The College Investor Audio Show

Latest Episodes:

Earnin Review: Pros, Cons, And Alternatives Mar 31, 2020

Show notes

Earnin is a financial services company that provides a paycheck advance. You can borrow up to $750 per pay period and the loan is repaid when your direct deposit hits your account.

There are no mandatory fees for the cash advance and no interest is charged — essentially making it a free payday loan.

If there’s one complaint about the financial system in the United States it is that the system isn’t fair. People with lower and unstable incomes often end up paying the most for financial services.

When you combine monthly checking fees (for keeping an insufficient balance), overdraft fees, and high interest debt (especially Title loans or payday loans), it is easy to understand why so many Americans struggle to get ahead. When the financial system seems stacked against you, it can be discouraging to try to make good money moves. But disruptive companies are looking for ways to serve underserved people.

Earnin is one of those disruptive companies. Earnin is a paycheck advance app that’s working to improve the financial lives of those living paycheck to paycheck. Here’s what you need to know about the app.

See how Earnin compares to other popular cash advance apps.

What Are Large Cap and Mega Cap Stocks And How To Invest Mar 30, 2020

Show notes

Large-cap stocks and mega-cap stocks are some of the most stable companies on the stock market. They are often called blue-chip stocks. These are the stocks of some of the largest companies in the world - both in terms of revenue and profit, but also in terms of how many people they employ, their locations, and their reach.

However, because stock prices go up and down, stocks are constantly moving in and out of the large and mega cap categories. In this article, we’ll look at what makes a large or mega-cap stock and how to invest in them.

What Is the Average Cost of College Mar 26, 2020

Show notes

How much will college cost for students aiming to enter in the fall? The most recent data on the average cost of college is out, and we're breaking down the details.

If you’re a millennial or Gen Zer, you might have heard people in their 50s and 60s talking about working their way through college and graduating with little debt. Today, that seems impossible. And that has contributed to students graduating with an average of over $37,000 in student loan debt.

6 Ideas To Diversify Your Income Streams Mar 25, 2020

Show notes

If you are thinking about diversifying your income, you may be asking yourself, “How do I diversify my income?” It's actually pretty straight forward, and many of us have already created multiple streams of income, we just don’t realize it.

The Best Online Banks For Your Money In 2020 Mar 24, 2020

Show notes

Are you tired of waiting in long lines, and dealing with too many fees and minimum requirements? Opening a checking account with an online bank could be your solution.

Today, almost every bank offers online banking options, but did you know that there are banks that solely operate online, with no actual branch locations? These banks offer most of the products you find at traditional banks- checking, savings, CDs and money market accounts. A few even offer mortgage products!

Without the overhead of physical locations, online banks can pass the savings to their customers, who will enjoy lower fees and added benefits, including protection from bank fraud. The annual percentage yield (APY) will also be higher than traditional banks.

We break down our list of the best online banks - these are banks that typically deliver value in multiple areas, and no fees, and really easy to use products.

Coronavirus Stimulus Checks: What To Expect And What You Need To Do Mar 23, 2020

Show notes

Congress is gearing up to send out stimulus checks to Americans across the country to combat the recession being created by the coronavirus pandemic.

Let's look at the history of stimulus checks, and give you an idea of what to expect, how to prepare, and what you should seriously consider spending your stimulus check on given what we've learned from history.

Dividend Aristocrats - What Companies And How They Work Mar 23, 2020

Show notes

Some companies don’t just pay dividends—they raise them year after year, no matter what the market throws at them. These are the Dividend Aristocrats: a select group of S&P 500 companies that have increased their dividends for at least 25 straight years.

If you're interested in dividend investing, you've likely heard about the dividend aristocrats. These are a special breed of dividend paying stocks that have not only paid their dividends consistently over time, but have also increased their payouts as well.

But which companies make the cut in 2026, and how can you invest? Here’s what you need to know.

What Does A Quarantine Or Lock-Down Mean For Your Student Loans? Mar 18, 2020

Show notes

President Trump has declared an State of Emergency to combat the coronavirus pandemic in the United States. For borrowers with student loans, this can be a challenging time. It will only get worse if there is a nationwide quarantine or even a lock-down.

With all of the shutdowns and closures, having a stable income to pay your student loans can be a challenge. Plus, there is a lot of misinformation about what is and isn't applicable for student loan borrowers.

Let's break down what the Emergency Declaration and what it means for your student loans, as well as what will happen if we move to a full quarantine or a government lock-down.

What Is An SMA (Separately Managed Account) Mar 18, 2020

Show notes

A separately managed account (SMA) is a portfolio owned by one person (or one legal entity such as a trust) that is managed by a professional investment manager. In an SMA arrangement, the investment manager has discretion over how the SMA funds are invested, and the manager may make different investment decisions for different accounts.

The primary benefit of SMAs is that investment managers can offer customization based on an investor’s goals and taxable income situations. The primary drawbacks to these accounts are the high management costs, and the possibility of underperformance.

Since SMAs are typically only available to individuals with a high net worth with at least $250,000 in investment assets, most people don’t have to decide whether to consider the accounts. However, if you’re wealthy today, or plan to become wealthy some day, these are the things you should know about SMAs.

What Are Small Cap Stocks And How To Invest Mar 16, 2020

Show notes

Some small-cap stocks have the potential to take off and become the next big thing.

Investing in small caps, though, can be a wild ride, as they tend to be more volatile than larger companies.

So what are small caps and how do you invest in them anyway? Let’s find out.

If you're looking for a place to invest in small-cap stocks, check out our list of the best online stock brokers.