bowhuis

Visit Our Website

Benchmark Financial Design

Presents Mi Smart Moment

bbowhuis @ mibenchmark.com

cbowhuis@ mibenchmark.com

2358 S. Garden Ct,

Jenison, MI 49428

616.667.8834

Click here to schedule a meeting.

Dear Bernard,,

Do you listen to podcasts?

I have listened to podcasts, or audio blogs as they were first known, off and on over the past couple years. Most often, it was when I could not find a good radio station when driving alone (F.Y.I. - I would be stopped when looking for a podcast, not driving!).

Recently, however, as I walk more to recover from my surgery, I have become a bigger fan of the programs. Currently I am listening to 'History That Doesn't Suck" by professor Greg Jackson. I am only on episode 5 of 185 or so.

Another thing that caught my attention about podcasts was the sheer number that exist. According to podcastatistics.com, there are over 4.52 million podcasts worldwide as of 2025. However, the number of active commercial podcasts is likely much smaller, as many podcasts are either inactive or not monetized through advertising. Podcast Index estimates that roughly 4 million podcasts are active.

In addition, according to Saspod.com:

14,408+ business podcasts are currently active in English-speaking countries.
13,421 business podcasts are active across Europe.
In 2025, the number of new business podcasts in English-speaking countries grew by 34%.
Europe saw a 9.5% increase in new business podcasts this year.
The US experienced the highest growth, with a 44.4% surge in new business podcasts in 2025.

Statistica claims that 160 million Americans listen to podcasts each month.

What really caught my attention is both the educational and entertainment level of the programs. Whether it has been history, business, politics, or entertainment, the quality has increased since the first podcast in in 2003 (The term podcast was first used in February 2004. Both statistics by Guardian.com.).

If you think about the evolution of portable, personal entertainment, we have come a long way from the first portable CD players and MP3 devices. I can even use my smartphone to watch the same TV channels I have at home any place I can get a Wi-Fi signal.

We have explored the idea of a podcast here at our own firm. If we adopt this change we will be sure to let you know and how to fund us. Until then, as always, thanks for reading.

Bernie & Chad

This week's Smart Moments: 6/20/25

STATE OF GIVING - After peaking between 2021 and 2023, global charitable activities (such as donating, volunteering, and helping strangers) declined significantly in 2024. Helping a stranger in need dropped six points from the year before, and monetary donations and volunteerism both dropped four points. Across incomes, regardless of how people felt about their household income, fewer people (particularly, those finding it very difficult to get by) reported making any monetary donations this past year. - Gallup, February 26, 2025

SMALL BUSINESS - Looks like you’re going to have to learn how to spell Mounjaro. About 4% of U.S. adults are taking GLP-1 drugs, and roughly half of that 4% take them specifically for weight loss or obesity (up by almost 600% since 2019). The other half uses GLP-1s for Type-2 diabetes, which is what they were originally meant to treat before the FDA approved semaglutide for weight loss in 2021… a time when celebrities such as Oprah revealed they were using them. - Axios, May 27, 2025

“I feel like everybody's podcasting and nobody's podlistening.”

New Yorker Magazine

Benchmark Financial Design

Investment Advisor Representative of and Securities offered through Founders Financial Securities, LLC. Member FINRA, SIPC and Registered Investment Advisor.