What is the average Social Security check?
Find out how much your Social Security payments could grow over time.
3 min read
Oct 10, 2024
James Royal, Ph.D.
Principal writer, investing and wealth management
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, Ph.D.
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 latest articles
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What is a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA)?
For people living on a fixed income, the COLA is a critical safety net.
3 min read Oct 10, 2024 -
Stock market outlook for the next 12 months: Here’s what top analysts are predicting into 2025
Analysts preferred U.S. stocks over global ones, and value stocks over growth stocks.
6 min read Oct 10, 2024 -
What is a robo-advisor?
A robo-advisor is a fancy term for an advisor that automates the process of financial planning.
6 min read Oct 09, 2024 -
What is options trading? A basic overview
Here’s how options work, the benefits and risks of options and how to start trading options.
8 min read Oct 08, 2024 -
9 retirement investing mistakes to avoid
A financially secure retirement won’t just happen to you. Craft a carefully considered plan and stick to it.
7 min read Oct 08, 2024 -
5 popular investment strategies for beginners
A good investment strategy minimizes your risks while optimizing your potential returns.
6 min read Oct 07, 2024 -
Here’s what a crypto smart contract is and how it works
Smart contracts use blockchain technology to fulfill a pre-programmed contract.
4 min read Oct 07, 2024
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ETFs vs. ETNs: What’s the difference?
Here are what ETFs and ETNs are and some of the key differences between them.
3 min read Aug 31, 2022 -
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC): What it is and how it regulates financial markets
The agency maintains confidence in America’s financial markets worth more than $100 trillion.
4 min read Aug 25, 2022 -
Grantor trust: What it is and a guide to how the rules work
This revocable trust has all its income and deductions reported on the owner’s tax return. Learn more about how it works.
3 min read Aug 23, 2022 -
Inflation may push Social Security COLA up around 10% in 2023
Surging prices could push next year’s Social Security COLA to 10%.
2 min read Aug 12, 2022 -
Proxy voting: What it is and why it matters
Proxy voting is an important part of being an investor. Here’s what you need to know.
6 min read Aug 03, 2022 -
The S&P 500 is in a bear market: How much lower could it go?
The S&P 500 is in a bear market. Here’s how long it might last.
4 min read Jul 12, 2022