Activist investors are sometimes seen as celebrities and other times as corporate raiders or pump-and-dump artists. So, what's the truth? Find out if activist investors add value to a company or if they're just hype.

We'll explain the basics of how to trade futures and show you how to place a simple futures trade, so you'll be able to start practicing on your own using the thinkorswim® papermoney® desktop platform.

Where do stock prices come from? That’s the question we’ll answer in this latest episode of Comment Below, a series that responds to queries from our audience. We'll explore how a stock's price is set initially, why it changes, and more.

Shorting a stock can be a tempting trade for investors who think its price might decline. As with any trade, there are risks, including a short squeeze. In this video, we’ll talk about what a short squeeze is and the potential consequences.

In May 2019, the CME Group launched Micro E-mini futures contracts for four major U.S. stock indexes: S&P 500®, Nasdaq-100®, Dow Jones Industrial Average®, and Russell 2000®. This video explains why these contracts were created as well as lists their basic contract specifications.

Economic indicators can tell investors about the health of the economy, which can help them make decisions about their portfolio.

Portfolio margin-approved accounts may allow qualified traders to increase their buying power by decreasing margin requirements when compared to standard margin accounts. In this video, we'll show you how portfolio margin manages risk, place some example trades, and explain the requirements for gaining portfolio margin approval.

Placing futures trades with thinkorswim® web means seamless execution where you want and when you want. In this video, we’ll demonstrate how to place futures trades using thinkorswim web as well as some of the advanced features of thinkorswim.

Welcome to Schwab! We know changing platforms can feel like a lot but we're here to help. Here are the basics when it comes to learning how to use Schwab.com and Schwab Mobile.

thinkorswim® Web is the browser-based version of thinkorswim. There’s no download required; just go to trade.thinkorswim.com and log in. thinkorswim Web takes essential options trading tools from thinkorswim Desktop and makes them easier to access and even easier to learn. In this video, we’ll show you how to trade long calls and long puts in thinkorswim Web, while giving you helpful strategy tips along the way.

The yield on 10-year Treasury note is an important indicator many investors keep an eye on. In this video, we explain the differences between Treasury bills, bonds, and notes and why the 10-year Treasury note is important.

Have you ever wondered how inflation is tracked? Meet the inflation indexes. In this video, we’ll introduce you to the Consumer Price Index (CPI), the Personal Consumption Expenditures Price Index (PCE), and the Producer Price Index (PPI). We’ll talk about what’s in them, who compiles the data, where the data comes from, and most importantly, how investors can use the information.

When the price of crude oil goes up, you may feel it at the gas pump. However, changes in the price of crude oil, up or down, can affect the entire economy and your portfolio in ways that may surprise you.

Whether you’ve got a small account or a large account, trading options can be complex. Kevin Hincks, Senior Manager of Investor Education and Content, walks us through some of the biggest mistakes he sees option traders make and how to simplify your options trading approach.

Social Security has helped millions of Americans during retirement. Learn about four ways that can help maximize your payments: work at least 35 years, choose your retirement age carefully, claim spousal payments, and minimize income taxes.

A golden cross or death cross stock chart pattern occurs when moving averages of different lengths cross. This pattern can help all types of investors identify entry and exit signals. In this video, we’ll teach you about moving averages, what golden crosses and death crosses are, and how to use them to find entry and exit signals.

Your 30s can bring a lot of competing financial priorities like buying a house, saving for a child’s college fund, or anything else life can throw your way. And don’t forget about retirement. Retirement may seem far away, but you need to use that time well in order to retire comfortably. In this video, we’ll walk you through how to save for your retirement while accomplishing other financial goals.

A Self-Directed Brokerage Account (SDBA) is an offering within an employer-sponsored retirement plan that allows the employees more variety, flexibility, and control over how their 401(k) savings are invested. This video explains what a self-directed brokerage account is and why you may want to make it part of your investing plan.

In this episode Patrick Jones (@Patrick_E_Jones) is joined by Jamie Valencour to discuss Death Space and what listeners can expect. Jamie opens up about a death and dying class she took in college, as well as the impact losing her grandfather has had on her.

These frogs are speaking the language of true love and romance.

Due to the pandemic, two Power 5 conferences, The Big Ten and Pac 12, have already announced they’ll postpone play until at least the spring. The NCAA itself is canceling all fall sport championships. Other conferences such as the SEC, ACC, and Big 12 said they’re going to play amid rising coronavirus numbers on campuses and across the country. If the season is canceled, it would have large implications for the schools and student-athletes involved in the games, but could it also affect the stock market? Let’s take a look at publicly traded companies associated with college football as well as the process of picking and assessing the future health of any stock.

There’s a misconception that the stock market is the economy. It’s not. In this video, Education Coach Michael Kealy (@MKealy_TDA) explains the difference between the two while showing how despite rising unemployment and slipping GDP the stock market is rallying from the dip caused by Covid-19.

The economy is changing a lot right now due to the shutdown aimed at protecting our health. To help make sense of it all we asked economist and Senior Contributor to TD Ameritrade Network, George Tsilis, about bailouts, bankruptcies and what they mean for investors.

Health savings accounts, or HSAs, can be another way to take advantage of potential tax breaks to save for ret...

Victor Lustig is one of the smoothest con men of all time. He had numerous schemes including selling the Eiffel Tower. How was he able to do it? Cheddar investigates...