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 Picks

Illustration of the symbol for Bitcoin overlaid on a rising chart.

7 MIN READ

What is Bitcoin?

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

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

Money market funds vs. money market accounts — Which is better?

Here are the pros and cons of money market funds and money market funds.

4 min read Jul 26, 2023
Fractional real estate investing: Pros and cons

If you don’t have the capital, fractional real estate investing might be worth it.

5 min read Jul 24, 2023
6 investment formulas for financial success

These financial formulas can help you measure your overall financial health.

4 min read Jul 20, 2023
6 popular investment strategies of fund managers

Every fund manager has an investment strategy. Here are some of the most popular.

5 min read Jul 20, 2023
Cash accounts vs. margin accounts: What’s the difference?

For the prudent investor, margin accounts can provide huge upside potential.

5 min read Jul 18, 2023
Asset classes, explained — and how they impact investment portfolios

Stocks, bonds, and cash are some of the most prominent asset classes, but some investors opt for a few others.

4 min read Jul 11, 2023
Investing in esports in 2023

Is the esports industry poised for further growth? Here’s what you should know before investing.

5 min read Jun 05, 2023
7 things financial pros say you should never do with your investments

Regardless of how much money you have, it can be easy to fall into investment traps.

5 min read May 30, 2023