Category Archives: financial planning

college planning, financial aid, financial planning, student loans

Federal Student Loan Changes: What Parents Need to Know in 2026

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federal student loan changes

Paying for college has never been simple, and recent changes to federal student loan programs have made it even more important for families to understand their options before borrowing.

Whether you’re a parent considering a Parent PLUS Loan or a student preparing to accept federal loans, knowing what’s changed can help you make smarter financial decisions that could save thousands of dollars over the life of a loan.

Here are the most important federal student loan changes families should know.

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college guidance, college planning, college prep, financial planning, parenting, scholarships

How to Win College Scholarships: A Parent’s Review of Monica Matthews’ Scholarship Guide

how to win college scholarships

There are very few things that get me more excited than finding a resource that can help families save money on college. After years of helping parents navigate the college admissions process, I know one thing is true: paying for college is one of the biggest sources of stress for families.

Whether you’ve been saving since your child was born or you’re wondering how you’ll make college affordable, every scholarship dollar matters. Every scholarship your student earns is one less dollar you’ll have to borrow, pay out of pocket, or worry about later.

That’s why I was so impressed with Monica Matthews’ How to Win College Scholarships: A Guide for Parents in 10 Easy Steps.

What I love most about Monica is that she’s one of us: a parent who walked this road herself. She wasn’t a financial aid expert or scholarship consultant when she started. She was simply a mom with a college-bound son and a determination to find a way to make his education affordable without taking on overwhelming debt.

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college costs, college planning, FAFSA, financial aid, financial planning, Resources

25 Colleges That Offer Full-Ride Financial Aid Based on Family Income (2026 Guide)

full-ride financial aid

If you’re worried that your family’s income is too low to afford college, here’s some encouraging news: many colleges now guarantee free tuition—or even a completely free education—for students whose families fall below certain income thresholds.

These programs are different from merit scholarships. Instead of rewarding grades or test scores alone, they’re designed to make college affordable based on financial need.

The best part? Some colleges cover tuition only, while others provide full-ride financial aid that includes tuition, housing, meals, books, and even personal expenses.

If you’re creating your college list, these schools deserve a close look.

Continue reading 25 Colleges That Offer Full-Ride Financial Aid Based on Family Income (2026 Guide) →
financial aid, financial planning, in the news, Student debt, student loans

How the One Big Beautiful Bill Changes the Way Families Pay for College in 2026

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one big beautiful bill

For years, many families relied on federal student loans to bridge the gap between financial aid and the true cost of college. If scholarships, grants, savings, and federal student loans weren’t enough, parents often turned to Parent PLUS Loans to cover the remaining balance.

That strategy is about to change.

Starting on July 1, 2026, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) introduces the most significant changes to federal student loans in decades. While many headlines have focused on new loan limits and repayment plans, the real story is how these changes will affect the way families plan, budget, and pay for college.

If you have a child entering college in the next few years, now is the time to rethink your college financing strategy.

Continue reading How the One Big Beautiful Bill Changes the Way Families Pay for College in 2026 →
college costs, college guidance, college planning, financial planning

4 Smart Ways to Pay for College

pay for college

It is never too early to start planning for college expenses. Going to college is an important step to level up your children’s academic journey and career prospects, and it can play a major role in their social life and approach to the world. 

However, college comes with high costs: according to estimations, the average cost of college in the United States is $38,270 per student per year! In this guide, we’ll look at ways to prepare your finances for such an important step and give four smart ways to pay for college.

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FAFSA, financial aid, financial planning, merit aid, Resources, Student debt, student loans

Financial Aid Explained for Parents: FAFSA, Student Loans, Grants, Merit Aid & Award Letters

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For many families, understanding financial aid feels more stressful than the college application process itself. Between unfamiliar terminology, changing FAFSA rules, and confusing award letters, parents often struggle to determine what college will actually cost.

This guide breaks down how financial aid works, what each type of aid means, and how parents can confidently compare college offers.

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529 plans, FAFSA, financial planning, Resources

529 Plans Explained: Smart College Savings

529 plans

Every year, parents suddenly start searching the term “529 plans”. Search interest tends to spike around tax season, policy announcements, or financial planning milestones, and that surge tells an important story.

Parents aren’t just curious. They’re actively looking for smart ways to save for college while navigating rising tuition, changing rules, and long-term family finances.

If you’ve recently found yourself wondering whether a 529 plan makes sense, or if you’re revisiting your savings strategy, you’re right on schedule. These spikes in attention often coincide with moments when families pause to reassess their financial priorities. The key is turning that moment of interest into informed action.

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college costs, college guidance, college planning, financial planning, parenting, Student debt

Is College Worth It? A Parent’s Guide to College ROI and Cost

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is college worth it

If you’ve found yourself Googling “Is college worth it?” or “college ROI vs student debt,” you’re not alone.

As 2026 approaches, more parents and students are asking important questions. As college costs keep rising, parents nationwide are searching for answers about college ROI, student loan debt, and whether a degree still offers long-term value. For families with college-bound teens, understanding the true cost of college, and what return you can realistically expect, has become one of the most crucial financial decisions parents will make.

Let’s honestly discuss what “return on investment” truly means when it comes to college and how parents can evaluate it without turning the process into a math problem that takes away the joy of this milestone.

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financial planning, online learning, parenting

How Online Learning Can Transform Your Financial Habits

online learning

There are a few tried and tested ways to transform your financial habits, but no one ever really thinks about how online learning can help. There are many advantages to learning online that help with money, including learning how to budget better, and greater freedom and flexibility.

Better Financial Literacy

You can use online courses to learn the basics of financial literacy with concepts like compound interest, inflation, and even risk management. When you have foundational knowledge like this, the rest kind of falls into place and becomes much clearer. As a result, you can make informed decisions based on data and experience instead of feeling. The College Investor and other sites like it also have tons of informative articles you can use to get a head start.

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admissions, college costs, college planning, financial aid, financial planning

How Rising Tuition Is Reshaping What College Costs

college costs

If you’re the parent of a college-bound teen, you’ve probably heard the same thing again and again: college costs are rising. Tuition goes up. Fees go up. Housing and meal plans? Also up. And if you’ve ever found yourself staring at those numbers, wondering how families are expected to keep up, you’re definitely not alone.

Tuition increases are changing the entire college-planning conversation for families. Understanding why it’s happening and what it means for your teen’s future can help you plan more confidently.

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