The College Investor Audio Show (The College Investor)

We explore a few 529 studies that compare the performance of each state's 529 plan with a lower-cost, out-of-state plan.

Title IV status means that a school has been accredited by the Department of Education to participate in federal student aid programs.

Businesses need budgets too! We compare the features and pricing of some of our favorite business budgeting systems and tools available today.

Community college isn't as expensive as a university, but isn't completely free. Here are student loan options for community college.

Looking for free college funding is no easy task. However, it's something you should definitely do. Here's how to find college scholarships and grants.

Borrowers with FFELP loans can federally consolidate them or refinance them with private lenders. Here are the pros and cons of both options.

Most people should not refinance their student loans. However, for some niche situations, it can make sense to refinance your student loans.

There are various potential benefits and drawbacks to student loan refinancing. So when you're trying to decide if you should refinance your own student loans, there are multiple factors to consider.

The decision will often heavily depend on the type of loan that you have, whether federal or private. If you have federal loans and are currently taking advantage of one or more federal benefits, you might want to avoid refinancing so that you don't lose them.

But even if you aren't currently utilizing any federal student loan benefits, that doesn't necessarily mean that you should rush to refinance your loans right now. Here's how to decide when you should refinance your student loans and how to get the lowest rate when you do.

Test optional colleges give students the choice of whether or not they want to submit their results from a standardized test like the SAT or ACT. But that doesn't mean you should skip the exams. 

Our list of the best ways to save on your taxes before the end of the year, without losing or wasting money.

Reinvesting dividends is one of the most important aspects of long-term growth of stock market returns. Here's what it is and why it's important.

A survey of parents finds they are increasingly concerned about the impact of inflation and stock market volatility on their college savings.

ESG investing focuses on companies with positive environmental, social, and governance actions. Here are the pros and cons of this strategy.

The ways to invest in real estate include buying rental property, crowd funding a property, flipping houses, renting out rooms, and REITs.

While Quicken is a popular tool, there are so many great ways to manage your money online. Check out these best alternatives to Quicken.

Farmland investing taxes are typically paid on rental income earned from the farm and capital gains if it's sold for a profit. Learn more.

Want to diversify your portfolio beyond stocks, bonds, and cash? These are 8 of the most popular alternatives investments available today.

Demonstrated interest refers to the ways a student indicates interest in a specific school. This includes visiting campuses, reaching out to admissions officers, participating in prospective student events, and even interacting with the school’s online resources.

Let’s face it: the college admissions process is notoriously competitive. Over the past few decades, getting into college has become increasingly difficult, with the average acceptance rate hovering just under 70% across the US.

Gone are the days when admissions officers only looked at a prospective student’s grades and test scores. Now, students face a whole list of factors that schools secretly look for.

Demonstrated interest is on that list. 

Income-Contingent Repayment (ICR) is the oldest income-driven repayment plan and the only one that's available to Parent PLUS Loan borrowers.

Here is a look at some of the weird and odd stock market indicators that traders use to predict the movement of the stock market.

Bad credit can limit your ability to do a lot of things, including purchasing a car, home, getting a credit card, and in some cases, even a job. Being creditworthy certainly has its advantages.

If you don’t have good credit, there are steps you can take to fix it. The process is called credit repair. You can do it by yourself or have someone help you, for a fee of course.

We break down your options here!

Coverdell education savings accounts have a $2,000 annual contribution limit per beneficiary, but there are ways to get around this limit.

We take a quick look at infinite banking, and walk through what it entails and if it makes sense for you based on your financial situation. Hint: it probably doens't.

Master Promissory Notes (MPN) are legally-binding documents that all federal student loan borrowers must sign. Learn why they're important!

In recent years, many colleges and universities have adjusted their campus pet policies to meet the changing needs of students.

Having a pet in college was once a rarity, but pet-friendly campuses are now more common as colleges work to create a more supportive environment for their students.

That said, having a pet as a college student is a big commitment in terms of financial responsibility and time commitment. From explaining common pet policies to reviewing current trends on campuses, we break down the ins and outs of owning a pet as a college student to help you make the most informed decision for you and your pet!

