In today’s episode, we have another distinguished guest: Robert Farrington. Robert is the creator of thecollegeinvestor.com, a website dedicated to helping people learn about student loans. Throughout the episode, we cover numerous aspects of higher education, including why college is so expensive, how online education affects your college experience and things you should consider before obtaining a student loan. Stay tuned until the end of the episode, where we talk about common mistakes people make in the process of getting a student loan.
Show Notes
[01:28] Robert’s Background – Robert talks about how he helps people learn about student loans and get out of student loan debt.
[04:27] Remote Education Related Challenges – In recent months, many colleges were forced to bring their education to online platforms. This trend introduced some unique challenges to students. Robert gets into details of these challenges and how to overcome them.
[10:25] How to Utilize Networking - How students can connect with people in the industry to get help with decisions regarding their college education.
[15:14] Why is College Expensive? – Robert dives into the history of college education in the USA and how college education gradually became expensive.
[21:47] The Demand for Trade Skills – In recent years, there has been an increase in opportunities for skilled workers. Robers explains why these opportunities often go unnoticed and how to decide whether the trade route is better for you than going to college.
[26:47] Saving for Higher Education – Robert shares his take on what parents should consider before starting a 529 plan for their children’s college education.
[33:27] Other Means of Saving – Other ways you can save money for your children’s college education.
[36:10] Dealing With Student Loans – Robert shares his take on the current state of the student loan programs and possibilities of student loan forgiveness.
[43:18] Can College Be Free? – Robert discusses the feasibility of making college education free or wiping out all student debt.
[46:38] Misconceptions Around Paying for College – A few misconceptions around funding for college and common mistakes people make when they apply for a student loan.
[55:12] Final Thoughts – Grant and Robert review several tools you can use to make the loan payment process easier for you and what to expect in the next few months with regards to student loan payments.
Resources
Robert’s Website: thecollegeinvestor.com
Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF): studentaid.gov/manage-loans/forgiveness-cancellation/public-service
An Introduction to 529 Plans: https://www.sec.gov/reportspubs/investor-publications/investorpubsintro529htm.html