regarding the outlook for Synovus future business and financial performance and/or the performance of the banking industry and economy in general. These forward-looking statements include, among others, our expectations regarding our future operating and financial performance; expectations on our growth strategy, strategic initiatives, expense and revenue initiatives, capital management, balance sheet management, and future profitability; and the assumptions underlying our expectations. Prospective investors are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Synovus to be materially different from the future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on the information known to, and current beliefs and expectations of, Synovus management and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those contemplated by such forward-looking statements. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements in this press release. Many of these factors are beyond Synovus ability to control or predict.

These forward-looking statements are based upon information presently known to Synovus management and are inherently subjective, uncertain and subject to change due to any number of risks and uncertainties, including, without limitation, the risks and other factors set forth in Synovus filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021, under the captions Cautionary Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Statements and Risk Factors and in Synovus quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and current reports on Form 8-K. We believe these forward-looking statements are reasonable; however, undue reliance should not be placed on any forward-looking statements, which are based on current expectations and speak only as of the date that they are made. We do not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statements as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as otherwise may be required by law.

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Synovus Announces Strategic Investment in Qualpay to Help Deliver New Embedded Finance Platform - Business Wire

A $12.7 million development of 27 single-family houses is expected to break ground soon in Wiscasset and deliver solar-powered spec homes to the market later this year.

We envision not just new homeowners, but cash-buying investors and second-home owners from New York, Boston, D.C., etc., continuing to push up this way as well to enjoy an amazing quality of life in the summertime, while vacationing in the warmer spots in the winter, Mark McClure, managing partner of GenX Capital Partners, told Mainebiz.

He added, We also see families moving here as jobs on the mid-coast grows while enjoying the availability to quality schools and a quality of life year-round that can't be found in a vast majority of locations in New England that aren't premium priced.

Renewabuilt LLC, based in Brunswick, approached GenX in early February to secure funding for the acquisition and build-out of Clarks Point, a waterfront, 63-lot, 200-acre subdivision in Wiscasset.

Renewabuilt bought 49 lots for development, and its development entity and purchaser, RHI-Clarks Point LLC, holds an option to buy the remaining 14 lots.RHI-Clarks Point successfully closed the $12.7 million acquisition loan and construction line with an investor, Titan Funding in Boca Raton, Fla., designed to initially help fund the project.Gen-X Capital brokered the transaction.

Renewabuilt specializes in LEED and Passivhaus-inspired builds.GenX, based in Portland and Miami, is one of the largest private lending and equity originators and investors in New England.

"Renewabuilt's market is now the global community of investors, vacationers and modern work-from-home professionals seeking the quality of life with which Maine has become synonymous, the company described itself in a statement. We cater to that community by incorporating energy-efficient, durable and cost-of-ownership reducing features that smart and sophisticated building owners demand.

Renewabuilt homes are designed to be "turnkey green" for net-zero living when solar photovoltaic systems are added to the homes.

We look forward to providing midcoast Maine with our high demand product and want to thank Gen-X Capital, Titan Funding, and our sellers and new friends at Clarks Point Development LLC for their cooperation in making this transaction possible, the statement continued.

The timeline for construction includes submitting three building permits to the town early next week, said McClure.

The project should create immense financial upside for the developer and investor, said McClure, who added, we jumped at the chance to underwrite, fund it and get him in the ground ready for summer.

Much of the Clarks Point subdivision already has infrastructure in place and is ripe to be taken to the next level; all it needed was a builder with vision and the dollars behind them to make it happen, he noted.

The first 27 lots are fully improved and ready for construction in a Phase 1 plan. The 22 lots require approximately $800,000 for infrastructure improvements in order to make them shovel-ready, said McClure. Renewabuilt is coordinating that effort in a Phase 2 plan for launch in 2023.

McClure said the partners see plenty of opportunity in the area, due to growingshortage of housings, rising prices and affordability being pushed north and up the midcoast.

While we won't see homes prices or profit margins for homes on the midcoast like you will in see in southern Maine, the demand up there is getting stronger and stronger, said McClure. And GenX Capital Partners and their investors are taking notice and looking to deploy as much as $50 million in this region in the coming 12 to 18 months.

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$13M investment will fund over two dozen solar-home builds in Wiscasset, with more to come - Mainebiz

The Healthy Parks Project kicks off on Earth Day with an initial $200,000 commitment to Oakland Parks and Recreation Foundation; more cities to follow

OAKLAND, Calif., April 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Clorox Company (NYSE: CLX) today announced the launch of a new initiative to advance environmental justice through investment in community parks to help provide better access to green spaces among underserved communities. The Healthy Parks Project aligns the company's purpose to champion people to be well and thrive every single day with its commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion. In the project's first year, Clorox will support parks organizations, with grants totaling more than $300,000, where it has large employee bases starting in Oakland, California benefiting the health of local communities.

"The critical issue of environmental justice bridges our ESG commitments to healthy lives, a clean world and thriving communities," said Chief People & Corporate Affairs Officer Kirsten Marriner. "Communities thrive when people have access to green spaces, yet many neighborhoods have historically not had access to this critical resource. We want all people to have equal access to beautiful and healthy parks."

