• Q. What is an ETF?

  ETF stands for Exchange-Traded fund. Exchange-Traded means you can buy and sell ETFs on public stock exchanges like the Nasdaq or the New York Stock Exchange. In this context, a fund is a bundle of assets (usually stocks, bonds and/or cash).…

• Q. I’m losing money in one of my investments. Should I sell and invest in something else?

  At Stash, we believe in taking the long view on your investments. We know this can be a little nerve-wracking, but an investment that is up today could lose value tomorrow. This is all a part of learning to invest. Even if you’re seeing an investment go down in value,…

• Q. How do I know when to sell my investments?

  At Stash, we believe in taking the long view on your investments. A pillar in the Stash Way is investing for the long-term. Even if you’re seeing an investment go down in value, we recommend holding on to it. In the long run,…

• Q. What is an expense ratio?

  An expense ratio is an annualized fee (written as a percentage of total assets) that funds charge shareholders. The fee is charged daily by deducting a small amount of a fund’s asset from a shareholder. It covers management fees, administrative expenses and other costs incurred to operate the fund.…

• Q. What is a ‘capital gain’?

  It’s pretty much what it sounds like: an increase in the value of your investment. If you sell an investment that has gained in value, that’s a capital gain. You’ve made a profit and are subject to federal capital gains taxes within your taxable brokerage account.…

• Q. How many investments should I have in my portfolio?

  The exact number of investments you purchase is entirely up to you. We like to encourage our clients to have a diverse, robust portfolio that reflects several different industries and technologies. This can help keep your portfolio balanced and avoid too much risk.…

• Q. Why should I be investing in ETFs?

  There are so many investing options out there, it can be confusing figuring out where to start. As a new investor, ETFs can be a great place to start your portfolio. With an ETF, you can invest in a variety of different companies or industries without needing to choose just one “winner”.…

• Q. Why is the price that I sold my stocks at different than the price I see in the app after the trade has settled?

  Simply put, this is because we don’t immediately sell your investment when you initiate a sale. All sales are settled during our 4 daily trade windows, of which there are 2 in the morning and 2 in the afternoon. The price you see after the sale has settled is the price at the time of transaction.…

• Q. How can I invest in a specific company on Stash?

  You have the option of investing in a specific company by purchasing individual stocks in Stash.  There is also the option of investing in a collection of companies by purchasing exchange-traded funds, otherwise known as ETFs. You can see a list of all the available stocks available for individual purchase in the app.…

• Q. Do ETFs have fees?

  Yes, ETFs have management fees. These fees are usually referred to and the ‘expense ratio. These are often shown as a percentage. ETFs are managed by investment companies that charge a fee for their service. The companies make sure the money in the ETF is invested in the desired style of the investors.…

• Q. Do ETFs pay dividends?

  Some ETFs pay dividends and some do not. Managers of individual ETFs decide if and/or when an ETF pays dividends. Usually ETFs pay dividends depending on if: The companies within the fund are also paying dividends The prospectus (AKA objective) of the ETF is to generate income for investors through dividends Checking the fund’s website can give you more information about whether a specific ETF might pay dividends.…

• Q. How is my total return percentage calculated?

  A return is how much you gain or lose on either a single investment or an entire portfolio. You can calculate it as both a specific dollar amount or a percentage. Here’s how. For your investment positions Dollar: [current value] –…

• Q. What is historical performance?

  Historical performance shows how an asset (stock, bond, ETF) has performed in the past. You can’t use historical performance to predict the future.…

• Q. How do I choose other investments to add?

  We recommend buying a few more investments after buying the mix suggested for your risk level. Buying investments that align with your interests, goals, and beliefs can be a way to help you feel closer to your investments regardless of what the market is doing.…

• Q. How Do ETFs Compare to Single Stocks?

  Comparing ETFs to single stocks is like comparing boats to cars. They have different characteristics, and are potentially appropriate depending on the needs and expectations of the investor. Financial professionals usually don’t recommend picking investments just because they are a specific kind of investment.…

• Q. Why did my total return percentage next to my portfolio change recently?

  On March 9, 2018, we updated the formula we use to calculate your total returns. This formula will no longer subtract withdrawals from your total Cash deposited when calculating the amount you have deposited. This means if you made a withdrawal,…

• Q. Who issues (sells) ETFs?

  ETFs are issued by investment management companies like BlackRock, SPDR, Vanguard, Invesco, and others. These companies create ETFs based on styles, themes, or objectives they think investors are looking for. Investment advisory firms and brokerages usually allow investors to purchase ETFs within their platform.…

• Q. Are there different tax implications to owning single stocks vs ETFs?

  Taxes for stocks and ETFs work the same way. You will be required by the IRS to report income earned from capital gains and other applicable distributions. Each year, Stash sends a tax statement to investors who need to file their earnings with the IRS.…

• Q. Is an ETF a stock?

  An ETF isn’t exactly a stock—it’s like a collection of them. Think of an ETF like a basket of stocks and/or other investments. When you buy the basket, you get everything it contains. You don’t have to choose which individual investments go into the basket,…

• Q. What’s the difference between buying single stocks and buying ETFs on Stash?

  The process for buying single stocks is the same as buying ETFs. All single stocks are available to all users no matter what your risk profile is. We can’t tell you what stocks to pick, but we can recommend that you keep a few things in mind.…

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