August 2023
They’re not leaving — so what’s next?
In 2020, a wave of retail investors entered the stock market. In the last two years, approximately 30 million new retail investors opened brokerage accounts in the U.S.1 By 2021, retail investors comprised 25% of total equities trading volume, nearly double the percentage reported a decade prior.2
And they’ve stuck around. In February 2023, retail investors across platforms set a new all-time high for weekly inflows, with $1.5 billion dollars pouring into the market in a single week.3
Participation in the public markets remains high; more significantly, it has evolved. Public’s latest Retail Investing Report dives into what’s new and what’s next.
About
Public
Public is an investing platform that allows everyone to invest in stocks, treasuries, ETFs, crypto, and alternative assets—all in one place. We help people be better investors with access to custom company metrics, live shows about the markets, and insights from a community of millions of investors, creators, and analysts.
- Just how mighty are active retail traders?The Economist (Aug-21)
- The Rise of Retail TradersBNY Mellon (Nov-21)
- Retail Army Bets Record $1.5 Billion on Stocks at Fastest Pace Ever, JPMorgan SaysBloomberg (Jul-23)
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All investments involve the risk of loss and the past performance of a security or a financial product does not guarantee future results or returns. You should consult your legal, tax, or financial advisors before making any financial decisions. This material is not intended as a recommendation, offer, or solicitation to purchase or sell securities, open a brokerage account, or engage in any investment strategy.
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Stocks and ETFs.
Brokerage services for US-listed, registered securities are offered to self-directed customers by Open to the Public Investing, Inc. (“Open to the Public Investing”), a registered broker-dealer and member of FINRA & SIPC. Additional information about your broker can be found by clicking here. Open to Public Investing is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Public Holdings, Inc. (“Public Holdings”). This is not an offer, solicitation of an offer, or advice to buy or sell securities or open a brokerage account in any jurisdiction where Open to the Public Investing is not registered. Securities products offered by Open to the Public Investing are not FDIC insured. Apex Clearing Corporation, our clearing firm, has additional insurance coverage in excess of the regular SIPC limits. Additional information can be found here.
Alternative Assets.
Brokerage services for alternative assets available on Public are offered by Dalmore Group, LLC (“Dalmore”), member of FINRA & SIPC. “Alternative assets,” as the term is used at Public, are equity securities that have been issued pursuant to Regulation A of the Securities Act of 1933 (as amended) (“Regulation A”). This content is not investment advice. These investments are speculative, involve substantial risks (including illiquidity and loss of principal), and are not FDIC or SIPC insured. Alternative Assets purchased on the Public platform are not held in an Open to the Public Investing brokerage account and are self-custodied by the purchaser. The issuers of these securities may be an affiliate of Public, and Public (or an affiliate) may earn fees when you purchase or sell Alternative Assets. For more information on risks and conflicts of interest, see these disclosures.
An affiliate of Public may be “testing the waters” and considering making an offering of securities under Tier 2 of Regulation A. No money or other consideration is being solicited and, if sent in response, will not be accepted. No offer to buy securities can be accepted, and no part of the purchase price can be received, until an offering statement filed with the SEC has been qualified by the SEC. Any such offer may be withdrawn or revoked, without obligation or commitment of any kind, at any time before notice of acceptance given after the date of qualification by the SEC or as stated in the offering materials relating to an investment opportunity, as applicable. An indication of interest to purchase securities involves no obligation or commitment of any kind.
Crypto.
Cryptocurrency execution and custody services are provided by Bakkt Crypto Solutions, LLC (NMLS ID 1828849) through a software licensing agreement between Bakkt Crypto Solutions, LLC (“Bakkt”) and Public Crypto, LLC. Bakkt is not a registered broker-dealer or a member of SIPC or FINRA. Cryptocurrencies are not securities and are not FDIC or SIPC insured. Bakkt Crypto Solutions, LLC is licensed to engage in virtual currency business activity by the New York State Department of Financial Services. Please ensure that you fully understand the risks involved before trading: Legal Disclosures, Bakkt Crypto Solutions, LLC.
Treasuries.
U.S. Treasuries (“T-Bill”) investing services on the Public Platform are offered by Jiko Securities, Inc. (“JSI”), a registered broker-dealer and member of FINRA & SIPC. See JSI’s FINRA BrokerCheck and Form CRS for further information. When you enable T-Bill investing on the Public platform, you open a separate brokerage account with JSI (the “Treasury Account”).