To launch the Healthy Parks Project, Clorox is donating $200,000 to the Oakland Parks and Recreation Foundation in its hometown to support the improvement of parks in West Oakland, a neighborhood disproportionately impacted by poor health outcomes, according to the Bay Area Air Quality Management District and the West Oakland Environmental Indicators Project. The donation will support historic DeFremery Park in particular, with specific projects identified through engagement with the local community and consultation with the City of Oakland. Clorox will donate another $100,000 this year to additional locations near its facilities and teammates.

To amplify the impact of the partnership, Clorox teammates will be able to personally support the initiative through volunteer events and online education about environmental justice. And Clorox teammates in the U.S. and Canada will also receive $25 each to donate to an environmental justice nonprofit of their choice through the company's employee giving program.

Story continues

This environmental justice initiative is an illustration of the company's focus on the interconnectedness of environmental and social sustainability and in creating multi-stakeholder value.

The Positive Impact of Parks

Nearly 100 million people in the US, including 28 million children, don't have park access within a 10-minute walk of home, and in Oakland alone, residents in low-income neighborhoods have access to 78% less park space compared to high-income neighborhoods(1). Research suggests that urban built environments, including parks and other green spaces, might shape opportunities for physical activity, affecting development of obesity and other health outcomes, and that parks were more likely to encourage physical activity if they were perceived as aesthetically pleasing(2). Through the Healthy Parks Project, Clorox is committed to improving park spaces so that people can feel safe and thrive in the local parks accessible to them.

"We applaud Clorox's commitment to advancing environmental justice through the Healthy Parks Project and welcome this meaningful investment in West Oakland's parks and people," said Oakland Parks and Recreation Foundation Executive Director Terra Cole Brown. "This new partnership shows how corporate, community and government stakeholders can work together toward improving park access and utilization citywide."

Supporting Thriving Communities

Clorox and its portfolio of brands have a long-standing legacy of giving back through nonprofit partnerships and community involvement, including supporting Oakland, where it is headquartered and all of the communities where it has teammates. On a national and international level, the company has partnerships with the American Red Cross, Direct Relief, Americares and other organizations with an emphasis on underresourced communities. Additionally, The Healthy Parks Project is an extension of The Clorox Company Foundation's focus on health security, racial justice and the belief that health and wellness is a basic human right.

About The Clorox CompanyThe Clorox Company (NYSE: CLX) is a leading multinational manufacturer and marketer of consumer and professional products with about 9,000 employees worldwide and fiscal year 2021 sales of $7.3 billion. Clorox markets some of the most trusted and recognized consumer brand names, including its namesake bleach and cleaning products; Pine-Sol cleaners; Liquid-Plumr clog removers; Poett home care products; Fresh Step cat litter; Glad bags and wraps; Kingsford grilling products; Hidden Valley dressings and sauces; Brita water-filtration products; Burt's Bees natural personal care products; and RenewLife, Rainbow Light, Natural Vitality CALM, and NeoCell vitamins, minerals and supplements. The company also markets industry-leading products and technologies for professional customers, including those sold under the CloroxPro and Clorox Healthcare brand names. More than 80% of the company's sales are generated from brands that hold the No. 1 or No. 2 market share positions in their categories.

Clorox is a signatory of the United Nations Global Compact and the Ellen MacArthur Foundation's New Plastics Economy Global Commitment. The company has been broadly recognized for its corporate responsibility efforts, included on the Barron's 2021 100 Most Sustainable Companies list, 2021 Bloomberg Gender-Equality Index, the Human Rights Campaign's 2021 Corporate Equality Index and the 2021 Parity.org Best Places for Women to Advance list, among others. In support of its communities, The Clorox Company brands and its foundation contributed about $20 million in combined cash grants, product donations and cause marketing in fiscal year 2021. For more information, visit TheCloroxCompany.com and follow the company on Twitter at @CloroxCo.

About the Clorox Company Foundation

Founded in 1980, The Clorox Company Foundation has a mission to foster healthy and inclusive communities so people can be well and thrive. Since its inception, the foundation has awarded cash grants totaling nearly $130 million to nonprofit organizations.

About the Oakland Parks and Recreation Foundation

The Oakland Parks and Recreation Foundation (OPRF) is a trusted facilitator and convening partner that enables parks policy development, investment and community ownership. Led by a skilled staff and board, OPRF draws on 40 years of experience creating public-private partnerships with local government, community organizations and financial sponsors to increase equitable access to parks and recreational opportunities for Oakland residents. For more information, visit oaklandparks.org.

CLX-C

1 Trust for Public Land

2 NIH National Library of Medicine

(PRNewsfoto/The Clorox Company)

Cision

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The Clorox Company Announces Multi-Year Investment in Environmental Justice through Partnerships with City Parks - Yahoo Finance

REDWOOD CITY, Calif. and BEVERLY, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Codexis, Inc. (Nasdaq: CDXS) and seqWell, Inc. today announced the initiation of a strategic partnership and investment to accelerate the commercialization of seqWells genomics workflow solutions. Codexis, a leading enzyme engineering company enabling the promise of synthetic biology, and seqWell, a developer of transformative library preparation products for demanding genomics applications, plan to collaborate on using Codexis CodeEvolver platform technology for enzyme optimization with seqWells growing portfolio of genomics workflow and library preparation products. As part of this partnership, Codexis led seqWells $7 million Series C financing with a $5 million investment. Current investors Research Corporation Technologies (RCT) and BroadOak Capital Partners also participated in the Series C financing. This collaboration and investment enable seqWell to continue rapidly advancing its commercialization of new and existing products in the fast-growing genomics and next generation sequencing (NGS) library prep market.

seqWells plexWell platform is an NGS library preparation technology that enables simple, scalable multiplexing of hundreds to thousands of samples without the need for time- and cost-consuming sample preparation or library normalization steps. Through this partnership, the technology will be matched with Codexis CodeEvolver platform for discovering and developing novel, high performance enzymes and novel biotherapeutics, to further advance seqWells growing portfolio of genomics workflow and library preparation products. By harnessing optimized enzyme-based solutions, seqWell aims to transform the speed and accuracy of sequencing applications within the fast-growing genomics and NGS markets.

