Category Archives: Investing

What Berkshire Buys Next: The Five Giants That Fit Buffett’s Playbook

Posted on November 16, 2025 by | Leave a comment

In Omaha, Berkshire Hathaway’s cash pile has grown so large that even Wall Street marvels at its inertia. With over $380 billion in cash and short-term Treasuries, the conglomerate is sitting on more dry powder than most central banks. Yet Warren Buffett and his successor, Greg Abel, have long maintained that capital must only move when the odds of permanent capital loss are near zero.

Now, with global markets resetting post-2020 stimulus and inflation anchoring valuations, the question becomes: what could Berkshire buy next that would be both large enough to matter and philosophically sound enough to pass Buffett’s test of simplicity, durability, and trust?

The five most plausible candidates — Costco, McDonald’s, Home Depot, Royal Bank of Canada, and Toyota — each satisfy that mix of prudence, predictability, and permanence that defines Berkshire’s century-long strategy of buying “businesses, not tickers.”

Buffett’s philosophy has been remarkably consistent for over six decades: buy simple, cash-rich, moated businesses led by trustworthy managers. Berkshire’s model of quasi-permanent ownership, decentralized operations, and disciplined capital allocation has made it the corporate equivalent of a sovereign wealth fund — except its sovereign is capitalism itself.

Greg Abel, the man expected to succeed Buffett, has only reinforced this model. Coming from Berkshire Energy, Abel represents the “real economy” side of the house preferring tangible assets, regulated returns, and predictable cash flow over the exuberance of speculative innovation.

Hence, the next Berkshire deal is not likely to be an AI startup or fintech disrupter. It will be a “forever asset” — a company that compounds quietly and defends its margins under any macro regime.

Given Berkshire’s sheer scale of over $1 trillion in market capitalization a target must have an enterprise value north of $200 billion to meaningfully “move the needle.” Anything smaller, and the math of compounding becomes negligible.

🧩 The Berkshire Universe: Themes and Tendencies

Berkshire’s portfolio reads like a map of the American and global economy’s most reliable arteries:

CategoryCore HoldingsTraits
FinancialsAmEx, Bank of America, Moody’s, ChubbHigh ROE, capital-light, recurring revenue
Consumer StaplesCoca-Cola, Kraft Heinz, DiageoGlobal brands, predictable demand
Energy / IndustrialsChevron, Occidental, MitsubishiReal assets, inflation hedge
TechnologyApple, Amazon (small), VeriSignCash-rich ecosystems
Infrastructure / InsuranceBNSF Railway, BH ReinsuranceTangible durability, “float” generation

This structure provides a blueprint for what comes next: reinforcement, not reinvention. Berkshire rarely pivots; it doubles down on what works. It will seek businesses that (1) resemble what it already understands, and (2) offer inflation-protected earnings streams in a world of higher nominal rates.

From the universe of firms valued between $200 billion and $450 billion, only a handful exhibit the balance of predictability, management integrity, and strategic fit Berkshire demands.

A closer look through Buffett’s filters narrows the field to Costco, McDonald’s, Home Depot, Royal Bank of Canada, and Toyota. Each operates in a sector Berkshire already knows and each represents a bridge between the company’s past and its post-Buffett future.

1. Costco Wholesale (Ticker: COST)

The Cult of Value Meets the Culture of Discipline

Buffett has long admired Costco’s operating model. It is a retailer that sells everything from fresh salmon to fine jewelry but in truth, it sells trust. Its membership model generates annuity-like revenue, while its relentless efficiency and scale provide a durable moat against both inflation and digital disruption.

Charlie Munger, Buffett’s late partner, once served on Costco’s board and famously said, “Costco is one of the most admirable capitalistic institutions in the world.” That legacy alone makes a partial acquisition symbolically powerful.

While a full buyout (market cap ≈ $405 billion) may be too expensive, a 20–30% stake would make sense. It would give Berkshire exposure to global consumer spending and provide a stabilizing counterpart to its stake in Apple, a brand built on loyalty, not leverage.

In the age of shrinking retail margins, Costco remains an inflation hedge, its pricing power born from scale, not greed. Buffett has always preferred such quiet dominance.

2. McDonald’s (Ticker: MCD)

Fast Food, Slow Capital

If there were ever a brand that personifies Buffett’s doctrine of “durable competitive advantage,” it is McDonald’s. With over 40,000 locations in 100+ countries and a business model centered on franchised cash flow, McDonald’s is the quintessential predictable earner.

Its asset-light structure means free cash flow margins north of 25%, while its real-estate footprint functions as an embedded REIT. In a world of digital payments, delivery, and global inflation, McDonald’s pricing agility is unmatched. It can raise prices by 5% globally without denting demand, a privilege of brand addiction.

Moreover, McDonald’s cultural synergy with Coca-Cola (another Berkshire cornerstone) cannot be overstated. Both are global empires built on ubiquity, habit, and nostalgia. A merger of ownership philosophy, if not of products, would anchor Berkshire’s consumer-staples dynasty for another half-century.

At ~$218 billion market cap, McDonald’s is one of the few full-scale acquisitions Berkshire could realistically afford outright.

3. Home Depot (Ticker: HD)

Owning the American Rebuild

Buffett once said that he bets on the “resilience of the American homeowner.” Home Depot, valued around $372 billion, is the most efficient expression of that belief.

As infrastructure spending rises and housing shortages intensify, Home Depot sits at the crossroads of construction, repair, and consumer credit. Its business model converts cyclical demand into steady dividend growth. For Berkshire, already owning materials firms and insulation producers, a significant stake in Home Depot would complete a “vertical household economy” from supply chain to consumer.

Its store footprint and brand loyalty parallel BNSF’s railroad network: both are national arteries essential to the domestic economy. Buffett loves owning irreplaceable distribution infrastructure and Home Depot’s logistics system is precisely that.

4. Royal Bank of Canada (Ticker: RY)

The Conservative Bank That Would Make Carnegie Smile

Berkshire’s financial core is deep, but largely American. A Royal Bank of Canada acquisition would expand its footprint across North America’s second-largest and most stable financial system.

RBC’s strengths are conservative underwriting, dominant market share in wealth management, and a culture of steady, compounding profitability which mirror Buffett’s historical love of American Express and Bank of America.

Moreover, Canada’s heavily regulated banking environment protects incumbents from competition. Berkshire thrives in such “wide-moat oligopolies.”

At a market cap of $208 billion, the bank is small enough for a full acquisition but large enough to deploy Berkshire’s idle cash meaningfully. It would also diversify currency exposure and hedge U.S. economic concentration, a quiet, Abel-style move.

5. Toyota Motor Corp. (Ticker: TM)

Japan’s Crown Jewel of Industrial Resilience

Berkshire already owns minority stakes in five major Japanese trading houses, a calculated bet on the nation’s industrial discipline. Extending that strategy into Toyota would be the logical next step.

