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The US consumer goods manufacturer Kellogg Company (NYSE:K) was founded in 1906 and currently has 31,000 employees. The company is engaged in both the manufacturing and marketing of snacks and convenience foods. The brands sold by the consumer goods manufacturer include Pringles, Kellogg's and Cheez-It, to name just a few. I have presented my investment thesis as follows:

Kellogg is a company from the non-cyclical consumer goods industry. This industry is characterized by the fact that companies are able to generate relatively stable revenue and profits over time. Products from the consumer goods industry are consistently in demand even during economically difficult times. Another characteristic of this industry is the strong competition and relatively limited growth prospects for most companies from the sector. The Economist Intelligence Unit expects growth in retail volumes worldwide to slow to 3.3% in 2022.

However, investors who are long-term oriented and who primarily focus on dividend income, as well as investors who are looking for attractive investments to reduce the volatility of their investment portfolio, can find attractive companies in this industry. One of which is the Kellogg Company, which I will analyze in more detail in this article.

The products of Kellogg are manufactured in 21 countries and their products are marketed in more than 180 countries across the world. Kellogg's products are sold to retailers via direct sales in order to be resold to consumers.

Kellogg distinguishes among the following business units: snacks, cereals, frozen as well as noodles and other. In the business unit of snacks, Kellogg generated a revenue of $6.807 billion in 2021. This is 48% of its total revenue in 2021 and makes snacks the most important business unit in terms of revenue. In the business unit cereal, Kellogg generated a revenue of $5.123 billion, which at 36% of their total revenue is the second most important business unit. The business unit of frozen (8% of the total revenue) as well as the business unit noodles and other (also 8% of the total revenue) account for a smaller proportion of Kellogg's total revenue.

The revenue of the business unit snacks increased from $6.281 billion in 2020 to $6.807 billion in 2021. This corresponds to a rise of 8.4%. In contrast, revenue of the business unit cereals decreased from $5.433 billion in 2020 to $5.123 billion in 2021, corresponding to a decline of 5.7%. The frozen business unit shows a decrease of 2.9% and the noodles and other business unit increased by 24.8%.

The fact that Kellogg's second most important business unit of cereals suffered a revenue decrease in 2021 in comparison to 2020, reflects the growth challenges they are facing and furthermore reflects characteristics of the low growing business environment, in which the company is operating.

Kellogg's consolidated net sales increased from $13.770 billion in 2020 to $14.181 billion in 2021. This is a rise of about 3%. In the same period, Kellogg's EBIT decreased from $1,782 billion to $1,680 billion, resulting in a decrease of 5.7%. The decline in Kellogg's EBIT in 2021 in comparison to 2020, can be interpreted as another indicator of their current growth difficulties.

Kellogg's average revenue growth of the past five years has been 1.4% per year. This low revenue growth is further evidence that Kellogg operates in a challenging business segment.

For a more detailed analysis, I will look at the results from each of the geographic markets in which Kellogg operates. The company differentiates between North America, Europe, Latin America and AMEA (Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa).

In North America, net sales decreased from $8,361 billion in 2020 to $8,174 billion in 2021. This is a decline of 2.2%. In Europe, net sales increased from $2,232 billion in 2020 to $2,397 billion in 2021, resulting in a rise of 7.4%. In Latin America net sales went up from $914 billion in 2020 to $997 billion in 2021, which means a growth in net sales of 9.1%. In AMEA, net sales saw an increase from $2,263 billion in 2020 to $2,613 billion in 2021, resulting in a gain of 15.5%.

With a 57.6% share of total revenue, North America is the most important market for Kellogg, followed by AMEA (18.4%), Europe (17%) and Latin America (7%). The fact that North America revenue decreased in 2021 compared to 2020, is a further indicator of the difficulties Kellogg face in expanding their business.

Due to the high and relatively stable earnings that Kellogg generates year over year, the company is able to spend a substantial proportion of its earnings on the research and development of new products as well as in the marketing of its existing products. In 2021, Kellogg spent $134 million on research and development and $790 million on advertising. Those spendings make it more difficult for potential competitors to enter into the already highly competitive consumer goods market.

Furthermore, Kellogg has managed to build brands and to create a product distribution network during its more than 100 years of history as a company. Furthermore, they have been able to build economies of scale that help the company to stand out against their competitors. With Pringles, Kellogg owns a strong consumer brand that the company acquired from Procter & Gamble (PG) back in 2012. With the brands Kellogg's and Cheez-It, the company has a number of important brands in its product portfolio that consumers have been familiar with for decades.

The fact that Kellogg has already existed for more than 100 years, shows us that the company has been able to adapt to different consumer preferences over time. Therefore, I expect the company to respond successfully to changes in consumer preferences in the future.

I believe that the competitive advantages listed above will ensure that Kellogg will continue to be able to generate stable profits in the future. Due to the company's proven ability to generate high profits even in economically challenging times, I assume that Kellogg's stock will continue to be less volatile than the broader stock market. For this reason, I assume, that you will be able to reduce the volatility of your investment portfolio by investing in Kellogg.

It has previously been shown that Kellogg recorded its largest revenue increase in the AMEA region, with a rise in net sales of 15.5%, followed by Latin America with a growth of 9% in 2021 compared to 2020.

Due to the fact that populations are growing faster in countries of the AMEA region as well as in Latin America, compared to North America and Europe, I expect that these regions will continue to offer Kellogg's the highest growth prospects in the future.

In my view, the cereals business unit will continue to offer very limited growth opportunities. This is due to the fact that people usually only have breakfast once a day. Only in the AMEA and Latin America region I do see some growth potential for this business unit due to the growing population as well as the growing middle class of its countries. I assume that the business unit of snacks will continue to offer higher growth prospects in comparison to the cereals business unit.

Due to the fact that Kellogg has only grown its revenue by 1.4% on average per year in the last 5 years and the ongoing limited growth opportunities, I expect that they will continue to grow at low growth rates in the future.

However, although growing at low growth rates, I believe that Kellogg's high and relatively stable profits continue to contribute to the fact that the company's stock will be less volatile than that of the broader stock market.

In terms of valuation, I have used the EPS Multiplier Method to determine the intrinsic value of Kellogg. The method calculates a fair value of $50.25 for the company. At the current share price, this results in a downside of 26.6%.

In the next sections, I will explain the assumptions of my calculation:

The Seeking Alpha EPS Diluted Growth (FWD) rate of Kellogg is 2.5%. Therefore, I assume an EPS growth rate of 3% for the company over the next 20 years. I have used Kellogg's current discount rate (WACC) of 4.85% to calculate a fair value.

My calculations are based on the following information as presented below:

Company Ticker

K

EPS

$4.36

Discount Rate

4.85%

Growth Rate for the Next 20 Years

3%

Current Stock Price

$68.42

PE Ratio

15.69

Based on the above assumption, I calculated the following results:

Intrinsic Value

$50.25

Current Stock Price

$68.42

Margin of Safety

-36.20%

Upside/Downside

-26.60%

Source: The Author

Kellogg's P/E Ratio is currently 16.61 while their average P/E Ratio of the last 5 years is 17.02. The comparison shows us that the current P/E Ratio of Kellogg's is 2.42% lower than its average P/E Ratio from the last five years. This indicator suggests that the company is currently slightly undervalued.

