Can I discuss specific stocks on YouTube without being a financial advisor?

Yes, as long as you include disclaimers that it's educational content and not personalized financial advice. Disclose any positions you hold in stocks you discuss. You cannot manage others' money or provide personalized recommendations without proper SEC registration.

What CPM can investing channels expect in the US?

US investing channels typically see $25-$60 CPMs, with retirement and tax-focused content at the higher end. RPM (what you actually earn) ranges from $12-$35. A video with 100K views can generate $1,200-$3,500 in ad revenue alone.

How do I compete with established investing channels like Meet Kevin or Andrei Jikh?

You don't compete directly. Find a sub-niche they don't serve — dividend investing for beginners, military TSP optimization, or investing on a teacher's salary. Large channels serve broad audiences; you win by going narrow and deep.

Should I show my face for an investing YouTube channel?

Face-to-camera builds trust significantly faster in finance. However, screen-recording channels analyzing charts, filings, and data can work well too. Channels like 'Everything Money' blend both formats effectively. If you're uncomfortable on camera, start with screen recordings and add face cam gradually.

Guide

InvestingYouTubeUSA

How to Start an Investing YouTube Channel in the US (2026 Guide)

Investing content on YouTube is a goldmine — literally. US investing channels earn $25-$60 CPMs, and the audience is massive: over 60% of Americans own stocks, and millions more want to start. Channels like Meet Kevin, Humphrey Yang, and The Plain Bagel have shown that you don't need a Wall Street pedigree to build a huge investing audience. What you need is clarity, consistency, and a willingness to explain complex topics simply.

Last updated: February 26, 2026

Step-by-Step Guide

Define your investing philosophy and sub-niche

Are you a value investor, index fund advocate, dividend growth investor, or real estate focused? Your philosophy determines your audience. Pick one and commit for at least your first 50 videos.

Create your disclaimer and disclosure template

Write a standard disclaimer for video descriptions and verbal disclosure script. Set up a system to track which stocks you discuss vs. hold. This protects you and builds credibility from day one.

Build your foundational content library

Create 10-15 evergreen explainer videos covering the basics of your investing approach. These become the videos you link to when new viewers discover you through timely content.

Develop a timely content workflow

Set up alerts for earnings reports, Fed meetings, and economic data releases. Have a template ready so you can publish analysis within 24 hours of major market events.

Monetize through aligned partnerships

Join affiliate programs for brokerages you actually use (Fidelity, Schwab, Webull). Apply for sponsorships from financial tools and platforms. Never promote a product that contradicts your investing philosophy.

The investing content landscape in 2026

The investing niche on YouTube has matured significantly. The meme-stock era of 2021 is over, and audiences now reward depth over hype.

Market context shaping content demand:
- The S&P 500's performance and Fed rate decisions drive massive search spikes
- AI stocks (NVIDIA, AMD, Palantir) remain the most-searched tickers
- Bond yields and CDs are relevant again after years of zero rates
- Real estate investment content surges as housing remains unaffordable for buyers

Audience demographics:
- 65% male, 35% female (female investing audience growing fastest)
- Primary age: 25-44
- 70% have some investments; 30% are pre-first-investment
- Average session: 12-18 minutes (investing viewers watch longer than most niches)

Revenue potential:
- CPM: $25-$60 depending on sub-niche
- A channel with 50K subscribers and 200K monthly views generates $4,000-$12,000/month from ads alone
- Brokerage affiliate deals can add another $2,000-$5,000/month

Choosing your investing sub-niche

Generic "investing tips" channels are oversaturated. Successful new channels in 2026 are hyper-specific.

Sub-niches with strong demand and moderate competition:
- Dividend investing — Extremely loyal audience, great for portfolio update content (channels like Dividend Bull thrive here)
- Index fund investing — The Bogleheads community is massive and underserved on video
- Real estate syndications and REITs — High CPM, complex topic that needs clear explanation
- Investing for specific professions — Doctors, engineers, teachers all have unique investment situations
- Tax-advantaged investing — HSAs, 529 plans, mega backdoor Roth strategies
- International investing for Americans — Ex-US ETFs, emerging markets, currency considerations

Sub-niches to avoid as a beginner:
- Day trading (oversaturated, high legal risk, audience expects live trading)
- Penny stocks (attracts low-quality audience, brand deals avoid you)
- Crypto-only channels (volatile audience retention, advertiser hesitancy)

Content strategy that builds authority

Evergreen content (60% of your uploads):
1. "How to build a 3-fund portfolio — complete Boglehead guide"
2. "Roth IRA vs 401(k) — where to put your first $10,000"
3. "Dollar-cost averaging vs lump sum — what the data actually shows"
4. "How to read a 10-K filing in 15 minutes"
5. "The real math behind FIRE (Financial Independence Retire Early)"

Timely content (30% of your uploads):
6. "Fed rate decision breakdown — what it means for your portfolio"
7. "NVIDIA earnings analysis — is the AI trade over?"
8. "New Roth IRA contribution limits for 2026 — what changed"
9. "S&P 500 hits new high — should you still invest now?"

Community-building content (10%):
10. "My actual portfolio — every holding revealed"
11. "Reviewing your portfolios (subscriber submissions)"
12. "I made $X in dividends this month — full breakdown"

The mix of evergreen and timely content gives you consistent baseline traffic plus periodic viral spikes.

Compliance and legal considerations

Investing content carries more legal responsibility than most niches. Here's what US creators need to know.

SEC and FTC requirements:
- You must disclose if you hold positions in stocks you discuss
- Affiliate links and sponsorships require clear disclosure ("This video is sponsored by..." within the first 30 seconds)
- You cannot guarantee returns or make specific performance promises
- If you manage others' money, you need proper registration (RIA)

Practical disclaimers to include:
- "This is educational content, not financial advice"
- "I am not a registered investment advisor"
- "Past performance doesn't guarantee future results"
- "I may hold positions in securities discussed"

Put these in your video description template and mention them verbally. This isn't just legal protection — sophisticated investing audiences actually trust creators more when they see proper disclaimers. It signals you take the content seriously.

Use FluxNote to create compliant short-form content with built-in text overlays for disclaimers, making it easy to repurpose your investing analysis into Shorts and Reels.

Pro Tips

Show real portfolio screenshots (redact account numbers) — transparency is the single biggest trust builder in investing content
Earnings season (January, April, July, October) drives the biggest traffic spikes — have analysis videos ready within hours of major reports
Use screen recordings of brokerage platforms and charting tools rather than just talking head — investing audiences want to see the data
Create a "Start Here" playlist for new viewers — investing channels have the highest new-viewer confusion rate of any niche
Avoid clickbait predictions like 'Market CRASH coming!' — it works short-term but destroys credibility when you're inevitably wrong