Dan Calvo, President and CEO at seqWell, said: We are thrilled to have Codexis as a strategic investor. This partnership creates great synergy in our pursuit of development and commercialization of innovative genomic tools to meet the demand for simplified, next-generation sequencing workflows that produce high quality results faster, with fewer steps required.

Dr. Rob Wilson, SVP & General Manager of Codexis Performance Enzymes business unit, who joins the seqWell Board with this partnership, commented: Next generation sequencing is an important strategic market for Codexis, and one in which we have a clear opportunity to create differentiated enzyme-based products to revolutionize future sequencing applications. With its plexWell technology, seqWell has proven its ability to develop efficient, scalable, and user-friendly products in core NGS workflows. He added: This investment amplifies Codexis strategic growth ambitions in the life science tools area and accelerates seqWells ability to bring exciting new products to market by leveraging Codexis enzyme engineering capabilities. Im delighted to join the seqWell board and to work with the team as we continue to grow both organizations.

For high-resolution images please contact Zyme Communications.

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Codexis and seqWell Announce Strategic Investment and Partnership Initiation - Business Wire

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The US consumer goods manufacturer Kellogg Company (NYSE:K) was founded in 1906 and currently has 31,000 employees. The company is engaged in both the manufacturing and marketing of snacks and convenience foods. The brands sold by the consumer goods manufacturer include Pringles, Kellogg's and Cheez-It, to name just a few. I have presented my investment thesis as follows:

Kellogg is a company from the non-cyclical consumer goods industry. This industry is characterized by the fact that companies are able to generate relatively stable revenue and profits over time. Products from the consumer goods industry are consistently in demand even during economically difficult times. Another characteristic of this industry is the strong competition and relatively limited growth prospects for most companies from the sector. The Economist Intelligence Unit expects growth in retail volumes worldwide to slow to 3.3% in 2022.

However, investors who are long-term oriented and who primarily focus on dividend income, as well as investors who are looking for attractive investments to reduce the volatility of their investment portfolio, can find attractive companies in this industry. One of which is the Kellogg Company, which I will analyze in more detail in this article.

The products of Kellogg are manufactured in 21 countries and their products are marketed in more than 180 countries across the world. Kellogg's products are sold to retailers via direct sales in order to be resold to consumers.

Kellogg distinguishes among the following business units: snacks, cereals, frozen as well as noodles and other. In the business unit of snacks, Kellogg generated a revenue of $6.807 billion in 2021. This is 48% of its total revenue in 2021 and makes snacks the most important business unit in terms of revenue. In the business unit cereal, Kellogg generated a revenue of $5.123 billion, which at 36% of their total revenue is the second most important business unit. The business unit of frozen (8% of the total revenue) as well as the business unit noodles and other (also 8% of the total revenue) account for a smaller proportion of Kellogg's total revenue.

The revenue of the business unit snacks increased from $6.281 billion in 2020 to $6.807 billion in 2021. This corresponds to a rise of 8.4%. In contrast, revenue of the business unit cereals decreased from $5.433 billion in 2020 to $5.123 billion in 2021, corresponding to a decline of 5.7%. The frozen business unit shows a decrease of 2.9% and the noodles and other business unit increased by 24.8%.

The fact that Kellogg's second most important business unit of cereals suffered a revenue decrease in 2021 in comparison to 2020, reflects the growth challenges they are facing and furthermore reflects characteristics of the low growing business environment, in which the company is operating.

Kellogg's consolidated net sales increased from $13.770 billion in 2020 to $14.181 billion in 2021. This is a rise of about 3%. In the same period, Kellogg's EBIT decreased from $1,782 billion to $1,680 billion, resulting in a decrease of 5.7%. The decline in Kellogg's EBIT in 2021 in comparison to 2020, can be interpreted as another indicator of their current growth difficulties.

Kellogg's average revenue growth of the past five years has been 1.4% per year. This low revenue growth is further evidence that Kellogg operates in a challenging business segment.

For a more detailed analysis, I will look at the results from each of the geographic markets in which Kellogg operates. The company differentiates between North America, Europe, Latin America and AMEA (Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa).

In North America, net sales decreased from $8,361 billion in 2020 to $8,174 billion in 2021. This is a decline of 2.2%. In Europe, net sales increased from $2,232 billion in 2020 to $2,397 billion in 2021, resulting in a rise of 7.4%. In Latin America net sales went up from $914 billion in 2020 to $997 billion in 2021, which means a growth in net sales of 9.1%. In AMEA, net sales saw an increase from $2,263 billion in 2020 to $2,613 billion in 2021, resulting in a gain of 15.5%.