Toyota’s balance sheet, manufacturing excellence, and hybrid-vehicle leadership make it a quintessential “Buffett business” hidden inside an automaker. Unlike the tech-saturated EV startups, Toyota’s philosophy of gradual innovation, prudence, and reliability mirrors Berkshire’s own.

The two even share a cultural ethos: long-termism over trend-chasing.

At roughly $268 billion market cap, a 10–20% strategic stake would echo Buffett’s Japanese diversification theme without the regulatory complexity of a full acquisition. It would also position Berkshire for the eventual rise of hybrid and hydrogen vehicles in emerging markets, aligning with its energy portfolio’s shift toward renewables.

💰 Financial Feasibility: Deploying $250 Billion Wisely

Even Berkshire’s cash hoard has limits. Deploying $150–$250 billion must pass both the Buffett test (certainty of cash flow) and the Abel test (inflation resilience).

A possible portfolio of acquisitions could look like this:

TargetMarket Cap (USD)Likely ApproachStrategic Rationale
Costco$405B20–30% stakeGlobal retail + subscription revenue
McDonald’s$218BFull acquisitionCash flow, brand power, inflation hedge
Home Depot$372B20–30% stakeU.S. infrastructure exposure
Royal Bank of Canada$208BFull acquisitionNorth American financial expansion
Toyota$268B10–20% stakeJapan industrial diversification

In total, such a deployment would utilize around $200 billion, leaving liquidity for buybacks and opportunistic purchases.

This mirrors Berkshire’s historical pattern: buying large minority stakes in global champions, then waiting for market corrections to accumulate more — the “silent control” strategy that has defined its rise.

Strategic Summary: The Post-Buffett Blueprint

The post-Buffett Berkshire era will be one of institutional continuity, not radical change. Greg Abel’s likely leadership ensures that the company remains disciplined, risk-averse, and industrially grounded.

These five potential acquisitions — Costco, McDonald’s, Home Depot, Royal Bank of Canada, and Toyota — collectively represent Berkshire’s five pillars of permanence:

  1. Consumer Trust (Costco) – Loyalty as an economic moat.
  2. Everyday Habit (McDonald’s) – Cash flow as culture.
  3. Infrastructure (Home Depot) – Building the backbone of America.
  4. Finance (RBC) – Conservative capital compounding.
  5. Industry (Toyota) – Global operational excellence.

Each adds a layer of diversification without diluting Berkshire’s DNA. Together, they form a defensive fortress against inflation, technological disruption, and economic cycles — precisely the environment Berkshire was built to survive.

For HBCU endowments and African American institutional investors, Berkshire’s approach holds a powerful parallel. The key lesson is patience married to scale. Berkshire’s compounding model demonstrates how disciplined reinvestment — not speculative churn — builds generational wealth.

Like Berkshire, HBCU financial ecosystems can create “institutional compounding engines” by investing in enterprises that share cultural familiarity, operational durability, and intergenerational value. Buffett calls it “the joy of owning good businesses forever.”

For African American institutions, that translates to owning — not merely funding — the infrastructure of our own economies.

Berkshire Hathaway stands at an inflection point. The post-Buffett era will not be about reinvention but reaffirmation — proving that its model of ethical capitalism can persist without its founding prophet.

The five plausible acquisitions ahead — Costco, McDonald’s, Home Depot, Royal Bank of Canada, and Toyota — are not just balance-sheet moves; they are philosophical statements.

Each embodies what Buffett has called the “virtue of patience in a speculative age.” And as markets oscillate between AI euphoria and geopolitical anxiety, Berkshire remains what it has always been: a monument to quiet power and compounding discipline.

For long-term investors — from sovereign funds to HBCU endowments — that discipline remains the truest asset class of all.

Disclaimer: This article was assisted by ChatGPT.

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Pan-African Capital: HBCU Endowments, African American Banks, and Kenya’s Growth Story

Posted on October 17, 2025 by | 1 comment

“When HBCU endowments and African American banks act together, they stop being small players. They become a financial force that nations must reckon with.” – HBCU Money Editorial Board

In the next several decades, the fault lines of global growth will not run through New York or London but through Nairobi, Lagos, and Accra. Kenya, sitting at the intersection of East Africa’s financial corridor and global trade routes, has become a laboratory for innovation in fintech, agriculture, and infrastructure. Yet despite centuries of cultural, spiritual, and blood connections, African America remains structurally absent from this new frontier of opportunity. Our financial institutions and HBCU endowments are under-leveraged in international markets, particularly in Africa, even as Asian, European, and Middle Eastern investors carve out dominant positions. For African American financial institutions and HBCU endowments, Kenya represents more than just an emerging market. It is a strategic stage for institutional wealth-building, geopolitical leverage, and reconnecting the African Diaspora through shared prosperity. The opportunity lies not simply in making isolated investments but in creating transatlantic joint ventures that bring together capital, expertise, and institutional strategy.

Kenya is more than safari brochures and tourist postcards. Its economy has quietly matured into one of Africa’s most diversified. With a GDP of over $110 billion and growth rates consistently outperforming many global peers, Kenya is often referred to as East Africa’s economic anchor. Nairobi has developed into the region’s financial hub, hosting multinational headquarters, stock exchange operations, and a robust startup ecosystem. Agriculture remains central, with Kenya exporting coffee, tea, and horticultural products while seeking to expand into value-addition agribusiness. Technology is another frontier, with Nairobi’s “Silicon Savannah” serving as a magnet for fintech, led by the global success of M-Pesa. Rapid urbanization fuels infrastructure and real estate demand, while Kenya’s leadership in geothermal and renewable energy has made it a global model. For African American institutions, the attraction lies not only in the growth metrics but in the alignment of needs: Kenya seeks patient capital, educational partnerships, and trusted diaspora allies, while African American institutions seek diversification, higher yields, and independence from U.S.-centric markets.

Despite African America’s aggregate $1.8 trillion in consumer spending, the community’s institutional capital remains modest. Only a handful of Black-owned banks, credit unions, and venture firms exist, and most hold under $1 billion in assets. HBCU endowments combined are less than $4 billion—an amount dwarfed by single Ivy League endowments. Yet within these constraints lies enormous potential. African American financial institutions already possess the regulatory infrastructure to pool and allocate capital, while HBCU endowments, though smaller in scale, carry moral weight and symbolic capital that can unlock global partnerships. Together, these institutions can create vehicles for international deployment of African American wealth, something that has been absent throughout our history. Imagine a pooled investment fund where Howard University, Spelman College, and Florida A&M commit $25 million collectively, matched by $25 million from Black-owned banks. That $50 million fund could be deployed into Kenyan agritech ventures, renewable energy projects, or commercial real estate. The collaboration would be historic: an African Diaspora financial ecosystem investing directly in Africa’s future.

