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We’ve expanded our approach to the three-year continuance requirement for distribution income.
Meeting the 3-Year Continuance Requirement
When a borrower uses distributions from a retirement account, we must verify that the account has sufficient funds to continue payments for at least 36 months. But what happens when the primary account doesn’t show enough remaining funds?
If the borrower’s main retirement account falls short of meeting the three-year continuance requirement, we will now consider additional retirement or similar accounts to bridge the gap. As long as the combined balances demonstrate that the borrower has sufficient funds to sustain payments for the next 36 months, the income may be considered eligible.
To use retirement distributions as qualifying income:
This expanded approach gives borrowers more financing options and greater opportunity to qualify, especially those who maintain multiple retirement accounts or diversified investment portfolios.
If you have questions about using retirement distributions to qualify for a mortgage, our team is here to help. Contact us today and let us guide you through your financing options.
Do you have a business degree? Are you thinking of getting one to become an entrepreneur? Then this video is for you! I’ll tell you about the pros and cons of entrepreneurship and also what you can do with a business degree.
00:00 Intro & Summary
00:41 Warning
02:12 What a business degree is for
05:23 Mind-blowing revelation
05:45 Pros of entrepreneurship
08:17 Innovation
09:43 No retirement
10:14 Cons of entrepreneurship
13:27 What’s next?
Watch and Enjoy!
Nate Woodbury
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First internet bancorp director Fenech buys $19,830 in stock
Key Points
Each year, millions of students complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, better known as the FAFSA. For many, the process ends with a financial aid offer. For others, it pauses unexpectedly with a request for “verification.”
Verification can feel unsettling. It should not. This is NOT like an IRS audit and it doesn’t mean you did anything wrong. The Department of Education requires that a certain number of applications are verified each year. If you are appealing your financial aid award, it’s required the school verifies your information. Sometimes the college may want to verify your information to avoid financial aid fraud.
Below is what FAFSA verification means, what schools expect from families, and what happens if you do not respond.
U.S. Department of Education oversees the FAFSA and requires colleges to confirm certain information reported by applicants. This confirmation process is called verification.
Each year, a portion of FAFSA filers are selected. According to federal data in recent years, roughly 30% of applicants are flagged for some form of verification, though the percentage can vary depending on federal policy changes.
Selection may be random. In other cases, it is triggered by:
If selected, the student’s FAFSA Submission Summary will indicate that additional information is required. Colleges listed on the FAFSA will then contact the student directly with next steps or the family can follow the steps on StudentAid.gov.

Verification is not optional. Federal regulations require colleges to resolve discrepancies before disbursing federal student aid.
Federal student aid programs distribute tens of billions of dollars annually in Pell Grants, work-study funds, and student loans. Verification exists to ensure:
The process also protects families. If an error underestimated your eligibility, verification can sometimes result in more aid, not less.
Students learn about verification in two main ways:
Each college handles its own verification process. If a student applied to five schools, they may need to complete verification five separate times. Requirements and submission portals can vary.
Colleges often request documentation through online portals. Some institutions use the Institutional Documentation Service (IDOC) connected to the CSS Profile for private institutional aid.
Families should always be checking:
Delays in responding can slow down financial aid offers.
The documents requested depend on what is being verified. In many cases, income information is confirmed automatically through the IRS Direct Data Exchange (DDX), which securely transfers tax data into the FAFSA.
If tax information was transferred directly and remains unchanged, additional income verification may not be required.
When documentation is required, families may need to provide:
Special situations (such as divorce after filing a joint return or filing extensions) require additional signed statements and documentation.
Students may be asked to submit:
If household size changed, colleges may request a signed statement listing family members and relationships.
Once documents are submitted, the financial aid office compares them with FAFSA data.
There are three possible outcomes:
This is the most common outcome. If documentation matches FAFSA information, the Student Aid Index (SAI) remains the same. Aid eligibility does not change.
If documentation shows higher income or fewer household members than originally reported, the SAI may increase. A higher SAI signals greater ability to pay, potentially reducing need-based aid such as Pell Grants.
If verification shows lower income or higher household size, the SAI may decrease. A lower SAI can increase eligibility for need-based federal and institutional aid.
Colleges must send an updated financial aid offer if changes occur.
If you do not complete verification:
In practical terms, the student will not receive a financial aid package.
For some families, that can mean thousands (or tens of thousands) of dollars in lost assistance.
Colleges are required to resolve verification flags before releasing federal funds. They cannot “override” the process.
FAFSA verification is a safeguard in the federal student aid system. It ensures aid is calculated accurately and distributed correctly.
For families, the most important steps are simple:
Verification can feel intimidating, but in most cases it results in no change to aid eligibility. The risk comes not from being selected, but from ignoring the request.
Financial aid cannot move forward until verification is complete.
Don’t Miss These Other Stories:
Editor: Colin Graves
The post What Is FAFSA Verification? Your Step-By-Step Guide appeared first on The College Investor.
