The College Investor Audio Show

I don't know what to do after college!?! It's one of the most common questions I hear - from high school grads, to college students, to even some nearing college graduation.If you find yourself saying, “I don’t know what to do after college,” you are not alone.The truth is, most college grads have a "now what" moment. You've basically lived your entire life to-date in some type of educational setting. Even if continuing on to grad school or some form of post-baccalaureate education is not in your immediate future, and a job is not exactly what you are looking for, there are ways to live life after college that will still make you a productive member of society.I'm going to share with you my thoughts on what to do after college. Maybe you think these are basic - fine. But maybe they will give you some food for thought.

Are you ready to take control of your financial future?You don’t need a financial advisor to develop your own financial plan. In fact, YOU are the best person to put one together.When you’re directly involved in mapping out your finances you’ll be more likely to actually stick with your goals. Plus, you’ll have a keen awareness of where you stand financially and what it’s going to take to get you to the next level.Here are six elements of a strong financial plan.

The average cost of tutoring can vary based on a number of different factors. While it used to be something only the wealthy could afford lower costs and new technologies are making it more accessible.For example, working with a private tutor in a large city, will likely be more expensive than working with a tutor remotely. This article dives into tutoring costs and some of the things you’ll want to consider before you begin working with a tutor.

Today's episode is a live stream interview with GradGuard CEO John Fees. We talked about tuition insurance and when it makes sense, and then covered dorm room renters insurance. There was some listener Q&A mixed in!Enjoy! Let me know what you think.

Did you know that you can start investing with $100 or less? Most people think that you need thousands of dollars to get started investing, but that's simply not true. In fact, I started investing with just $100 when I started working my first job in high school (yes high school). It's possible to start investing in high school, or in college, or even in your 20s.Even more food for thought - if you invested $100 in Apple stock in 2000, it would be worth $25,000 today. Or if you invested in Amazon stock at that same time, it would be work over $3,500 today. And that's just if you invested $100 once. Imagine if you invested $100 monthly since 2000 in Apple stock? You'd have well over $4,000,000 today. Seriously.

Life during college often comes with many ups and downs. Sometimes, life throws an unexpected curveball that requires students to withdraw from school mid-semester. If you’ve already paid for classes, you might not get a refund. That’s where tuition insurance can help.Whether you are a parent or student, tuition insurance can be a worthwhile way to secure your investment.In partnership with GradGuard, let’s take a look at five common reasons you should consider tuition insurance. GradGuard is a leading tuition insurance provider and they can help you protect your college financial investment. Get a quote here and see how affordable tuition insurance can be >>

As high school graduation approaches, you might find yourself at a crossroads. Should you take the conventional route and go straight to college, or have you been dreaming about taking a break from school to try something new?Either option holds its value. While fewer than 5% of high school students in the U.S. choose to take a gap year before enrolling in college, the Gap Year Association reports that “students who had taken a gap year were more likely to graduate with higher grade point averages than observationally identical individuals who went straight to college.”In this article, we focus on common pros and cons of taking a gap year and identify some ways to help you take your next step, regardless of your decision.

Did you know: marital status can be a factor when determining financial aid eligibility.If you are making your way through college after tying the knot, your financial situation will likely look different than that of your single peers, which could impact your access to financial aid.But everyone’s situation is unique. We explore some of the potential benefits for married college students below. 

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!

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!

Social Security (SS), Supplemental Security Income (SSI), and Social Security Disability Benefits (SSDI) are three federal benefit programs that can provide income to Americans who aren't able to work. SS, SSI, and SDI are all are managed by the Social Security Administration.Each of these programs, however, have different purposes and eligibility requirements. However, when it comes to taxes and financial aid, it can be confusing to understand how each work. For example, do you need to include SSDI benefits received on the FAFSA?But how exactly do these programs work? And how do they play into your tax bill? In this article, we’ll look at each one and their impact on your paycheck, taxes, and FAFSA.

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!

With college becoming more expensive, how can parents afford to send a kid to school?More than a decade after completing college, 7% of Millennials still have more than $50,000 in student loan balances. Facing our reality of digging out of debt and knowing our friends' horror stories, many millennials are motivated to help their kids get through college debt-free. While we can’t promise that you’ll be able to help your child avoid debt, we’ve got realistic tips to cover the cost of college from the day your child is born to after they graduate.