The reasons to prioritize such engagement are strategic. Diversification is one. U.S. capital markets are increasingly low-yield for small institutional investors, while African markets offer higher growth potential and uncorrelated returns. Another is first-mover advantage. Unlike European or Asian investors, African American institutions do not carry the baggage of colonial relationships, which makes trust-based partnerships more viable. Transnational investment also provides institutional leverage. Just as Jewish, Irish, and Italian communities have leveraged diaspora ties for economic and political power, African Americans can build similar networks of influence. Beyond finance, there is the educational pipeline. HBCUs can link faculty, students, and alumni into research, study abroad, and entrepreneurial ventures tied to investments in Kenya. And finally, there is legacy. These investments address the absence of transgenerational institutional wealth that has long defined the African American economic condition.

The structures to achieve this vision can be diverse. A Diaspora investment fund pooling capital from HBCU endowments, Black-owned banks, and other African American institutions could professionally manage investments in Kenya. Public-private partnerships could align capital with Kenya’s infrastructure push in transport, energy, and housing. Venture capital and startup accelerators in Nairobi could connect HBCU students with Africa’s entrepreneurial scene while generating equity returns. Real estate investment trusts, driven by Nairobi’s urbanization, could provide stable income streams. Even education-linked ventures in e-learning and vocational training could generate both profit and intellectual reciprocity.

The barriers are real but not insurmountable. Kenya requires foreign investors to comply with incorporation, licensing, and work permit laws, which demand careful navigation. Currency risk from fluctuations in the Kenyan shilling must be hedged. Information gaps are wide, with many African American institutions unfamiliar with African business environments, highlighting the need for trusted partnerships and research. The relatively small scale of HBCU endowments makes collaboration indispensable. Above all, transparent governance and professional management are critical to avoid reputational risk. Yet none of these barriers are unique. European, Asian, and African investors face them daily and manage to thrive.

This is not only an economic project but a political one. The creation of a formal African American–Kenya Investment Council, for example, could coordinate through the Four Points Chamber of Commerce, HBCUs, and Kenyan universities to advocate for favorable treaties, tax incentives, and research collaborations. African American institutions investing abroad alter the narrative at home: no longer just a constituency asking for inclusion, but a global economic player with interests that stretch across the Atlantic. Such evolution creates leverage in Washington, Wall Street, and international forums.

Take agritech as a concrete example. Kenya’s agricultural sector employs over 60 percent of its labor force, yet productivity remains limited by technology and infrastructure. African American banks could co-finance ventures in irrigation, cold storage, and logistics platforms. HBCUs such as Tuskegee and Prairie View A&M could supply expertise in agricultural science and training. The returns could be strong, while the ventures also address food security and climate resilience—issues central to Africa’s stability. This is an example of investment tied not only to financial return but to global relevance.

The deeper point is that these ventures embed African American institutions into Africa’s growth story. They create a new narrative where HBCU students intern at Nairobi startups, Kenyan entrepreneurs raise capital from African American banks, and families on both sides of the Atlantic see tangible proof that the Diaspora is not fragmented but interwoven. In a world where capital dictates influence, these ties are transformative. They represent not just diversification but restoration, an opportunity to re-knit the fabric of a dispersed people through shared prosperity.

The cost of inaction is steep. China has entrenched itself in Kenya and across Africa through the Belt and Road Initiative. Gulf states are investing heavily in energy and real estate. European firms continue to capture opportunities in agriculture and infrastructure. If African American institutions remain passive, they will again watch as others define Africa’s economic trajectory, forfeiting both profits and influence. Worse, they will remain locked in a domestic cycle of undercapitalization and marginalization, failing to establish the transatlantic presence that could transform their institutional standing.

For too long, African America has celebrated individual success while neglecting institutional power. The result has been wealth without leverage and influence without permanence. Kenya and the wider African continent present a chance to reverse this trajectory. African American financial institutions and HBCU endowments can seize the opportunity by building joint investment vehicles that are ambitious, strategic, and collaborative. To invest in Kenya is to invest not only in profitable ventures but in the future of a Diaspora united by shared capital, shared strategy, and shared destiny. The transatlantic bridge is waiting to be built. The question is whether African America will summon the courage, coordination, and vision to cross it.

Step-by-step practical framework that African American financial institutions and HBCU endowments could follow to launch their first $50 million joint Kenya investment fund:

Imagine a handful of African American bank CEOs and HBCU endowment chiefs sitting together in a boardroom. The room is filled with cautious optimism. They know that together, they control billions in assets. What they don’t yet have is a proven model for working together to extend institutional power abroad. That meeting marks the first step: the coalition. A steering committee is formed, with voices from banking, academia, and outside advisors who know Kenya’s economic landscape. Their mandate is clear—launch a fund that delivers returns, but also anchors a new Pan-African economic relationship.

Step 1: Establish a Foundational Coalition

  • Identify core partners: Secure commitments from 3–5 African American banks and 5–7 HBCUs with at least $50M in combined investable capital.
  • Set up a steering committee: Include representatives from bank leadership, HBCU endowment managers, and external advisors with Africa market expertise.
  • Define purpose: Clearly state the dual mission: generating strong financial returns while building a bridge for institutional Pan-African economic partnerships.

The first order of business is to commission a feasibility study. Consultants with expertise in Kenya’s political economy, regulatory framework, and sector opportunities are hired. They map out the terrain: Kenya’s fast-growing fintech sector, renewable energy projects feeding off abundant solar and wind, agribusiness tied to both domestic and export markets, and logistics hubs serving East Africa’s gateway economy. Risks are weighed—currency volatility, regulatory hurdles, political cycles—but so are opportunities. The committee sees promise.

Step 2: Commission a Feasibility Study

  • Hire consultants with Kenya expertise: Legal, financial, and political economy experts based in both the U.S. and Kenya.
  • Sector focus analysis: Prioritize sectors Kenya is inviting foreign direct investment into—agriculture, fintech, renewable energy, real estate, and logistics.
  • Risk assessment: Evaluate currency volatility, repatriation policies, political stability, and regulatory compliance.

Next, the legal and financial scaffolding of the fund takes shape. They agree on a traditional GP/LP structure based in the U.S. for investor familiarity, with a Kenyan arm for local operations. Banks pledge their first tranches—perhaps $5M each. HBCUs, with smaller endowments but a deep sense of mission, contribute $2–3M apiece. Collectively, the first commitments reach $30M, enough to begin building credibility. The remaining capital will come from outside partners.

Step 3: Create the Legal & Financial Structure

  • Fund structure: Decide whether the vehicle will be a private equity fund, venture fund, or blended finance model.
  • Jurisdiction: Likely establish a U.S.-based LP/GP model for investor confidence, with a Kenyan subsidiary or partnership entity.
  • Capital commitments: Each bank and HBCU pledges proportional investments. Example: 3 banks commit $5M each, 7 HBCUs commit $2–3M each, plus matching funds from development finance institutions.

Those partners are cultivated carefully. Calls are made to the African Development Bank, IFC, and the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation. Each sees value in a diaspora-led fund connecting capital from the African American community to African markets. Meanwhile, Kenyan pension funds and cooperatives are invited to co-invest. Diaspora high-net-worth individuals are offered side-car vehicles. With these anchor and matching partners, the fund’s $50M target is within reach.

