Matt Miczulski is an investments editor at Finder. With over 450 bylines, Matt dissects and reviews brokers and investing platforms to expose perks and pain points, explores investment products and concepts and covers market news, making investing more accessible and helping readers to make informed financial decisions.
Before joining Finder in 2021, Matt covered everything from finance news and banking to debt and travel for FinanceBuzz. His expertise and analysis on investing and other financial topics has been featured on CBS, MSN, Best Company and Consolidated Credit, among others. Matt holds a BA in history from William Paterson University.
Expertise
- Trading and investing
- Broker and trading platform reviews
- Money management
Experience
- Featured on MSN, CBS, Best Company and MediaFeed, among other sites
- More than 450 bylines on investing, budgeting and saving, paying off debt, mortgages, credit cards and more
- Well versed in breaking down financial jargon and complex topics to meet readers where they are in their financial journey
Education
- Bachelor of Arts, History
Educational organizations
- William Paterson University
Featured publications
- Best Company
- CBS
- Consolidated Credit
- FinanceBuzz
- Home Business Magazine
- Lexria
- Money Done Right
- MSN
- The News Wheel
- Recruiter
Industry insights from Matt Miczulski
We asked Matt a few questions around investing and industry trends.
What trading and investing platforms do you use personally?
TD Ameritrade and Robinhood are two brokers I personally use for trading and investing. TD Ameritrade is where I do the bulk of my investing. I enjoy the clean, sophisticated look and feel of its web and desktop trading platforms. Its research tools are extensive and informative — I particularly like its valuation tool, which provides an analysis of valuation metrics like price-to-earnings ratio, gross profit margin, dividend yield and growth rate, earnings and revenue growth and financial strength, among others. TD Ameritrade offers all the bells and whistles you’d expect from a big broker, and it’s been my go-to platform since 2017. I also have an account with Robinhood, which I use occasionally for speculative trades and fractional share trading. Robinhood offers a completely different feel compared to TD Ameritrade, and it’s a nice change of pace. It’s engaging and incredibly easy to trade.
What’s the difference between trading and investing?
The main difference between trading and investing is the timeline. Traders usually look to capitalize on short-term price movements of a security and make quicker profits, while investors look to grow their money over the long-term by buying and holding a security.
What should investors consider when looking for a broker or trading app?
This is a good question, because there are so many different brokers nowadays, each with its own unique spin on the trading experience. I’d say to consider these factors when looking for a broker or trading app: Decide if you want to invest on your own or have your portfolio managed. If you want your portfolio managed, are you open to a robo-advisor? If you want to invest on your own, does the platform meet your experience level? Does it offer the tools and resources that match your trading style? Look at account types and available investment options so you can build the portfolio you want. Look at trading and miscellaneous fees to gauge the overall cost of using the broker. Look at user reviews to gauge the overall sentiment of the platform. And last but not least, judge the broker’s level of customer support. You want to be confident that you’ll get the help you need if a problem or question arises.
Latest articles by Matt Miczulski
204 articles written by this author
Options profit calculator
Use this calculator to quickly see potential outcomes of your options trades.
![Options profit calculator](https://www.finder.com/finder-au/wp-uploads/2019/06/article-default_450x250.png)
Best options trading platforms of 2024
SoFi, Robinhood, Tastytrade, Webull, Interactive Brokers, E*TRADE, eToro and others top our list for the best options trading platforms.
![Best options trading platforms of 2024](https://dvh1deh6tagwk.cloudfront.net/finder-us/wp-uploads/2024/08/excited-stock-traders-working-in-office_canva_450x250.png)
10 best brokers for the S&P 500
See our picks for the best brokers for trading S&P 500 stocks, ETFs, options and futures.
![10 best brokers for the S&P 500](https://dvh1deh6tagwk.cloudfront.net/finder-us/wp-uploads/2024/08/smiling-beautiful-trader-and-forex-chart_canva_450x250.png)
How to invest in ARK Venture Fund (ARKVX)
Learn how to invest in Cathie Wood’s ARK Venture Fund in 5 easy steps.
![How to invest in ARK Venture Fund (ARKVX)](https://www.finder.com/finder-au/wp-uploads/2019/06/article-default_450x250.png)
Best brokerage accounts for index funds [2024]
Our picks of the best brokerage accounts for index funds for beginners, teens, proprietary funds and more.
![Best brokerage accounts for index funds [2024]](https://dvh1deh6tagwk.cloudfront.net/finder-us/wp-uploads/2024/07/brokerage-specialist-discussing-data_canva_450x250.png)
Opto review 2024: $0 commission, fractional theme investing
Trade commission-free stocks and ETFs with Opto, and stay ahead by spotting emerging trends through thematic investing.
![Opto review 2024: $0 commission, fractional theme investing](https://dvh1deh6tagwk.cloudfront.net/finder-us/wp-uploads/2024/07/OPTO-invest_logo_supplied_450x250.png)
How to buy Pershing Square USA stock when it goes public
Everything we know about the Pershing Square USA IPO, plus information on how to buy in.
![How to buy Pershing Square USA stock when it goes public](https://dvh1deh6tagwk.cloudfront.net/finder-us/wp-uploads/2024/07/Pershing-Square-USA_logo450x250.png)
Best paper trading platforms to practice trading with fake money [2024]
Check out our picks of the best paper trading platforms to practice trading and investing with fake money.
![Best paper trading platforms to practice trading with fake money [2024]](https://dvh1deh6tagwk.cloudfront.net/finder-us/wp-uploads/2024/07/crypto-trader-tradingview_canva_450x250.png)
Investment calculator
Use this calculator to work out how much you can grow your money.
![Investment calculator](https://dvh1deh6tagwk.cloudfront.net/finder-us/wp-uploads/2024/01/womaninvestingonhersmartphone_GettyImages_450x250.png)
Take these 4 critical first steps to control your finances
If you're struggling to control your finances, here's how you can create a plan to change your situation.
![Take these 4 critical first steps to control your finances](https://dvh1deh6tagwk.cloudfront.net/finder-us/wp-uploads/2017/10/CoupleApplyingForLoan_Supplied_450x250.jpg)