With a 57.6% share of total revenue, North America is the most important market for Kellogg, followed by AMEA (18.4%), Europe (17%) and Latin America (7%). The fact that North America revenue decreased in 2021 compared to 2020, is a further indicator of the difficulties Kellogg face in expanding their business.

Due to the high and relatively stable earnings that Kellogg generates year over year, the company is able to spend a substantial proportion of its earnings on the research and development of new products as well as in the marketing of its existing products. In 2021, Kellogg spent $134 million on research and development and $790 million on advertising. Those spendings make it more difficult for potential competitors to enter into the already highly competitive consumer goods market.

Furthermore, Kellogg has managed to build brands and to create a product distribution network during its more than 100 years of history as a company. Furthermore, they have been able to build economies of scale that help the company to stand out against their competitors. With Pringles, Kellogg owns a strong consumer brand that the company acquired from Procter & Gamble (PG) back in 2012. With the brands Kellogg's and Cheez-It, the company has a number of important brands in its product portfolio that consumers have been familiar with for decades.

The fact that Kellogg has already existed for more than 100 years, shows us that the company has been able to adapt to different consumer preferences over time. Therefore, I expect the company to respond successfully to changes in consumer preferences in the future.

I believe that the competitive advantages listed above will ensure that Kellogg will continue to be able to generate stable profits in the future. Due to the company's proven ability to generate high profits even in economically challenging times, I assume that Kellogg's stock will continue to be less volatile than the broader stock market. For this reason, I assume, that you will be able to reduce the volatility of your investment portfolio by investing in Kellogg.

It has previously been shown that Kellogg recorded its largest revenue increase in the AMEA region, with a rise in net sales of 15.5%, followed by Latin America with a growth of 9% in 2021 compared to 2020.

Due to the fact that populations are growing faster in countries of the AMEA region as well as in Latin America, compared to North America and Europe, I expect that these regions will continue to offer Kellogg's the highest growth prospects in the future.

In my view, the cereals business unit will continue to offer very limited growth opportunities. This is due to the fact that people usually only have breakfast once a day. Only in the AMEA and Latin America region I do see some growth potential for this business unit due to the growing population as well as the growing middle class of its countries. I assume that the business unit of snacks will continue to offer higher growth prospects in comparison to the cereals business unit.

Due to the fact that Kellogg has only grown its revenue by 1.4% on average per year in the last 5 years and the ongoing limited growth opportunities, I expect that they will continue to grow at low growth rates in the future.

However, although growing at low growth rates, I believe that Kellogg's high and relatively stable profits continue to contribute to the fact that the company's stock will be less volatile than that of the broader stock market.

In terms of valuation, I have used the EPS Multiplier Method to determine the intrinsic value of Kellogg. The method calculates a fair value of $50.25 for the company. At the current share price, this results in a downside of 26.6%.

In the next sections, I will explain the assumptions of my calculation:

The Seeking Alpha EPS Diluted Growth (FWD) rate of Kellogg is 2.5%. Therefore, I assume an EPS growth rate of 3% for the company over the next 20 years. I have used Kellogg's current discount rate (WACC) of 4.85% to calculate a fair value.

My calculations are based on the following information as presented below:

Company Ticker

K

EPS

$4.36

Discount Rate

4.85%

Growth Rate for the Next 20 Years

3%

Current Stock Price

$68.42

PE Ratio

15.69

Based on the above assumption, I calculated the following results:

Intrinsic Value

$50.25

Current Stock Price

$68.42

Margin of Safety

-36.20%

Upside/Downside

-26.60%

Source: The Author

Kellogg's P/E Ratio is currently 16.61 while their average P/E Ratio of the last 5 years is 17.02. The comparison shows us that the current P/E Ratio of Kellogg's is 2.42% lower than its average P/E Ratio from the last five years. This indicator suggests that the company is currently slightly undervalued.

When comparing Kellogg's P/E Ratio of 16.61 with the sector medium of 20.58, it provides us with another indicator suggesting that Kellogg is currently undervalued. The current P/E Ratio is 19.29% below the sector medium.

Kellogg

PepsiCo

Kraft-Heinz

Nestle

Danone

Market Cap

22.95B

235.73B

51.64B

352.71B

36.23B

Revenue

14.18B

79.47B

26.04B

95.88B

27.64B

Revenue Growth 5 Year (CAGR)

1.81%

4.82%

-0.20%

-0.52%

2.04%

EBIT Margin

14.26%

14.85%

21.01%

17.04%

13.74%

P/E GAAP (FWD)

16.61

25.39

16.28

26.96

16.92

Dividend Yield (FWD)

3.40%

2.49%

3.75%

2.37%

4.11%

Dividend Payout Ratio

55.40%

67.96%

54.42%

45.38%

65.99%

Dividend Growth 5 Yr (CAGR)

2.41%

Link:
Kellogg: A Stock To Reduce The Volatility Of Your Investment Portfolio - Seeking Alpha

BRENTWOOD, Tenn. & DENVER--(BUSINESS WIRE)--LifePoint Health and Specialist TeleMed (STeM) have announced that an affiliate of LifePoint Health will lead an investment in STeM. STeM, a leading multi-specialty telemedicine provider for hospitals, clinics and remote locations worldwide, will continue to serve its existing client base of healthcare organizations and further expand its footprint, including within the LifePoint network.

