Podcast Episodes

What Families Should Do With Leftover 529 Plan Money

529 plans were originally created to help families save for higher education with the benefit of tax-free growth. Over the years that definition has expanded, but it still calls into question: what h…

Published on 1 week, 3 days ago

Student Loan IDR Backlog Drops Below 1.1 Million

For months, income-driven repayment processing has been a source of frustration for student loan borrowers. In August, the Department of Education reported (PDF File) that it processed 305,641 IDR ap…

Published on 1 week, 4 days ago

Education Dept. Accused Of Blocking Student Loan Forgiveness

The American Federation of Teachers, representing 1.8 million members, has intensified its legal challenge against the Department of Education and Education Secretary Linda McMahon. In an amended com…

Published on 1 week, 5 days ago

How To Use AI For Finding College Scholarships

For high school seniors looking to pay for college, scholarships and grants can make the difference between affordability and long-term student loan debt. The rise of artificial intelligence (AI) too…

Published on 1 week, 6 days ago

Chadwick Boseman Died Without A Will: Why You Need An Estate Plan Now

Actor Chadwick Boseman became a household name after his role as King T’Challa in Marvel’s “The Black Panther.” The breakthrough film put Boseman front and center in Hollywood, and when he passed awa…

Published on 2 weeks ago

The Essential Estate Planning Documents: What You Need and Why

We all hope terrible situations will never hurt us or our loved ones. But making practical plans for your eventual death will make your passing easier. That’s true whether you die unexpectedly at a y…

Published on 2 weeks, 1 day ago

Dependent vs. Independent Student For Financial Aid

It can be confusing to understand whether you're a dependent or independent student for FAFSA and financial aid purposes.

Given the current cost of higher education, college students need all the help…

Published on 2 weeks, 2 days ago

College Scholarship Gotchas: How To Avoid Mistakes When You Apply

There are many benefits to receiving one or more private scholarships. It eases the financial burden of getting a college degree and minimizes the need for student loans. And it allows you to focus o…

Published on 2 weeks, 4 days ago

Tax Breaks for Tuition and Student Loans

You've probably heard of the student loan interest deduction. But what you may not know is that this is just one of several tax breaks for tuition and student loans that are baked into the U.S. tax c…

Published on 2 weeks, 6 days ago

What Happens To your Student Loans When You Die

Today we're talking about a tough subject: what happens when you die? Specially, what happens to your student loans when you die?

Do your student loans die with you (meaning your family is free and cl…

Published on 3 weeks ago