James Royal, Ph.D.

Principal writer, investing and wealth management
Ribbon EXPERTISE
  • Investing
  • Wealth management
  • Behavioral finance
  • Stock analysis
Education EDUCATION
  • Bachelor of Science in management, University of Florida
  • Master of Arts in English, University of Florida
  • Doctorate in English, University of Florida

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

An artist's rendering of bitcoin
6 MIN READ

What is Bitcoin?

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

Warren Buffett
6 MIN READ

Warren Buffett’s investment advice: Top 10 tips for investing success

Buffett’s wisdom seems so commonsense and practical, and yet it can lead to great wealth.

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

  • Best Mutual Funds In July 2024

    With literally thousands of available mutual funds, how do you find the top ones for your portfolio? Bankrate has highlighted some of the best mutual funds.

    Jul 01, 2024

  • 11 Best Investment Apps In July 2024: A Complete Guide

    Here are eleven of the top apps for getting your finances organized and invested. These apps are great for beginners, and they make it easy for those just starting to invest or someone looking to play a stock-picking game for fun. Here are some of the top apps for getting your finances organized and invested.

    Jul 01, 2024

  • Best ETFs For July 2024

    With literally thousands of ETFs to choose from, where does an investor start? Below are some of the best ETFs by category, including some highly specialized funds

    Jul 01, 2024

  • Vanguard Review 2024

    Though investors who want to be in control may feel Vanguard falls short, hands-off investors who like the investment firm's low-cost mutual funds and ETFs will feel right at home.

    Jun 24, 2024