The transaction is part of LifePoints enterprise strategy for driving innovation called LifePoint Forward. Through the LifePoint Forward strategy, the company is pursuing opportunities to partner, build or buy technology and solutions that support its objectives of improving quality, access and patient outcomes and experience for those it serves.

LifePoint Health is committed to leveraging technology and innovative solutions to address the specific health needs of our communities, eliminate barriers and deliver on our promise to provide quality care for patients close to home, said David Dill, chairman and chief executive officer (CEO) of LifePoint Health. We recognize how important it is to align with strong organizations, such as STeM, that can help us achieve this shared objective faster and more effectively. Aligning with STeM is yet another demonstration of how we are Making Communities Healthier and building a model for community-based healthcare delivery through diversified services that aim to best serve patients, clinicians and providers across the healthcare continuum.

Based in Denver, Colorado, STeM is a physician-led company offering more than 24 inpatient and outpatient specialties for virtual care consultations. STeM currently partners with healthcare provider organizations nationwide to provide telemedicine solutions 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.

We are excited to align with LifePoint Health, a strong health system that will help us continue to build upon our recent growth in partnerships and enhance our capabilities to deliver high quality, integrated and patient-centered care to healthcare organizations across the country, said Alexander Mason, MD, FAANS, CEO of STeM. With LifePoints support, we will have new opportunities to accelerate our growth and further strengthen our robust pipeline of clients. We share LifePoints commitment to putting patients first and taking an innovative approach to transforming the delivery of care, and we look forward to advancing this work together.

Led by Dr. Mason, a practicing neurosurgeon, STeMs existing leadership team will continue to lead the organization forward following the close of the transaction, which is anticipated to occur in the coming months.

About LifePoint Health

LifePoint Health is a leading healthcare provider that serves patients, clinicians, communities and partner organizations across the healthcare continuum. Driven by a mission of Making Communities Healthier, the company has a growing diversified healthcare delivery network comprised of more than 50,000 dedicated employees, 65 community hospital campuses, more than 30 rehabilitation and behavioral health hospitals and 170 additional sites of care, including managed acute rehabilitation units, outpatient centers and post-acute care facilities. Through its innovation strategy, LifePoint Forward, the company is developing meaningful solutions to enhance quality, increase access to care, and improve value across the LifePoint footprint and communities across the country. For more information, visit http://www.lifepointhealth.net.

About Specialist TeleMed (STeM)

Specialist TeleMeds vision is to provide access to the highest-quality, value-based healthcare for patients within their communities. For more information, visit specialisttelemed.com.

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LifePoint Health to Lead Investment in Specialist TeleMed - Business Wire

Investment apps have made investing more accessible to people by not requiring minimum deposits or charging steep commission fees.Yet, with so many apps offering similar features, choosing the best investment app for your strategy and goals can really be a tough decision to make.

The best investment apps not only let you keep track of your holdings from anywhere, but offer access to a variety of investment options. They feature advanced research tools and charting so you can analyze performance and place orders right away. They also provide educational resources to help newbies develop a strategy and get started.

Read on to learn more about investment apps, and find out which are the top picks, according to our research.

HIGHLIGHTS

Why we chose it: Webull is our choice for beginners and active traders because it offers extended market hours, advanced charting and enough educational resources.

Webull is a trading app that offers commission-free stocks, ETFs and options, with no minimum deposits. Additionally, it supports IRAs and allows investing in crypto and some foreign companies (ADRs).

Although Webulls research tools and charts can seem overwhelming at first, we believe its a great choice for beginners who dont mind taking some time to learn. It has a learning center full of video explainers and how-tos, alongside a training camp that can be customized based on your investing experience. In addition, it offers a trading simulator, where beginners can learn and practice how to trade using paper (or virtual) money.

Active traders can benefit from Webulls advanced charting and real-time data to place orders and do market research. Another great perk is that it offers access to extended market hours, so you can trade before and after the market closes from 4:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. ET, and 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Do note, Webull has a $5 minimum for fractional share orders. This might be a drawback for some traders, considering apps like Robinhood let you buy shares for just $1.

HIGHLIGHTS

Why we chose it: We chose Acorns as the best app for micro-investing because it can automatically invest spare change from your purchases.

Acorns is popularly known for making investing a no-brainer. The mobile app can be configured in less than 15 minutes. You just need to create an account, link a debit or credit card or add some funds using a checking or savings account.

Based on your financial information, Acorns recommends one of its five portfolios. These are designed considering risk tolerance, and range anywhere from conservative to aggressive. You can also change the portfolio at any time, if you want to undertake more or less risk.

Acorns stands out for making it easy to set money aside for investing it rounds purchase transactions up to the nearest dollar, so you can invest spare change automatically. In addition, the app offers a rewards program that invests cash back from your purchase when you shop from specific brands within the app. Some featured brands include Apple, Walmart, Uber, Nike and Chewy.

Although the app recommends making round-ups automatic, it can be done manually too. This gives you more control over the transactions you want to round up. If you want to invest more money, you can customize it to multiply that amount by two, three or ten times, or schedule one-time or monthly deposits from a checking account.

Acorns main drawback is that it charges a monthly subscription of $3 or $5, depending on the tier you choose. Although it may not sound like much at first, a flat fee structure like Acorns can add up in the long term and even exceed your returns, especially if youre just investing small amounts. Another thing to keep in mind is that Acorns doesnt make an instant deposit of your round-ups, rather it waits until youve accumulated $5.