Did you attend a trade school? Here's what you need to know about whether your trade school loans qualify for loan forgiveness.

For those of you in the U.S., you’ve probably never heard of a student maintenance loan — or at least you probably don’t know anyone who has gotten one. That’s because they are not a U.S. student loan product. Maintenance loans are issued by the U.K. government for students attending a university in the U.K.

So how is a maintenance loan different from a tuition loan?

Considering taking out subsidized or unsubsidized student loans? Read this first and know the difference when it comes to Federal Direct loans.

HSA Rollovers can be helpful to move an old HSA account to a new provider, but there are rules you need to follow!

Title loans are high-interest loans that give you one month to repay the loan. Here’s what to know if considering this risky route for cash.

Our TaxAct review for 2021 unveils some new improvements, but the prices still are high for the value you get compared to other programs.

It’s tax refund season, and if you’re anything like the average American, you’re excited to get your hands onto your refund check.

But how are you supposed to cash your tax refund check if you don’t have a bank account? Using a check-cashing outlet can involve expensive fees. Plus, it’s risky to walk around with thousands of dollars in cash in the neighborhoods that are often dangerous.

Want to avoid the excessive fees and keep your cash safe? Here are few ways to get your tax refund when you don’t have a bank account.

With a Dynasty 529 Plan, high net-worth parents can continue to save in the plan even after their kids have graduated. Here's what to know.

There's a high demand for physical jobs worldwide, and many of these jobs can pay exceptionally well. Think of jobs like oil rig worker, underwater welder/construction, working in war zones as a contractor, and more. These jobs can be incredibly demanding, and they aren't for the feint of heart. But if you're willing to work hard, and put in the sweat equity, the financial payoff can be rewarding.

But there is a big downside - too many people in these jobs don't plan for the future. While the money is great, it typically doesn't last. Either you can't do the job anymore, or the jobs in that field dry up. 

So, what can you do? Should you avoid the work? 

If you want to take on a physically demanding job because of the pay - more power to you! But please make sure you plan ahead and understand what you're getting into. Especially avoid the de-railers we discuss further on.

Let's break it down on how you can prepare.

Dividend investing involves investing in stocks that pay dividends. Dividends can be a source of income for investors. They can also indicate solid, growing companies whose stock might constitute a solid investment.

And dividends have been a popular investment strategy for decades — but it can be hard to do the research, know what companies to invest in, or know what products might be worthwhile.

That’s why we’ve partnered with Emperor Investments to help you learn a bit more about dividend investing, and see how their platform makes it easy for you to get started. Check out Emperor Investments here.

Read the full article here.

Borrowers who were defrauded by their colleges may be able to get their federal student loans canceled and payments refunded. Learn how.

If you earn income in multiple states, do you have to file taxes in multiple states as well? The answer isn't easy, but here's a guide.

We put together our list of the ten best gift ideas for high school or college graduates this year - so find your ideas now!

A guaranteed return on investment is a fixed rate of return you can count on. But there are downsides to chasing investment guarantees. Find out more. 

A common question we see every year is "can you take out more student loan debt than you need?" It sounds crazy, but some people want to take advantage of the low fixed costs and loan forgiveness options than may come in the future.

With the rising costs of tuition, fees, and college living expenses have made financing a college education increasingly difficult.

The fact remains that most of us will apply for student loans at some point in life. And while loans provide essential financial support at an important time, they come with significant responsibility and long-term implications.

So how much do you really need? And how much should you accept? Making informed financial decisions now can truly set yourself up for success later, and student loans are a great example of this. So read on to start building good financial habits!

If you paid towards existing student loans last year or took out new ones, here are our top five tips for filing taxes with student loans.

Grad school is an opportunity to further your education and career. But what steps do you take to get started? Find out in our graduate school admissions guide. 

Do you have student loan debt and are trying to get a mortgage? Learn how to get an FHA mortgage loan and the factors involved.