When comparing Kellogg's P/E Ratio of 16.61 with the sector medium of 20.58, it provides us with another indicator suggesting that Kellogg is currently undervalued. The current P/E Ratio is 19.29% below the sector medium.

Kellogg

PepsiCo

Kraft-Heinz

Nestle

Danone

Market Cap

22.95B

235.73B

51.64B

352.71B

36.23B

Revenue

14.18B

79.47B

26.04B

95.88B

27.64B

Revenue Growth 5 Year (CAGR)

1.81%

4.82%

-0.20%

-0.52%

2.04%

EBIT Margin

14.26%

14.85%

21.01%

17.04%

13.74%

P/E GAAP (FWD)

16.61

25.39

16.28

26.96

16.92

Dividend Yield (FWD)

3.40%

2.49%

3.75%

2.37%

4.11%

Dividend Payout Ratio

55.40%

67.96%

54.42%

45.38%

65.99%

Dividend Growth 5 Yr (CAGR)

2.41%

Link:
Kellogg: A Stock To Reduce The Volatility Of Your Investment Portfolio - Seeking Alpha

BRENTWOOD, Tenn. & DENVER--(BUSINESS WIRE)--LifePoint Health and Specialist TeleMed (STeM) have announced that an affiliate of LifePoint Health will lead an investment in STeM. STeM, a leading multi-specialty telemedicine provider for hospitals, clinics and remote locations worldwide, will continue to serve its existing client base of healthcare organizations and further expand its footprint, including within the LifePoint network.

The transaction is part of LifePoints enterprise strategy for driving innovation called LifePoint Forward. Through the LifePoint Forward strategy, the company is pursuing opportunities to partner, build or buy technology and solutions that support its objectives of improving quality, access and patient outcomes and experience for those it serves.

LifePoint Health is committed to leveraging technology and innovative solutions to address the specific health needs of our communities, eliminate barriers and deliver on our promise to provide quality care for patients close to home, said David Dill, chairman and chief executive officer (CEO) of LifePoint Health. We recognize how important it is to align with strong organizations, such as STeM, that can help us achieve this shared objective faster and more effectively. Aligning with STeM is yet another demonstration of how we are Making Communities Healthier and building a model for community-based healthcare delivery through diversified services that aim to best serve patients, clinicians and providers across the healthcare continuum.

Based in Denver, Colorado, STeM is a physician-led company offering more than 24 inpatient and outpatient specialties for virtual care consultations. STeM currently partners with healthcare provider organizations nationwide to provide telemedicine solutions 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.

We are excited to align with LifePoint Health, a strong health system that will help us continue to build upon our recent growth in partnerships and enhance our capabilities to deliver high quality, integrated and patient-centered care to healthcare organizations across the country, said Alexander Mason, MD, FAANS, CEO of STeM. With LifePoints support, we will have new opportunities to accelerate our growth and further strengthen our robust pipeline of clients. We share LifePoints commitment to putting patients first and taking an innovative approach to transforming the delivery of care, and we look forward to advancing this work together.

Led by Dr. Mason, a practicing neurosurgeon, STeMs existing leadership team will continue to lead the organization forward following the close of the transaction, which is anticipated to occur in the coming months.

About LifePoint Health

LifePoint Health is a leading healthcare provider that serves patients, clinicians, communities and partner organizations across the healthcare continuum. Driven by a mission of Making Communities Healthier, the company has a growing diversified healthcare delivery network comprised of more than 50,000 dedicated employees, 65 community hospital campuses, more than 30 rehabilitation and behavioral health hospitals and 170 additional sites of care, including managed acute rehabilitation units, outpatient centers and post-acute care facilities. Through its innovation strategy, LifePoint Forward, the company is developing meaningful solutions to enhance quality, increase access to care, and improve value across the LifePoint footprint and communities across the country. For more information, visit http://www.lifepointhealth.net.

About Specialist TeleMed (STeM)

Specialist TeleMeds vision is to provide access to the highest-quality, value-based healthcare for patients within their communities. For more information, visit specialisttelemed.com.

Read the original post:
LifePoint Health to Lead Investment in Specialist TeleMed - Business Wire

Investment apps have made investing more accessible to people by not requiring minimum deposits or charging steep commission fees.Yet, with so many apps offering similar features, choosing the best investment app for your strategy and goals can really be a tough decision to make.

The best investment apps not only let you keep track of your holdings from anywhere, but offer access to a variety of investment options. They feature advanced research tools and charting so you can analyze performance and place orders right away. They also provide educational resources to help newbies develop a strategy and get started.

Read on to learn more about investment apps, and find out which are the top picks, according to our research.

HIGHLIGHTS

Why we chose it: Webull is our choice for beginners and active traders because it offers extended market hours, advanced charting and enough educational resources.

Webull is a trading app that offers commission-free stocks, ETFs and options, with no minimum deposits. Additionally, it supports IRAs and allows investing in crypto and some foreign companies (ADRs).

Although Webulls research tools and charts can seem overwhelming at first, we believe its a great choice for beginners who dont mind taking some time to learn. It has a learning center full of video explainers and how-tos, alongside a training camp that can be customized based on your investing experience. In addition, it offers a trading simulator, where beginners can learn and practice how to trade using paper (or virtual) money.

Active traders can benefit from Webulls advanced charting and real-time data to place orders and do market research. Another great perk is that it offers access to extended market hours, so you can trade before and after the market closes from 4:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. ET, and 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Do note, Webull has a $5 minimum for fractional share orders. This might be a drawback for some traders, considering apps like Robinhood let you buy shares for just $1.

HIGHLIGHTS

Why we chose it: We chose Acorns as the best app for micro-investing because it can automatically invest spare change from your purchases.

Acorns is popularly known for making investing a no-brainer. The mobile app can be configured in less than 15 minutes. You just need to create an account, link a debit or credit card or add some funds using a checking or savings account.

Based on your financial information, Acorns recommends one of its five portfolios. These are designed considering risk tolerance, and range anywhere from conservative to aggressive. You can also change the portfolio at any time, if you want to undertake more or less risk.

Acorns stands out for making it easy to set money aside for investing it rounds purchase transactions up to the nearest dollar, so you can invest spare change automatically. In addition, the app offers a rewards program that invests cash back from your purchase when you shop from specific brands within the app. Some featured brands include Apple, Walmart, Uber, Nike and Chewy.

Although the app recommends making round-ups automatic, it can be done manually too. This gives you more control over the transactions you want to round up. If you want to invest more money, you can customize it to multiply that amount by two, three or ten times, or schedule one-time or monthly deposits from a checking account.

Acorns main drawback is that it charges a monthly subscription of $3 or $5, depending on the tier you choose. Although it may not sound like much at first, a flat fee structure like Acorns can add up in the long term and even exceed your returns, especially if youre just investing small amounts. Another thing to keep in mind is that Acorns doesnt make an instant deposit of your round-ups, rather it waits until youve accumulated $5.