HIGHLIGHTS

Why we chose it: Betterment is our choice for best robo-advisor because its algorithm lets users know how much they need to save to meet their goals and offers a tax coordination feature.

Betterment is a robo-advisor investment app and as such it automatically designs diversified portfolios based on your investment goals. Robo-advisors like Betterment and Acorns are different from trading apps like Webull because they dont let you choose the type of securities you invest in, rather they offer ready-made portfolios.

Unlike Acorns, Betterment doesnt charge a monthly fee. Instead it charges an annual management fee of 0.25% or 0.40%, depending on your account balance. This fee structure can be more cost-effective than a flat monthly subscription, especially if youre investing small amounts of money.

We liked that Betterment automatically calculates how much you need to save to reach your goals within a specific time period. You can also create multiple investment accounts for different goals. For instance, you could create a general investing account, a retirement account and education savings with different target dates, and the app would let you know how much you have to set apart for each in order to reach your goal amount.

Compared to Acorns, Betterments set-up process is a bit ambiguous and its charts are less intuitive. This may make it difficult to track your portfolios performance.

However, overall, its perks make up for it. For example, Betterments algorithm offers automated tax-saving strategies for all users, including tax loss harvesting. This means that the algorithm looks for opportunities to reduce tax exposure by selling securities that have experienced losses and offsetting gains.

Additionally, Betterment offers support from Certified Financial Planner professionals for all users, for an additional fee. (This service is included for no extra charge with the Premium account, which requires a minimum balance of $100,000.)

HIGHLIGHTS

Why we chose it: Public is our pick for best investment app for investing in community because it features a social platform that lets you connect with other investors using the app.

Public is another commission-free investment app that offers access to stocks, ETFs and crypto. What sets it apart from others are its social features, which let you connect and share insight with other traders and financial advisors.

Publics community feed is like Twitter for investors. In it you can keep up with trending news and topics, see what other members are investing in and post your recent buys and sells. You can also create group chats with people youre following and participate in virtual events within the app.

Public offers access to about 900 stock and ETFs, and over 25 different crypto coins and tokens, including Bitcoin, Dogecoin, Shiba Inu and Avalanche. Additionally, it lets you buy fractional shares with a $1 minimum.

Public doesnt require you link a bank account to fund your account, you can simply use a debit card. However, you do need to link a bank in order to withdraw your money.

There are some drawbacks, however. Public doesnt offer access to a wide array of tradable assets for instance, you cant invest in options, mutual funds or bonds. Additionally, even though the app is free at the moment, Public may eventually charge a subscription fee for premium features.

HIGHLIGHTS

Why we chose it: TD Ameritrade is the best investment app for educational tools because it offers a wide range of resources, how-to videos and research tools.

If youre looking for an investment app with tons of educational resources, TD Ameritrade is a great choice. It offers traders two different apps TD Ameritrade Mobile and thinkorswim to meet all types of investors needs. In addition, it features demos, videos and advanced research tools for free.

TD Ameritrade has a wide selection of tradable assets, including options that many competitors dont offer, such as forex, mutual funds and futures. It doesnt charge any commissions for trading stocks, ETFs, options and mutual funds. However, options trades have a $0.65 fee per contract.

Apart from the educational and how-to videos available in TD Ameritrade Mobile, users have access to a wide range of online resources through TD Ameritrades website, including courses, webcasts and articles on investment strategies and analysis.

TDs thinkorswim platform also takes investing to the next level. It provides experienced traders advanced tools to place orders, create watchlists and keep track of preferred stocks. Users can create customizable charts and set time frames for analyzing stock performance and making informed market predictions. Additionally, it lets users run simulations using paper trading, so they can practice their own investment strategies without losing real money.

One thing to note is that TD Ameritrade doesnt offer fractional shares, meaning you can only buy full shares. In addition, despite the various educational resources widely available, TD Ameritrades apps can be overwhelming and difficult to navigate for beginners.

HIGHLIGHTS

Why we chose it: SoFi is our choice for best all-in-one investment app because it offers brokerage accounts, automated investing and some banking products.

SoFi is an online personal finance company that offers loans, banking and self-directed and automated investing all in one place.

SoFi Active Investing doesnt charge management fees or a commission for stocks, fractional shares and ETFs trades. In addition to these securities, users can also trade over 20 cryptocurrencies, including Ethereum, Bitcoin and Dogecoin, though at a 1.25% markup fee on all crypto transactions.

To start investing you just need to link your bank account, and place a stock order of at least $5 or $10 for cryptos. With automated investing, however, you can start with just $1 and set up daily, weekly, bi-weekly or monthly recurring deposits.

Some drawbacks: Although the app features educational resources and charts that may be good enough for beginners, it lacks advanced research tools for more experienced investors. Additionally, the apps selection of tradable securities is somewhat limited compared to competitors.

HIGHLIGHTS

Why we chose it: Charles Schwab is the best investment app for experienced traders because it offers an extensive variety of research tools and access to trade in foreign markets.

Charles Schwab is a full-service brokerage thats a great choice for experienced investors. It offers a variety of investment services and doesnt charge commissions on stocks, ETFs, mutual funds and options.

