Do I need a license to talk about investing on YouTube?

Not for general financial education. You need registration as a Registered Investment Adviser (RIA) if you provide personalized investment advice or manage money for others. Sharing your personal experience, explaining concepts, and discussing market trends as education does not require licensing.

Can I share my stock portfolio on YouTube?

Yes. Sharing your personal portfolio and investment decisions is legal. Frame it as your personal experience, not as a recommendation. Always disclose that you hold positions in assets you discuss, and include standard disclaimers about risk.

How do I handle volatile markets in my content?

Volatile markets are your biggest opportunity for views and engagement. Provide calm, educational analysis. Avoid panic-inducing language and never tell people to sell or buy in a panic. Frame your content around education and historical context.

What RPM can I expect from investing content?

US investing content typically earns $15-$45 RPM from AdSense, with higher rates during Q4 and periods of high market activity. Retirement and IRA-related content tends to have the highest RPMs ($20-$40+), while crypto content has the widest range ($5-$30 depending on market conditions).

Guide

InvestingYouTubeNiche GuideUSA

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

Investing content is among the highest-paying YouTube niches with RPMs of $15-$45 and massive affiliate potential from brokerage platforms. But it also carries the highest regulatory risk of any content niche. Saying the wrong thing can violate SEC regulations. This guide covers how to build a profitable investing channel while staying on the right side of securities law.

Last updated: February 26, 2026

Step-by-Step Guide

Choose your investing sub-niche

Index fund investing, dividend investing, options trading, real estate investing, or crypto. Each has different audiences, RPMs, and compliance considerations.

Set up legal protections

Form an LLC, get E&O insurance, and develop standard disclaimers for every video. The investing niche carries the highest liability risk on YouTube.

Create your disclaimer framework

Develop standard verbal and written disclaimers covering: not a financial advisor, educational only, all investing involves risk, positions disclosed, and affiliate relationships disclosed.

Produce your first 10 videos

Start with evergreen educational content targeting high-volume search queries. 'How to start investing' and 'best index funds for beginners' are strong starting topics.

Apply for brokerage affiliate programs

Sign up for affiliate programs with Webull, Robinhood, Public, Moomoo, Fidelity, and others. These provide the highest per-conversion payouts in the YouTube ecosystem.

Monetization potential and revenue streams

AdSense revenue:
Investing content commands premium CPMs because brokerage firms, financial platforms, and fintech companies compete aggressively for this audience. Typical RPMs range from $15-$45 depending on the specific topic.
- Stock market content: $15-$30 RPM
- Retirement/IRA content: $20-$40 RPM
- Alternative investments (real estate, crypto): $10-$25 RPM

Affiliate revenue (the biggest money):
- Brokerage account sign-ups: $50-$500 per funded account (Webull, Robinhood, Public, Moomoo, etc.)
- Robo-advisor referrals: $25-$100 per sign-up
- Financial tool subscriptions: 20-40% recurring commissions
- Stock analysis platform trials: $10-$50 per trial

One established investing channel reported earning $30,000/month from brokerage affiliates alone on top of $15,000/month in AdSense. Affiliate revenue often exceeds ad revenue 2:1 in this niche.

Sponsorships:
Fintech companies and brokerage platforms pay $3,000-$50,000 per sponsored video depending on channel size and audience quality.

SEC compliance and legal boundaries

The critical distinction: education vs advice
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and state regulators distinguish between financial EDUCATION (legal without a license) and investment ADVICE (requires registration).

Investment advice (requires registration as an RIA):
- Recommending specific securities to buy or sell
- Providing personalized investment recommendations
- Managing money or portfolios for others
- Holding yourself out as an investment adviser

Financial education (no license required):
- Explaining how the stock market works
- Discussing investment strategies in general terms
- Sharing your personal portfolio and decisions (with proper framing)
- Analyzing publicly available financial data
- Reviewing investment platforms and tools

Safe language patterns:
- 'Here is how I think about this investment' (personal opinion/experience)
- 'One strategy some investors use is...' (general education)
- 'This is what the data shows...' (factual analysis)

Dangerous language patterns:
- 'You should buy this stock' (personalized recommendation)
- 'This stock is going to $X' (prediction presented as fact)
- 'Buy now before it is too late' (urgency-based recommendation)

Mandatory disclaimers:
- 'I am not a financial advisor. This is educational content, not investment advice.'
- Disclose all positions you hold in assets you discuss
- Disclose all affiliate relationships and sponsorships
- Note that all investing involves risk, including loss of principal

Content strategy and growth

Content pillars that work:
1. Market analysis: Weekly market recaps, earnings analysis, economic data breakdowns
2. Investment education: How to read financial statements, understanding P/E ratios, portfolio allocation strategies
3. Platform reviews: Brokerage comparisons, robo-advisor reviews, investing app walkthroughs (affiliate revenue drivers)
4. Personal portfolio updates: Monthly portfolio reviews showing your actual holdings and performance
5. Breaking news: Market crashes, Fed announcements, major earnings — timely content gets surge traffic

Content formats:
- Screen share with chart analysis (most common and easiest to produce)
- Talking head + slides for educational content
- Animated explainers for complex concepts (use FluxNote or similar tools)
- Shorts with quick market facts, investing tips, and chart breakdowns

Growing your channel:
- Consistency beats perfection — publish at least 2 videos per week
- React to market events within 24 hours for timely traffic
- Create evergreen educational content for long-term search traffic
- Build a community through live streams during market hours
- Collaborate with other finance creators for audience sharing

Trust is everything:
In investing content, trust is your most valuable asset. One bad recommendation, one misleading claim, or one undisclosed conflict of interest can destroy your reputation permanently. Be transparent about your wins AND losses.

Disclaimer: This is general information about starting a YouTube channel. It is not investment or legal advice. Consult a securities attorney for guidance on compliance with SEC and state regulations.

Pro Tips

Always disclose your positions in any stock or asset you discuss — undisclosed conflicts of interest violate FTC rules and erode trust
Never frame personal opinions as guarantees — 'I believe' and 'in my experience' are much safer than 'this will definitely' or 'guaranteed returns'
Brokerage affiliate promotions (sign-up bonuses) drive the highest conversion rates — review these prominently but honestly
Market crash and correction content gets 5-10x normal views — have a template ready to publish quickly when volatility spikes
Build an email list from day one — YouTube algorithm changes can crater your views, but an email list is a direct line to your audience