#1 The Expected Family Contribution (EFC) for Financial Aid Eligibility
The number one spot on this list has held its title since 2021, the year we launched the College Planning Hub – a resource for college-bound students and their families, consisting of 30+ blog posts, webinars, podcasts, and downloadables. Feedback from the resources on the hub – which was, in part, created as a result of the success we saw with our college-related content – has been exceptional.
As the cost of college continues to rise, more families are developing a plan to address the major expense early, which includes understanding (and minimizing) their expected family contribution, or EFC. In short, your EFC represents how much the federal government thinks your family can reasonably afford to pay for college, as a result of the information submitted on the FAFSA.
This article explains how the EFC is calculated, where a student and their family can find theirs, and provides additional information on the FAFSA and other financial aid-related questions.
#2 Agent of Wealth Episode 104 – From Rags to Riches: Laundromats As An Alternative Investment With Dave Menz
In 2022, we released a total of 45 episodes of The Agent of Wealth Podcast… But the one that received the most listens was all about laundromats!
Guest Dave Menz, aka “The Laundromat Millionaire,” had a riveting conversation with host Marc Bautis about laundromats as an alternative investment. Menz is the Founder and Owner of Queen City Laundry, which has four locations in Cincinnati, Ohio, and the author of Laundromat Millionaire: The Grit to Elevate an Industry.
In addition to providing information on how to enter the laundromat business and how to operate and staff locations, Menz highlights how laundromats can evoke change in disparaged communities in an effort to break the stigma of laundromat ownership.
Follow along with the transcript and blog
#3 The Power of Investing Young
The Power of Investing Young is one of our most shared articles. If you haven’t already, send this link to the youngins in your life!
While saving for retirement in your early twenties can be hard, the argument is compelling for one factor alone: Time. When you invest, you’re earning compound interest (interest on top of interest) so you’ll earn substantially more on your investments over longer periods of time than you would over shorter time periods.
In this article, the concept of compound interest is explained in a graphic, and examples help paint the picture even clearer.
#4 10 Most Regretted College Majors
The term “no regrets” doesn’t apply here…
Every weekday we bring you a Daily Flash Briefing, which you can listen to via an Alexa device, or check out on our blog page (we post them to social media, too!). In 2022, the most popular daily flash briefing was a list of the top 10 most regretted college majors, according to data released by ZipRecruiter.
If you have a child in high school, or are considering going to college yourself, taking a look at this list before you enter the college admissions process could give a good indication of which ones don’t have the best return on investment.
Learn how to set up our Daily Flash Briefing
#5 Webinar – Russia-Ukraine War: Investor Impact & 5 Ways to Keep Your Financial Cool
On February 24, 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine in a major escalation of the Russo-Ukrainian War. We had been warned about it for months, but it was still a major shock when it happened. The ensuing conflict – the largest ground war in Europe since World War II – has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths and one of Europe’s largest refugee crises. It has undoubtedly been the defining event of 2022.
The impacts of the war have not been contained to the two countries: Russia’s war in Ukraine sent shockwaves across the world this year, jolting the economy and upending the decades-old geopolitical order. In an effort to bring awareness to our clients and readers, we hosted this webinar in March to discuss the short- and long-term impact on the markets and how an individual could create an action plan to wade through the challenges.
#6 Agent of Wealth Episode 85 – How to Build a Passive Income by Investing in Renewable Energy Projects With Mike Silvestrini
Renewable energy sources, such as wind, solar and hydroelectric, currently supply about a quarter of the electricity generated by the power sector. The industry has been growing fast, increasing its electricity generating capacity at about 8% annually over the last decade.
In this episode of The Agent of Wealth Podcast, host Marc Bautis brought Mike Silvestrini on the show, Co-Founder and Managing Partner at Energea, a renewable project developer and retail investment platform. The conversation centered on the benefits of renewable energy – specifically solar energy – and how investing in these types of projects can generate passive income.
Follow along with the transcript and blog
#7 How to Structure Gifts and Transfers to Adult Children
According to an April 2022 report by Savings.com, half of parents with a child over 18 provide them with at least some form of financial support. And 26% of those parents say they’ve had to provide more support since the start of the pandemic.
But is parental help empowering or enabling?
This article seeks to put color around the topic of gifting and transferring money to adult children. If you find yourself in this boat, there are important factors to consider:
- Where is the money coming from?
- What will the impact be on other family members?
- Is the transfer a gift, loan or investment?
- What are the tax implications?
- And more…
#8 Agent of Wealth Episode 110 – Mistakes to Avoid When Buying Your First Business With Elliott Holland
Data from the U.S. Census Bureau shows that an average of 4 million businesses are started every year, and the onset of the pandemic in 2020 has driven a surge in new business creation. If you’re looking to scratch an entrepreneurial itch but aren’t sure where to start, this episode outlines the opportunity you may find in becoming a business owner through the acquisition of an existing company.
Host Marc Bautis is joined by Elliott Holland, Founder of Guardian Due Dilligence, a company that specializes in helping everyday people acquire businesses as investments to optimize ROI and create new millionaires.
Follow along with the transcript and blog
#9 Why You Should Talk to Your Financial Advisor About Generational Planning
Over the next two decades, a staggering $68 trillion dollars will pass hands from the baby boomer generation (those born between 1946-1964) down to their now-adult children in Generation X and the millennial generation. It’s been deemed “The Great Wealth Transfer.”
With that said, it’s generational planning – estate planning with a focus on the whole family, as opposed to the one-way transfer of the wealth holder’s assets – is making its way into many financial plans.
#10 The Pros and Cons of Adding Cryptocurrency to Your Portfolio
At the start of 2022, enthusiasm surrounding cryptocurrency was at an all-time high. But as we know, that excitement came crashing down soon thereafter.
Bitcoin’s value is about a fourth of what it was a year ago, and the crypto industry is in the middle of figuring out how to grapple with the fallout from the catastrophic implosion of FTX.
Regardless, 2022 was one for the crypto history books, so it’s no surprise that an article on the topic rounds out this year’s top content list.
Episode 136 – Financial Issues to Consider at the Start of the Year