10 questions to ask before taking out a personal loan                                                                                                                                                                                                         February 13, 2024 | [Read Online]( Good morning. It's Tuesday, Feb. 13, and we're covering financial leverage, bombing this financial Quiz, a troubling milestone, and much more. First time reading? [Sign up here](. Stock Market Update Market Performance: February 12, 2024. US stocks ended mixed on Monday after the S&P 500 index notched a historic close in the prior session, as investors prepared for the first key inflation update of the year and the next wave of earnings reports. The S&P 500 (^GSPC) closed just below the flat line after a record-setting week that saw the benchmark end above 5,000 for the first time. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI) gained around 0.3% to hit a fresh record, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq (^IXIC) fell 0.3%. [Shares of chipmaker Nvidia (NVDA) rose 2% to hit another record]( on Monday before paring gains. British semiconductor designer Arm (ARM) also surged to a new record, extending its rally from last week. Financial Maverick Insights What Is Financial Leverage, and Why Is It Important? What Is Financial Leverage? Financial leverage is the concept of using borrowed capital as a funding source. Leverage is often used when businesses invest in themselves for expansions, acquisitions, or other growth methods. Leverage is also an investment strategy that uses borrowed money—specifically, the use of various financial instruments or borrowed capital—to increase the potential return of an investment. Understanding Financial Leverage Leverage is using debt or borrowed capital to undertake an investment or project. It is commonly used to boost an entity's equity base. The concept of leverage is used by both investors and companies. Investors use leverage to significantly increase the returns that can be provided on an investment. They leverage their investments using various instruments, including options, futures, and margin accounts. Companies can use leverage to fccinance their assets. In other words, companies can use debt financing to invest in business operations to influence growth instead of issuing stock to raise capital. [Investors who are not comfortable using leverage directly]( have a variety of ways to access leverage indirectly. They can invest in companies that use leverage in the ordinary course of their business to finance or expand operations—without increasing their outlay. 23% of Americans Bomb This Financial Quiz. Can You Do Better? Despite the vast depth of information and education available today, financial literacy isn’t improving among adults in the U.S. A financial advisor can help you improve your financial literacy to better understand your money. On average, American adults correctly answered only 50% of the questions in the 2022 Personal Finance Index, an annual survey conducted by the TIAA Institute and the Global Financial Literacy Excellence Center (GFLEC) at the George Washington University School of Business. Since researchers from the TIAA and George Washington University started gauging financial literacy among adults in 2017, functional knowledge hasn’t improved. The area where people struggle the most? Understanding financial risk. Here’s a look at the survey’s findings and some of the questions that were asked. Financial Literacy Isn’t Improving: Unfortunately, this year’s survey and previous studies have revealed that many adults in the U.S. function with a poor understanding of financial topics. [On average, U.S. adults answered only 50% of the index questions correctly in 2022,](a figure that has remained steady since 2017. Real Estate News Start the New Year With Fresh Business Planning Tips, Scripts Real estate trainer Monica Reynolds shares best practices for setting goals and a script for reaching out to past clients. The Value of Sprint Goals in an Era of Disruption The real estate industry has undergone massive changes and disruptions in recent years, and we’re certainly going through our fair Housing Market Hits a Troubling Milestone Record home loan costs in the fall made owning a home quite unaffordable in the fourth quarter of 2023, according to the National Association of Home Builders. Personal Finance Tips The Future Of Personal Finance: Fintech 50 2024 Even amid layoffs and a funding drought, financial technology startups continued to worm themselves into the money routines of millions. 10 questions to ask before taking out a personal loan A personal loan can provide much-needed funds for consolidating debt, home improvements and other necessities. Here's what you need to ask before taking one out. Here’s How Much Debt the Average American Has Excluding mortgages, the most common source of debt comes from credit cards. Alternative Investing Bitcoin Traders Scoop Up Options Bets at $65K and Higher The bullish flow is reminiscent of the 2020-2021 bull market when traders consistently snapped up bitcoin calls at levels well above the going market rate. California tech leader targets Elon Musk, calls for boycott of Tesla in Super Bowl ads Super Bowl viewers in some cities saw a pair of hard-hitting spots funded by a California tech pioneer and entrepreneur, calling on the public to boycott Tesla "to keep your family safe." AI Is the Biggest Tech Investing Theme for 2024 Artificial intelligence (AI) is our biggest tech investing theme for 2024, as was the case in 2023. Have you considered taking out a personal loan? [Yes](
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