Making College Affordable Podcast

Winning at college these days is almost as tough as winning at professional golf. In golf, a very small difference in performance can have a HUGE result on the outcome. And, when planning for college, every little edge you can find can work to your advantage. Even a 2% or 3% difference can make ALL the difference in your reaching your goals!

In this episode, Jason shows you how to gain the kind of advantage that will help set you apart from the pack. Even the best of the best can use this strategy to improve their results, so listen now to learn what it is...

The college selection process is one of the most difficult and most stressful parts of the planning process. Unfortunately, when it comes to mapping out potential college choices, 9 out of 10 people do things incorrectly.

In this episode, Jason shows you why that happens and how you can approach building your college list the right way so you can get the best results possible.

Have you ever wondered which route was better, AP classes or dual enrollment? The answer may surprise you. Join Jason as he uncovers the differences between each option and shares the real reasons why one is more popular than another. If you're weighing the benefits and burdens of adding more rigor to your student's work load, this episode will give you exactly the insights you need to make a wise decision.

College is expensive and to combat the burden of student loan debt, colleges and universities are starting to offer alternative options to students with up front money in exchange for a cut of their future earnings. Jason explores the details of these Income Share Agreements in this episode and shares with you everything you need to know to see if this new option is right for you and your family.

Everyone knows you're supposed to save for college and save for retirement, but like a lot of other things related to planning for your future, nobody tells you exactly WHAT to do to get the best results. In this episode, Jason describes the benefits and burdens of several popular college savings accounts, including 529 Plans, custodial accounts, and prepaid college savings plans. Learn how each one can benefit you and how your circumstances can help you determine which option is right for you. You won't hear this kind of insight from your high school counselor, accountant, or financial advisor. But it's EXACTLY what you need to know if you're actively saving for college.

It's no secret that college has become super competitive over the last 10 years or so. It's not enough to just have good grades and a strong SAT or ACT score. Students also have to have rigor to show that they're challenging themselves academically. But, if your student is struggling to manage their work load or if you're unsure if you should sign him up for another AP class like your counselor is advising, this episode is for you.

Jason has been getting a lot of questions lately about the SAT and ACT. Most of them have been related to, "When should I take it?", "How often should I take it?", and "Are my current scores good enough so that I don't have to take it again?" Jason addresses each of these areas in detail. So, if you have any of these same questions, this episode is for you.

When you're researching colleges, there are three important questions you need to get answers to in order to become a more educated consumer and have a fighting chance to beat the colleges at their own game. Jason shares these questions with you in this episode and shows you how to use them to your advantage. With answers to these three questions in hand, you can determine in advance what each college will likely cost and what kind of timeline you'll be looking at for your kids to graduate.

Many well-meaning financial advisors and high school counselors tell the families they serve to either send their kids to local colleges they can easily afford or take loans to spread out the cost of college. That sounds reasonable at first glance in a conversation, but in reality it just doesn't match up with most people's values and desires for their kids. Like most folks, you want to send your kids to the best college possible for the least amount of money possible. And it's also important not to saddle them, or yourself, with debt along the way. In this episode, Jason shows you how to design a game plan that allows you to create the colleges experience you desire most without having to make compromises you'll later regret.

Everybody want the most free money possible for college, right? Of course you do. And the advice everyone receives from counselors, colleges, and even some of the college planners who host college planning workshops at your local high school is always the same. They say the key to accessing this big pile of free money is found in filing for financial aid. While sometimes that can be helpful, there are actually times when filing for financial aid can hurt your chances for bigger awards at the colleges of your dreams.

In this episode, Jason shows you how to bypass the Financial Aid office altogether and maximize your results with a little known strategy he's used successfully for years at some of the best colleges in the country.