Finelo Blog
Learn investing and trading, one article at a time. Practical guides, beginner-friendly explainers, and learning tips from the Finelo team.
The Shooting Star Candlestick Pattern: What It Is and How to Trade It
A shooting star candlestick pattern is a potential bearish reversal signal that appears after an upward price move. It has a small real body near the candle’s low, a long upper shadow, and little or no lower shadow…
Qualified vs Ordinary Dividends: What You Need to Know
The difference between qualified and ordinary dividends is their federal tax treatment. Ordinary dividends are included in ordinary income, while qualified dividends meet requirements that allow them to be taxed at…
Ponzi Schemes vs. Pyramid Schemes: Understanding the Differences
A Ponzi scheme presents itself as an investment and uses money from newer investors to pay supposed returns to earlier investors. A pyramid scheme is built around recruitment: participants bring in more people, whose…
Pension vs 401(k): A Comprehensive Comparison
The central difference between a pension and a 401(k) is what the plan promises. A traditional pension generally promises a retirement benefit defined by the plan, while a 401(k) builds an individual account whose…
Options Trading for Beginners: Your Complete Guide
Options trading means buying or selling contracts tied to an underlying asset. A contract can give its buyer the right to buy or sell that asset at a fixed price by a specified date. For beginners, the sensible…
Monetary Policy vs Fiscal Policy: Understanding the Differences
Monetary policy and fiscal policy both influence the economy, but different institutions control them. Monetary policy is a central bank’s use of financial and monetary tools. Fiscal policy is a government’s use of…
HSA vs FSA: A Detailed Comparison
The short answer in the HSA vs FSA decision is that eligibility comes first, then expected health expenses and the specific rules of the accounts available to you. An HSA is only an option when you satisfy federal…
How to Open a Brokerage Account: A Complete Guide
To open a brokerage account, choose a brokerage firm and select an account type. Then complete the application, verify your identity, connect a funding source, and decide how to invest the money. Before you apply…
How Does the Stock Market Work?
The stock market connects companies that want to raise money with investors who want to own part of a business. Investors place buy or sell orders through brokers, those orders are routed to trading venues, and a…
How Are Dividends Taxed?
Dividends are taxed based mainly on their classification and the account in which they are held. In a taxable account, ordinary dividends are included in ordinary income, while qualified dividends are eligible for…
Depreciation vs Amortization: An Investor’s Guide to D&A
Depreciation and amortization both spread an asset’s cost across periods, but they generally apply to different assets. Depreciation is associated with tangible assets such as machinery, vehicles, and buildings…
Defined Benefit vs Defined Contribution Plans: Key Differences and Insights
The central difference is what the plan defines. A defined benefit plan sets a retirement benefit in advance, while a defined contribution plan sets up an individual account funded by employee or employer…
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