Robinhood is known as the platform that launched commission-free trading. Now, countless other brokerages have followed suit and done away with trading commissions.
Rightfully so, many investors are skeptical of whether or not Robinhood is safe to invest with based on the fact that they are free.
Robinhood does not charge investors any trading commissions whatsoever. There is not a minimum initial account balance, and bank transfers are free. These features make it a good launching pad for people who want to start out small.
Its creators designed this platform with beginners in mind. It is meant to be one of the simplest trading platforms out there. As a result, intermediate to advanced traders often find this platform to be lacking in certain areas. For example, these areas include research tools, order types and technical indicators.
So, is Robinhood safe to invest with? Here is the verdict.
As a new investor, you may wonder if your funds will be protected. Specifically, you may worry about situations such as the platform going bankrupt. Or there’s the worry about someone getting your account info and emptying your account of the cash or securities in your portfolio.
Robinhood provides full insurance coverage against this and other potential scenarios through the Securities Investment Protection Corporation (SIPC).
Let’s break down the role of the SIPC, what it can provide, and how this works for you.
The SIPC was created by government as a way to give protection to customers who hold cash and securities. Theses include stocks, bonds or mutual funds in an account at SIPC-member brokerage firms.
Robinhood, for example, is a member of the SIPC.
Let's say the unlikely event occurs and your broker or robo-advisor financially fails and goes into bankruptcy. They are required to transfer all your money to another brokerage with SIPC coverage.
If they don’t do this, and investors’ assets are missing or at risk, the SIPC will step in. They will reimburse you by providing up to $500,000 in coverage.
The amount of your claim will be the value of the cash and securities in your account on the date the SIPC files the court files the liquidation paperwork. However, they will deduct any debt you owe the brokerage firm, such as margin loans,
Of course, the likelihood of Robinhood or any other brokerage firm or robo-advisor failing is slim. However, you will sleep better at night knowing the insurance is there for your protection.
That being said, SIPC is not some magic "catch all."
It does not cover:
There are also additional layers of protection that include:
If against all odds your broker gets to the liquidation phase before you get back your money, the SIPC will appoint a contact person in the case of bankruptcy. They will notify you on how to file a claim. If this does not happen, you can also go to the SIPC site and receive your own claim form to file.
The most vital note for you to keep in mind is that the SIPC serves as a safety net if something causes Robinhood to shut down.
It does not cover any losses you incur when the value of your investments decline.
You make your own individual trading choices, and as with any investing option, this carries considerable risk.
Short-term, active day traders may stand to lose thousands of dollars (or more) in daily trades due to unpredictable market fluctuations.
If you’re a longer-term, more passive investor, you are less likely to be affected by volatility on a daily basis.
It is important to understand that the cryptocurrency trading offered on Robinhood is not insured in any way by FDIC or SIPC.
You may also be concerned about the safety of your personal and financial information.
The Robinhood Security Team uses a number of high-level measures to protect your account.
Here are some of those security measures:
Robinhood has the latest protection to safeguard your account in many possible scenarios.
If the platform fails, the SIPC will cover you up to $500,000. Robinhood also has layers of protection in place to protect your personal, banking and trading account information.
All of these features help make Robinhood a good choice for beginning investors. If you’re investing with a different platform, it’s smart to check their system for keeping your money - and your account info – safe and sound.
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