The College Investor Audio Show

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How To Start Investing With $100 Jul 29, 2024

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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.

5 Reasons To Use Tuition Insurance Jul 15, 2024

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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 >>

Should Students Take A Gap Year Before College Jul 10, 2024

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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.

Financial Benefits For Married College Students Jul 03, 2024

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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.

10 Tips For Living With Your First College Roommate May 10, 2024

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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!

SSA vs. SSI vs. SSDI: Key Differences And FAFSA Impact May 08, 2024

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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.

Can You Take Out More Student Loan Debt Than You Need? May 06, 2024

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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!

How Do Parents Afford To Send A Kid To College? May 02, 2024

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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.

How To Save Money On Your Property Taxes Apr 29, 2024

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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.

Credit Repair: What Is It And Should You Pay A Company To Help Apr 24, 2024

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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!

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