The College Investor Audio Show

Latest Episodes:

The Ultimate Guide To State Income Taxes Dec 18, 2017

Show notes

Like most people in the US, you probably feel like you pay tons of taxes without ever seeing a refund. Especially if you live in one of those "high tax" states - like California or New York.

Do you ever wonder how your state stacks up against other states? Did you know that if you make under $50,000 per year, you're probably paying more taxes in Alabama than in California...

Taxes matter, but most people get the argument around state income taxes wrong. And with everything going on in the country today, we decided to look at what income taxes look like in all 50 states.

If you're considering moving to pay lower taxes, or relocating to another state for career opportunities, you need to know what differences you can expect to pay nationwide.

The Best Online Banks For Your Money Dec 15, 2017

Show notes

Are you tired of waiting in long lines, and dealing with too many fees and minimum requirements? Opening a checking account with an online bank could be your solution.

Today, almost every bank offers online banking options, but did you know that there are banks that solely operate online, with no actual branch locations? These banks offer most of the products you find at traditional banks- checking, savings, CDs and money market accounts. A few even offer mortgage products!

Without the overhead of physical locations, online banks can pass the savings to their customers, who will enjoy lower fees and added benefits, including protection from bank fraud. The annual percentage yield (APY) will also be higher than traditional banks.

We break down our list of the best online banks - these are banks that typically deliver value in multiple areas, and no fees, and really easy to use products.

How To Get Free Money: These Companies Will Give You $100s Dec 13, 2017

Show notes

Our parents used to say “money doesn't grow on trees” and “there is nothing that is free”.

But is this entirely true? NO!

In fact, there are several ways that you can get free money online or free money from the government!

The first is looking for unclaimed money that might be rightfully yours, and the second is to find companies that are giving away free money as incentives.

If this sounds unbelievable - it's not. If you spend 10 minutes and go through these companies and websites, you'll find yourself amassing a nice amount of free money before you know it!

Let’s break it down, and we'll start with finding unclaimed money that might rightfully be yours.

Ethos Life Insurance Review Dec 12, 2017

Show notes

Life insurance is a necessity for any young family. Have you ever wondered what would happen to your family if you weren’t there to provide an income? Their life would change completely. The current style of living they know would vanish in an instant.

You might be thinking that life insurance is another expense you can’t afford. However, you’ll be surprised at the cost of life insurance offered by Ethos Life (hint: it's a great deal).

In this article, we’re going to review Ethos Life. They’re what’s called an insurtech (not to be confused with fintechs). This means Ethos makes heavy use of technology to process life insurance applications and keep costs down. Their close competitor, Bestow, also plays in this space.

See how they compare to the other online life insurance companies.

Student Loan Interest Deduction - Savings or Scam Dec 11, 2017

Show notes

For student loan borrowers repaying their college loans, the student loan interest deduction remains one of the easiest tax benefits available to claim. It allows eligible taxpayers to subtract up to $2,500 in interest paid on qualified student loans from their taxable income.

This deduction is known as an "above-the-line" adjustment, which means it can be claimed without itemizing deductions. For young adults and recent graduates who typically take the standard deduction, this offers an additional way to reduce their tax burden.

To qualify, the loan must have been used solely to pay for qualified education expenses for you, your spouse, or a dependent. The deduction phases out at higher incomes.

For 2025, the deduction begins to phase out at a modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) of $85,000 for single filers and is eliminated entirely at $100,000. For joint filers, the phaseout starts at $170,000 and ends at $200,000.

H&R Block Review 2017 - The Best Free Filing Option Dec 08, 2017

Show notes

A brief summary of this episode

Quicken For Mac 2018 Review Dec 07, 2017

Show notes

A brief summary of this episode

Should You Get A Balance Transfer Card Or Personal Loan To Pay Off Debt Dec 05, 2017

Show notes

A brief summary of this episode

2018 Discover Cashback Bonus Categories Dec 04, 2017

Show notes

A brief summary of this episode

Stopping Tax Offsets Due To Student Loan Debt Dec 01, 2017

Show notes

For anyone getting a refund, tax season is the best time of year. But for those who have defaulted on their federal student loans, their potential joy can be seized by the IRS to pay down the federal debt. This is called a tax offset.

It may not currently be tax season, but it’s never too early to start preparing to secure that refund. Specifically, if you have federal student loans that you’re behind on, it’s in your best interest to get in good standing before the Department of Education decides to collect your tax refund.

If you’re worried about the IRS taking your tax refund, you’re in the right place. And the Department of Education announced they restarted collection activity, and they will take your tax refund in 2026 if you're in default.

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

The College Investor Audio Show

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected