Investor Village FAQ – Top 20 Questions for Self-Directed Investors

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

📘 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)


🔐 ACCOUNT & PRIVACY

1. What is Investor Village and who is it for?
Investor Village is a community-driven platform for self-directed investors. Our members are experienced, independent thinkers who value civil, intelligent discussion and deep due diligence across a wide range of sectors.

2. Do I need a subscription to use the site?
Yes. We operate as a private, subscription-based community. This paywall helps protect the integrity of our discussions, ensures privacy, and keeps out trolls and bots.

3. How do I subscribe or join?
Visit our Become a Member page (
https://www.investorvillage.com/BecomeAMember.asp) and follow the steps to create an account. 

4. Can I use a pseudonym or screen name?
Yes. In fact, we encourage it. Most members use screen names, and your real identity is never shared unless you choose to disclose it.

5. Is my personal or financial information safe?
Yes. We employ industry best practices, including robust encryption and store only the minimum information needed to manage subscriptions.  All payments are processed securely through third-party services (e.g., PayPal or Authorize.net), and we never sell or share your information.


💬 COMMUNITY FEATURES & ETIQUETTE

6. What are “My Boards”?
"My Boards" lets you save and organize your favorite discussion boards. You can track new posts, see the date of last activity, and jump to where you left off.

7. How do I search for a specific board or topic?
Use the
Board Search tool to look up boards by ticker symbol or company name. You can also explore boards from your account dashboard.

8. Can I message other members privately?
Yes. Use our
Onsite Inbox to send and receive private messages. It supports folders, advanced search, group PMs, and CC/BCC — all without revealing your email address.

9. What are the posting rules?
Be respectful, stay on-topic, no pumping/dumping, and don’t spam. Our moderators intervene only when needed — we trust our members to self-regulate in most cases.

10. Can I ignore or block a user?
Yes. You can ignore other members, so their posts no longer appear for you.  And you can block PMs (Private Messages) sent from members you do not wish to hear from.


🛠️ TOOLS & SITE FEATURES

11. What tools come with my subscription?
Subscribers gain access to:

  • Stock-specific discussion boards

  • “My Boards” dashboard

  • Advanced board search

  • Onsite private messaging

  • Threaded message view with “recommend” system

12. Do you offer real-time stock quotes?
No. Our focus is on qualitative insights and community intelligence. For real-time quotes, we suggest using your brokerage platform or a market data provider.

13. Can I search inside a board?
Yes. Use the board-specific Advanced Search tool to filter posts by author, date, keyword, recommender, and more.

14. What is the “Recommend” feature?
“Recommend” lets you highlight posts that you found helpful, insightful, or well-argued. It’s how the community surfaces quality content.


💵 BILLING & SUBSCRIPTION MANAGEMENT

15. How do I update my payment method?
Log into your account, go to
Account Settings, and update your card or PayPal info. For assistance, contact admin@investorvillage.com

16. Can I cancel anytime?
Yes. You can cancel from your account dashboard. Your access will continue until the end of the current billing period.

17. Do you offer refunds?
We handle refund requests on a case-by-case basis. If you believe you were charged in error, please contact us within 7 days.

18. Do you auto-renew subscriptions?
Yes. To avoid interruption, subscriptions renew automatically. You can disable auto-renewal anytime via your billing settings.


📩 HELP & FEEDBACK

19. How can I contact customer support?
Email us at admin@investorvillage.com or use the “Contact” link in the footer of the site. We usually respond within 1 business day.

20. Can I suggest a feature or improvement?
Definitely! We’re continuously improving based on member feedback. Send ideas to admin@investorvillage.com.


    • Related Articles

    • Login Help

      Having trouble logging in? Don’t worry—here’s how to reset your password. If you’re unable to sign in to your account, the most common reason is an incorrect or forgotten password. If you're a visual learner, or just looking to save time, check out ...
    • Discussion Forums and the First Amendment: What You Need to Know

      Learn how free speech works in public vs. private forums, and what the First Amendment does—and does not—protect when it comes to posting online. ? What Is the First Amendment? The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution protects your right to ...
    • Understanding Copyright, Fair Use, DMCA, and Responsible Content Sharing

      Learn the basics of copyright, fair use, and how to share content responsibly without violating the law or others' rights. ? What Is Copyright? Copyright is a legal right that protects original work—like books, songs, photos, videos, and artwork. If ...
    • When, Why and How to Delete Cookies (and Cache)

      Learn why clearing your browser’s cookies and cache can solve common issues and how to do it on Chrome, Edge, Safari, and Firefox. ? What Are Cookies and Cache—and Why Should You Delete Them? Cookies store small bits of data from websites—like login ...
    • How to Spot and Report Phishing Email Scams

      Learn how to identify and protect yourself from email scams—especially phishing messages that pretend to be from trusted companies. If you are a visual learner, or just looking to save time, check out the attached screenshots. They follow the ...