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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5 Major Student Loan Changes Coming in 2026
<p>Federal student loans are a critical component in how families pay for college.</p><p>Beginning in 2026, new laws will change how much students and parents can borrow and how those student loans are repaid. The changes are significant, especially for graduate students, professional programs, and families that rely on Parent PLUS loans to close college funding gaps.</p><p>Student loan repayment also faces one of the biggest shifts in history.</p><p>For families planning for college or graduate school, or those already in repayment on student loans, the next year will be another wild one with...
Why Tax Refunds May Be Bigger in 2026
<p>Americans may be heading into the largest tax refund season on record - even though it may be one of the latest start tax refund seasons in recent memory.</p><p>Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said this week that recent tax law changes could result in tax refunds that are “$1,000 to $2,000” larger for many households when they file their 2025 returns in early 2026.</p><p>The White House has echoed that claim, pointing to estimates from Piper Sandler, suggesting the average refund could rise by roughly $1,000 compared with the 2025 filing season. That would put the typical tax refund at about $4,150.</p><p...
Key Life Skills For Incoming College Freshman
<p>As families juggle decisions about housing, orientation dates, and class schedules, one area that often gets overlooked is life skills. The transition from high school to college is one of the biggest changes a teenager will face. And while some schools may offer a session study habits, far fewer address what it takes to function day to day.</p><p>The cost of not being prepared can be high. Students who don’t learn how to manage stress or money early may be more likely to drop out or take longer to finish their degree. Parents often assume their ki...
Why Your 2026 Tax Return Could Be Delayed
<p>For years, taxpayers have grown accustomed to filing season opening in late January. But for the 2026 tax year, current projections point to a much later start.</p><p>According to comments from IRS leadership, the agency is preparing for a filing season that could open around Presidents Day: mid-February 2026. This reflects added workload from new tax law provisions and the need for additional preparation time. </p><p>If you're expecting a tax refund, the most common advice is that you should file your tax return as soon as possible. There is no reason to let the government keep your...
19 Ways To Invest In Real Estate
<p>Close to 90% of the world’s millionaires have some sort of real estate exposure. Real estate investing can help you grow your net worth and develop new forms of income.</p><p>In the past, real estate investing was primarily for investors who easily qualified for loans—usually those in a higher tax bracket. But today’s changing times and technology have made it more accessible to make small investments. We’ve outlined 19 different ways to get your investment started in real estate - well beyond the basics of buy a house and rent it out.</p><p>Some are appr...
How To Write A Financial Aid Appeal Letter
<p>If your financial aid package falls short of your need, you can ask the college for more financial aid by sending them a financial aid appeal letter.</p><p>A financial aid appeal is not like a negotiation. It is not like bargaining for a lower price on a car at the car dealership.</p><p>Most students lack leverage to get the college to throw out its financial aid rulebook. Good grades and test scores, and strong extracurriculars may get a student into a college, but aren’t enough to earn the student a full scholarship.</p><p>To...
Options If You Don't Have Enough Financial Aid Or Student Loans To Pay For School
<p>What can you do if you can't afford college? The answer is duct tape.</p><p>What? Duct tape has a lot of practical uses, such as reinforcing book bindings, patching holes in backpacks, removing lint and catching bugs.</p><p>But, what does duct tape have to do with paying for college? Duck brand duct tape sponsors a $10,000 scholarship for making a prom costume out of duct tape. Visit the stuckatprom.com website for more information.</p><p>If that particular scholarship doesn’t help you get out of your sticky situation, then look for scholarships at free sc...
There Are More Options Than You Think
<p>One of the biggest fears families have about using a 529 plan to save for college is the dreaded 529 plan penalty.</p><p>There are many ways to save and pay for college, and the absolute best way to do it varies depending on your specific situation. A 529 plan, which is designed to help you with higher education expenses, is a type of tax-advantaged account that allows you to save and invest money.</p><p>As long as you withdraw that money for qualified expenses, you can do so without paying taxes on it. However, if you don't use the...
5 Things Your Millionaire Neighbor Isn't Telling You
<p>It's currently estimated that there are about 3,000,000 millionaires in the United States today. And given that there are about 300,000,000 Americans according to the latest Census data, that means about 1 in 100 are millionaires.</p><p>Even more startling is that means that you probably know someone who is a millionaire, and you probably live within a stone's throw of other millionaires that you don't know.</p><p>The truth is that a lot of millionaires have very specific habits. Traits that make them successful - whether personally or professionally.</p><p>Beyond the inspirational, here are five fundamental habits that...
How Students Can Avoid The Full Cost of College
<p>For many parents scrolling Facebook, the same comment keeps appearing under college-related posts: “I don’t know how we’re supposed to pay $30,000 a year for college.”</p><p>The fear is understandable. Sticker prices at four-year colleges have climbed for decades, and tuition figures are often presented as unavoidable facts. But the assumption behind those comments — that most families really do pay $30,000 a year out of pocket — is usually wrong.</p><p>In reality, the typical college student pays far less than the published price, and many pay very little or nothing at all. A mix of public policy, institu...
