The College Investor Audio Show

Latest Episodes:

How To File Your Taxes Early Before The Rush Jan 23, 2019

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One of the best thing you can do is file your taxes early - you can be the rush, still get pro help, and even avoid identity theft!

How To Refinance An International Student Loan Jan 18, 2019

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There are almost 500,000 people in the United States working on visas who attended college and may have wracked up student loan debt in the process. But for these students, getting a solid rate on their student loans through international student loan refinance has been challenging.

Most lenders in the United States don’t loan to visa holders, leaving them stuck in higher interest loans - even though they may qualify for better rates.

The Best Savings Account For Your Tax Refund Jan 09, 2019

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The best ways to save your tax refund will set you up for an easier, more secure future by building your emergency fund, paying off debt, or growing your wealth.

How To Get Started Investing In Alternatives Like Fine Art Jan 08, 2019

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Fine art and other collectibles are difficult to value assets because they're all "one-of-a-kinds." The value of Mickey Mantle’s rookie card is entirely driven by demand, as is the value of an original Picasso or any other collectible.

Have You Seen How The Trump Tax Reform Will Impact Your Taxes Dec 19, 2018

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Most changes under tax reform were implemented for 2018 taxes, but watch for these tweaks including changes to the medical expense deduction, individual mandate penalty and alimony deduction.

The Best Student Loan Advice For My Younger Self Dec 11, 2018

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Here's the best advice I'd give my younger self before taking out student loans.

How To Change HSA Providers With Lively Dec 04, 2018

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Here's exactly how to rollover your HSA with a tool like Lively.

How To Calculate Your Expected Family Contribution Dec 03, 2018

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If you’re hoping to receive a substantial amount of need-based financial aid for college or graduate school, your Expected Family Contribution (EFC) will be one of the most important numbers you’ll ever see. (Need-based financial aid is financial aid you receive because you couldn’t afford college otherwise; “merit-based” financial aid doesn’t depend on your family’s financial situation, but is based on other factors like your academic, athletic, artistic, or service achievements.)

After you’re admitted to your dream school, a complex set of gears grind into action. First, each school calculates a “cost of attendance” (COA) — a number that includes tuition, room and board, and other anticipated costs like books, transportation, technology fees, and the like.

Then, based on the information you’ve provided about your family’s income and assets, the federal government and the college between them will come up with the EFC. That’s the money that you and your family are expected to pay towards your education during the next school year.

Subtract the EFC from the COA and you get the other number you’re really interested in: how much financial aid you’ll be eligible for from the government, your school, or both. (Just watch out — different schools might provide a different mix of loans vs. grants to meet that financial need, so compare financial aid offers.)

So, where exactly does the EFC number come from? It’s calculated different ways by the federal government and by some schools, but it’s all based on your reporting of: your family assets (the value of your savings or investment accounts [excluding retirement accounts] if you have them) and, sometimes, your home or business assets; your family income; the size of your family; and the number of dependent children enrolled in college.

None of these formulas, however, take debt (credit card, mortgage, or preexisting student loans) into account; they are entirely based on assets and income. And they are heavily weighted towards income, meaning that a high-income family with few assets may well end up with a higher EFC than a lower-income family that owns a house and has substantial savings.

Should College Be Free? Nov 30, 2018

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Why should college be free? From making college more accessible to needing to find more funding, here the pros and cons of tuition-free college.

Private Student Loan Forgiveness: What You Should Know Nov 19, 2018

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Private student loan forgiveness is often promised, but the reality is far more complicated. Unlike federal student loans, which offer forgiveness programs for public service workers and income-driven repayment options, private student loans come with few—if any—paths to cancellation.

For millions of borrowers, this means struggling with high-interest debt that doesn’t qualify for relief. Private lenders, including banks and fintech companies like SoFi and Earnest, hold an estimated $130 billion in outstanding student loans, yet offer little flexibility when borrowers face financial hardship.

While some borrowers use private loans to fill small funding gaps after maxing out federal aid, others take on massive debt—sometimes exceeding $200,000—without the same safety nets. If you’re looking for a way out of private student loan debt, understanding the limited options available is critical.

Here’s what you need to know about private student loan forgiveness.