SCHB
Schwab U.S. Broad Market ETF
stock NYSE ETF

One of my accounts, happens to be an IRA has the day change at minus 800 and change, yet all of my 4 positions are green. One of them is SGOV, which is going between red and green all morning. I'm thinking the total is an asynchronous calculation that is likely temporarily broken.
Anyone else seen this sort of thing? I did call in, but I had a separate problem where I had sold SCHB and the dividend was reinvested shortly after and caused a shortfall for me. Two problems in one day!

First, educate yourself. We can't post links to YouTube here, but go to the Charles Schwab YouTube channel and watch the playlist "Investing Basics" then watch the playlist "Investing & Portfolio Management". If a video is in both playlists you don't have to watch it twice.
Also, review these:
[https://www.schwab.com/investing-principles](https://www.schwab.com/investing-principles)
[https://www.fidelity.com/viewpoints/personal-finance/how-to-start-investing](https://www.fidelity.com/viewpoints/personal-finance/how-to-start-investing)
[https://www.investopedia.com/articles/basics/11/3-s-simple-investing.asp](https://www.investopedia.com/articles/basics/11/3-s-simple-investing.asp)
[https://www.marketbeat.com/videos/index-investing-for-beginners/](https://www.marketbeat.com/videos/index-investing-for-beginners/)
[https://investor.vanguard.com/investor-resources-education/article/how-to-start-investing](https://investor.vanguard.com/investor-resources-education/article/how-to-start-investing)
I also recommend the book *The Millionaire Next Door*.
**After** you have looked at that stuff above, you will want to pick a brokerage. I recommend either Charles Schwab or Fidelity Investments. I do not recommend Robinhood although some people will tell you it is great. You can open accounts online with both Schwab and Fidelity for $0, download and try out their apps, check out their websites, and go with the one you like better.
After you pick a brokerage, you will need two accounts: a Roth Individual Retirement Account (IRA), and an individual (taxable) brokerage account.
The first thing to do is put money in the brokerage account to use as an emergency fund that would cover at least 3 months of living expenses. That is important. The emergency fund should be in the Exchange Traded Fund (ETF) SGOV or in a money market account. You might also want to have part of your emergency fund in a High Yield Savings Account (HYSA) for immediate access. The brokerage account would also be a savings account to save for a vacation, vehicle purchase, or the down payment on a home.
At the same time you should put money into the Roth IRA. There is a limit to how much you can contribute each year, and this year is almost over, but you can contribute until April 15, 2027 for the 2026 tax year. The contribution limit for 2026 is $7,500 and it usually goes up a little each year. Try to hit the limit ("max out") every year.
The money in the Roth IRA should be invested in a world stock market fund, or in a US stock fund and an international stock fund. Which particular funds depends a little on which brokerage you use. At Fidelity I would use 70% FZROX and 30% FZILX. At Schwab I would use 70% SPYM or SCHB or SCHX or SWPPX or SWTSX (just one of those) and 30% VYMI or SCHF or SWISX (just one of those). Or you could use SPYM or SCHX or SCHB or VOO or VTI for the US fund and VYMI or SCHF or VXUS for the international fund at either brokerage.

One of my accounts, happens to be an IRA has the day change at minus 800 and change, yet all of my 4 positions are green. One of them is SGOV, which is going between red and green all morning. I'm thinking the total is an asynchronous calculation that is likely temporarily broken.
Anyone else seen this sort of thing? I did call in, but I had a separate problem where I had sold SCHB and the dividend was reinvested shortly after and caused a shortfall for me. Two problems in one day!

First, educate yourself. We can't post links to YouTube here, but go to the Charles Schwab YouTube channel and watch the playlist "Investing Basics" then watch the playlist "Investing & Portfolio Management". If a video is in both playlists you don't have to watch it twice.
Also, review these:
[https://www.schwab.com/investing-principles](https://www.schwab.com/investing-principles)
[https://www.fidelity.com/viewpoints/personal-finance/how-to-start-investing](https://www.fidelity.com/viewpoints/personal-finance/how-to-start-investing)
[https://www.investopedia.com/articles/basics/11/3-s-simple-investing.asp](https://www.investopedia.com/articles/basics/11/3-s-simple-investing.asp)
[https://www.marketbeat.com/videos/index-investing-for-beginners/](https://www.marketbeat.com/videos/index-investing-for-beginners/)
[https://investor.vanguard.com/investor-resources-education/article/how-to-start-investing](https://investor.vanguard.com/investor-resources-education/article/how-to-start-investing)
I also recommend the book *The Millionaire Next Door*.
**After** you have looked at that stuff above, you will want to pick a brokerage. I recommend either Charles Schwab or Fidelity Investments. I do not recommend Robinhood although some people will tell you it is great. You can open accounts online with both Schwab and Fidelity for $0, download and try out their apps, check out their websites, and go with the one you like better.
After you pick a brokerage, you will need two accounts: a Roth Individual Retirement Account (IRA), and an individual (taxable) brokerage account.
The first thing to do is put money in the brokerage account to use as an emergency fund that would cover at least 3 months of living expenses. That is important. The emergency fund should be in the Exchange Traded Fund (ETF) SGOV or in a money market account. You might also want to have part of your emergency fund in a High Yield Savings Account (HYSA) for immediate access. The brokerage account would also be a savings account to save for a vacation, vehicle purchase, or the down payment on a home.
At the same time you should put money into the Roth IRA. There is a limit to how much you can contribute each year, and this year is almost over, but you can contribute until April 15, 2027 for the 2026 tax year. The contribution limit for 2026 is $7,500 and it usually goes up a little each year. Try to hit the limit ("max out") every year.
The money in the Roth IRA should be invested in a world stock market fund, or in a US stock fund and an international stock fund. Which particular funds depends a little on which brokerage you use. At Fidelity I would use 70% FZROX and 30% FZILX. At Schwab I would use 70% SPYM or SCHB or SCHX or SWPPX or SWTSX (just one of those) and 30% VYMI or SCHF or SWISX (just one of those). Or you could use SPYM or SCHX or SCHB or VOO or VTI for the US fund and VYMI or SCHF or VXUS for the international fund at either brokerage.

Turning off DRIP won't actually reduce your tax bill — dividends are taxed the year you receive them whether they're reinvested automatically or paid out as cash. The IRS treats it the same either way. The real reason people turn off DRIP is more about cash flow control (having the money available to rebalance, buy something else, or just sit as cash) rather than avoiding taxes. With SCHB and VXUS specifically, you'll also get a foreign tax credit on VXUS's international dividends regardless of whether DRIP is on or off.

I have a brokerage account, and the DRIP is turned on. AI says I should turn it off and have the distributions to pay out directly to cash balance (univested cash). We all know AI can and has given inaccurate information before.
For the seasoned investors, is this true? I don't want the alphabet guys (IRS) knocking on my door. 😄
I hold SCHB and VXUS in my account.