u/TimeInTheMarketWins

Student loans can be a serious investment in your future, but they cannot be discharged in bankruptcy. If you let interest build up, your loan balance can double or even triple.

When navigating student aid, start with the Free Application for Student Aid (FAFSA). If you need loans, Federal Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized loans are your best options. Subsidized loans have the government paying the interest until six months after you graduate. Unsubsidized loans accrue interest immediately, meaning a $10,000 loan will generate about $50 a month in interest while you are still in class.

Private student loans should be a last resort. While they advertise rates around 3%, most students will actually see rates between 9% and 14%. Parent PLUS loans are an option, but parents remain legally responsible for the debt, and it cannot be transferred. Finally, never pay for your tuition on a credit card, as interest rates can reach 27.5% and cause your debt to outpace your tuition costs in just three years.

I have a full write-up I can share if anyone's interested.

Realty Income (O) delivered a solid Q1 2026, with AFFO per share up 6.6% to $1.13 and full-year guidance raised to $4.41–$4.44. Management is leaning hard into private capital, with new partnerships across Apollo, GIC, and a perpetual-life institutional vehicle now totaling over $2.5 billion in managed assets.

A $190 million Virginia data center deal hints at further pipeline expansion. The pivot toward high-margin fee revenue is exciting, but neglecting the core real estate portfolio is a key risk to watch.

I can attach a PDF with my full write-up and thoughts if anyone wants.

If you beat the S&P 500 for a decade, you are considered an elite investor. Warren Buffett has doubled the market’s annual return for over 60 years. Since 1965, Berkshire Hathaway has grown at a roughly 20% compounded annual rate, representing a total gain of over 5,500,000%.

The foundation of this massive success is Berkshire Hathaway’s insurance business. It provides “float”—premiums paid to the insurer that have not yet been paid out as claims. This float acts as an interest-free loan on the balance sheet, allowing Buffett to invest the money and earn a profitable return.

Coupled with a shift from buying “cigar butt” companies to buying quality companies at reasonable prices to hold forever, Buffett used this float to amass billion-dollar positions in companies like American Express, Coca-Cola, and Apple. Simultaneously, Berkshire outright owns over 50 businesses, including GEICO, Dairy Queen, and BNSF.

A stock ticker represents a real business with employees, customers, and physical assets. No matter if you own one share or a million, you have an obligation to think like an owner.

When doing stock research, approach it as if you were buying out the entire company with cash. This means paying attention to how they treat customers and employees. When a company treats people poorly, it might boost revenue and profitability in the short term, but you shouldn’t be fooled by it. Companies that cut employee benefits or community engagement are a massive red flag.

Pigs get fat, and hogs get slaughtered. Look for durable businesses like Costco that take the long view, reward workers, and offer real value to consumers. When you invest with an owner’s mindset, you build long-term wealth by holding companies that actually provide for people while delivering durable, long-term profits for shareholders.