James Royal, Ph.D.

Principal writer, investing and wealth management
Ribbon EXPERTISE
  • Investing
  • Wealth management
  • Behavioral finance
  • Stock analysis
Education EDUCATION
  • Bachelor of Science in management, University of Florida
  • Master of Arts in English, University of Florida
  • Doctorate in English, University of Florida

 

About the author

Bankrate principal writer and editor 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 and Bankrate.

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

CNBC
Yahoo Finance
Reuters
Cheddar TV
Forbes
Barron’s

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

— James Royal, Ph.D.

James's Picks

An artist's rendering of bitcoin
6 MIN READ

What is Bitcoin?

Some say Bitcoin is the future of currency while others decry it as just a speculative bubble.

Warren Buffett
6 MIN READ

Warren Buffett’s investment advice: Top 10 tips for investing success

Buffett’s wisdom seems so commonsense and practical, and yet it can lead to great wealth.

A shopper wearing a protective face mask fills a grocery cart with bottled water at a supermarket.
7 MIN READ

Should you be worried about inflation? Here’s what the experts are saying

Higher inflation is here, but the big question is whether it’s here to stay or not.

A few pedestrians pass in front of a GameStop store
10 MIN READ

‘To the moon’: How GameStop-boosting stock traders kicked off a shocking Wall Street feeding frenzy

It may come with a classic Hollywood setup, but the GameStop trading story isn’t quite that simple.

James's latest articles

  • hand holding Digital wallet for cryptocurrency in front of laptop

    What is a crypto wallet?

    Crypto wallets keep your cryptocurrency safe. Learn about the different types.

    8 min read Jul 10, 2024

  • Vanguard Review 2024

    Though investors who want to be in control may feel Vanguard falls short, hands-off investors who like the investment firm's low-cost mutual funds and ETFs will feel right at home.

    Jun 24, 2024

  • Webull Review 2024

    While Webull may not receive the fanfare of Robinhood for no-fee trading apps, the broker is at least as capable and may even make a better mobile or web-based trader than its popular rival.

    Jun 17, 2024

  • Marcus Invest review 2024

    Known for its high-yield online banking accounts, Marcus is now taking its game to the robo-advisor space with Marcus Invest. It brings the core functionality – portfolio management, rebalancing – and adds some less common options such as socially responsible investing into the mix.

    Jun 04, 2024

  • Robinhood Review 2024

    Zero-commission broker Robinhood is a good gateway to the stock market if you've never invested before, but the majority of investors will quickly hit a wall even if the price is right.

    Jun 04, 2024