Getting an MBA, especially at a top school, can come with an expensive price tag. After investing in an expensive degree you might not get the high-paying job you hoped for – or you might decide management isn’t for you and you want to pursue a completely different career entirely.

If you’re eager to learn the material covered in an MBA program without the burden of paying for one, you can create a DIY MBA curriculum. While this approach isn’t foolproof, it allows you to create a customized curriculum tailored to what you want to study while helping you learn the skills you’ll need to advance in your career.

The Fair Tax system would replace all the payroll and income taxes in the current tax code with one national sales tax.

The cost to join a sorority or fraternity can be high. There are lots of extra costs beyond just paying dues, luckily, there are ways to help pay for it. 

We break down the best automatic investment apps of 2021 that make it easy to create "set it and forget" investing portfolios at low costs.

The Department of Education has announced several IDR waivers that impact income-driven repayment plans and loan forgiveness.

We break down why student loan servicer changes happen and how you can minimize your stress and frustration during the process.

Sharing a living space with someone for the first time, whether it’s your best friend or a total stranger, can be exciting and intimidating at the same time. There’s a lot to navigate that exists outside of your control: habits, personalities, cuisine, culture, and a number of other lifestyle factors shared in a tight space.

You’re not alone in your concerns, though, and it’s likely your roommate has been thinking something similar. Finding harmony in your college roommate experience requires a number of soft skills to foster a positive relationship and safe living environment. And I bet that if thousands of students have successfully navigated this before you, you can do it, too!

Here are our tips for living with your first college roommate!

For married couples with student loan debt, one of the most popular strategies for lowering your monthly student loan payment and potentially qualifying for more student loan forgiveness  is to file your taxes "married, filing separately". 

For both Income Based Repayment (IBR) and Pay As You Earn Repayment (PAYE), your monthly student loan payment is calculated based on your Adjusted Gross Income (AGI).​ If you're married and file a joint tax return, your monthly student loan payment is calculated on your joint AGI.

So, a simple way to potentially lower your student loan payment and increase your potential student loan forgiveness is to lower your AGI - and married couples can potentially do this by filing separately versus jointly.

Read the full article here.

Think you have to pay to find quality tax software? Think again! We've put together a list of some excellent free tax software options to choose from.

If you're not satisfied with TaxAct, there are lots of other great alternative software programs to get you dialed in. Here are 3.

If you made student loan payments last year, here's what you need to know about your 1098-E interest statement when you file taxes. 

The MCAT is an entrance exam that is required by medical schools. Consisting of four different sections, your scores on the MCAT will be a major factor in your med school application.

Property taxes are typically your largest homeownership expense after paying your mortgage. Any way to save on your property taxes can be a big win for your budget!

Homeownership can be a true joy. The thought of holding your very own keys in your hands and being able to point and say “That’s my house”.

That’s until it’s time to pay property taxes. The average property tax in California is $4,694 per year whereas in places like New Jersey and Connecticut, it ranges from $6,400-$9,300 per year. This is undoubtedly not one of the joys of home ownership.

Now of course, we all want to be great citizens and do our due diligence to help with infrastructure and projects that benefit our communities. However, there is no reason to be overpaying your property taxes.

There are ways to legally reduce your property tax bill - let's dive in.

If you have student loans, it can feel tough to invest - but time is money and you need to balance student loan repayment and investing.

Learning what option Greeks are and how to use them can help traders maximize profit potential and reduce risk. Check out this quick primer!

When it comes to your money, there are easy ways to avoid pay for unnecessary fees. Here are eight that you should never have to pay for.

The IRS announced that state stimulus checks for Covid-19 aren't going to be considered taxable income federally.

In this Visor tax prep app review, you'll learn about what's offered including pricing, and what it is like to navigate the software.

Many college graduates have considered using their 401(k) to pay off their student loan debt. But is it a good idea? Learn more.

Some politicians are asking President Biden to sidestep Congress and provide student loan forgiveness by executive order. But is that legal?

A new College Investor survey revealed that 75% of students would still work, even if their school and living expenses were paid for.

It’s wise to calculate how much you’ll need in retirement based on your income and assets. Here’s what you need to know.