Step 4: Secure Anchor & Matching Partners

  • DFIs and multilaterals: Approach institutions like African Development Bank (AfDB), U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC), and IFC for co-investments.
  • Kenyan institutions: Partner with local pension funds, cooperatives (SACCOs), or universities to establish local credibility and co-ownership.
  • Diaspora investors: Offer side-car investment vehicles for African American and African diaspora high-net-worth individuals.

Governance is another priority. The steering committee transforms into an investment committee, balanced between African American institutional leaders and Kenyan business experts. An advisory board is established with specialists in agriculture, energy, real estate, and fintech. Transparency is emphasized—annual impact reports will detail not only financial returns, but jobs created, student exchanges launched, and trade flows increased.

Step 5: Build Governance & Accountability Mechanisms

  • Investment committee: Balance between African American institutional reps and Kenyan business leaders.
  • Advisory board: Include sector specialists in agriculture, energy, fintech, etc.
  • Transparency: Publish annual reports and impact metrics, not just financial returns, but job creation and trade flows between HBCUs and Kenya.

Deal flow comes next. Nairobi-based investment professionals are hired to scout opportunities, vet local entrepreneurs, and structure partnerships. At the same time, HBCUs begin linking their own academic programs—business schools, agricultural research centers, and engineering departments—into the fund’s sector priorities. Student projects and faculty research now have real-world investment applications in Kenya.

Step 6: Develop Pipeline & Deal Flow

  • Partnership with Kenyan government: Leverage incentives offered to foreign investors, including tax breaks and special economic zones.
  • Local deal scouts: Hire Nairobi-based professionals to source deals in priority sectors.
  • HBCU connections: Link research and student projects to sectors targeted by the fund (e.g., agricultural science programs tied to Kenyan agribusiness investments).

With structure, governance, and deal flow in place, the fund launches its pilot tranche. $10M is deployed across two or three projects. A solar mini-grid company extending power to rural communities. A fintech platform simplifying mobile payments. A mid-sized agribusiness processing exports for global markets. These are not moonshots—they are solid, scalable enterprises that demonstrate both impact and return. The performance of this pilot will be watched closely. If successful, it will unlock the remainder of the $50M and set the stage for larger ambitions.

Step 7: Launch Pilot Investments ($10M tranche)

  • Start small within the $50M: Deploy $10M across 2–3 companies/projects.
  • Focus on scalable businesses: Renewable energy mini-grids, fintech payment platforms, or agri-processing facilities.
  • Monitor performance closely: Use pilot results to refine risk models, build confidence among stakeholders, and attract more investors.

Within 18 months, the pilot investments begin to show results. Jobs are created. Returns begin to flow. Confidence builds. The remaining capital is deployed, spreading across a diversified portfolio. HBCUs launch student and faculty exchanges with Kenyan institutions tied to the fund’s sectors. African American banks begin opening lines of credit to U.S. businesses interested in exporting to East Africa. The fund is no longer just an experiment—it is an institution in itself.

Step 8: Expand and Institutionalize

  • Scale to full $50M deployment: After 12–18 months of pilot success, release additional tranches.
  • Knowledge transfer: Create HBCU student and faculty exchange programs tied to investments.
  • Secondary fundraising: Use strong pilot performance to raise an additional $100M+ follow-on fund.

As momentum grows, the fund takes steps toward permanence. A Nairobi office is established, staffed by African American and Kenyan professionals alike. Training programs create a pipeline for HBCU students to intern in Kenya and Kenyan students to study at HBCUs. Over time, this exchange deepens the cultural and economic ties the fund was designed to spark.

Step 9: Create Long-Term Infrastructure

  • Permanent office in Nairobi: Establish a joint African American–Kenyan fund management company.
  • Training & pipeline development: Develop internship pipelines for HBCU students in Kenya, and Kenyan students at HBCUs.
  • Institutional trust: Turn the fund into a long-term institutional asset class for African American banks and HBCUs.

After five years, success is measured in multiple ways. Financially, the fund delivers returns in line with its targets—perhaps 12–15% IRR. Institutionally, it has created a precedent: HBCUs and African American banks can collaborate on global investments. Socially, it has created jobs in Kenya, exported knowledge and partnerships, and brought students and faculty into real-world economic diplomacy. Most importantly, it has built trust. Trust between African American institutions and African markets. Trust that this model can be scaled.

Step 10: Measure Success & Reinvest

  • Financial benchmarks: Target 12–15% IRR across diversified investments.
  • Social impact: Jobs created in Kenya, number of HBCU students/faculty involved, new African American businesses entering African markets.
  • Recycling capital: Reinvest returns into next-generation funds, building compounding institutional wealth.

With trust comes ambition. A second fund is planned—this time $100M, then $500M. The coalition envisions a Pan-African investment platform, deploying billions across sectors and countries. HBCUs, once thought of only as educational institutions, now sit at the table of international finance. African American banks, once dismissed as niche, now act as global intermediaries for diaspora capital.

The $50M Kenya fund was never just about money. It was about proving the power of joint institutionalism. It was about showing that African American capital, when organized and directed abroad, can generate wealth, influence, and opportunity for generations. And it was about establishing a roadmap that others can follow—a playbook for diaspora-led investment that starts in Kenya but could extend across the African continent.

Disclaimer: This article was assisted by ChatGPT.

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Debt Fit for a Queen (and Her King): Why Beyoncé and Jay-Z’s $110 Million Mortgage Is a Lesson in Black Wealth Strategy

Posted on August 29, 2025 by | Leave a comment

“The wealthy don’t fear debt they master it. While others pay to own, they borrow to control.” — HBCU Money

In the hills of Bel Air, where the gates are high and the price of privacy even higher, a royal couple reigns not with crowns or thrones, but with compound interest, limited liability companies, and a mastery of capital structuring. This month, Beyoncé and Jay-Z made headlines again, not for a new album or tour, but for a second mortgage. The couple whose combined net worth now exceeds $3 billion, per Forbes secured an additional $57.8 million mortgage on their $88 million Bel Air estate. This raises their total mortgage debt on the property to $110.6 million. For many, it triggered confusion: Why would billionaires take out debt especially this much? They own the intellectual property rights to chart-topping albums, entire music catalogs, clothing lines, venture funds, and streaming services. They’re not short on liquidity. But for those fluent in institutional wealth-building, the move is textbook. It’s what banks do. What private equity does. What families like the Rockefellers, Rothschilds, and yes, now the Carters, do: they leverage good debt to expand their control over assets, preserve liquidity, and legally reduce taxes. As the headlines obsess over the couple’s $637,244 monthly burn rate including mortgage and property taxes we must step back and understand the real play at work.