HIGHLIGHTS

Why we chose it: Betterment is our choice for best robo-advisor because its algorithm lets users know how much they need to save to meet their goals and offers a tax coordination feature.

Betterment is a robo-advisor investment app and as such it automatically designs diversified portfolios based on your investment goals. Robo-advisors like Betterment and Acorns are different from trading apps like Webull because they dont let you choose the type of securities you invest in, rather they offer ready-made portfolios.

Unlike Acorns, Betterment doesnt charge a monthly fee. Instead it charges an annual management fee of 0.25% or 0.40%, depending on your account balance. This fee structure can be more cost-effective than a flat monthly subscription, especially if youre investing small amounts of money.

We liked that Betterment automatically calculates how much you need to save to reach your goals within a specific time period. You can also create multiple investment accounts for different goals. For instance, you could create a general investing account, a retirement account and education savings with different target dates, and the app would let you know how much you have to set apart for each in order to reach your goal amount.

Compared to Acorns, Betterments set-up process is a bit ambiguous and its charts are less intuitive. This may make it difficult to track your portfolios performance.

However, overall, its perks make up for it. For example, Betterments algorithm offers automated tax-saving strategies for all users, including tax loss harvesting. This means that the algorithm looks for opportunities to reduce tax exposure by selling securities that have experienced losses and offsetting gains.

Additionally, Betterment offers support from Certified Financial Planner professionals for all users, for an additional fee. (This service is included for no extra charge with the Premium account, which requires a minimum balance of $100,000.)

HIGHLIGHTS

Why we chose it: Public is our pick for best investment app for investing in community because it features a social platform that lets you connect with other investors using the app.

Public is another commission-free investment app that offers access to stocks, ETFs and crypto. What sets it apart from others are its social features, which let you connect and share insight with other traders and financial advisors.

Publics community feed is like Twitter for investors. In it you can keep up with trending news and topics, see what other members are investing in and post your recent buys and sells. You can also create group chats with people youre following and participate in virtual events within the app.

Public offers access to about 900 stock and ETFs, and over 25 different crypto coins and tokens, including Bitcoin, Dogecoin, Shiba Inu and Avalanche. Additionally, it lets you buy fractional shares with a $1 minimum.

Public doesnt require you link a bank account to fund your account, you can simply use a debit card. However, you do need to link a bank in order to withdraw your money.

There are some drawbacks, however. Public doesnt offer access to a wide array of tradable assets for instance, you cant invest in options, mutual funds or bonds. Additionally, even though the app is free at the moment, Public may eventually charge a subscription fee for premium features.

HIGHLIGHTS

Why we chose it: TD Ameritrade is the best investment app for educational tools because it offers a wide range of resources, how-to videos and research tools.

If youre looking for an investment app with tons of educational resources, TD Ameritrade is a great choice. It offers traders two different apps TD Ameritrade Mobile and thinkorswim to meet all types of investors needs. In addition, it features demos, videos and advanced research tools for free.

TD Ameritrade has a wide selection of tradable assets, including options that many competitors dont offer, such as forex, mutual funds and futures. It doesnt charge any commissions for trading stocks, ETFs, options and mutual funds. However, options trades have a $0.65 fee per contract.

Apart from the educational and how-to videos available in TD Ameritrade Mobile, users have access to a wide range of online resources through TD Ameritrades website, including courses, webcasts and articles on investment strategies and analysis.

TDs thinkorswim platform also takes investing to the next level. It provides experienced traders advanced tools to place orders, create watchlists and keep track of preferred stocks. Users can create customizable charts and set time frames for analyzing stock performance and making informed market predictions. Additionally, it lets users run simulations using paper trading, so they can practice their own investment strategies without losing real money.

One thing to note is that TD Ameritrade doesnt offer fractional shares, meaning you can only buy full shares. In addition, despite the various educational resources widely available, TD Ameritrades apps can be overwhelming and difficult to navigate for beginners.

HIGHLIGHTS

Why we chose it: SoFi is our choice for best all-in-one investment app because it offers brokerage accounts, automated investing and some banking products.

SoFi is an online personal finance company that offers loans, banking and self-directed and automated investing all in one place.

SoFi Active Investing doesnt charge management fees or a commission for stocks, fractional shares and ETFs trades. In addition to these securities, users can also trade over 20 cryptocurrencies, including Ethereum, Bitcoin and Dogecoin, though at a 1.25% markup fee on all crypto transactions.

To start investing you just need to link your bank account, and place a stock order of at least $5 or $10 for cryptos. With automated investing, however, you can start with just $1 and set up daily, weekly, bi-weekly or monthly recurring deposits.

Some drawbacks: Although the app features educational resources and charts that may be good enough for beginners, it lacks advanced research tools for more experienced investors. Additionally, the apps selection of tradable securities is somewhat limited compared to competitors.

HIGHLIGHTS

Why we chose it: Charles Schwab is the best investment app for experienced traders because it offers an extensive variety of research tools and access to trade in foreign markets.

Charles Schwab is a full-service brokerage thats a great choice for experienced investors. It offers a variety of investment services and doesnt charge commissions on stocks, ETFs, mutual funds and options.

You can open accounts with no minimum balance and get access to a full range of investment products, including international stocks, annuities and crypto. You can also get access to a dedicated financial consultant if your account has $250,000 or more. In addition, Schwabs platforms (both mobile and online) offer advanced research tools and in-depth charts to analyze trade ideas and opportunities with real-time data.

Aside from self-managed accounts, Schwab offers automated investing with a dedicated expert at no extra charge, although it requires a minimum of $5,000 to get started. A premium robo-advisor service is also available for a one-time fee of $300 and a $30 monthly advisory fee. The premium subscription includes guidance from a Certified Financial Planner, a personalized roadmap and interactive planning tools.

Time in the market beats timing the market.

The brokerage you choose matters. Try Public.com, the investing platform helping people become better investors. See what makes us different.

Offer valid for U.S. residents 18+ and subject to account approval. There may be other fees associated with trading. See Public.com/disclosures/.

Robinhood is a trading app thats popular among beginners. Its game-like design is accessible and user-friendly. Like most apps, Robinhood has no minimums and no fees, offering commision-free trades on stocks, options, crypto, ETFs and IPOs. Despite its popularity, Robinhood has faced strong criticism for restricting users access to securities like GameStop during the latest meme stock swing. The app has also been involved in multiple data breaches in the past, the most recent in 2021. Additionally, it was charged by the Securities and Exchange Commission for misleading customers on how it makes money from order flows.

Fidelity is one of the few major brokerages that allows investors to trade fractional shares. It has no minimum account requirements and doesnt charge commissions on stocks, ETFs and options trades. Its mobile app gives access to a wide selection of securities and robo-investing. Fidelitys robo-advisor is free for accounts under $10,000. However, if the account balance exceeds this amount, the company charges a $3 monthly advisory fee or a 0.35% yearly fee. Additionally, Fidelity doesnt allow investors to trade cryptocurrency nor does it offer access to tax-loss harvesting tools.