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.

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!

In its nearly 250-year history, the U.S. has experienced more periods of inflation than deflation. The last big period of deflation occurred during The Great Depression.There was another smaller period during the Great Financial Crisis. Both coincided with a recession. During a recession and deflation, people lose their jobs, demand drops, and with it, prices.But for those who are able to hang on to their jobs and have investments, what should they look at for some of the best investments during a deflationary period? In this article, we'll explain how deflation works and offer a few strategies for defending against it.

Around 80% of mortgage borrowers in the United States have an escrow or impound account. In fact, these accounts are required by some lenders.These accounts hold money on behalf of the buyer to ensure certain payments are made on time - typically homeowners insurance and property taxes. This can help reduce liability and risk lenders take on, giving buyers access to better financing options.What is an escrow or impound account? Is it required? More importantly, how do you cancel an escrow or impound account if you don’t actually need it? This article will dive into all of those questions to help you figure out whether or not an escrow account is a good move for you.

When you think of financial scams, you may think of Bernie Madoff and Nigerian Princes. But if you listen to enough “financial experts” on YouTube and TikTok, you may hear that the humble 401(k) is a scam.A 401(k) is a tax-advantaged retirement investment account offered by many employers. It's an account so basic that it may be a victim of its own success. Has the 401(k) scammed aspiring retirees out of their hard-earned money? We don’t think so, but we will explain why the account is being so harshly maligned.

The tax deadline is almost here! Here are some last minute tax reminders if you're still working on filing your taxes.Although it might not be the most enjoyable financial task, it's a necessary obligation that we each undertake every year. And if you use great tax software, filing taxes doesn’t take as much time as you may dread.But tax filing time isn’t only about filing returns. There are things you can do today to help you save money on your tax bill, and help you save time on filing.Here are the best last-minute tax tips to consider this season.

The short answer is no, you cannot use a 529 plan to pay for SAT prep. However, all is not lost. While SAT prep courses can be expensive, they don't have to be. There are affordable options to help you prepare for the SAT. Here's what you need to know

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.

Threats to your investment portfolio can come from anywhere, including politics, the economy, and even your own mind. Understanding the threats to your investments is the first step to combating them.Birch Gold, a company that helps investors buy and sell gold, polled its investors about their thoughts on the greatest threats to their well-being.We combined some of the Birch Gold responses with other sources to deliver these top 10 threats to your investment portfolio.

If you’re one of the 80% of taxpayers who will be receiving a tax refund this year, here's what to do with your tax refund according to experts.The average tax refund payment was more than $2,753, according to the IRS. That's a lot of money that you can put to good use.While you can probably imagine plenty of places to put your prized refund check today, you might not be thrilled with the choice tomorrow.Rather than spend all of your money frivolously, why not use it to boost your bottom line?Invest that money in one of the ideas listed below, and you can guarantee your future self with thank you. You may even have some fun along the way.Here are some of the best ways to put your tax refund to good use this year.

A Federal Student Aid ID (FSA ID) is a unique identifier that allows you to log in to Department of Education websites.You need this ID to complete the FAFSA online, view your financial aid history, accept loans, and select student loan repayment plans.The sooner you get your FSA ID setup, the easier it will be for you to manage everything related to loans and grants. Let's explore how to set up your FSA ID.

Leap Year's extra day can serve as a reminder to stop and evaluate. An extra day in the year represents an opportunity to earn more money, pay off debt, or think long term about your finances.Here are a few of the best ways you can use a Leap Year to maximize your finances.

Learning financial aid is like speaking a foreign language. There is an alphabet soup of different words and acronyms. You may think you understand the babble, but it is easy to get confused. Misunderstanding the terminology can present students with a trap that may mislead them into enrolling at an unaffordable college. Learn what these words really mean and what to watch out for.