The Structure of Power: Debt as a Wealth Instrument

There are two kinds of debt in America, debt you drown in, and debt you climb on. The former is predatory and suffocating: payday loans, credit card interest, subprime mortgages. The latter is engineered and liberating: investment real estate, operating capital, bridge financing. This second category, good debt is what powers Wall Street, Silicon Valley, and, increasingly, the portfolios of Black billionaires. When Beyoncé and Jay-Z financed their Bel Air estate rather than pay in cash, it wasn’t a lack of funds it was a maximization of strategy. With interest rates still historically low by long-term standards, the effective cost of borrowing is cheaper than the opportunity cost of deploying equity elsewhere. That $110 million in borrowed capital is likely earning multiples elsewhere in touring infrastructure, private equity ventures, tech startups, and, of course, real estate. The Carter empire does not rely on liquidating assets to make acquisitions. It builds on leverage, like any institution should.

Cash Is King, Debt Is the Horse It Rides

Jay-Z once rapped, “I’m not a businessman. I’m a business, man.” And that business understands that cash flow is oxygen. In a high-inflation, high-yield environment, holding liquidity is more valuable than owning a paid-off house in Bel Air. Let’s model it simply:

  • Suppose the couple borrowed $110 million at a 3.5% interest rate.
  • The annual cost is approximately $3.85 million.
  • That same $110 million deployed into touring, film production, or venture investments yielding 10% generates $11 million annually.

Net result? Over $7 million in arbitrage.

This is how institutions think. Not in terms of how much they “own,” but in how much capital they control and multiply. African American families and institutions should take note: Being debt-free is not synonymous with being economically powerful. Control, not ownership alone, is the more sophisticated metric of power.

The Bel Air Property: Trophy or Tool?

It’s tempting to dismiss the Bel Air estate as just another status symbol, a personal flex. But that’s the wrong lens.

For the Carters, real estate like music catalogs, business equity, and IP is a balance sheet line item. This home, aside from its lifestyle function, serves several institutional purposes:

  1. Collateralization – The home is a high-value, appreciating asset. It anchors future lending.
  2. Credit Enhancement – With reliable payment performance, it increases the couple’s access to cheap capital.
  3. Tax Optimization – Interest payments on a mortgage of this type can be partially deducted, even under current tax caps.

Moreover, the couple reportedly pays $100,343 monthly in property taxes, more than the annual income of the median U.S. household. But again, context matters. Their global income and asset base far outpace such obligations, and that property tax provides further tax deduction possibilities depending on structure.

A Note to the Emerging Class: Institutional Thinking Required

The divide in America today is less about income and more about how wealth thinks. Many African American households are still taught to see debt as something to eliminate completely often because of the trauma associated with its misuse. The wealth class, by contrast, uses debt as a financial tool.

The Carters didn’t get here by mistake. Their trajectory offers lessons that should be taught in HBCU finance classrooms and African American family wealth summits alike:

  • Leverage is not a vice if it is structured.
  • A mortgage is not debt when the return exceeds the cost.
  • Liquidity is more powerful than ownership in times of economic opportunity.
  • Institutions survive because they think beyond the personal.

This is especially important for HBCU alumni and African American families looking to build dynastic wealth. Too often, debt is only associated with student loans and credit cards. Rarely is it discussed as an accelerant for asset acquisition, tax minimization, or capital scaling.

Building the Empire: What the Rest of Us Can Learn

You don’t need a Bel Air zip code to think like an institution. The Carter model can be scaled:

  1. Buy Investment Property
    Use mortgage debt to buy a duplex, triplex, or quadplex where tenants cover your mortgage and generate passive income.
  2. Preserve Your Capital
    Avoid putting 100% down on assets. Leverage 20–30% and maintain the rest for emergencies or investments.
  3. Learn the Tax Code
    Understand how to deduct interest, depreciate properties, and structure your finances to reduce liability legally.
  4. Think Generationally
    Set up trusts, LLCs, and estate plans. Don’t just buy for today—structure for tomorrow.
  5. Teach the Next Generation
    Share strategies at the dinner table. Incorporate wealth-building into family conversations and HBCU alumni networks.

From Debt-Averse to Debt-Aware: A Cultural Pivot

For African America, there must be a shift from being debt-averse to being debt-aware. Not reckless, but informed. Not afraid, but empowered. Beyoncé and Jay-Z’s move may make for juicy tabloid fodder, but the real story is about capital strategy. With every refinance, with every debt restructuring, they’re deepening their institutional footprint. We often praise their performances, their music, their style. But perhaps we should spend more time studying their moves not just on stage, but on paper. Their empire isn’t built on vibes it’s built on vehicles, vision, and valuation strategy.

The Carter Codex

The narrative shouldn’t be, “Beyoncé and Jay-Z are spending $637,000 a month.” It should be, “Beyoncé and Jay-Z have leveraged a property to unlock hundreds of millions in investment capital while maintaining their lifestyle and optimizing their taxes.” That’s the story HBCU students in finance departments should be analyzing. That’s the story African American financial advisors should be breaking down. That’s the story Black families gathering for holiday dinners should be dissecting. Because wealth isn’t what you show it’s what you can withstand, what you can structure, and what you can scale. In a country that often denies African America the full benefits of capitalism, the Carter family is rewriting the playbook. Not with debt as a burden. But with debt as a bridge.

Disclaimer: This article was assisted by ChatGPT.

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Working Hard For The Money: African America Comes In Dead Last When It Comes To Passive Income

Posted on May 13, 2025 by | Leave a comment

“If you don’t find a way to make money while you sleep, you will work until you die.” — T. Harv Eker

In the American imagination, wealth is often synonymous with work—grit, grind, and the relentless pursuit of the paycheck. Yet the country’s richest families rarely labour for their living. Their fortunes compound quietly, buoyed by investments, dividend-paying stocks, real estate, and business interests. For Black households, whose median net worth remains a fraction of their white counterparts, accessing such passive income streams remains a frontier of both opportunity and historical consequence.

According to recent data from the U.S. Census and the Federal Reserve, only 7% of Black households report receiving passive income—whether from rental properties, interest, dividends, or business ownership—compared to 24% of white households. And when such income does exist, the median amount for Black families barely touches $2,000 annually, compared to nearly $5,000 for white households. This income disparity is not incidental. It reflects generations of exclusion, underinvestment, and systemic barriers to asset ownership.

But it is changing.

Across the U.S., a growing cohort of Black investors, entrepreneurs, and financial organizers are working to reverse this trend. From stock investing circles to community real estate funds and digital asset education, there is an awakening to the principle that “money must work when we do not.”

A Quiet Crisis in the Wealth Equation

Wealth in America has never been evenly distributed, but the passive income gap underscores a more insidious asymmetry: not just what people earn, but how money is multiplied. For much of the 20th century, Black Americans were systematically denied access to the very tools that compound wealth. Home loans were redlined. Stock brokers ignored Black neighborhoods. Black-owned businesses were underfinanced and over-regulated.

