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The College Investor podcast is a daily audio show that's dedicated to bringing you the best of TheCollegeInvestor.com. We discuss a variety of topics, all relating to millennial money - including student loan debt, investing, earning more money, and more! Robert Farrington, the founder of The College Investor and a Millennial Money Expert, shares how to get out of student loan debt so that you can start investing and building wealth for the future. Instead of cutting expenses and living a f ...
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In-depth money conversations and reader Q+A from the team that created The College Investor. Get insights into personal finance, investing, side hustles, and more, plus get your questions answered!
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In college? Want to know how to invest and manage your finances? You’re in the right place.
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The College Investor
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With tax season quickly approaching, you’re probably seeing ads for refund anticipation loans. Refund anticipation loans (also known as refund advance loans or tax refund loans) are a form of secured debt. A lender (usually a tax preparer) will give you an advance on your tax refund (often up to $3,000). In exchange, the tax preparer will pay the l…
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Borrowers often believe that student loan servicers get to keep the interest on the loan. But it doesn’t work like that. Servicing companies collect payments of principal and interest on behalf of the loan holder (the Department of Education in the case of federal loans). In exchange, they're paid a monthly fee for each loan serviced. So how much d…
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Student loans are back in repayment, and starting in 2025, that also means that collection activity has resumed on student loan debt. Could your student loans cause you to see your tax refund garnished? According to data from the Department of Education, around seven million borrowers have defaulted on their student loans. Those who are in default …
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Deciding what college to attend is a big decision. It could potentially affect your entire life. But will it? Does what college you go to actually matter? Prestigious schools definitely have some benefits, such as networking opportunities and name recognition on your resume. But do the benefits outweigh the costs? Public schools and community colle…
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529 plans offer a dedicated way to save for education costs. Generally, parents or grandparents open up 529 accounts to build up a war chest for the beneficiary to eventually use on college or other educational costs. Since the primary contributor to a 529 isn’t the beneficiary of the account, the ownership rules might feel a bit murky. We get clea…
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It should be a simple question - does the government profit off of student loans? But depending on who you ask, the federal government either earned a profit or lost money on federal student loans prior to the pandemic. The answer depends on political and accounting perspectives. During the pandemic, however, the payment pause and interest waiver h…
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The college admissions process is notoriously competitive. The last several decades might even indicate that getting into college has become harder, overall. College acceptance rates hover at a national average of 68%, though the rate at some of the nation’s top institutions is a shocking 3%. Let’s put that into perspective, though. Of course, acce…
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It’s almost tax refund season, and if you’re anything like the average American, you’re excited to get your hands on 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…
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If you or your family have saved money for your education within a 529 plan, you can use those funds to pay for qualified education expenses without tax implications. But how about students who opt to attend a trade school instead of a traditional college or university? Can you still use the funds in your 529 to cover college costs. We explore what…
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The student loan problem is complex and has multiple underlying causes. Rising college costs, increased student borrowing, complicated repayment options, and a lack of adequate oversight have all contributed to the problem. Several stakeholders share responsibility for this crisis: federal and state governments, educational institutions, loan servi…
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Curious about how AI answers work in personal finance? Hint: not very well. In fact, so bad that you could really hurt your finances. Robert joined the Stacking Benjamin's podcast to discuss AI in Finance, including sharing the results of The College Investor's recent AI Study. Check out the full interview here!…
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President Trump generally does not support student loan forgiveness and would likely seek an end to some student loan forgiveness programs. But can the President claw back student loan forgiveness that has already been granted? It's sparked a lot of concern in recent weeks, especially as President Biden has continued to propose new student loan for…
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We break down the potential average net worth of Gen Z by age, based on available data from the Federal Reserve, as well as other assumptions.The College Investor
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How much your student loan interest rate really matter when it comes to repaying a student loan? What is the impact of interest rates on loan payments? The truth is: not that much. One of the most popular "alternatives" to blanket student loan forgiveness has been the argument that the federal student loan interest rate should be set to 0%. But gi…
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According to a new report from John Burton Advocates for Youth (JBAY), College Cash Uncovered, there are significant discrepancies between colleges’ published cost of attendance (COA) budgets and the actual expenses students face. These discrepancies contribute to college affordability challenges and inadequate financial aid. This leaves some stude…
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Today's episode is an interview Robert had with Shellee Howard from the College Ready podcast. He talks about financial literacy for teens and parents, the ROI of college, how to think about student loans, 529 plans, and more! We hope you enjoy the episode. If you want to learn more about the College Ready podcast, check it out on your favorite pod…
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In 2011, some protestors encouraged borrowers to refuse to repay their student loans as part of Occupy Wall Street. They said that if enough borrowers joined this protest, the lenders would have no choice but to cancel the student loan debt. Few people participated, and even those that did only lasted for a month or two. Nobody went into default as…
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Being placed on a college admissions waitlist can create a mixed bag of emotions for applicants. On one hand, it isn’t an outright rejection, but on the other, it can feel as though you're being left on the sidelines. After all the effort you’ve put into essays, interviews, and extracurriculars, being placed on a waitlist can be discouraging and fr…
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Many people wonder just how much money they actually need to retire. In fact, it’s actually one of the most common questions people ask in regard to retirement. However, it may not be the easiest question to answer, as there are so many variables—many of which are unknown. You can begin to grasp how much you will need to retire, though, by consider…
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The College Investor
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Here's our financial checklist of the best money moves you can make by the end of the year to maximize your savings and investments while minimizing your taxes. The end of the year can be a whirlwind. But the actions you take over these final months can have large impacts on your tax bill next April and your long-term financial health. By taking pr…
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Embarking on the journey to higher education is a life-changing decision. One of the first and biggest challenges many prospective students encounter is whether to pursue a college education in-state or out-of-state. As you know, the average cost of tuition has been on an upward trajectory since sometime around the 1980s. College tuition at a publi…
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The College Investor
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Should you pay extra to have your tax prep fees taken out of your upcoming tax refund? It sounds like an appealing offer - paying nothing out of pocket. But is it really worth it? The help of a tax preparation service can make your life easier and potentially lead to savings on your tax bill, but having to pay up front for tax prep services can fee…
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