E*Trade is a popular online broker that provides traders of all kinds with a large selection of investment securities. Like other online brokerages, E*Trade doesnt set an account minimum for standard accounts and offers commission-free stocks, options and ETFs. It also offers mutual funds with no transaction fees.

Aside from a web platform, E*Trade has two mobile apps E*Trade and Power E*Trade which traders can use to place orders and follow the markets movement. While E*Trade offers managed portfolios, it has a $500 minimum balance and a 0.30% annual advisory fee. Additionally, E*Trade has a higher margin rate than most brokerages and doesnt support cryptocurrency trading.

Like most robo-advisors, Ellevest designs personalized portfolios and automatically manages them based on your long- and short-term investment goals. What sets it apart from other investment tools is that its designed by women and for women (although its an option for anyone and great for beginners).

The Ellevest algorithm considers factors that affect many women such as pay gaps, career breaks and longer average lifespans and recommends initial target amounts depending on specific goals and time horizon.

Ellevest's main drawback, however, is that it only offers two types of investment portfolios, which is considerably limited compared to competitors. Additionally, it charges a monthly subscription fee of $1, $5 or $9, depending on the membership plan.

Our guide on investment apps covers key information on the types of investment apps you can use, how they work, the most common types of stock orders and how much money you should invest. Read on to learn more about investment apps and how to pick the best one for your financial goals.

Investment apps are mobile applications designed to buy and sell stocks and other tradable assets from publicly listed companies through smartphones or tablets.

These apps let users quickly access their holdings, monitor stock market performance and track new investment opportunities. Most offer educational resources and notifications on recent market trends to keep users informed while helping them develop their own investment strategy.

Types of investing apps

Investment apps typically fall in one of three categories:

First, you have to install the app on your device and create an account. Most investment apps require basic personal information like your full name, social security number and address, along with some employment and financial information. You can then choose the type of account: an individual brokerage account, individual retirement account (IRA), college savings or automated investment if the app offers robo-advisor features. Once the account is approved, you can link a bank account, transfer funds and start investing.

Many investment apps feature advanced charts that let you visualize stock price fluctuations and performance over time. Information like latest market news, historical high and lows, trading volume, dividends and price-earning ratio is also broadly available. Some apps may include stock analyst ratings as well.

Another perk is that sometimes investment apps give you a free stock when you first fund your account or when friends you recommend join the app.

Types of stock orders

As with any investment platform, you can place different types of orders on an investment app. If youre new to investing, it might be useful to familiarize yourself with the three most common types of orders and know what each one means.

A market order is an order to buy or sell a stock immediately, at or near the current market price. Investment apps that offer fractional shares will typically let you choose between buying in dollars or in shares.

Buying in dollars means youll buy the dollars equivalent in shares. For instance, if you place a $5 order for buying a stock thats currently priced at $125, you would receive about 0.04 shares.

Buying in shares, on the other hand, means that you want to buy a specific number of shares at the current price. Continuing with the previous example, if you wanted to buy two shares from the same company, then you would have to place an order for two shares at $125 each and pay a total price of $250.

A limit order is an order for a particular stock at a specified price. Note that a limit order is placed only when the desired stock reaches the price of your choosing, otherwise known as the limit price. For example, lets say you want to buy shares of a renowned company thats currently trading at $75, but you want to buy it at $74.90. You could place a limit order for this amount. Your order would then be executed only if the price of the stock ever reaches the limit price (or lower).

A stop-loss order is an order to sell or buy stocks thats triggered when a specified stock price is met. Stop-loss orders are designed to help reduce potential losses. For instance, you could set up a stop-loss order to limit the loss of a $125 stock to 10%. In this case, if the stocks price dropped by 10%, the stop order would be automatically triggered, reducing the risk of further losses.

While most financial experts recommend dedicating between 5% to 20% of your paycheck to savings and investing, it will all depend on your financial situation, goals and how much you can actually set aside for investing without compromising other responsibilities. For instance, if youre currently paying multiple credit cards and loans, it would be best to temporarily allocate more money towards paying off those debts first.

The good thing about investment apps, however, is that most dont have minimum requirements on how much money you need to start investing. This means that you can literally start investing with as little as $1. While this may sound like too small of an investment, keep in mind that you can keep adding to your account and investing regularly, so you can build wealth over time.

If youre new to investing or aren't sure where to start, a financial advisor can help you set up a plan and identify the best investment opportunities for your objectives. We also recommend checking out our guides on how to invest and how to buy stocks.

Not all investment apps give access to the same securities and financial products, which is why your experience and financial goals may play a key role in determining whether a particular investing app offers the features you need. When looking for the best investment app for you, keep the following factors in mind:

Consider your investment experience

Your experience and the type of investor you are (or want to be) are two important factors when choosing the best investment app for you.

Beginners and passive investors may benefit from a good robo-advisor, which generally offers straightforward app design and automated investing and portfolio management. But those who want to learn and have more control over the type of investments they can make, should look for investing apps that let them place their own trades and that feature a variety of educational tools and resources, including simulators to practice trades.

More experienced and active traders, however, may prefer apps with access to a wider selection of financial products and advanced trading tools to execute more complex strategies.

Assess your financial goals

Are you investing to save for retirement? For a short-term goal like buying a home? Or do you want to do it as a hobby, or even become a professional trader over time? Knowing the answer to these and similar questions may give you a clearer picture of what type of investment app to choose.

Remember that investing apps offer a wide array of investment options. These include stocks, bonds, ETFs, options and cryptocurrency. Before choosing an app, make sure it offers the type of investments you want to buy at the lowest possible cost.

If its only crypto youre investing in, consider getting a crypto exchange instead. While some investment apps let you buy popular digital currencies like Bitcoin, their offering is oftentimes limited. However, the best crypto exchanges not only let you trade and convert different cryptocurrencies, but offer competitive prices and comprehensive features.

Verify the app fees

Although most investment apps offer low costs or commission-free trading, there are some apps that charge annual management fees or monthly subscription fees that, when added up, can end up taking more than what they give you in return.

One important factor to keep in mind when evaluating investing apps fees is the expense ratio. This ratio determines the percentage of your investment that goes toward paying annual fees. It divides the total annual fee by the total amount invested.

Let's compare Acorns and Betterment fee structure, as an example.

Acorns has plans that cost $3 and $5 a month. If you were to choose its $3 monthly subscription and only invest $100 in a year, you would pay a flat rate of $36 a year, the equivalent to a 36% expense ratio. This means that 36% of your investment would go towards paying management fees. If you were to invest the same $100 using Betterment, which charges a 0.25% annual fee for the total asset balance of your account, you would pay roughly $0.25.

Depending on your investment, asset-based pricing, like Betterments, may be more cost-effective than paying a flat monthly fee, especially if youre planning to invest small amounts of money. On the other hand, if youre investing a greater amount of money, a flat fee structure may be more convenient than asset-based pricing.

Check the brokers background

Investment apps should be trustworthy, and take an active role in protecting your money.

Most trustworthy investing apps are transparent about their fee structure, and are registered with regulatory agencies like the Securities Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), which ensure brokerages abide by certain fiduciary regulations.