“We talk a lot about income inequality, but asset inequality is far more dangerous,” says Dr. Lenora Matthews, professor of finance at Howard University. “Passive income is how wealth survives across generations. Without it, every dollar must be earned, every month restarted from zero.”

The result has been a fragile wealth ecosystem. Black households are more likely to rely solely on wages, less likely to inherit financial assets, and more burdened by student debt. This combination severely limits participation in the capital markets that fuel passive income.

Enter the Index Fund

Among the most accessible starting points for passive income is the stock market—particularly index funds and ETFs (exchange-traded funds). These instruments offer low-cost, diversified exposure to the market and require little financial sophistication.

Platforms like M1 Finance, Public, and Fidelity now allow investors to buy fractional shares, meaning a person can invest $10 into the S&P 500 rather than $500 for a single share. Many Black investors are leveraging this entry point to build long-term portfolios with monthly contributions.

Tasha McDaniel, a teacher in Atlanta, began investing during the pandemic with just $50 per paycheck. “I never thought I’d be an investor,” she says. “But I realized my savings account was losing to inflation. Now my dividends buy more shares automatically.”

Her strategy follows a principle now gaining traction in Black financial circles: automatic reinvestment. Known as DRIP (Dividend Reinvestment Plan), it ensures that dividend payments purchase additional shares—compounding returns without additional cash input.

Real Estate: The Tangible Asset

Beyond equities, real estate remains the second pillar of passive income strategy. But here too, Black households have been historically marginalized. In 2022, the Black homeownership rate stood at 44%, compared to 74% among whites, a gap wider than it was in 1968 when the Fair Housing Act was passed.

And yet, platforms like Roofstock, Fundrise, and Arrived Homes are lowering the barriers. These services allow users to invest in rental properties, either fractionally or outright, while property management is handled externally—turning what was once an intensive business into a hands-off income stream.

“There’s a myth that you need $100,000 to buy a rental,” says Marcus Green, a Detroit-based real estate investor. “But with the right markets and leveraging community capital, Black investors can and are buying back the block.”

Indeed, co-investment models are growing. In cities like Birmingham, Baltimore, and Chicago, Black investment clubs are pooling resources to purchase duplexes and small multi-family homes. Each investor receives a percentage of rental income, and over time, equity appreciation.

The model is not new. It mirrors how Jewish, Chinese, and Caribbean diasporas historically approached real estate. What is new is the technological infrastructure allowing even small investors to participate.

Business Ownership: The Third Rail

Owning a business is arguably the most lucrative form of passive income—especially if it can be structured to run without the founder’s daily involvement. But again, Black entrepreneurs face outsized barriers. A 2021 Brookings report found that Black-owned businesses are half as likely to receive funding and receive only a third as much capital, even when creditworthiness is equal.

Still, entrepreneurship remains a favored strategy. Digital businesses—especially those selling information products, such as eBooks, online courses, or print-on-demand merchandise—offer high margins with low startup costs.

“I created a personal finance course for new parents,” says Jamal Pierce, a Houston-based father of two. “It took me three weekends. Now it makes $500 a month, and I haven’t touched it in a year.”

Similarly, Black creators on platforms like YouTube, Etsy, and Substack are finding ways to turn knowledge, creativity, and community into automated income. While these streams begin modestly, they represent a critical shift: from hourly labor to scalable value.

Trust, Trauma, and Financial Literacy

While access to capital is critical, trust and cultural engagement are equally important. Surveys consistently show that Black Americans are less likely to trust financial institutions. This distrust is not irrational. From the exploitation of Freedman’s Bank to discriminatory banking practices in the 2000s housing crash, history abounds with financial betrayal.

To bridge this gap, a new generation of Black financial educators is emerging. TikTok influencers, YouTube educators, and community workshops are now teaching passive income strategies with a culturally relevant lens.

“Financial literacy must come from trusted voices,” says Ayana Holland, founder of Black Wealth Book Club. “We aren’t just teaching stocks; we’re healing financial trauma.”

Her organization hosts monthly readings and investment challenges, helping members open brokerage accounts, buy dividend-paying stocks, and learn the language of capital.

Group Economics Reimagined

One of the most powerful but underutilized tools in the Black community remains cooperative economics. The tradition of “sou-sous” and rotating savings clubs dates back centuries but is now being modernized into investment syndicates and real estate cooperatives.

In New York, the Umoja Investment Circle—formed by five Black women—collectively saved $60,000 in a year and used it to buy a cash-flowing rental property in upstate New York. Each member now receives quarterly dividends.

“We realized we didn’t need to wait for the bank,” says founding member Tiffany Rhodes. “We were the capital.”

Such models not only build wealth but restore a sense of agency and interdependence. They allow families and communities to reclaim the capital flight that has plagued Black neighborhoods for decades.

Digital Assets and the Cautionary Horizon

The emergence of digital assets, particularly cryptocurrencies and decentralized finance (DeFi), has sparked curiosity and concern among Black investors. On one hand, Black Americans have adopted crypto at faster rates than their white peers, drawn by its decentralization and promise of wealth democratization.

On the other, the market’s volatility and regulatory uncertainty pose significant risks. The collapse of platforms like FTX and Celsius has reignited warnings about speculation without education.

“Crypto is not the enemy,” says Kaylin James, a blockchain consultant. “But we must separate hype from fundamentals. Bitcoin can be a long-term store of value, but not every coin is your ticket to freedom.”

The lesson is clear: passive income must be built on understanding, not urgency.

Policy Interventions and Structural Change

While individual strategies matter, structural change is essential to closing the passive income gap. Federal and state policies must expand access to retirement accounts, support first-time homebuyers, and fund Black-owned startups.

Programs like baby bonds, universal 401(k) participation, and public banking could democratize the tools of wealth. So too could the strengthening of historically Black financial institutions—credit unions, community development financial institutions (CDFIs), and HBCU endowments.

Indeed, institutions like OneUnited Bank and the HOPE Credit Union are already deploying capital into underserved areas, while crowdfunding models like Black Wall Street Cooperative are testing new modes of community finance.

Toward Financial Sovereignty

The quest for passive income is not merely a financial ambition—it is a reclaiming of time, dignity, and possibility. For Black households, it represents both survival and sovereignty. It is the freedom to plan, to rest, and to invest in future generations.

In a world where work grows ever more precarious and inequality more entrenched, the ability to earn without labour is no longer a luxury. It is an imperative.

As Jamal Pierce puts it: “I don’t want my kids to inherit hustle. I want them to inherit options.”

The shift is underway. The movement is growing. Passive income is not a dream. It is a strategy—and a declaration—that Black wealth will not be denied, only delayed.

Chart: Chamber of Commerce using U.S. Census Bureau’s 2019 American Community Survey

Analysis with Focus on African Americans

The chart presents data on median passive income and the percentage of households with passive income across different racial/ethnic groups. Here’s a focused analysis on African Americans (Black households) in comparison to others:

Passive Income Levels

  • Black households have the lowest median passive income compared to other groups.
  • Their median passive income is around $2,500, significantly lower than White, Hispanic, and Asian households, which are all above $4,000.
  • This suggests that Black households have less access to wealth-generating assets such as investments, rental properties, and other income-generating financial vehicles.

Percentage of Households with Passive Income

  • Black households also have the lowest percentage of households receiving passive income (approx. 6%).
  • This is significantly lower than Non-Hispanic White and Asian households, indicating that fewer Black families are benefiting from income streams outside of wages and salaries.
  • The disparity may be linked to historical and systemic barriers to wealth accumulation, including lower rates of homeownership, limited access to capital for investments, and disparities in inheritance.

Comparative Insights

  • Hispanic households, despite having near the same percentage of households receiving passive income as Black households, have a relatively equal median passive income to White and Asian households with White, Asian, and Hispanic households median passive income being over 50 percent greater than African American households.
  • In contrast, Non-Hispanic White and Asian households have both a higher proportion of households with passive income and significantly higher median passive income, suggesting a stronger institutional wealth advantage.
  • The data reinforces broader economic research that points to racial wealth gaps in the U.S., where Black families historically have had fewer opportunities to build wealth post World War II due to the G.I. Bill and desegregation leading to the demolishing of African American institutional wealth.

Potential Implications & Solutions

  • Financial literacy & investment education: Increasing awareness and access to investment opportunities can help improve passive income for Black households.
  • Wealth-building programs: Policies aimed at reducing barriers to property ownership and business investment can support long-term financial stability.
  • Access to capital: Expanding access to business loans, stock market investments, and other wealth-building tools can improve financial mobility.

Additional Insights on Passive Income Disparities for Black Households

Building on the previous analysis, let’s explore some deeper economic, historical, and structural factors that contribute to the lower levels of passive income among Black households.

Historical Barriers to Wealth Accumulation

  • Redlining & Housing Discrimination:
    • Homeownership is a key driver of wealth in the U.S. Black Americans were historically excluded from homeownership through redlining, restrictive covenants, and discriminatory lending practices.
    • Even today, Black homeownership rates remain significantly lower, limiting the ability to build home equity that could generate rental income or be passed down to future generations.
  • Limited Access to Financial Markets:
    • Generational wealth disparities mean Black families are less likely to inherit assets such as stocks, bonds, or investment properties.
    • The racial wealth gap reduces the ability to invest in income-generating assets like rental properties, mutual funds, or businesses.

Income vs. Wealth: Why This Matters for Passive Income

  • Higher Reliance on Earned Income:
    • The data suggests that Black households rely more on wages and salaries rather than passive income streams.
    • Without accumulated wealth or financial investments, it becomes harder to transition from relying solely on wages to generating income passively.
  • Debt Burden & Financial Constraints:
    • Black households tend to carry higher levels of student loan debt relative to income.
    • This reduces disposable income that could otherwise be invested in wealth-generating assets like stocks, businesses, or real estate.

Entrepreneurship & Business Ownership

  • Lower Rates of Business Ownership:
    • Business ownership is a major source of passive income, yet Black entrepreneurs face systemic barriers to access funding.
    • According to studies, Black business owners are more likely to be denied loans or receive less funding than White business owners with similar qualifications.
    • The lack of capital prevents many Black entrepreneurs from scaling their businesses into passive income-generating enterprises.

Investment Disparities

  • Lower Stock Market Participation:
    • Stock investments are a major source of passive income (dividends, capital appreciation).
    • Research shows that Black Americans are less likely to invest in the stock market, often due to financial constraints, lack of investment knowledge, or distrust in financial institutions.
    • This contributes to the income gap, as wealthier groups benefit disproportionately from stock market growth.
  • Retirement Savings Gap:
    • Black workers are less likely to have employer-sponsored retirement accounts such as 401(k) plans, which can serve as passive income sources later in life.
    • Lower contributions to retirement accounts also mean reduced wealth accumulation over time.

Policy & Structural Solutions

To address these disparities, several targeted interventions could help increase passive income opportunities for Black households:

✅ Financial Education & Investment Access:

  • Expanding financial literacy programs to educate communities about investing, real estate, and wealth-building strategies.
  • Encouraging early participation in retirement and investment accounts.

✅ Homeownership Support:

  • Strengthening first-time homebuyer assistance programs for Black families to increase homeownership rates.
  • Expanding access to fair lending and mortgage assistance programs.

✅ Entrepreneurship & Capital Access:

  • Increasing access to venture capital and business loans for Black entrepreneurs.
  • Expanding mentorship programs that connect Black business owners with experienced investors.

✅ Workplace & Policy Interventions:

  • Strengthening retirement benefits and employer-matching programs.
  • Enforcing anti-discrimination laws in financial institutions to ensure fair lending practices.

The chart illustrates a clear racial disparity in passive income, which is a key driver of long-term financial stability. Addressing this gap requires both individual financial strategies and systemic policy changes to create more equitable opportunities for Black households to build and sustain wealth.

Investment Strategies for Building Passive Income in Black Households

Building passive income requires a strategic approach to investing, asset accumulation, and financial planning. Here are some tailored investment strategies that can help Black households increase wealth and long-term financial stability.

Stock Market Investing (Long-Term Wealth Growth)

Investing in the stock market is one of the best ways to generate passive income through dividends and capital appreciation.

How to Get Started:

✅ Invest in Index Funds & ETFs:

  • Index funds (e.g., S&P 500) and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) offer diversification and long-term growth with minimal risk.
  • Example: Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF (VTI), SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY), or Fidelity Zero Large Cap Index Fund (FNILX).

✅ Dividend Stocks for Passive Income:

  • Some stocks pay dividends, providing consistent cash flow.
  • Examples: Johnson & Johnson (JNJ), Coca-Cola (KO), Procter & Gamble (PG).
  • Consider Dividend ETFs like Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF (VIG).

✅ Start Small & Use Fractional Shares:

  • Apps like Robinhood, M1 Finance, and Fidelity allow investing with as little as $5.
  • Investing in fractional shares lets you own expensive stocks (e.g., Amazon, Apple) without needing full stock prices.

✅ Retirement Accounts for Tax Advantages:

  • 401(k) or 403(b) Plans (if employer-sponsored) – Max out contributions, especially if there’s an employer match.
  • Roth IRA or Traditional IRA – Tax-free or tax-deferred investment growth.

Real Estate Investing (Building Generational Wealth)

Real estate is a powerful way to create passive income and build long-term wealth.

Ways to Invest in Real Estate:

🏡 Rental Properties (Buy & Hold Strategy):

  • Purchase properties in high-growth areas and rent them out.
  • House-hacking: Buy a duplex, live in one unit, and rent the other to cover your mortgage.

🏘 Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) (For Hands-Off Investing):

  • REITs allow you to invest in real estate without owning property.
  • They pay out dividends and grow in value over time.
  • Examples: Vanguard Real Estate ETF (VNQ), Realty Income Corp (O).

