NEW YORK–What investment terms and other financial questions are credit union members and other consumers Googling most often? A new analysis offers some answers.
According to research conducted by brokerage comparison site Investing in the Web, has determined the top 10 most Googled investment terms and questions in the U.S. and worldwide, a certain electric carmaker’s stock sits atop the rankings.
The company said it conducted the research in the wake of a research by Pew Research Center that found 54% of American adults felt they had a fair amount of knowledge about personal finances.
Given that that’s just over half, the company said it’s no wonder people are turning to Google for answers. Here’s its top 10 list of what’s being searched online.
One: Tesla Stock
3,460,000 average monthly U.S. searches and 5,920,000 average “monthly global searches
“Tesla Stock refers to shares of Tesla, Inc., which became more affordable for the average person to buy in 2020,” InvestingintheWeb.com reported. “Recent search trends are a result of the popularity of electric vehicles and the public profile of Elon Musk. Investors commonly ask “Can Tesla stock reach $1,000?” In January 2021, Tesla Stock reached $1,000 per share; this could happen in the future if the company continues to grow its revenue and introduce innovative technology to the market.” (CU Daily Note: This analysis was provided prior to recent volatility in Tesla stock.”
Two: Bitcoin
2,830,000 average monthly U.S. searches and 16,360,000 average monthly global searches
“Bitcoin ranks second, with ‘How Bitcoin works’ being one of the most Googled questions….To start using Bitcoin users need to set up a wallet, which is like a digital bank account. The transactions are recorded on a public ledger called the blockchain and verified by computers (miners).
Three: Charles Schwab
2,340,000 average monthly U.S. searches and 2,510,000 average monthly global searches
“Many investors Google ‘Are Charles Schwab brokerage accounts insured?”’” the analysis noted. “
Four: S&P 500
2,290,000 average monthly U.S. searches and 5,420,000 average monthly global searches
“Investors are Googling, ‘Can S&P 500 crash?’ as it’s susceptible to large-scale market downturns…”
Five: Vanguard
1,450,000 average monthly U.S. searches and 1,900,000 average monthly global searches
“….One of the more commonly asked questions is ‘Are Vanguard advisors fiduciaries?’ Yes, Vanguard advisors are fiduciaries, which means that they are required to manage their clients’ funds in the client’s best interests.
Six: Apple Stock
1,270,000 average monthly U.S. searches and 1,730,000 average monthly global searches
“One of the most searched-for questions is ‘Can Apple stock reach $1,000?’ Analysts are hopeful of Apple’s future stock prices exceeding $500 in 2030…”
Seven: Stock Market
1,270,000 average monthly U.S. searches and 1,930,000 average monthly global searches
According to InvestingintheWeb.com, “The most commonly asked stock market question is ‘Are stock market losses tax deductible?’ The IRS allows taxpayers to reduce their taxable income by subtracting their capital losses from the capital gains.”
Eight: Dow Jones Industrial Average
616,000 average monthly U.S. searches and 2,080,000 average monthly global searches
“A commonly asked question is “Are Dow Jones companies in the S&P 500?’” the company said. Yes, the companies do overlap but the Dow is more exclusive, whereas the S&P 500 gives a broader view of the market.”
Nine: Nasdaq
425,000 average monthly U.S. searches and 1,310,000 average monthly global searches
“Investors typically search, ‘Can Nasdaq crash?’ Yes, it can crash as it reflects how the top technology companies in the U.S. are performing.”
Ten: Roth IRA
392,000 average monthly U.S. searches and 436,000 average monthly global searches
“Investors often Google ‘Are Roth IRA distributions taxable?’ A Roth IRA is a tax-free investment at distribution; however, the 25% distribution does not make the entire retirement account tax-free, certain conditions apply.”
