Patricia Roberts is a former college student who had to borrow thousands of dollars in student loans to help her pay for school. But once she became a parent, she didn’t want her daughter to suffer through the same struggle. She used a 529 plan to save and invest money for college tax-free, and her daughter graduated college with zero debt. Along the way, Patricia became an expert in 529 plans and founded a company and platform that helps parents learn about them and make their own 529 investments. Listen to my interview with Patricia to learn more about 529 plans and why they’re such a great option. Listen Now…
college financial planning
THCC Episode 147 – Making Wise College Decisions with the 5|10|20 Outcomes Rule
Parents want to help their kids plan for college, and one of the biggest challenges is helping them make a wise decision. In this podcast episode, I’m joined by Mike Flynn, owner of Engenius Learning, to talk about when it’s best to start preparing your student for college, how much emphasis to put on testing, and how to use his 5|10|20 outcomes rule to balance your investment in college against your long-term outcomes and financial returns. Listen Now…
THCC Episode 146 – Getting Out of College Debt-Free
Most parents and students assume there’s no way to graduate from college debt-free. But Kristina Ellis managed to graduate from college and grad school with zero debt, all thanks to honest conversations with her mom and an early start on scholarship applications and college planning beginning in her freshman year of high school. Hear Kristina’s best advice and recommended resources in the latest episode of the Taming the High Cost of College podcast. Listen Now…
THCC Episode 138 – Will College Pay Off?
Many parents wonder whether college will really pay off and how much a degree will impact their student’s financial future. In my latest podcast, I’m joined by Professor Peter Cappelli of the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania to talk about the real value of college degrees and some misconceptions about what college means for a student’s future. Listen Now…
THCC Episode 121 – Net Price of Colleges: The Real Story
The real cost of college is almost never the price you see on school websites. To know what college will really cost your family, you need to find out the net price of schools based on your income and after all grants and scholarships are subtracted from the price. In this episode, we talk about how net price is calculated and how to find out what the average family in your income bracket has really paid at individual colleges in all 50 U.S. states. Find Out More…
THCC Episode 119 – How to Make College Planning Easier by Working with Consultants
High school counselors often help students as part of the college planning process, but with a ratio of one counselor per 100 students, they’re limited in how much and how often they can help. This is why it’s important for parents to consider working with independent educational consultants. In this episode, we talk about working with consultants to make college planning easier, including how they can help, what you can expect, and why it’s so critical to start planning early. Read More…
