Investing
Education and research, not promises
We explain how markets work, how companies are classified, and how to evaluate risk. We do not forecast returns or give individualized advice.
Financial disclaimer
Information published by The Black Wall Street Economy is educational and journalistic. It is not individualized financial, legal, investment, or tax advice. Always research an investment and consult a qualified professional before acting.
Black-owned firms
Where to invest through Black-owned and operated firms
Brokerages, asset managers, and investment banks that are Black owned and Black operated. Listings are informational only — we receive no compensation and endorse no firm. Verify registration with FINRA BrokerCheck or the SEC before opening an account.
Stackwell Capital
Founded 2021 · Boston, MA
Mobile investing app built around automated, diversified portfolios for first-time investors.
Founded and led by Trevor Rozier-Byrd.
Visit Stackwell CapitalAriel Investments
Founded 1983 · Chicago, IL
Value-oriented mutual funds and institutional strategies; the first Black-owned mutual fund firm in the U.S.
Founded by John W. Rogers Jr.; co-CEO Mellody Hobson.
Visit Ariel InvestmentsBrown Capital Management
Founded 1983 · Baltimore, MD
Small-company growth equity strategies and mutual funds for institutions and individuals.
Founded by Eddie C. Brown; employee- and Black-owned.
Visit Brown Capital ManagementChanning Capital Management
Founded 2003 · Chicago, IL
Value equity strategies for pensions, endowments, and public funds.
Majority Black-owned and employee-owned.
Visit Channing Capital ManagementEARNEST Partners
Founded 1998 · Atlanta, GA
Global and domestic equity portfolios for institutional and individual clients.
Founded and majority-owned by Paul Viera.
Visit EARNEST PartnersLoop Capital
Founded 1997 · Chicago, IL
Municipal and corporate underwriting, trading, and advisory — one of the largest Black-owned investment banks.
Co-founded by James Reynolds Jr. and Albert Grace Jr.
Visit Loop CapitalSiebert Williams Shank & Co.
Founded 1996 · New York, NY
Municipal bond underwriting and capital markets; a leading minority- and women-owned underwriter.
Led by co-CEOs Suzanne Shank and Christopher Williams.
Visit Siebert Williams Shank & Co.Blaylock Van, LLC
Founded 1993 · New York, NY
Debt and equity underwriting and sales and trading; the oldest continuously operating Black-owned investment bank.
Founded by Ronald Blaylock; led by Eric Standifer.
Visit Blaylock Van, LLCRice Financial Products
Founded 1995 · New York, NY
Municipal finance, derivatives, and interest-rate advisory for public issuers.
Co-founded by Donald Rice Jr.; Black-owned.
Visit Rice Financial ProductsVista Equity Partners
Founded 2000 · Austin, TX
Private equity focused on enterprise software; institutional and accredited investors only.
Founded and led by Robert F. Smith.
Visit Vista Equity PartnersSome firms serve institutions or accredited investors only and may not accept individual retail accounts. Fees, minimums, and account types vary — read the disclosures before you deposit money.
Investing Course Track
Learn investing, step by step
Four courses that build on each other — accounts and diversification, stocks and funds, bonds and retirement accounts, then risk and fraud recognition — each with an AI coach, a test, and $5 to unlock. Members who pass earn a certificate of completion. We are not an accredited institution and this is not a professional license — the certificate documents that you finished the course, nothing more.
Beginner · 50 min · $5
Investing Basics: Accounts, Time Horizon, Diversification, Fees
Start this courseBeginner · 55 min · $5
Stocks, ETFs, and Mutual Funds: What You Actually Own
Start this courseIntermediate · 1 hr · $5
Bonds, Municipal Bonds, and Retirement Accounts
Start this courseIntermediate · 1 hr · $5
Risk, Volatility, and Spotting Investment Fraud
Start this course
Curriculum
What we teach in this section
Investing basics
Accounts, time horizon, diversification, and fees before anything else.
Take the classReal estate investment trusts
Property exposure without buying a building.
Risk education
Volatility, concentration, leverage, liquidity, and the risk of doing nothing.
Take the classInvestment fraud warnings
Guaranteed returns, pressure to hurry, and unregistered sellers.
Take the classMarket Watch
Company profiles and classifications
Each profile states how the company is classified and why, based on public filings and company disclosures. Inclusion is not a recommendation to buy or sell.
| Company | Ticker | Exchange | Classification | Why it is classified this way |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carver Bancorp | CARV | Nasdaq | Black controlled | One of the nation's largest Black-operated banks, founded in Harlem in 1948 and led by a Black board and management team. |
| Broadway Financial Corp. (City First Bank) | BYFC | Nasdaq | Black controlled | Holding company for the largest Black-led minority depository institution in the country after the Broadway–City First combination. |
| Urban One | UONE | Nasdaq | Black founded | Founded by Cathy Hughes, the largest Black-owned broadcast and media company; the founding family retains voting control. |
| RLJ Lodging Trust | RLJ | NYSE | Black founded | Founded by Robert L. Johnson, who remains a significant shareholder of the hotel REIT. |
| Compass, Inc. | COMP | NYSE | Black founded | Co-founded and led by Robert Reffkin, who continues as chief executive following the IPO. |
| M&T Bank | MTB | NYSE | Black led | Chairman and chief executive René Jones is Black; shares are broadly held by institutional investors. |
| Lowe's Companies | LOW | NYSE | Black led | Chief executive Marvin Ellison is Black; ownership is widely distributed among public shareholders. |
| Qurate Retail | QRTEA | Nasdaq | Black led | President and chief executive David Rawlinson II is Black; ownership is public and widely held. |
Source: SEC filings, company disclosures, and exchange listings. Classification is determined by ownership, voting control, founding history, and executive leadership. Leadership changes — verify current filings before making any decision.