Additionally, investing apps should be insured by the Securities Investor Protection Corporation (SIPC), a private nonprofit organization that protects investors against the loss of securities and cash in case of the brokerage firms insolvency.

If background information is not easily available in the apps or their websites, you can do a search using tools like FINRAs BrokerCheck and the SECs Investment Adviser Public Disclosure websites.

What is the best investment app for beginners?

Robo-advisors are generally a great option for beginners. Apps like Acorns and Betterment, use algorithms that can automatically build and manage portfolios for you based on financial information and goals.

However, if you want to choose your own investments and actively buy individual stocks, ETFs and other trading opportunities, there are investment apps (such as Webull) that offer interactive and intuitive interfaces.

Originally posted here:
7 Best Investment Apps of 2022 - Money

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GEM Supply Co., is hiring Sales Rockstars in Sarasota, Tampa, Jacksonville, Gainesville, Ocala and Orlando. As a Sales Professional you will report directly and work closely with the Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing.

Are you excited to do the following?

Creating a sales plan and proactively experimenting to improve execution

Monitoring your progress in real-time and analyzing data

Constantly improve your sales process through sales training

Keeping an active watch over (and involvement in) many key accounts

If the answer was yes to all the questions above, join our team as we continue to build market share and relationships with current and new clients.

Requirements

Do you have passion, integrity and a positive attitude?

Do you love to be coached, communicated with and motivated?

If all the above sounds like you, please apply to join the team today!

Apply at: bzagers@gemsupply.net

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Join the Fasted Growing Sales Team in Florida - Cleaning Industry Job Post - CleanLink

Walmart said Thursday it is raising pay for long-haul truck drivers and launching a new program to train the next generation, as it seeks the staffing it relies on to replenish store shelves and warehouses across the country.

The retailer said truck drivers will now make between $95,000 and $110,000 in their first year with Walmart. The company did not provide the current salary range for a new truck driver at Walmart, but said they have made an average of $87,500 in their first year.

Walmart has also started a 12-week program in Sanger, Texas, and in Dover, Delaware, where people can earn a commercial driver's license and join Walmart's fleet. It will cover the cost of earning a license, which can run between $4,000 and $5,000, said company spokeswoman Anne Hatfield.

A Walmart truck departs the company's distribution center in Washington, Utah.

Bloomberg | Bloomberg | Getty Images

The program will initially be open to only supply chain associates who are near the two training locations, Hatfield said. In the future, she said all Walmart employees will be able to apply for the program. She said the company hopes to train between 400 and 800 new drivers this year.

Walmart, the country's largest private employer with 1.6 million workers, is ramping up recruiting efforts for truck drivers as the growth of e-commerce changes its business and complicates its supply chain. It is also a tight market for trucking labor.

The shortage of truck drivers in the U.S. hit an all-time high of more than 80,000 workers last year, according to the American Trucking Associations trade group. The lack of workers has stemmed from several factors, according to the trade group, including the grueling hours of long-haul trips, the older average age of current drivers and the small number of women in the industry. The Covid pandemic exacerbated the shortage, it said, as some truck drivers left the industry and fewer people went through training programs.

Walmart posted about the pay bump and training program Thursday morning on its corporate website. It has about 12,000 truck drivers in its workforce. The company hired 4,500 truck drivers in 2021, a larger number than any time in its history, a spokeswoman said.

During the pandemic, more of Walmart's sales have shifted online as people got groceries delivered to the home or retrieved online orders by curbside pickup. U.S. e-commerce sales rose 11% in the last full fiscal year, ended Jan. 31. They jumped 90% on a two-year basis.

For Walmart and other retailers, soaring online sales have shaken up the cadence of business and prompted a race to deliver packages quickly and keep items in stock at stores.

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Walmart says it is raising truckers' pay and starting a training program as it grapples with a driver shortage - CNBC

If you are one of the many print businesses that are cruising past their 2019 revenue numbers, you can stop reading here. Just keep doing what youve been doing. If you are not one of those businesses, maybe you should look at the effectiveness of your marketing and sales efforts. Marketing support is more than delivering a great product brochure. Your marketing initiative needs to communicate your brand, tell prospects why they should work with your firm, and work with your sales team in their business development efforts.

Not to over simplify this but, I see companies working to create a clear, executable marketing plan that identifies what their best customers look like, why they buy from them, and how they can attract others that look like them. Your sales team can then jump in with the folks that raise their hand and work the sales process to help win the business.

For most buyers, it starts with information. In the past, buyers depended on the sales rep to tell them what they needed to know. Now customers do the research for themselves and get information online, from peers, and from social networks.

This can work to your advantage if you embrace the omni channel communication opportunities with customers and prospects and provide them with relevant information that differentiates your business and helps guide their decisions.

Content or informational marketing positions your company as an expert and problem solver. You are recognized as a supplier that continually shares useful information that addresses customers needs. When clients are ready to buy (or make a word-of-mouth referral), they will turn to the company (you) that has already provided them with helpful information.

Personal relationships, quality, and service are important for customer retention, but they arent always the best differentiators when trying to attract new business.

One option is to develop these marketing components for your sales team for each of the vertical markets you identify as viable for your business,

As an industry, theres an opportunity to rethink the role and responsibilities of the sales force. Freelancing is not where it's at any more. Its too unpredictable. Tactical sales training by itselfisnt the answer either, because its really the process that needs to be fixed. Repeatable success is the goal of all business leaders. To execute your go-to-market sales plan, you need a process that will enable you to implement it consistently throughout your team. By the way, this is easier said than done.

Look at the systems around your facility and take note of your production departments. You have procedures and processes in place to ensure and measure success and quality every step of the way. Why not put processes in place for your sales efforts as well? The selling effort can be managed as a process. For example, the steps in a sale include, but are not limited to:

Use what worksover and over print firms have already built business development solutions that continue to pass the test of time, relationships, and competitive bids. Pay special attention to these as you transform your sales model. The goal is to turn them into repeatable processes. To begin:

There should always be a solid business reason (beyond they like me) at the start of a business relationship. No matter how you transform and organize your sales function, you cant (or should not) take people out of the mix. Create a good business reason to work together, and the personal relationship will develop and play a role in maintaining and strengthening an established client connection.

It may seem contradictory to suggest creating a process to develop personal relationships, but personal and business relationships will remain a key ingredient of any sales strategy. Defining relationship-building as a process just makes success easier to repeat. Use the elements of past relationship successes as your market differentiator. You'll need to define, articulate, and package these successes, so they can be communicated to your team and replicated in the marketplace.

This is a process that never ends. While many of these ideas have been around for a while, the challenge is adapting them into practice. There is no excuse. There is a wealth of industry-specific ideas on how to improve your marketing and sales efforts available. The print industry is fortunate to have many excellent sales trainers and coaches who are willing to help your team, so doing nothing is not an option. Keeping and winning new business is hard. Its even harder if youre not sure what it is youre after or if your efforts are scattered.

Please add your thoughts and comments below.

