The College Investor Audio Show

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How To Legally Reduce Your IDR Payment (And Avoid Fraud) May 12, 2025

Show notes

Income-Driven Repayment (IDR) plans provide affordable monthly student loan payments by basing the payments on a portion of the borrower’s discretionary income, as opposed to the amount they owe.

Generally, IDR plans will yield lower student loan payments when the borrower’s total student loan debt exceeds their annual income. However, there are ways to decrease the student loan payments even further.

Monthly student loan payments under IDR plans are based on a percentage of discretionary income. There are legitimate ways of reducing discretionary income and thereby reducing the student loan payment.

Discretionary income is calculated by subtracting a multiple of the poverty line from Adjusted Gross Income (AGI). Discretionary income may be reduced by reducing AGI or by increasing the applicable poverty line.

Of course, avoid fraudulent tactics like underreporting income or falsely inflating family size, as these carry severe penalties.

Can You Appeal A Financial Aid Award After Admissions? May 07, 2025

Show notes

Many families assume that once a student accepts admission to a college, the financial aid offer is final. In most cases, that’s true. Schools often budget tightly and expect students to commit based on the information already provided. But there are exceptions.

Appealing a financial aid award after committing to a school is uncommon, but not impossible. In some cases, families report success in securing more need-based or merit-based aid even after housing contracts are signed and roommates are assigned. Whether that happens depends on the institution’s policies, remaining funds, and the circumstances behind the request.

Congress Unveils Plan To Change Student Loan Repayment Plans Apr 29, 2025

Show notes

The latest reconciliation bill set for review in the House Committee on Education and the Workforce proposes some of the most extensive changes to higher education funding and student loans in decades. This is the papered proposal, it's NOT law yet.

If enacted, the legislation would limit federal borrowing, end Parent PLUS loans, change repayment options, and reshape Pell Grant eligibility. The changes would primarily affect new borrowers taking out loans after July 1, 2026, but some changes take effect as so as the bill is signed into law.

It's important to remember that this is the first work-up of proposals that are actually in print. Not all of these may make the final bill, and even then, they may change as well. That being said, many of these proposals mimic what was already proposed under the College Cost Reduction Act, and many are popular topics for Republicans.

Let's break down some of the major proposals (though there are many others as well - the bill is 100+ pages long).

The Best Ways To Pay Off Student Loans Faster Apr 24, 2025

Show notes

Student loan debt is not fun to have. While it may have been necessary to pay for school, now that you’re graduated, it’s time to think about ways to pay off your student loans faster.

If you’re looking at your repayment plan options - even the shortest term is usually around 10 years. That can seem like forever!

At the same time, looking at these long time frames could also motivate you to see what you can do to get out of student loan debt fast. Luckily, there are a lot of ways to get out of student loan debt fast - it just takes a solid repayment strategy and knowing your options.

We’ve put together a list of ten of the best ways to help you formulate that plan. Remember - this is about paying your student loans faster. Getting aggressive with your student loan debt. These ideas might not work for everyone, or at least not today.

It’s always important to assess your own situation, and then layer in these tactics as you’re able to.

What Happens To Financial Aid If You Take A Gap Year Apr 21, 2025

Show notes

With the stock market fluctuating and new tariffs raising concerns about family finances, some families are re-thinking the college decision (at least in the short term). While it might not be off the table, taking a gap year or deferring enrollment is an option for some. But what happens to financial aid if my child takes a gap year?

While taking time off before starting college has its benefits, it can also come with consequences. Financial aid is not automatically frozen or held for a year. Depending on the type of aid and the policies of the college, a gap year can mean recalculations, new paperwork, and in some cases, lost money.

Here’s what students and families need to understand about need-based aid, merit scholarships, and what happens if plans change.

The Problem With ‘Sell In May And Go Away’ Investment Strategy Apr 09, 2025

Show notes

Have you heard the phrase "Sell In May And Go Away"?

There are many weird stock market indicators that pundits try to use to explain what you should be doing in the stock market at any given time.

There seems to be many ideas that people will suggest to determine your investing strategy including the January-effect, the presidential cycle, which team wins the Super Bowl, and how well stocks will fare.

Over time, the of the stock market are hard to beat, and timing the market is not something that many people can do on a reliable basis.

Based on this month, you may have encountered the "Sell in May and Go Away" philosophy. While it may sound kitschy or superstitious, does this theory actually have any legs?

Deferred vs. Waitlisted: What Each Decision Really Means Apr 09, 2025

Show notes

For high school seniors navigating college admissions, few emails inspire more confusion than a notice of being "deferred" or "waitlisted." While neither outcome is final, each comes with distinct meaning, timeline, and next steps.

Being deferred means your early application wasn’t denied, but it wasn’t accepted either. Instead, the admissions committee will evaluate your application again during the regular decision round, alongside new applicants. This delay gives the college time to compare you to the broader pool and assess updated academic records or accomplishments.

Waitlisting, by contrast, happens after regular decisions are made. It means you met the qualifications for admission, but there wasn’t enough space to offer you a spot. You may be admitted later if enough admitted students decline their offers.

Making Savvy Student Loan Decisions For College Apr 07, 2025

Show notes

Today's episode is an interview Robert had with Jack Wang from the Smart College Buyer podcast.

He talks about how to think about college costs, making smart student loan decisions, and how to have open and honest conversations with your family about money and education.

We hope you enjoy the episode. If you want to learn more about the Smart College Buyer podcast, check it out on your favorite podcast platform.

5 Ways To Invest In Real Estate To Become A Millionaire Apr 04, 2025

Show notes

There are multiple ways to invest in real estate. And believe it our not, 90% of the world's millionaires have created wealth through real estate. At least that's what Andrew Carnegie said at the turn of the century.

Maybe you love investing, and at this point nearly all of your money is in the stock market. You know it’s important to diversify, but aren’t sure if real estate investing is right for you. You might think it requires a lot of money up front, or requires a lot of work ongoing.

And while some of that is true, there are new options this year that can make real estate a potential investment for you.

While real estate investing certainly isn’t for everyone, it can be very lucrative. Many people have made millions investing in real estate. If you’re wanting to expand your investment horizons, here are 5 different ways to invest in real estate.

The Best Investment Strategy by Age [Ultimate Guide] Apr 04, 2025

Show notes

There is no "one size fits all" when it comes to the best investment strategy. But it's one of the questions I receive almost everyday.

From what do I invest in, to how to get started investing, to picking individual stocks, everyone is looking for a magic investment strategy that will make them millionaires overnight.

The truth is that doesn't happen. You invest in stocks because over the long run, investing in the stock market has outperformed other investments. But that doesn't mean you should invest everything in stocks.

Here's how to craft the best investment strategy and why you should always think about your portfolio and all your money as a whole. While we call this the investment strategy by age guide - your age is really subject to your investment time horizon. Check it out on the website.