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1500 questions
25
votes
5 answers
Why don't SPY, SPX, and the e-mini s&p 500 track perfectly with each other?
These tickers (SPY, SPX, /ES) are all based off the S&P 500 yet the relative lows and highs diverge. Can someone provide a basic explanation what causes this to happen? I feel like it may stem from my having a basic lack of understanding on what…
Joey
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25
votes
6 answers
How do I permanently opt out of having a credit history?
In the past, I activated a credit block (freeze) on all major credit bureaus and from reading information, this should prevent anyone from being able to report on my credit or gain access to it. However, I got a notice that someone had hit my…
user541852587
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25
votes
3 answers
Am I obligated to file through a tax preparer after an unsatisfactory consultation?
I have been doing my taxes for 25 years with TurboTax. Like others, I was a bit upset at them for doubling the price of their software, so I decided I would make an appointment with H&R Block, thinking it would be a good idea to boycott TurboTax…
NickyB
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25
votes
7 answers
Will there always be somebody selling/buying in every stock?
When buying or selling stocks, the transactions seem to take place relatively quickly. I could almost assume that someone will buy my stocks when I sell and someone will sell me when I want to buy.
Will there be a scenario in which I want to sell,…
xenon
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25
votes
4 answers
Why would a long-term investor ever chose a Mutual Fund over an ETF?
(I read this previous question but would like to differentiate my question by having it focus exclusively on long term, buy and hold investing).
From my understanding, it is conventional wisdom that if a person wishes to invest in the stock market…
Matthew Moisen
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25
votes
6 answers
Why is a US credit score based on credit utilization?
As a European citizen I am somewhat puzzled by how American credit scores work. The US is one of the few, possibly the only country where such a strong focus is put on the utilization history of personal credit (cards), to the point where people try…
Lilienthal
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25
votes
10 answers
Any experience with maxing out 401(k)?
I'm 23 right now, and I'm currently contributing about 6% of my salary to a 401(k) with an employer that matches 20% of my contribution up to 6%. Based on various calculators, continuing at this rate will probably give me something like $2-3…
awshepard
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25
votes
4 answers
Should I use regular or adjusted close for backtesting?
In an attempt run few backtesting tasks, I have obtained some historical data. I noticed that there are two closing prices available, regular close and adjusted close.
After doing some reading, I have learned that the adjusted close value is being…
Eugene S
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25
votes
6 answers
Foolish to place orders before the market opens?
I was wondering if it is unwise to place orders for stocks/ETFs before the market opens. I am almost always buying to add more to existing positions. I don't have any time during the day to make trades, so I usually put in my orders the night…
mushroom
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25
votes
4 answers
How can banks afford to offer credit card rewards?
I understand Visa and MasterCard make money on transaction fees, but how much (if any) of those fees do banks see? Do banks make money on people who pay their bills on time, or are reward programs paid for by the people who don't?
Zach Rattner
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25
votes
2 answers
I'm owed money from a non-profit for services rendered, but they are unresponsive
I work sometimes in an arts-related field as an independent contractor for a certain 501(c)3. Over the last twenty years, I have helped them with an annual project, for which I have been paid and hourly rate. If it matters, the amount is usually…
nuggethead
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25
votes
2 answers
Why would a company do a huge reverse stock split and then immediately revert it?
I noticed something strange in a corporate events data feed and decided to look deeper. A stock with ticker PMD completed a 1-for-5000 reverse stock split yesterday, followed by a 5000-for-1 stock split one minute later. The company does drug…
John Churchill
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25
votes
8 answers
1.4 million cash. What do I do?
I hit the jackpot by selling my start up for $1.4 million. Then I took a salaried job at $107k. I have no debt and own a fully paid-off house and car. For the rich this may sound like small money, but this is new to me.
1.4 million is not enough to…
Sleepless Wanderer
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25
votes
6 answers
Should I sell mutual funds that are performing well or poorly first?
I have roughly equal investments across 4 different high-risk "growth" mutual funds -- let's just assume that other than all being high risk, they're fairly well diversified. Two of the funds are performing well (5-10% growth since purchase), and…
user85461
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25
votes
3 answers
What is a trust? What are the different types of trusts?
What is a trust? What are the different types of trusts? Are some better than others? What are the different roles involved in a trust?
Nat_Rea
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