The College Investor Audio Show
The College Investor podcast is a daily audio show that's dedicated to bringing you the best of TheCollegeInvestor.com. We discuss a variety of topics, all relating to millennial money - including student loan debt, investing, earning more money, and more! Robert Farrington, the founder of The College Investor and a Millennial Money Expert, shares how to get out of student loan debt so that you can start investing and building wealth for the future. Instead of cutting expenses and living a frugal life, he advocates side hustling and entrepreneurship to earn extra money to achieve your financial goals.
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House Democrats Propose Misguided HSA Reforms
<p>House Democrats are moving to curb the benefits of Health Savings Accounts (HSAs), arguing that the popular tax-advantaged accounts increasingly double as investment vehicles for the wealthy rather than a way for families to pay medical bills.</p><p>Rep. Lloyd Doggett, a longtime Texas Democrat and the ranking member on the House Ways and Means Health Subcommittee, has introduced the Health Savings Accounts (HSA) Consumer Protection Act.</p><p>The bill arrives just as millions of Americans are facing some of the largest health care insurance premium increases ever. While HSAs are a great tool to invest and build...
How To Give A Gift Of Stock (For Kids And Family)
<p>Giving a gift of stock is a fantastic way to help a child (or anyone) learn about the power of investing to build wealth. Plus, there are some really fun ways to gift - such as a framed stock certificate.</p><p>When you ask a parent what their kids want for Christmas, they’ll likely start with a long sigh followed by, “Well… She really likes K-Pop Demon Hunters and Dress Up.”</p><p>If you press further, you’ll find out that the parent is overwhelmed by the toys that the kid has, and they really aren’t all that e...
Would You Rather Have A Penny That Doubles Each Day For A Month Or $1 Million?
<p>Would you rather have a penny that doubles each day for a month or 1 million dollars? I saw this question the other day, and it reminded me of one of my favorite stories from high school math (yes, that's pretty nerdy, but this is a personal finance blog).</p><p>So, before I tell the story, think about it:</p><p>If a genie appeared and gave you a choice, what you would choose: would you rather have a penny today, that doubled everyday for a month, or $1 million today? </p><p>The fact is, a lot of people get...
Student Loan Forgiveness And Insolvency: Avoid The Tax Bomb
<p>The student loan debt tax bomb can happen when you have to pay taxes on the student loan forgiveness you received. However, most people will avoid the tax bomb due to a tax process called insolvency. </p><p>While some student loan forgiveness programs, like Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) are tax-free, others - like when you get your student loans discharged under Income-Based Repayment, are potentially taxable. </p><p>However, there's one big exception - insolvency. Insolvency is a tax situation when your liabilities (such as forgiven student loan debt) exceed your assets (like the money in your savings...
The Hidden Expense Driving Up College Costs: Room And Board
<p>When families talk about the rising cost of college, tuition tends to dominate the conversation. But for many students, tuition isn't the largest expense. Room and board, which covers housing and meals, often makes up the majority of the bill.</p><p>Even at the most expensive colleges ranked by tuition, room and board adds a significant price.</p><p>Recent data show that at public four-year colleges, room and board now accounts for about 45% of total expenses, while tuition makes up less than 36%. At San Diego State University (SDSU), a popular in-state option, tuition is only 25% of the tota...
Why One-Third Of College Students Drop Out Without A Degree
<p>More than one in three students who enroll in college never complete their degree. That figure is not just a statistic - it represents millions of families who invest time, money, and hope into higher education, only to see it fall short of its promise.</p><p>Only 62% of students who start college earn a degree within 6 years, according to data from the National Student Clearinghouse. That number has held relatively steady, and reminds families of a truth: one in three students don't finish.</p><p>As college costs continue to rise, this is an important aspect to plan f...
How California Helps Families Save: A Conversation With Treasurer Fiona Ma
<p>California families have more tools than ever to save, invest, and build long-term financial security but many people don’t know these programs exist or how to use them. In this episode, Robert Farrington sits down with California State Treasurer Fiona Ma and Thomas Martin, Executive Director of CalABLE, for a candid, wide-ranging conversation about college savings, disability savings, and the mission to make financial empowerment accessible to every household.</p><p>Treasurer Ma shares how her career (from licensed CPA to Assembly Speaker pro Tempore to her current role as Treasurer) has shaped her push to expand economic op...
Trump Administration Could Defund CFPB By 2026
<p>The Trump administration has escalated its campaign to defund the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau - setting in motion what could be its effective closure within a year.</p><p>In a court filing (PDF File) this week, the administration said the CFPB cannot seek additional money from the Federal Reserve - its usual source of operating funds. The bureau said it has enough reserves to continue through December but “anticipates exhausting its currently available funds in early 2026.” Without congressional action, that timeline would mark the end of the CFPB’s ability to function.</p><p>The Justice Department’s Office of...
Could Your Nonprofit Job Lose PSLF Status?
<p>For nearly two decades, the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program has offered a straightforward promise: make 120 qualifying payments while working full-time for a government agency or a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, and any remaining federal student loan balance will be forgiven. The idea helped schools, hospitals, local governments, and nonprofits recruit workers who might otherwise avoid lower-paying public-service roles.</p><p>That certainty shifted when the Education Department finalized a regulation allowing the Secretary to declare an employer ineligible if it “has a substantial illegal purpose.” Though the Department says the rule targets organizations that knowingly engage in conduct that violates federal...
Trump Admin Moves Six Education Dept Programs As Breakup Begins
<p>The Trump Administration continues its efforts to hollow out the U.S. Department of Education by sending six programs to other federal agencies. The U.S. Department of Education announced the changes in a press conference on Tuesday, November 18, 2025. </p><p>Although federal law assigns responsibility for these programs to the U.S. Department of Education, U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon is making an end-run around the law by entering into contracts with the other federal agencies to operate the programs under U.S. Department of Education oversight.</p><p>These interagency agreements (IAAs) send the six pro...