You can open accounts with no minimum balance and get access to a full range of investment products, including international stocks, annuities and crypto. You can also get access to a dedicated financial consultant if your account has $250,000 or more. In addition, Schwabs platforms (both mobile and online) offer advanced research tools and in-depth charts to analyze trade ideas and opportunities with real-time data.

Aside from self-managed accounts, Schwab offers automated investing with a dedicated expert at no extra charge, although it requires a minimum of $5,000 to get started. A premium robo-advisor service is also available for a one-time fee of $300 and a $30 monthly advisory fee. The premium subscription includes guidance from a Certified Financial Planner, a personalized roadmap and interactive planning tools.

Time in the market beats timing the market.

The brokerage you choose matters. Try Public.com, the investing platform helping people become better investors. See what makes us different.

Offer valid for U.S. residents 18+ and subject to account approval. There may be other fees associated with trading. See Public.com/disclosures/.

Robinhood is a trading app thats popular among beginners. Its game-like design is accessible and user-friendly. Like most apps, Robinhood has no minimums and no fees, offering commision-free trades on stocks, options, crypto, ETFs and IPOs. Despite its popularity, Robinhood has faced strong criticism for restricting users access to securities like GameStop during the latest meme stock swing. The app has also been involved in multiple data breaches in the past, the most recent in 2021. Additionally, it was charged by the Securities and Exchange Commission for misleading customers on how it makes money from order flows.

Fidelity is one of the few major brokerages that allows investors to trade fractional shares. It has no minimum account requirements and doesnt charge commissions on stocks, ETFs and options trades. Its mobile app gives access to a wide selection of securities and robo-investing. Fidelitys robo-advisor is free for accounts under $10,000. However, if the account balance exceeds this amount, the company charges a $3 monthly advisory fee or a 0.35% yearly fee. Additionally, Fidelity doesnt allow investors to trade cryptocurrency nor does it offer access to tax-loss harvesting tools.

E*Trade is a popular online broker that provides traders of all kinds with a large selection of investment securities. Like other online brokerages, E*Trade doesnt set an account minimum for standard accounts and offers commission-free stocks, options and ETFs. It also offers mutual funds with no transaction fees.

Aside from a web platform, E*Trade has two mobile apps E*Trade and Power E*Trade which traders can use to place orders and follow the markets movement. While E*Trade offers managed portfolios, it has a $500 minimum balance and a 0.30% annual advisory fee. Additionally, E*Trade has a higher margin rate than most brokerages and doesnt support cryptocurrency trading.

Like most robo-advisors, Ellevest designs personalized portfolios and automatically manages them based on your long- and short-term investment goals. What sets it apart from other investment tools is that its designed by women and for women (although its an option for anyone and great for beginners).

The Ellevest algorithm considers factors that affect many women such as pay gaps, career breaks and longer average lifespans and recommends initial target amounts depending on specific goals and time horizon.

Ellevest's main drawback, however, is that it only offers two types of investment portfolios, which is considerably limited compared to competitors. Additionally, it charges a monthly subscription fee of $1, $5 or $9, depending on the membership plan.

Our guide on investment apps covers key information on the types of investment apps you can use, how they work, the most common types of stock orders and how much money you should invest. Read on to learn more about investment apps and how to pick the best one for your financial goals.

Investment apps are mobile applications designed to buy and sell stocks and other tradable assets from publicly listed companies through smartphones or tablets.

These apps let users quickly access their holdings, monitor stock market performance and track new investment opportunities. Most offer educational resources and notifications on recent market trends to keep users informed while helping them develop their own investment strategy.

Types of investing apps

Investment apps typically fall in one of three categories:

First, you have to install the app on your device and create an account. Most investment apps require basic personal information like your full name, social security number and address, along with some employment and financial information. You can then choose the type of account: an individual brokerage account, individual retirement account (IRA), college savings or automated investment if the app offers robo-advisor features. Once the account is approved, you can link a bank account, transfer funds and start investing.

Many investment apps feature advanced charts that let you visualize stock price fluctuations and performance over time. Information like latest market news, historical high and lows, trading volume, dividends and price-earning ratio is also broadly available. Some apps may include stock analyst ratings as well.

Another perk is that sometimes investment apps give you a free stock when you first fund your account or when friends you recommend join the app.

Types of stock orders

As with any investment platform, you can place different types of orders on an investment app. If youre new to investing, it might be useful to familiarize yourself with the three most common types of orders and know what each one means.

A market order is an order to buy or sell a stock immediately, at or near the current market price. Investment apps that offer fractional shares will typically let you choose between buying in dollars or in shares.

Buying in dollars means youll buy the dollars equivalent in shares. For instance, if you place a $5 order for buying a stock thats currently priced at $125, you would receive about 0.04 shares.

Buying in shares, on the other hand, means that you want to buy a specific number of shares at the current price. Continuing with the previous example, if you wanted to buy two shares from the same company, then you would have to place an order for two shares at $125 each and pay a total price of $250.

A limit order is an order for a particular stock at a specified price. Note that a limit order is placed only when the desired stock reaches the price of your choosing, otherwise known as the limit price. For example, lets say you want to buy shares of a renowned company thats currently trading at $75, but you want to buy it at $74.90. You could place a limit order for this amount. Your order would then be executed only if the price of the stock ever reaches the limit price (or lower).