This company is finding success as a neutral platform that connects viewers and content companies.
When investors think about companies within the streaming market, the vast majority probably come up with Netflix first. However, there are other businesses in this evolving industry that also deserve some attention.
For example, one streaming platform just reported revenue of $4.7 billion in 2025. That figure is 161% higher than in 2020, demonstrating robust adoption trends.
Say hello to the growth stock that has a winning position in the streaming wars.
Image source: Getty Images.
During the fourth quarter of 2025, Roku (ROKU +0.99%) posted revenue that was up 16% year over year. That number came in ahead of Wall Street analyst estimates. The business also registered net income of $88 million for the entire year. This was after Roku reported a cumulative net loss of $839 million in 2023 and 2024.
“Looking ahead to 2026 and beyond, we’re confident in our ability to sustain double-digit platform revenue growth while continuing to grow profitability,” founder and CEO Anthony Wood said on the Q4 2025 earnings call.
It’s also worth noting that Roku produced a record $484 million in free cash flow (FCF) last year. Increasing FCF per share is management’s priority.
Roku’s advantage in the streaming wars is that it’s a neutral platform. It connects content from numerous providers with consumers in 17 countries. It’s on track to exceed 100 million streaming households this year, as customers find value in aggregating their subscriptions in one easy-to-use interface.
This means Roku will continue to gain as the whole streaming industry takes viewership from cable TV. It’s doing a good job capturing a bigger audience, especially with The Roku Channel, which is the second most popular free, ad-supported streaming app in the U.S. And based on hours streamed, Roku is the top platform in North America.
Consequently, Roku has the scale, data, and integrations to attract ad dollars. This should support years of top-line growth.

Today’s Change
(0.99%) $0.91
Current Price
$93.19
Market Cap
$14B
Day’s Range
$91.63 – $93.83
52wk Range
$52.43 – $116.66
Volume
17K
Avg Vol
3.4M
Gross Margin
43.79%
When its revenue was rising at more than 50% per year, Roku shares hit their peak in July 2021. Today the stock is trading 82% below that all-time high (as of Feb. 23). Market sentiment has clearly weakened considerably, as growth has stabilized.
Investors interested in buying shares can do so at a more compelling valuation. The price-to-sales ratio of 2.7 is a good entry point. Consensus analyst estimates call for earnings per share to increase at a compound annual rate of 84% over the next three years, a tailwind that can lift the stock price.
Long before Modern Portfolio Theory proved the benefit of diversification, “Don’t put all your eggs in one basket” was practiced. Intuitively, it makes sense to spread your income and investing risk around. The rationale behind diversification and asset allocation is that when one asset goes down in value, another may go up. Spread your investments and risk around and you’ll decrease the volatility of your returns.
For example, invest only in one stock market mutual fund and when the stock market falls 20% in a bad year, so do your investment returns. Add a bond mutual fund to the stock fund and even if the returns on the stock fund fall, the bond fund’s returns might go up 15% and make your total portfolio value more stable. Add real estate to the mix and the added diversification, and lower correlation with the other asset classes increases returns and lowers overall risk of your portfolio.
By adding various asset classes to your investment portfolio your portfolio risk declines and return improves.
” REITs earn a share of the income produced through real estate investment – without actually having to go out and buy or finance property.”
REIT.com
So, you want to add real estate to your investments but don’t understand the whole real estate investment company idea.
According to REIT.com, a real estate investment trust is comprised of many companies, similar to a mutual fund, that own or finance income-producing real estate. There are two general varieties, Equity REITs and Mortgage REITs.
Equity REITs own real property, while mortgage REITs are actually debt instruments and own various types of real estate mortgages and loans. Drilling down, there are many distinct types of REITS from office, industrial, lodging, self-storage, infrastructure, mortgages, diversified and more. Due to the vast choices in real estate, investors can choose to invest in a specific type of REIT, like a mortgage REIT, or go with a broadly diversified fund with many types of real estate holdings.
I’ve invested in both bricks and mortar real estate and REITs and I’m a fan of REITs.
REIT dividends provide steady cash flow and allow you to sleep at night. You’re not going to get a tenant calling at 2 am with a broken pipe. When investing in the Vanguard Real Estate ETF (VNQ) fund you won’t worry when a tenant moves out before the lease is up.
Investing in a real estate fund is as easy as reviewing a list of available funds and clicking “buy” at your online discount brokerage account. But before you rush out to invest, check out the advantages and disadvantages of REIT investing.
The benefits of investing in REITs include income, capital gains, and capturing assets in a niche corner of the market.
As an investor, I’ve bought broadly diversified real estate investment trusts in the U.S. and abroad. You might prefer to invest your money in specific types of property like storage or office buildings.
The types of real estate trusts might spark an interest in shares in an area you believe is poised to grow.
Most investors will buy and sell equity and mortgage REITs. Equity REITs are more common than mortgage REITs. Although there are also privately traded and non-listed REITs, typically for wealthier investors.