🏗 Short-Term Rentals (Airbnb, VRBO):

  • Renting out a portion of your home or a property on Airbnb can generate passive income.

🏠 Crowdfunded Real Estate:

  • Platforms like Fundrise, Roofstock, and RealtyMogul let you invest in real estate with as little as $500.

Entrepreneurship & Online Business (Creating Scalable Income)

Starting a business can provide long-term passive income if structured correctly.

Low-Cost Online Business Ideas:

💻 Create Digital Products (eBooks, Courses, Templates):

  • Platforms like Gumroad, Teachable, and Udemy allow you to sell digital products with no inventory costs.

🎙 Monetize Content (YouTube, Blogging, Podcasting):

  • Ad revenue, affiliate marketing, and sponsorships can generate passive income over time.
  • Example: Start a finance blog, career coaching YouTube channel, or real estate investing podcast.

📈 Affiliate Marketing & Dropshipping:

  • Promote other brands’ products and earn commissions without handling inventory.
  • Use platforms like Amazon Associates, Shopify, and ClickBank.

Passive Income from Bonds & Fixed-Income Investments

Bonds provide steady income with lower risk than stocks.

Best Bond Investments:

📜 U.S. Treasury Bonds & I Bonds:

  • Safe and backed by the government.
  • I Bonds protect against inflation and currently offer high-interest rates.

🏦 Corporate Bonds & Municipal Bonds:

  • Corporate bonds pay higher interest but carry slightly more risk.
  • Municipal bonds offer tax-free income and are great for long-term wealth preservation.

📊 Bond ETFs for Diversification:

  • Example: Vanguard Total Bond Market ETF (BND).

Community & Group Investing (Building Wealth Collectively)

Pooling resources can help overcome capital barriers in investing.

How to Invest as a Group:

👥 Investment Clubs & Stock Groups:

  • Join or create an investment group to collectively buy stocks or real estate.
  • Apps like Public and M1 Finance allow social investing.

🏡 Real Estate Syndication & Co-ops:

  • Partner with others to invest in properties together.
  • Example: Several families invest in an apartment complex and split the rental income.

🌍 Peer-to-Peer Lending (P2P):

  • Platforms like LendingClub allow investing in loans for passive interest income.

Leveraging Technology & Automation for Passive Income

📲 Set Up Automated Investing:

  • Use Robo-Advisors (Wealthfront, Betterment) for hands-off investing.
  • Set up automatic dividend reinvestments (DRIP) to grow wealth faster.

📱 Passive Income Apps:

  • Honeygain & Nielsen Rewards: Earn passive income by sharing internet bandwidth.

📈 Side Hustles with Passive Potential:

  • Print-on-Demand (Etsy, Redbubble)
  • Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP)

Final Takeaways: Actionable Steps

🔹 Step 1: Open a brokerage account (Fidelity, Vanguard, or Charles Schwab) and start investing in stocks, ETFs, or REITs.
🔹 Step 2: If possible, buy a rental property or start with REITs for real estate exposure.
🔹 Step 3: Automate savings & investments through 401(k), Roth IRA, or Robo-advisors.
🔹 Step 4: Explore low-risk passive businesses.
🔹 Step 5: Consider group investing with family or community investment clubs.

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It’s Complicated: The 2019-2020 HBCU Graduate Student Loan Debt Report

Posted on April 25, 2025 by | Leave a comment
Chart: Where U.S. Student Debt Is Highest & Lowest | Statista

The most recent student loan data is an extremely hard gauge to use given its lag time. This data is the latest data available by ICAS, but also is pre-COVID and pre-George Floyd. The latter in that situation potentially produced a significant increase in student loan debt by students as many sought to help themselves and their families through financial aid refunds. COVID exposed African America’s acute financial fragility through poor health insurance, jobs with high exposure to COVID risk, and more. To the latter, in the post-George Floyd that also occurred where hundreds of millions poured into HBCU coffers led by MacKenzie Scott in levels never seen before and COVID relief funding through the CARES Act to colleges and universities witnessed HBCUs providing an immense amount of financial relief to its students to try and stem the debt tide.

HBCU graduates actually have some good news in that their median debt dropped approximately 8 percent from our last report while their PWI counterparts at major endowed institutions remained virtually unchanged. The bad news is that the percentage of HBCU graduates with debt remains unchanged while their PWI counterparts at major endowed institutions graduating with debt dropped almost 20 percent. This expands the gap of HBCU/PWI students graduating with debt from a previous 46 percentage points difference to now 52 percentage points in this latest report.

Numbers in parentheses shows the comparative results from the universities of the 30 largest endowments:

Median Total Debt of HBCU Graduates – $31,422 ($24,479)

Proportion of HBCU Graduates with debt – 85% (33%)

Median Private Debt of HBCU Graduates – $17,386 ($44,622)

Proportion of HBCU Graduates with private debt – 7% (5%)

Source: The Institute for College Access & Success

Looking at the numbers even further shows that HBCU Graduates debt is almost 30 percent higher than their PWI major endowed counterparts. This despite HBCUs being significantly cheaper, HBCU Graduates suffer from a student body that acutely comes from families that lack family assets and stability to assist. It is highlighted in the private debt component where PWI counterparts have significantly higher amounts of private debt. Potentially speaking to the borrowing power of those PWI families beyond federal financial aid.

It may be a few years before updated data from within the COVID era is available, but basic extrapolation suggest that even with the donations received after George Floyd and the CARES Act that HBCUs simply still lack the endowments to make up for the acute lack of African American household wealth combined with less than 10 percent of African Americans choosing HBCUs. The latter means that HBCUs operate with smaller alumni pools. These smaller pools means a smaller nominal giving of the alumni who do give and a significantly smaller probability that the HBCU can create a percentage of alumni who go onto become wealthy donors.

In the end, HBCU alumni who care about this must make available scholarship to a wider net of HBCU students while in school. Focusing on creating scholarship that is available to every student who is academically eligible and giving less emphasis to GPA. The large majority of any HBCU graduation class has GPAs between 2.0 and 3.0 and are the ones most likely to be left out of having any ability to decrease their student loan burdens making them almost never to be in a position to become donors.

By expanding eligibility requirements, scholarships can provide financial relief to those who need it most—students who are often balancing academics with work, family responsibilities, and other challenges. Many of these students demonstrate resilience, dedication, and a commitment to completing their education, yet traditional scholarship models disproportionately favor high achievers with GPAs above 3.5. While academic excellence should be celebrated, financial aid should not solely be reserved for the top percentage of students.

A broader approach to scholarships will help create a stronger alumni network in the long run, as more graduates will leave school with reduced debt, making them more likely to support their alma mater financially and contribute to future scholarship funds.

Previous HBCU Graduate Student Loan Reports

The 2016-2017 HBCU Graduate Student Loan Report

Good News/Bad News: Percentage Of HBCU Graduates With Debt Drops But Debt Loads Increase

90 Percent of HBCU Graduates Have Student Loan Debt


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