Mike Philie can help validate whats working and what may need to change in your business. Changing the trajectory of a business is difficult to do while simultaneously operating the core competencies. Mike provides strategy and insight to owners and CEOs in the Graphic Communications Industry by providing direct and realistic advice, not being afraid to voice the unpopular opinion and helping leaders navigate change through a common sense and practical approach. Learn more at http://www.philiegroup.com, LinkedIn or email at mphilie@philiegroup.com.

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Winning New Business Lead With Information, Leave With a Problem That Needs to be Solved - Printing Impressions

Austin has captured a steady stream of tech press this past year thanks to companies like Tesla, Oracle and Cloudflare, which all opened either new headquarters or new offices in the city. Each company has big hiring plans, but what they might not have counted on is competing with the citys established tech companies for both top local talent and new arrivals.

The competition is fierce in large part because companies can no longer woo talent simply on the basis of name recognition or promises of a big perks and pay package.

People want career growth, which is why Evan Hangliter chose to join the sales team at MongoDB, whose BDR to CRO program provided him a clear path to a leadership role. Austinites also know that its not just big-name companies hiring in droves or growing like crazy. ESO has doubled in size since 2020, expanded internationally and has plans to hire 200 people in the first half of 2022. Finally, its important to anyone on the job hunt to join a supportive team that welcomes new ideas and greets challenges to the status quo with curiosity, as Jandy Kelley found when she accepted an offer at Brightpearl.

MongoDB, ESO and Brightpearl are all hiring, as are several other local companies with equally ambitious growth goals. We recently spoke with employees at each organization to learn more about what their experience has been like and what sets candidates apart during the recruiting process.

Kevin Embree

Marketing & Business Development

What they do: Skimmers software is designed to make it easier for pool service companies to do business. Its tech gives companies a single platform to manage their customers, place orders for new parts, track work orders and more.

Why did you first apply to join Skimmer, and how has your experience evolved over time since you were a new hire?

I love working on platforms that enable customers to significantly enhance their productivity, professionalism and profitability. I joined Skimmer after researching the booming pool and spa industry, talking to a few of their customers, watching all of their product videos and testing the product myself. Its very sophisticated on the back end but the web UI and apps are intuitive and simple to use.

Since joining, we have significantly increased our brand awareness, doubled our customer count and have become the global leader in software for pool service and repair companies. Ive traveled in the Skimmer Mobile for the past nine months visiting customers and partners and exhibiting at trade shows. Everyone Ive met is friendly, hardworking, professional and energizing. Meeting face-to-face and getting to know the industry, our partners and customers has been a gift, and Im energized and excited about whats next!

We have become the global leader in software for pool service and repair companies.

When youre looking to grow your team, whats a quality that you look for in candidates, and why is it important at Skimmer?

We are looking for energetic and passionate people who want to dig in, learn about our industry and our customers work, and help take Skimmer to the next level.

Stephanie Chang

Director, Global Strategic Accounts & GM of Austin

What they do: Brazes technology analyzes customer data to give brands the ability to create personalized, targeted interactions at scale over SMS, email, apps and more.

Why did you first apply to join your company, and how has your experience evolved over time since you were a new hire?

I joined Braze because of the product and the people. Our sales teams solve problems with confidence because the platform does what we say it will do, and we work alongside genuine and brilliant teammates. During the interview process, I remember candidly sharing my career aspirations with my now-boss, and he not only supported my goals but had a clear vision of how he would help me reach them.

Nearly a year later, I am grateful to report that Braze continues to invest in product and people. Product enhancements are communicated transparently and frequently, with internal surveys collected monthly. We also give our people development opportunities early and often, including mentorship pairings. Everyone gets a Braze buddy to guide them through their first three months, and I still meet with mine!

Many of us don't come from a traditional SaaS background, so curiosity and adaptability prevail in interviews.

When youre looking to grow your team, whats a quality that you look for in candidates, and why is it important at Braze?

When building our teams, we emphasize culture add over culture fit. While we are fiercely committed to our core values, we want to evolve, not just expand! Many of us don't come from a traditional SaaS background, so curiosity and adaptability prevail in interviews. Curiosity allows someone to add knowledge and skills regardless of previous experience, but adaptability is what defines success over time. Mobile and data privacy environments will continue to shift rapidly, so we need to constantly leverage new ways of working with the strengths we already have.

Erin Johnson

Director of Talent Acquisition

What they do: ESO creates software for emergency medical services professionals working in hospitals, fire departments and in state government agencies, enabling them to better share resources and information.

Why did you first apply to join ESO, and how has your experience evolved over time since you were a new hire?

When I first heard about ESOs mission, products and customers, I knew this was a company I wanted to be a part of. As a recruiter, you want to be able to tell candidates about a company you believe in and are passionate about, and thats what Ive found at ESO. I am extremely grateful to have joined ESO when I did, pandemic and all. Our chief medical officer, Dr. Brent Meyers, held weekly town hall meetings, giving us the data on how the pandemic was affecting the world and what we needed to do as a company to best support our customers.

Working for a company that serves emergency services, fire departments and hospitals is an opportunity I didnt know existed but one I am eternally grateful for. Since joining ESO in 2020, we have doubled in size and expanded into Canada. Even with such growth and expansion, our emphasis on the customer and our people has remained the same.

I knew this was a company I wanted to be a part of.

When youre looking to grow your team, whats a quality that you look for in candidates, and why is it important at ESO?

We are looking to hire 200 people in the first half of the year and have some amazing opportunities across our engineering, product, sales, customer experience and marketing departments. Each team has their own unique set of experiences and qualities they look for, but it all comes back to one thing: passion.

This is a key focus in our interviews. We want to know what youre passionate about personally and professionally to better understand who you are. Passion is one of our core values and something we talk about constantly, because it has a way of bringing out the joy in people. Sometimes the work can be hard, but if you have passion then you know it will be worth it in the end.

What they do: BlackLocus is the internal innovation lab of The Home Depot, with its team responsible for creating the back-end business tech that powers the home improvement retail giant.

Why did you first apply to join BlackLocus, and how has your experience evolved over time since you were a new hire?

When I applied for a recruiter position at BlackLocus, I was so intrigued by the idea that it was a startup operating within The Home Depot. Ive spent so much time shopping in Home Depot but never even thought about the technology behind the scenes that drives the business itself. Since joining, I realize we have the best of both worlds: a startup vibe with huge business goals. We are an autonomous innovation lab that delivers the competitive edge for the largest home improvement retailer in the world!

I am surrounded by incredibly intelligent people and get to explore new technologies and methodologies on a daily basis, and we do so in a stable and secure environment. We share the culture and values of Home Depot while maintaining the agility of a small company, pushing the boundaries and offering up creative solutions to big problems. Its a truly unique environment that has contributed to my career growth and development in profound ways.

I realize we have the best of both worlds: a startup vibe with huge business goals.

When youre looking to grow your team, whats a quality that you look for in candidates, and why is it important at BlackLocus?

BlackLocus is growing now more than ever! When we are interviewing new team members, it is important that they are thoughtful, innovative, courageous and intentional. We want to be able to challenge each other; try new things and have discussions with those who may have a different vision or idea. Everybody brings a unique skill set and experience, which creates a wonderful opportunity to learn from your peers! Whether youre talking with someone from our data science, engineering or product team, there is an openness that makes even a non-technical person like myself feel comfortable asking questions or sharing an idea.