Here is a list of the types of REIT investments you might consider from various sectors:
The best REITs for long term investors can be found on the NAREIT website. You’ll find nearly 200 different types of real estate investment trusts. This is also a great site to learn.
Here is a list of several broadly diversified national and international REIT mutual funds and ETFs. These are some of the best long-term REITs to gain exposure to a wide swath of the real property market.
The Vanguard Global ex-U.S. Real Estate ETF (VNQI) is a path to becoming an international real estate mogul. Well, almost. This REIT is a handy way to own real estate stocks in more than 30 countries.
You can count on Vanguard REIT funds to offer low-cost diversification.
With a 7.49% yield, passive investors seeking cash flow might benefit from the fund, with a rock-bottom 0.12% expense ratio. Recent lackluster performance may turn around as developing nations and other international real estate growth rebounds.
VNQ companies are distributed across the globe:
20.4% Emerging Markets
26.20% Europe
47.50% Pacific
1.0% Middle East
2.20% North America
2.70% Other
Compare Robinhood vs M1 Finance. Find out which platform is best for your money.
Bonus: Should I pay off my mortgage or invest in the stock market?
How do REITs make money?
REITs make money from rent they receive. They also make money when they sell real property for a profit.
Can you lose money in a REIT?
Yes. Like most investments, if the share price goes down, and you sell your investment, then you would lose money. When investing, it’s best to own various asset types, so that when one falls in price, others will remain steady or increase.
How is REIT income taxed?
REITs send IRS Form 1099-DIV to their shareholders. The form breaks down the dividend distributions into ordinary income, capital gains, and return of capital. Investors pay taxes according to their tax rate for each category of income.
How much do REITs pay out in monthly dividends?
REITs pay out roughly 90% of their taxable earnings. The actual REIT payout ratio depends upon how those earnings are calculated.
You diversify your investments because you don’t know which financial assets are going to shine and which ones will lag. Even if REITs aren’t the best stocks in the next year or two, over the long haul, they’ve proven to be a solid way to invest in real estate and grow your financial net worth.
My family investment portfolio includes REIT shares and has for decades. Like any investment, REITs have pros and cons. Although, there’s really little reason not to invest in REITs in a diversified portfolio.
Disclosure; I own VNQ, VNQI and have an account at M1 Finance.
Disclosure: Please note that this article may contain affiliate links which means that – at zero cost to you – I might earn a commission if you sign up or buy through the affiliate link. That said, I never recommend anything I don’t personally believe is valuable.

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Nice discount if you have one of these flights you want/need to book.
MBW Views is a series of op-eds from eminent music industry people… with something to say. The following MBW op/ed was written by Victoria Oakley (pictured, left), Chief Executive Officer of the IFPI, the organization that represents the recording industry worldwide, and Mitch Glazier (pictured, right), CEO of the RIAA (The Recording Industry Association of America).

Here, Oakley and Glazier comment on the recording industry’s ongoing global efforts to combat streaming fraud and suggest what the music business could do to put an end to it.
Streaming fraud is a quiet threat.
It’s often undetected, but it’s happening now and at scale. It’s siphoning vital revenues away from the artists, songwriters, record labels, music publishers and others who power the music economy.
The mechanics are simple. Every day, fraudsters exploit gaps in music platforms’ protections and across the supply chain. These criminals upload tracks via distributors and deploy armies of ‘bots’ to create artificial ‘plays’ of those tracks to generate income.
Because streaming services pay rightsholders from a finite pool of revenue, income is being diverted from legitimate creators who attracted users, subscriptions, and advertising to these platforms in the first place.
This is theft, plain and simple.
And with the rise of generative artificial intelligence (AI), the practice has been industrialized, enabling the mass creation of artificial content and artificial listening, and making large-scale fraud cheaper and faster to perpetrate – and harder for systems to detect.
So how can it be fixed?
It requires a toolbox with varied but proactive and evolving approaches, along with robust enforcement that addresses both the artificial content that is used for fraud and the fake listening.
IFPI, representing the recorded music industry worldwide, has taken legal action against many organizations behind these manipulation services.
We’ve disrupted and shut down illegal sites in Germany, France, Brazil and Canada, and we work with governments and law enforcement to help investigate and prosecute these crimes.
But to stop fraud at scale, the organizations with the data, scale and leverage to prevent this fraudulent activity, including streaming services, content aggregators and distributors, must act together.
So, what needs to be done?
These actions amount to something simple and essential: streaming services and distributors working together to identify, disrupt, and shut out fraudsters who abuse the system.
This is essential as generative AI continues to grow and develop.
Record labels are working to meet these standards. And, if we collectively use existing tools to share intelligence and apply best practices, we can make streaming fraud genuinely difficult and expensive to pursue.
But it will happen only if the entire music community comes together and commits to meaningful, sustained action. Music Business Worldwide
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