Bankrate principal writer and editor James F. Royal, Ph.D. covers investing, financial markets, wealth management, cryptocurrency and retirement issues such as IRAs, 401(k) plans and Social Security — helping individuals make smart financial decisions that can positively and significantly improve their lives. He’s been at Bankrate since 2019, and has been investing in the markets for more than two decades, starting to invest during the “dotcom” boom and bust.
In particular, James is focused on how to invest well, helping individuals build wealth. His articles focus on the real steps to build wealth as well as the financial moves to avoid, those peddled by people just looking to sell you something. Importantly, he also focuses on behavioral finance — an individual’s attitudes and experiences to money and investing — as a key place that people sabotage their own financial future, such as by approaching investing with fear and greed.
His work has been cited across major media, including CNBC, the Washington Post, The New York Times, CNN International and the Associated Press, and he has appeared on TV and radio in countless media outlets. James is also the author of The Zen of Thrift Conversions and Options Trading 101. He previously worked as an editor and analyst at the Motley Fool.
When he’s not thinking and writing about investing, James enjoys reading, French cinema and playing Jeopardy, having appeared on the TV game show.
Our goal is to get wiser every day and avoid the mistakes of the past.
— James Royal, Ph.D.
You might initially think of broker Charles Schwab only as an option for “do-it-yourself” investors, but the dean of discount offers up a highly competent robo-advisor, too: Schwab Intelligent Portfolios.
WellsTrade is the path of least resistance for Wells Fargo banking customers, but it doesn't offer a deep or flexible experience for serious traders.
If you're not afraid to dive into the market with both feet, Interactive Brokers is the most powerful and customizable platform available.
tastytrade is a newer brokerage that caters to traders, especially options traders looking for attractive commissions. Amazingly, they even offer a low-capped commission on your options trades.
Fidelity made a name for itself with mutual funds that were ahead of the curve, and its online broker platform looks to help customers share in that success via in-depth research tools and low transaction costs.
Charles Schwab offers a robust and cost-effective platform that offers something for everyone, from a wide array of commission-free funds to deep research to rich educational resources.
Robinhood offers zero commission trades on stocks, ETFs and options — a key feature that made Robinhood a household name. Commission-free cryptocurrency trading is also available, albeit with a built-in markup.
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.