Evan Hangliter

Regional Director, Corporate Sales

What they do: MongoDB is a database provider whose cloud services are used by both small startups trying to get their ideas off the ground and enterprise companies looking to modernize their tech orgs.

Why did you first apply to join MongoDB, and how has your experience evolved over time since you were a new hire?

I joined MongoDB for three reasons. First, MongoDBs technology is at the intersection of open source, anything as a service and application development. Five hundred million applications will be developed in the next four years, and each one needs a database. Thats a huge opportunity. Second, when I interviewed I heard about the sales MBA and applying thescience of sales. In my previous role, I was handed accounts, a quota and told to sell. We had training but no execution or accountability. My development stalled and I knew there was more to learn. MongoDB offered structured training, real-time execution and accountability to apply in the sales cycle to realize my fullest potential.

Third and finally, BDR to CRO, MongoDBs sales career growth plan, provides guidance to achieve promotion. I wanted to move into a leadership role, and MongoDB made the path clear. Over one-and-a-half years later, MongoDBs growth has continued to accelerate because of our technology, leadership and people, and there is a night and day difference in my abilities as a sales professional, which led to my promotion to a leadership role. I am passionate about MongoDB because of the impact working here has had on my life.

I am passionate about MongoDB because of the impact working here has had on my life.

When youre looking to grow your team, whats a quality that you look for in candidates, and why is it important at MongoDB?

A growth mindset is key to finding success here. Individuals with a growth mindset lean into the uncomfortable to get to the next level, which means trying to do things better each time, proactively engaging top performers to learn behaviors that drive success and staying humble and knowing there is a lot they can learn. As a growing technology company in a competitive market, we constantly challenge ourselves to go to the next level, and that starts with the individual.

Growing at 56 percent YOY is incredibly exciting and does not happen by accident. Our biggest driver of growth is our people. If we continue to hire the best, provide world-class development and adhere to a strong sales process, we will continue to create opportunities for promotion and scale as an organization. My focus right now is developing future leaders and enterprise sales professionals who will take our company to new heights. Practically, that means individualized development plans, team training, role playing and call reviews, which prepare the people on my team for success and their next role.

Alejandro Moreno-Paz

VP Finance and Administration

What they do: Banyan Waters water management software and services enable businesses to better understand their water use, compare costs from different utility providers, more efficiently use water and more.

Why did you first apply to join Banyan Water, and how has your experience evolved over time since you were a new hire?

What attracted me to Banyan Water was the small, dedicated team; the mission and the ability to work at a company that is using technology and data to save water and do good. We have dealt with many challenges in my over two years here, but through those challenges we have been able to innovate and grow.

We are always looking for candidates who are willing and ready to roll up their sleeves and wear many hats.

When youre looking to grow your team, whats a quality that you look for in candidates, and why is it important at Banyan Water?

We are always looking for candidates who are willing and ready to roll up their sleeves and wear many hats. Disrupting the water and landscaping world is challenging and it requires someone who has a certain level of grit, determination, proactivity and adaptability. I believe that anyone with those characteristics can excel and grow at Banyan Water.

Michael Clews

VP of Account Management and Customer Success

What they do: Flo Recruit builds virtual and in-person recruiting software designed specifically to both help law firms more easily hire new grads and law schools more easily recruit and interview prospective students.

Why did you first apply to join Flo Recruit, and how has your experience evolved over time since you were a new hire?

In February of 2020, Katherine Allen, our CEO, reached out to me to learn more about my experience in account management and how to ensure a company is set up for success from the get-go. Fast forward one and a halfyears later and Katherine and I met once again, but this time about the possibility of me leading Flo Recruits account management team.

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Start Your Job Search Intentionally With These 9 Austin Companies - Built In Austin

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

I startedmy first businessat 19 years old. That business quickly grew to multiple six figures and half a million dollars by year two. Whilethe business modelitself is still an incredibly profitable option for entrepreneurs, that type of business was not aligned with my goals and ideals of entrepreneurship.

I sold that business in 2012 and transitioned into an online-education business model. I wanted to make money with my mind, not my body.

I've been fortunate to have grown this business to the point that it allows us to travel full-time. I'm writing this article to you from Nice, France. My wife and I have spent the last three months in Europeexploring cities, experiencing history, eating delicious foodand all the while growing our business.

Related:How I Got Out of a Funk (and Saved My Business)

In 2021, we changed our business model significantly, which has revolutionized how we spend our time. We decided to stop offering all forms of client work and fulfillment services. We transitioned to a model where we get paid for what we teach.

I've been an entrepreneur for 22 years. I feel like the thing that we don't think about as entrepreneurs is how we want to spend our time. Automatically, the assumption is that you need clients to generate revenue. More specifically, you need to offer client and/or fulfillment services if you're going to make real money.

There is an alternative business model to the client-based model. If you're going to build a business that allows you freedom and financial security, you have to get clear on what type of model aligns with your future goals. Client services are not the only option.

A client-based business means a consumer hires you to do something. You charge a fee, and you deliver the work. That equation does not consider that there are several factors that lead to a successful result.

You can't control every aspect of what creates a result, but when you offer a client-based model, you have to. A lot of the responsibility from a client-based business model falls on the entrepreneur. Does that work for you?

The alternative is an education-only business model. You get paid to teach something, and the implementation and result are the client's responsibility. In other words, you show them how, and they decide if they'll take action.

The education-only business model is more scalable. All of your time is not spent working on projects and delivering work to clients. You sell pre-packaged information online that doesn't require your time to deliver.

You can sell e-books, digital-information products, online master classesand other forms of training online. Offering digital-information training means that you can put it behind a paywall and continue to sell it 24/7. The beauty of this model is that you're not on the hook to fulfill anything. You're selling online training.

Related:How Experts Use Content to Create Brand Authority and Increased Sales

The challenge of client work is that sometimes the entrepreneur cares more about getting results than the person that hired them. In the education-only model, you're giving consumers what they need to get a successful outcome, but they have to want it and take action.

You can supplement training with a private community or offer monthly Q&A if you want to add more value. You could give training and an outlet for consumers to get their questions answered. Buthow they take action and their consistency falls on them, not you.

One of the first questions you're probably asked during discovery calls is if you offer a guarantee. Potential clients love guarantees.

More than a few consumers feel jaded for having been scammed or ripped off. Still, it's important to understand that it's not your responsibility to make up for every other lousy experience a consumer has had. Your goal is to deliver the best possible information and offer real value. But it's not to be the savior of the internet.

Related:Not All Clients Are Good for Business. Here's How to Find the Ones Who Are

Guarantees will have you working longer and harder to fulfill something that may be outside of your control. There are dozens of factors that go intoa successful result. More than likely, you don't control those factors.

The education-only model takes you away from a situation where guarantees are wanted or expected. In the education-only model, you're providing training only.

More than anything, the goal for many entrepreneurs is time, freedom and financial security. We want to wake up and spend our time in the way we want to spend it.