JSI uses funds from your Treasury Account to purchase T-bills in increments of $100 “par value” (the T-bill’s value at maturity). T-bills are purchased at a discount to the par value and the T-bill’s yield represents the difference in price between the “par value” and the “discount price.” Aggregate funds in your Treasury Account in excess of the T-bill purchases will remain in your Treasury Account as cash. The value of T-bills fluctuate and investors may receive more or less than their original investments if sold prior to maturity. T-bills are subject to price change and availability – yield is subject to change. Past performance is not indicative of future performance. Investments in T-bills involve a variety of risks, including credit risk, interest rate risk, and liquidity risk. As a general rule, the price of a T-bills moves inversely to changes in interest rates. Although T-bills are considered safer than many other financial instruments, you could lose all or a part of your investment. Jiko U.S. Treasuries Risk Disclosures for further details.
Investments in T-bills: Not FDIC Insured; No Bank Guarantee; May Lose Value.
Banking services and bank accounts are offered by Jiko Bank, a division of Mid-Central National Bank.
JSI and Jiko Bank are not affiliated with Public Holdings, Inc. (“Public”) or any of its subsidiaries. None of these entities provide legal, tax, or accounting advice. You should consult your legal, tax, or financial advisors before making any financial decisions. This material is not intended as a recommendation, offer, or solicitation to purchase or sell securities, open a brokerage account, or engage in any investment strategy.
Commission-free trading of stocks and ETFs refers to $0 commissions for Open to the Public Investing self-directed individual cash brokerage accounts that trade the U.S.-listed, registered securities electronically during the Regular Trading Hours. Keep in mind that other fees such as regulatory fees, Premium subscription fees, commissions on trades during extended trading hours, wire transfer fees, and paper statement fees may apply to your brokerage account. You can trade Treasury securities and Regulation A securities on the Public platform. These brokerage services are offered by broker-dealers other than Public Investing, who may pay us a referral fee or other compensation. Please see Open to the Public Investing’s Fee Schedule to learn more.
Fractional shares are illiquid outside of Public and not transferable. For a complete explanation of conditions, restrictions and limitations associated with fractional shares, see our Fractional Share Disclosure to learn more.
All investments involve the risk of loss and the past performance of a security or a financial product does not guarantee future results or returns.
As an expert in retail investing, I have witnessed the significant growth and evolution of this sector over the past few years. The evidence speaks for itself, with approximately 30 million new retail investors opening brokerage accounts in the U.S. in the last two years alone. This influx of retail investors has had a profound impact on the stock market, as they now comprise 25% of total equities trading volume, nearly double the percentage reported a decade ago.
Furthermore, the retail investor community has demonstrated its staying power. In February 2023, retail investors across platforms set a new all-time high for weekly inflows, with a staggering $1.5 billion pouring into the market in a single week. This level of participation not only indicates the continued interest of retail investors but also suggests that they are becoming increasingly influential players in the market.
Public, the investing platform, has been at the forefront of this retail investing revolution. Their platform allows individuals to invest in stocks, treasuries, ETFs, crypto, and alternative assets all in one place, making it accessible and convenient for retail investors to diversify their portfolios. Public also provides valuable resources such as custom company metrics, live shows about the markets, and insights from a community of millions of investors, creators, and analysts, helping people become better investors.
It is important to note that all investments come with risks, and past performance does not guarantee future results or returns. Therefore, it is crucial to consult with legal, tax, or financial advisors before making any financial decisions. Public offers a range of products and services, including brokerage services for US-listed, registered securities through Open to the Public Investing, a registered broker-dealer and member of FINRA & SIPC. Additionally, Public offers alternative assets through Dalmore Group, LLC, which are speculative investments with substantial risks. Crypto services are provided by Bakkt Crypto Solutions, LLC, and treasuries investing services are offered by Jiko Securities, Inc.
In conclusion, retail investors have made a significant impact on the stock market, and their influence is expected to continue growing. Platforms like Public are empowering retail investors by providing them with the tools and resources they need to make informed investment decisions. However, it is essential for individuals to understand the risks involved and seek professional advice when necessary.
