MONEY WITHOUT MATH

While it’s not uncommon for college-bound students to prep, test, and re-take admissions exams to improve their scores, the college essay receives much less formal attention. And that’s crazy given that for many students, it’s a significant component in a college application. In surveys of colleges and universities, essays fall right behind grades, rigor of the curriculum, and standardized tests in importance. A good essay can push a student into the accepted column; for many of the most selective schools, students have to write a good essay. And, a standout essay can not only make a difference in admissions, but in financial awards as well.

Our guest today, Barak Rosenbloom, is the Founder of Essay Mentors. In this episode, we’ll discuss what makes a great essay (that could be worth thousands), where essays go wrong, and the role of essays in our tech-rich world and ever-changing admissions environment.

When was the last time you thought about your childhood dreams and
wishes? Before you chose your college major or career path, and before the world of what ifs collided with the real world—what spoke to you, interested you, and excited you? Whether you are heading towards retirement or ready to make some changes in your life, first you might want to take a step back...way back. Dialing into your childhood thoughts, memories, and dreams can help you tap into what you really want more of in your life. Traci Richmond, President of The Meakem Group, uses a “Dream Book” exercise to help clients unearth those dreams and passions as they prepare for their next chapters. Take a listen and start working on your own Dream Book! 

Planning for college is not just a financial challenge, it’s also very emotional—for both parents and their students. In the battle of dream schools and “the college experience” vs. the family budget, the latter is usually trampled. How badly? Recent stats show that Americans owe more than $1.7 Trillion in student loan debt. The costs are overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be that way. Ann Garcia, a.k.a. “The College Financial Lady” and author of How to Pay for College, dispels some of the myths that can lead families to under-save or overspend on college. Listen and learn how to cut the costs, set expectations for your kids, and very importantly, why you can’t wait until your child’s senior year to start planning. Ann also shares the latest information with regards to student loan forgiveness. 

Most of us have heard of the gender *pay* gap, referring to the roughly 82 cents women earn for every $1 earned by men. What has not garnered as much attention are the *wealth* gaps that exist: It’s reported that US women own just 32 cents per $1 of male wealth—and this number is even lower for black and Latina women. Our guest Renée Baker, Head Advisor Inclusion Networks at Raymond James and TEDx Speaker, will share takeaways from her recent TED Talk and actionable ideas on how we can work to close these gaps. 

Money decisions are inherently messy, because we are humans, not robots. As humans, we have brains that haven’t changed in thousands of years, and yet must reconcile the here-and-now with an uncertain future. Guest Neil Bage, co-founder of Shaping Wealth, is an applied behavioral science specialist working to bridge theory and the real world to help us make better money moves.  We discuss the problem with goals, how terrible we are at predicting the future, and how we can use these insights when planning for our futures and major transitions like retirement.