James Royal

SENIOR INVESTING AND WEALTH MANAGEMENT REPORTER

EXPERTISE

Investing
Wealth management
Behavioral finance
Stock analysis

EDUCATION

Bachelor of Science in management, University of Florida
Master of Arts in English, University of Florida
Doctorate in English, University of Florida

Our goal is to get wiser every day and avoid the mistakes of the past.
— James Royal

About the author

Bankrate senior reporter James F. Royal, Ph.D. covers investing and wealth management. His work has been cited across major media, including CNBC, the Washington Post, The New York Times and the Associated Press. Royal believes in the power of education to help individuals make smart financial decisions that can positively and significantly improve their lives.

Experience

James is the author of The Zen of Thrift Conversions. He’s a veteran writer and stock analyst with a history of working in the financial-services industry, including at the Motley Fool.

Education

Royal has a bachelor’s degree in management as well as master’s and doctoral degrees in English earned at the University of Florida.

Media mentions

Our goal is to get wiser every day and avoid the mistakes of the past.
— James Royal

James's latest articles

Best Vanguard ETFs

Bankrate examined Vanguard’s full lineup of ETFs and created a list of their top funds.

3 min read Dec 02, 2022
Best Fidelity ETFs

Here are some the best-performing Fidelity ETFs to consider adding to your portfolio.

2 min read Dec 02, 2022
Best large-cap ETFs in December 2022

Large-caps range from some under-the-radar picks to the household names that everyone knows.

3 min read Dec 01, 2022
Best-performing stocks: December 2022

Here are the best-performing and worst-performing stocks in the S&P 500 year to date.

3 min read Dec 01, 2022
Best-performing tech stocks in December 2022

Here’s a look at the top technology stocks so far in 2022.

3 min read Dec 01, 2022
Best-performing energy stocks: December 2022

Here’s a look at the top energy stocks so far in 2022.

2 min read Dec 01, 2022
Best online brokers for mutual funds in December 2022

Consider these top brokers if you’re looking to invest in mutual funds.

7 min read Dec 01, 2022
Best ETFs for December 2022

Investors may want to consider these top exchange-traded funds (ETFs) in 2022.

16 min read Dec 01, 2022
Best places to roll over your 401(k) in December 2022

Wondering where to rollover your retirement savings? These brokers come out on top.

7 min read Dec 01, 2022
Best small-cap ETFs in December 2022

Small-cap ETFs give you a way to buy the small-cap “haystack” rather than search through it for the high performers.

4 min read Dec 01, 2022
Best online brokers for ETF investing in December 2022

Want to make ETFs a part of your investment portfolio? These top accounts may appeal to you.

7 min read Dec 01, 2022
Best robo-advisors in December 2022

Investors looking for automated, low-cost portfolio management can start here.

8 min read Dec 01, 2022
Best mutual funds in December 2022

Bankrate has highlighted some of the best mutual funds based on Morningstar research.

10 min read Dec 01, 2022
10 best low-risk investments in December 2022

Can’t stand losing money? These play-it-safe investments may be a good fit for you.

8 min read Dec 01, 2022
Best Roth IRA accounts in December 2022

Roth IRAs offer many advantages to retirement savers. Find the one that fits your needs.

8 min read Dec 01, 2022

What is a bull market and what does it mean for investors?

The length of a bull market can vary widely — some just months, while others can last years.

4 min read Nov 22, 2022
6 reasons to consider delaying your retirement

Why retiring later than you hoped can be a good idea.

3 min read Nov 14, 2022
What is a limit order in stock trading?

Limit orders can protect you, especially with small stocks.

4 min read Nov 10, 2022
Social Security benefits in 2023: 5 big changes retirees should plan for

Retirees need to know about these changes to social security in 2023.

3 min read Nov 04, 2022
Fractional real estate investing: Top benefits and drawbacks to consider

If you don’t have the capital, fractional real estate investing might be worth it.

5 min read Oct 17, 2022
What is the rule of 55 and how does it work?

Here’s how the rule of 55 can help you take an early distribution from your 401(k) or 403(b).

5 min read Oct 16, 2022
What is EBITDA and how is it valuable?

EBITDA is used in a variety of ways by different stakeholders in a business.

3 min read Oct 11, 2022
15 part-time jobs for retirees

You can earn extra money and still enjoy retirement. Check out the possibilities.

5 min read Oct 10, 2022
Stakeholders vs. shareholders: What’s the difference?

All shareholders are stakeholders, but not all stakeholders are shareholders.

3 min read Oct 07, 2022
Junk bonds: Risks, rewards and how to invest in them

Junk bonds are often issued by struggling companies with a high risk of defaulting.

3 min read Oct 07, 2022
Asset classes, explained — and how they impact investment portfolios

Stocks, bonds, and cash are some of the most prominent asset classes, but some investors opt for a few others.

4 min read Oct 06, 2022
Capital gains vs. investment income: How they differ

Capital gains and investment income are taxed differently. Here’s how.

3 min read Oct 06, 2022
How to use the safe withdrawal rate (SWR) method

While the method isn’t perfect, it serves as a guideline to help retirees know where they stand.

4 min read Oct 05, 2022
Inherited 401(k) rules: What beneficiaries need to know

These are your options if you’ve inherited a 401(k) account.

5 min read Oct 04, 2022
What is Bitcoin mining and how does it work?

Here are the basics on how Bitcoin mining works and some key risks to be aware of.

5 min read Sep 27, 2022