It's one of the worst things you can face when it comes to your student loan debt - you can't afford your student loan payment. Maybe you're out of school and you get your first bill, and you have no idea how you're going to make that payment.Or, maybe you've been on and off deferment and forbearance for years, and every time you're encouraged to start repayment, you simply don't think you can afford it.Sadly, too many people don't take action with their student loans - even if they can't afford it. That's why over 7% of student loans are delinquent according to the Department of Education. But simply ignoring it or going into default isn't the solution. There are better (and more affordable ways) to tackle a student loan debt payment you can't afford. If you're not quite sure where to start or what to do, consider hiring a CFA to help you with your student loans. We recommend The Student Loan Planner to help you put together a solid financial plan for your student loan debt. Check out The Student Loan Planner here.Let's break down the options here.

One of the biggest questions we see every tax season: should you pay someone to do your taxes?Getting a tax refund is a big part of that question. Most people hope for a refund and look forward to getting their direct deposits (who gets a paper check anymore)?But doing your taxes can be hard, or so the mainstream media tells you, along with commercials and more. So, should you pay someone to do your taxes?As with most things, the answer is: it depends.It depends on a few factors, and we break down whether you should pay someone to do your taxes, or whether it makes more sense to do it yourself. And if you are going to pay someone, who should you be paying - does using one of those big companies like H&R Block even make sense. Here's what you need to know.

Over the last few years, I've really thought about what it takes to get rich and grow wealth. I've spoken with countless millionaires and I've responded to over 10,000 reader comments on The College Investor. In each instance, there are common themes that are either helping the person grow wealth, or preventing the person from getting rich.Being rich doesn't always mean having money, but 90% of the time, it does. However, there are habits, behaviors, and "rules" that will essentially allow you to get rich and grow wealth. It's not an overnight process. There aren't any get-rich-quick schemes here.What you're going to read below are my ten rules for getting rich and growing wealth - over time.

Curious about how to start a side hustle? You're not alone!“Side hustle” is defined as a secondary business or job with the potential to produce extra income. Recent data indicates approximately 39% of working adults in the U.S. currently have a side hustle, which is a sharp increase from the number of adults who held a one before 2020.A quick internet search will display endless lists of side hustle options, but there aren’t as many resources for how to get started on a side hustle.So, we will take you through the steps of starting a side hustle for you and helping it go live, plus all the other things to keep in mind as you venture into new territory.Check out the full article here: https://theci.co/start-side-hustle-pod

Life insurance helps support your dependents in the event of your death. How much you need and what that will cost depends on your specific situation. 

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 main difference between an IRA vs. self-directed IRA are the assets you are able to invest in. You have more options with a self-directed IRA, but they are more expensive and subject to more rules.

Schedule K-1 forms are income tax documents associated with "pass-through" businesses. But why are K-1s so complicated? Learn more.

When you’re ready to apply you’ll need to assemble all of your application materials together, including test scores, transcripts, resume, essays, and letters of recommendation.

We break down the free tax software companies that actually allow free tax filing for federal and state returns in 2024.

We've ranked the best tax software for 2024, including best free file, best for investors, best for landlords, best for deductions, and more!

Filing taxes should be simple, and the IRS should provide a robust, free solution for filing taxes. But at this time, IRS Direct File is quite limited and unlikely to be a solution for most taxpayers.

In 2024, many U.S. companies will begin filing BOI reports, under The Corporate Transparency Act. But what is Beneficial Ownership Reporting? Learn more.

After-Tax 401k contributions can help you shelter more of your money from taxes. But what is an after-tax 401(k) and who qualifies? Learn more.

1099-k forms allow businesses to report income from payment apps and online marketplaces. But what if you receive one and you don't own a business? Learn more.

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.

You’ll likely need to take either the GMAT or the GRE to apply to graduate school. Here's the structure of the exams and the advantages of each.

For general graduate school admissions, you’ll likely have to take a test called the GRE. Here's what you can expect.

The GMAT is a standardized exam used by many graduate schools as part of the admissions process for graduate management programs such as an MBA or a Masters in Finance.

There are several big changes in 529s and students coming in next year. Here's what new in financial aid for 2024.

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.

The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) is a refundable tax credit designed to help those with low to moderate incomes. Find out if you qualify!

College remains an expensive proposition, but the odds of winning a scholarship are increasing. Here's what you need to know. Learn more.

Sorority rush consultants guide prospective Greek members through the recruitment process, helping them get into the house of their dreams.