The College Investor Audio Show

Latest Episodes:

Why Equal Weighted Index Funds Outperform Their Benchmarks May 15, 2020

Show notes

Have you heard of an equal weighted index fund? It's a unique fund that balances every holding equally.

We love index fund, and we've recommended several in our Guide To Investing. However, equal weighted index funds are gaining in popularity, and I think that has a lot of merit.

An equal weighted index fund is just like it sounds - everything inside the index fund is equally weighted. This differs from other index funds, in that most are capitalization-based, meaning stocks with higher market capitalization (or value) are held as a higher percentage of the fund.

Let's see how that really breaks down...

The Complete And Easy Guide To Student Loan Deferments May 14, 2020

Show notes

Student loan deferment allows you to temporarily pause your federal student loan payments without going into default. During this time, certain loans (such as Direct Subsidized Loans and Perkins Loans) do not accrue interest.

Borrowers have traditionally used deferment when they’re unemployed, facing financial hardship, serving in the military, or enrolled at least half-time in school.

Deferment is different from forbearance. While both pause payments, forbearance always allows interest to build, while subsidized loans in deferment do not.

Vinovest Review: Invest In Fine Wines May 12, 2020

Show notes

Vinovest is a platform that allows you to invest in fine wines and whiskeys.

As a consumer item, wine is surging in popularity as an alcohol of choice for everyday Americans. But wine isn’t all about "Rosé all day" and other mass marketing cliches. Top tier wines have a reputation as durable assets that appreciate in value over time.

One of your best investments could be inside of your liquor cabinet (although that "Two Buck Chuck" isn’t likely to increase in value). If you’re curious how to curate a wine selection that can serve as a portfolio for financial appreciation, you might want to consider the wine investment platform Vinovest.

In our Vinovest review, we explain how it works, what fees to expect, and why you may want to invest in bottles of wine.

How To Insure Excess Bank Deposits Above The FDIC Limits May 08, 2020

Show notes

With recent bank failures, many wonder how they can insure excess bank deposits beyond the FDIC insurance limits.

Have you ever wondered what would happen to your money if your bank suddenly went belly up?

While bank failures were relatively uncommon before the 2008 financial crisis, a large number of them shut their doors in the years following according to the FDIC. And in the last two years, we've seen some of the largest bank failures in US history.

Thankfully, even if your banks shuts down your money is protected up to to a limit by the federal government. But what happens when you have funds deposited at a bank that exceeds the FDIC limits?

Learn how to insure excess bank deposits in this guide.

Best International Student Loans | Which Companies Offer Them May 07, 2020

Show notes

Finding a student loan as an international student in the United States can be tough. There are not many lenders that offer international student loans. And funding your education in general is hard.

First, the U.S. Department of Education does not offer loans for international students. And, second, it can be more difficult to find work when you're studying abroad.

If you’re looking to study in the US, you may need to take out private student loans to finish your studies. These are also the types of loans that DACA recipients may need to use to fund their education.

Below, we compare the best lenders that offer international student loans.

Student Loan Repayment Assistance: Employers Offering SLRA May 06, 2020

Show notes

If you’re carrying student debt, you may not realize that your employer could be helping you pay it down. Many companies now offer student loan repayment assistance (SLRA) as part of their benefits package and understanding how it works can make a big difference in your debt payoff strategy.

A growing trend in the last few years has been for employers to offer student loan repayment assistance to employees as a benefit. Unlike tuition reimbursement (which has been around for years), student loan repayment assistance is a relatively new concept, but one that is gaining traction.

According to the Society For Human Resource Management, about 14% of companies offered some type of assistance program to help employees pay down their student debt (up from 4% in 2019). But one thing is for sure, that number is growing.

Given the fact that roughly 43 million people have student loans, and that the U.S. Workforce is roughly 144 million people, that means almost 1 in 3 workers has student loans. For employers, helping their employees get out of student loan debt just makes sense. That's why some are even offering student loan 401k matching too.

But let's dive into student loan repayment assistance programs specifically.

How To Save For College: The Order Of Operations Parents Should Follow May 04, 2020

Show notes

If you're looking for the best ways to save for college, I'm a huge fan of developing an "order of operations" for different financial activities. You may remember last year I highlighted an order of operations for saving for retirement. Basically, start here and work your way down. It's just an easy way to remember the order you should do things. And it works for how to save for college as well!

Saving for your kid's college can be tough, and there are a lot of schools of thought. But they all boil down to something pretty basic. And I created an order of operations for you to remember for it: YES! Yes, it's that simple, but I'm actually talking about Y.E.S.

Okay, enough with the play on words, here's the order of operations for saving for kid's college:

(Y) - You

(E) - Education Savings Accounts

(S) - Savings

Let's break it down a little bit further and explain what I mean.

Note: How to save for college and how to pay for college are two very different conversations. This conversation is about saving for college and the best way to approach it. If you're getting close to needing to pay for college, read our full guide (and order of operations) on how to pay for college here.

Credit Card Debt Relief: Where to Find Legitimate Help May 01, 2020

Show notes

The majority of people who take out credit card debt fully intend to pay off their balances quickly. But sometimes personal circumstances such as divorce, unexpected pregnancy, or a job loss change your ability to repay credit card debt.

Other times, unexpected changes to the economy, like the Covid-19 crisis, can make paying back loans impossible. Thankfully, if you’re struggling to make your credit card payments, you may have a few options to relieve the burden.

In this show, we break down the various types of credit card debt relief and the pros and cons of each. Here’s what you need to know if you’re looking for help.

Cashier's Checks: What They Are And Where To Get One Apr 29, 2020

Show notes

Want to know for sure that a check you send or receive will clear the bank? If so, using a cashier’s check could give the peace of mind you’re looking for.

Cashier’s checks are a form of payment where the payer’s bank guarantees that funds will be available to the person being paid. Unlike a personal check, a legitimate cashier’s check will never bounce.

That makes them more secure than other forms of payments. And they may be required for large purchases (like a home down payment) when you can't use a debit or credit card. This guide explains when to use cashier’s checks and what to expect when you request one from your bank.

How To Setup Your 401(K) On Your First Day Of Work Apr 24, 2020

Show notes

Your first day of work is a whirlwind. Meeting new people, getting your employee ID, learning your way around, figuring out where the bathroom is, and getting your computer setup are all important, but don’t forget to look over your new employee benefits packet and start a 401(k)!

Buried deep in that information that goes over insurance and other benefits, you will find the details on your 401(k) plan. In this day and age, you are responsible for your own retirement savings, and your 401(k) is a big part of it. Follow this guide to learn how to get setup on your first day so your 401(k) is on autopilot and you can save as much as possible to ensure a comfortable retirement.

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

The College Investor Audio Show

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected