Thinking Ahead: Discovering the Truth about Careers, College, and Finance

Community College… far from being just the basis for a hit TV show with quirky characters, it is often a great way to get your foot into the door and make affordable and actionable changes to your life. In today’s episode, I discuss the difference between the state university systems and community colleges, and how you can potentially leverage both to achieve your goals quicker. 

Sources:

https://irsc.edu/search-programs/ (Indian River State College Programs)

https://rose.edu/programs/ (Rose State College)

https://www.ruso.edu/ (Regional University System of Oklahoma)

https://okhighered.org/ (Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education)

https://www.fldoe.org/schools/higher-ed/fl-college-system/about-us/colleges.stml (FL Community Colleges)

https://www.flbog.edu/ (State University System of Florida)

https://www.wtcsystem.edu/about/wtcs-board/ (Wisconsin 2 year board)

BOSTON AREA:
Bunker Hill Community College: https://www.bhcc.edu/tuition/;

Boston Univ:  https://www.bu.edu/finaid/undergraduate-students/undergraduate/; 

UMass-Boston: https://www.umb.edu/bursar/tuition-fees/tuition-mandatory-fees/

Niche.com

#ChooseYourOwnAdventure 

Questions? Comments? Suggestions? I want to hear from you!

April 28, 2026: Do you like options? The more the merrier, right? The Department of Education has a different idea bout that when it comes to student loan repayment. In fact, they’re changing the standards and expectations when it comes to repayment in general. Will the new plans on July 1st save higher education and borrowers? Or are they trying to treat a symptom of the bigger cost of rising education? 

Just have your knowledge of T.R.A.P. (Tiered or Repayment Assistance Plans)...

https://studentaid.gov/announcements-events/idr-court-actions

https://www.congress.gov/crs-product/IF13075

https://www.nerdwallet.com/student-loans/learn/what-is-the-new-repayment-assistance-plan-rap-for-student-loans

https://www.ed.gov/laws-and-policy/higher-education-laws-and-policy/higher-education-policy/negotiated-rulemaking-for-higher-education-2025-2026

https://www.studentloanplanner.com/repayment-assistance-plan-rap-calculator/

https://thecollegeinvestor.com/58820/repayment-assistance-plan-rap-student-loan-calculator/

Music by NEST-BEATZ Official from Pixabay
Music by Aliabbas Abasov from Pixabay

Music by OctoSound from Pixabay

#StudentLoans #LoanRepayment 

Questions? Comments? Suggestions? I want to hear from you!

EDIT: I accidentally uploaded the wrong audio the first time, so if you notice that it's a repeat episode please let me know and I'll reach out to the platform so that all files are updated. 

April 16, 2026: One of the most frustrating and anxiety riddled facts about student loans is the repayment terms. And now the game has changed… again. Today, I take another check-up on the student loan terms and updates from the US Department of Education. With SAVE officially out of the picture, and a July 1 deadline looming, decisions must be made by borrowers. Court rulings and beautiful bills aside, you’ll want to listen whether you’re in repayment, or planning to take out a student loan. 

Sources:

https://studentaid.gov/announcements-events/idr-court-actions

https://www.congress.gov/crs-product/IF13075

https://www.nerdwallet.com/student-loans/learn/what-is-the-new-repayment-assistance-plan-rap-for-student-loans

https://www.cnbc.com/2026/03/10/save-plan-for-student-loan-borrowers-is-over-federal-appeals-court-.html

https://www.forbes.com/sites/adamminsky/2026/02/27/student-loans-in-save-plan-thrust-into-new-uncertainty-after-major-court-ruling/

AFT v Dept of Ed: https://clearinghouse.net/case/46244/

https://www.studentloanplanner.com/repayment-assistance-plan-rap-calculator/

https://thecollegeinvestor.com/58820/repayment-assistance-plan-rap-student-loan-calculator/

 Questions or Comments? [email protected] 

#StudentLoans  #LoanRepayment

Questions? Comments? Suggestions? I want to hear from you!

The talking heads say that things are both fantastic and terrible in the job market. What’s the reality? I talk to job seekers, some of which aren’t the first type you’d think to find at a career fair, which speaks to the changing American labor market. 

EDIT: I recorded this episode before the ramp-up of the Iran War, but in my opinion the job market and prices will be affected for a while. 

*** Occupational Outlook Handbook**
https://www.bls.gov/ooh/

SOURCES:

https://blog.theinterviewguys.com/how-many-applications-it-takes-to-get-hired-in-2025/

https://www.glassdoor.com/blog/beyond-online-applications-job-search/

https://www.glassdoor.com/blog/5-job-search-strategies-madeline-mann/

https://veteran.employflorida.com/vosnet/Default.aspx##

https://www.dol.gov/agencies/vets

https://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.t09.htm

https://www.self.inc/info/americans-with-two-or-more-jobs/

https://www.statista.com/chart/35609/number-of-americans-who-have-multiple-jobs/

https://www.forbes.com/sites/carolinecastrillon/2025/10/21/career-change-after-50-why-midlife-is-the-best-time-to-pivot/

https://www.aarp.org/work/careers/50s-career-shift/

#JobSeekers #ItsHardOutHere 

Questions? Comments? Suggestions? I want to hear from you!

The first time anybody brings up college, university, or getting degree there is one lingering question that a lot of folks have… how do I pay for all this? In today’s episode, we get into the many ways of financing your post-secondary education, as well as some methods that think outside the box. 

This is Part 2 of a 2-part series.

"Too Cool" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
 Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Sources:

https://www.usnews.com/education/best-colleges/paying-for-college/slideshows/tuition-free-colleges

https://www.usnews.com/education/articles/completing-the-css-profile-everything-you-need-to-know

https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p970.pdf

Live Better U: Walmart’s Education & Career Benefits

https://studentaid.gov/understand-aid/types/grants/pell

https://finaid.org/scholarships/

https://www.sofi.com/learn/content/how-to-pay-for-college-without-loans-or-financial-aid/

#PayingForCollege #FundingHigherEducation

Questions? Comments? Suggestions? I want to hear from you!

The first time anybody brings up college, university, or getting degree there is one lingering question that a lot of folks have… how do I pay for all this? In today’s episode, we get into the many ways of financing your post-secondary education,  whether it's college, university, or vocational school. 

#PayingForCollege #FinancingHigherEducation 

Links/Sources:

https://www.usnews.com/education/best-colleges/paying-for-college/slideshows/tuition-free-colleges

https://www.usnews.com/education/articles/completing-the-css-profile-everything-you-need-to-know

https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p970.pdf

Live Better U: Walmart’s Education & Career Benefits

https://www.myfloridaprepaid.com/

Questions? Comments? Suggestions? I want to hear from you!

When it comes to choosing a college, we try to base our decisions on where we really want to go. When it comes to choosing a job, we tend to base our decisions on who will pay us more. What if there are other factors that make these searches more similar than you think? I’ll discuss those in today’s episode including: Location, Size, Popularity, Incentives, and more…

#GameOfLife #LocationLocationLocation

www.glassdoor.com

www.niche.com

https://www.onlineu.com/

www.gradreports.com (A bit spammy with trying to get your info)

https://www.bestcolleges.com/ (Online only schools)

Questions? Comments? Suggestions? I want to hear from you!

2026 has arrived, and with that some new goals as well as some old goals with new revisions. And just as you have to take care in choosing your goals, you have to take care in choosing your interests, college major, career path, and even the jobs you apply to. 

#Goals2026 #WhatTheFocus

WORKSHEET: Know Thyself

WORKSHEET: Friend Interview

Questions? Comments? Suggestions? I want to hear from you!

In this final episode of 2025, I go over some of the changes that recently came out from the Department of Education and the RISE (Reimagining and Improving Student Education Committee) meetings, and how that could impact your borrowing options in 2026. After all, the show is called “Thinking Ahead”. 

#StudentLoanUpdate, #FederalStudentAid 

Sources:

ASSOCIATION OF AMERICAN MEDICAL COLLEGES: https://www.aamc.org/

https://studentaid.gov/ 

https://www.ed.gov/laws-and-policy/higher-education-laws-and-policy/higher-education-policy/negotiated-rulemaking-for-higher-education-2025-2026

https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-34/subtitle-B/chapter-VI/part-674/subpart-A/section-674.1

https://www.congress.gov/crs-product/IN12585

https://studentaccounts.ucf.edu/tf-doctorofmedicine/

https://studentaid.gov/announcements-events/idr-court-actions

Questions? Comments? Suggestions? I want to hear from you!

The holiday season is a time of friends, family… and worrying about finances.
 In this episode, I discuss why everything is NOT a money problem, even when it feels like it. 

In case you are dealing with money issues, here is some recommended reading:

• https://www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com/
• https://www.yourmentalwealth.com/
• Dave Ramsey’s “The Total Money Makeover”

#PovertyMindset, #Choices 

Questions? Comments? Suggestions? I want to hear from you!