A business model where your primary offer is training means you won't spend all your time on client work. It means you can record content, put it behind a paywalland sell it. Or it means you have classes scheduled for a specific time each month. Once you do the training, your time is yours to do what you want with it.

Service providers often work long, hard hourswhen offering client work. It's not uncommon for a majority of your day to be spent on projects for clients. You have to ask yourself how you want to spend your time.

Related:Adopt These 3 Mindsets and You'll Become an Unstoppable Entrepreneur

We live in the digital information age. Billions of people log onto the internet and social media every single day. When your business is set up as an education-only model, your time can be spent creating content and sales posts that point consumers towards your training.

You can create lifestyle-based or educational content through podcasts, YouTube videosand leveraging other people's audiences. Your time can be spent talking about things that light you up instead of always being on the hunt for projects to fulfill.

A client-based business is not the only option we have today as entrepreneurs. Your experience and knowledge can be valuable training packaged and sold in a semi-passive way to generate revenue. Building an education-only business takes time and a lot of effort, but it's something that can be done and maybe lead to a better balance for you.

Client work may be for you, and that's good. You should always do what makes sense for you. As a fellow entrepreneur, I want to ask you, have you thought about how you want to spend your time?

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The Profitable Alternative to a Client-Based Business - Entrepreneur

A second $1 million donation in two days is helping Augusta Technical College rev up its automotive technology program.

The gift from Columbia, S.C.-based Jim Hudson Automotive Group, will help the school establish an automotive service training center in Augustas Laney-Walker neighborhood later this year. Jim Hudson operates Acura, Infiniti and Lexus dealerships in Augusta.

On Tuesday, Augusta National Golf Club announced its $1 million to Augusta Tech for the program.

The facility is part of a broader expansion of Techs automotive program, following months of discussions with area businesses and employers from area auto dealerships and trucking companies, said Tech President Dr. Jermaine Whirl.

From those talks about employer needs, it really blossomed into a much broader picture and a broader opportunity, he said.

More: Augusta National awards Augusta Tech $1 million to expand automotive training

The $2 million will cover a substantial portion of the cost to build the facility, Whirl said. School officials have identified a piece of property in the Laney-Walker area where the facility will be built, but the specific location has not yet been disclosed.

Current space for the program on the Augusta campus is about 10,000 square feet, which can fit between 75 and 85 students at a time, and the school just needed more room.

The program, when expanded, is expected to accommodate more than 1,200 students annually, from full-time students to dual-enrollment students to people already employed in the industry who want to expand their skill sets, Whirl said.

Areas of study will be expanded to cover other in-demand sectors of vehicle repair such as marine technology and autonomous,or self-driving, vehicles.

The program also will introduce OEM, or original equipment manufacturer training, so aspiring technicians can earn certifications to work on certain makes and models of vehicles. For example, Whirl said, the closest place for a student to train as a General Motors-certified mechanic is in Greenville, S.C.

Offering training here will help keep talent in the area, he said.

When youre exporting talent to another state to get specialization, youre making the assumption that theyre going to come back, Whirl said.

Another feature of the new program will educate students on the business aspect of the automotive industry, for people who want to become sales managers, finance managers or owners of vehicle dealerships.

More announcements on the growing program will emerge over the next few weeks, Whirl said.

"We have several partners who have come to the table who are really interested in this project," he said. "It's really been a community effort outside of just the National and Jim Hudson. I would say all of our automotive friends in the community have really jumped onboard."

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Another $1 million gift helps Augusta Tech's automotive program gain speed - The Augusta Chronicle

CCW permits brought in $72,000, sheriff's sales netted $384,412 in 2021

COSHOCTON Sheriff James Crawford predicts revenue for the Coshocton County Sheriff's Office will go down in 2022 because of legislative changes regarding conceal carry and sheriff's sales.

Crawford recently delivered his annual report to Coshocton County Commissioners that went over financial elements, services performed and other highlights for 2021.

He reported 659 new conceal carry permits issued in 2021 and 570 renewals, up from 353 new permits and 140 renewals in 2020. Licenses brought in more than $72,000 last year, with some of that going to the state.

Crawford credited the big rise to residents being able to get licenses outside of their home counties, which happened during the COVID-19 pandemic. He said several people from urban areas came to Coshocton County for their CCW. That stopped last June with sheriff's offices now only being able to accept outside applications from bordering counties.

While that difference would bring down CCW fees for this year, Crawford guesses they'll go down about 75% due to other legislative changes.

Gov. Mike DeWine recently signed into law Senate Bill 215, known as the Constitutional Carry Bill.It makes concealed handgun licenses optional. Previously, one had to pass a background check and provide proof of eight hours of training before receiving a CCW license. Now anyone who can legally carry a gun can without the previously required training and permit.

Crawford said they've been pushing the importance of still getting a CCW license. This includes the training, ability to carry out of state andbeing able to buy a firearm immediately.

"People are still pursuing the conceal carry permit, but I don't think we'll see the numbers," Crawford said in relation to 2021. "I'm excited for (the change), but from a business standpoint, supplying those permits, it's kind of disappointing."

For sheriff's sales, there were 56 in 2021 with total sale amount of $384,412. Crawford looks for this figure go down by more than halfbased on state changes.Private sellers can now sell homes that would have normally gone to sheriff's sales. Crawford said his office is now only getting about one in five foreclosed properties.

"You'll see a lot of sheriff's sales on the website when you do a search, but you'll see very few we're actually conducting," Crawford said. "It's taken our ability to receive outside revenue for doing our job, what I always felt was our job."

While this drop in revenue is a blow, he doesn't see it having a major effect on the department. The budget is about $5.5 million annually with most of the funding coming from the county and city. The biggest expenditure, 67%, is salaries with benefits taking up another 20%.

Sex Offenders: There are 62 sex offenders who currently register and are tracked. The majority, 33, are Tier II offenders who have to register for 25 years.

Communications: The communications center received more than 34,000 calls in 2021, including 10,449 being via 911. Nearly all calls were answered by the 10second mark with 68% answered within three seconds. Of 911 calls, 2,500 were from landlines and 7,949 via wireless means.

Violent Crimes: Handled for 2021 were three murders, 19 rapes, three robberies and two aggravated assaults.

Property Crimes: Handled for 2021 were 325 larcenies, 38 motor vehicle thefts, 29 burglaries and one arson.

Traffic: There were 775 non-injury crashes and 212 crashes with injury, plus 141 crashes recorded as hit and skip, where parties left the scene. There were 2,967 traffic stops made with 636 citations issues and 100 arrests made for operating a vehicle impaired in 2021.

Miscellaneous: The sheriff's office last year had 83 missing persons cases with 41 being juvenile and 42 being adults. Deputies answered 306 calls for threats, 78 for assaults and 117 for domestic issues.

Leonard Hayhurst is a community content coordinator and general news reporter for the Coshocton Tribune with close to 15 years of local journalism experience and multiple awards from the Ohio Associated Press. He can be reached at 740-295-3417 or llhayhur@coshoctontribune.com. Follow him on Twitter at @llhayhurst.

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Changes to conceal carry, foreclosures impacts sheriff's office - Coshocton Tribune