A stop-loss order is an order to sell or buy stocks thats triggered when a specified stock price is met. Stop-loss orders are designed to help reduce potential losses. For instance, you could set up a stop-loss order to limit the loss of a $125 stock to 10%. In this case, if the stocks price dropped by 10%, the stop order would be automatically triggered, reducing the risk of further losses.

While most financial experts recommend dedicating between 5% to 20% of your paycheck to savings and investing, it will all depend on your financial situation, goals and how much you can actually set aside for investing without compromising other responsibilities. For instance, if youre currently paying multiple credit cards and loans, it would be best to temporarily allocate more money towards paying off those debts first.

The good thing about investment apps, however, is that most dont have minimum requirements on how much money you need to start investing. This means that you can literally start investing with as little as $1. While this may sound like too small of an investment, keep in mind that you can keep adding to your account and investing regularly, so you can build wealth over time.

If youre new to investing or aren't sure where to start, a financial advisor can help you set up a plan and identify the best investment opportunities for your objectives. We also recommend checking out our guides on how to invest and how to buy stocks.

Not all investment apps give access to the same securities and financial products, which is why your experience and financial goals may play a key role in determining whether a particular investing app offers the features you need. When looking for the best investment app for you, keep the following factors in mind:

Consider your investment experience

Your experience and the type of investor you are (or want to be) are two important factors when choosing the best investment app for you.

Beginners and passive investors may benefit from a good robo-advisor, which generally offers straightforward app design and automated investing and portfolio management. But those who want to learn and have more control over the type of investments they can make, should look for investing apps that let them place their own trades and that feature a variety of educational tools and resources, including simulators to practice trades.

More experienced and active traders, however, may prefer apps with access to a wider selection of financial products and advanced trading tools to execute more complex strategies.

Assess your financial goals

Are you investing to save for retirement? For a short-term goal like buying a home? Or do you want to do it as a hobby, or even become a professional trader over time? Knowing the answer to these and similar questions may give you a clearer picture of what type of investment app to choose.

Remember that investing apps offer a wide array of investment options. These include stocks, bonds, ETFs, options and cryptocurrency. Before choosing an app, make sure it offers the type of investments you want to buy at the lowest possible cost.

If its only crypto youre investing in, consider getting a crypto exchange instead. While some investment apps let you buy popular digital currencies like Bitcoin, their offering is oftentimes limited. However, the best crypto exchanges not only let you trade and convert different cryptocurrencies, but offer competitive prices and comprehensive features.

Verify the app fees

Although most investment apps offer low costs or commission-free trading, there are some apps that charge annual management fees or monthly subscription fees that, when added up, can end up taking more than what they give you in return.

One important factor to keep in mind when evaluating investing apps fees is the expense ratio. This ratio determines the percentage of your investment that goes toward paying annual fees. It divides the total annual fee by the total amount invested.

Let's compare Acorns and Betterment fee structure, as an example.

Acorns has plans that cost $3 and $5 a month. If you were to choose its $3 monthly subscription and only invest $100 in a year, you would pay a flat rate of $36 a year, the equivalent to a 36% expense ratio. This means that 36% of your investment would go towards paying management fees. If you were to invest the same $100 using Betterment, which charges a 0.25% annual fee for the total asset balance of your account, you would pay roughly $0.25.

Depending on your investment, asset-based pricing, like Betterments, may be more cost-effective than paying a flat monthly fee, especially if youre planning to invest small amounts of money. On the other hand, if youre investing a greater amount of money, a flat fee structure may be more convenient than asset-based pricing.

Check the brokers background

Investment apps should be trustworthy, and take an active role in protecting your money.

Most trustworthy investing apps are transparent about their fee structure, and are registered with regulatory agencies like the Securities Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), which ensure brokerages abide by certain fiduciary regulations.

Additionally, investing apps should be insured by the Securities Investor Protection Corporation (SIPC), a private nonprofit organization that protects investors against the loss of securities and cash in case of the brokerage firms insolvency.

If background information is not easily available in the apps or their websites, you can do a search using tools like FINRAs BrokerCheck and the SECs Investment Adviser Public Disclosure websites.

What is the best investment app for beginners?

Robo-advisors are generally a great option for beginners. Apps like Acorns and Betterment, use algorithms that can automatically build and manage portfolios for you based on financial information and goals.

However, if you want to choose your own investments and actively buy individual stocks, ETFs and other trading opportunities, there are investment apps (such as Webull) that offer interactive and intuitive interfaces.

Originally posted here:
7 Best Investment Apps of 2022 - Money

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Type: full time Company Type: Distributor Location: FL Apply at: bzagers@gemsupply.net

GEM Supply Co., is hiring Sales Rockstars in Sarasota, Tampa, Jacksonville, Gainesville, Ocala and Orlando. As a Sales Professional you will report directly and work closely with the Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing.

Are you excited to do the following?

Creating a sales plan and proactively experimenting to improve execution

Monitoring your progress in real-time and analyzing data

Constantly improve your sales process through sales training

Keeping an active watch over (and involvement in) many key accounts

If the answer was yes to all the questions above, join our team as we continue to build market share and relationships with current and new clients.

Requirements

Do you have passion, integrity and a positive attitude?

Do you love to be coached, communicated with and motivated?

If all the above sounds like you, please apply to join the team today!

Apply at: bzagers@gemsupply.net

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Join the Fasted Growing Sales Team in Florida - Cleaning Industry Job Post - CleanLink