The College Investor Audio Show The College Investor

Around 80% of mortgage borrowers in the United States have an escrow or impound account. In fact, these accounts are required by some lenders.
These accounts hold money on behalf of the buyer to ensure certain payments are made on time - typically homeowners insurance and property taxes. This can help reduce liability and risk lenders take on, giving buyers access to better financing options.
What is an escrow or impound account? Is it required? More importantly, how do you cancel an escrow or impound account if you don’t actually need it? This article will dive into all of those questions to help you figure out whether or not an escrow account is a good move for you.

When you think of financial scams, you may think of Bernie Madoff and Nigerian Princes. But if you listen to enough “financial experts” on YouTube and TikTok, you may hear that the humble 401(k) is a scam.
A 401(k) is a tax-advantaged retirement investment account offered by many employers. It's an account so basic that it may be a victim of its own success. Has the 401(k) scammed aspiring retirees out of their hard-earned money? We don’t think so, but we will explain why the account is being so harshly maligned.

Choosing the right school for you can be difficult. Not only does the decision come while you’re still fairly young, but it can also be heavily influenced by external factors that end up not aligning with what you want. Take it from someone who’s been there.
In fact, about one-third of college students transfer schools at some point before finishing their degree. And total transfers represented over 13% of all continuing and returning undergraduates last year.
This article walks through the top reasons students choose to transfer, how to identify when the time is right, and what to do to set yourself up for success at a new school.

The tax deadline is almost here! Here are some last minute tax reminders if you're still working on filing your taxes.
Although it might not be the most enjoyable financial task, it's a necessary obligation that we each undertake every year. And if you use great tax software, filing taxes doesn’t take as much time as you may dread.
But tax filing time isn’t only about filing returns. There are things you can do today to help you save money on your tax bill, and help you save time on filing.
Here are the best last-minute tax tips to consider this season.

There are many benefits to receiving one or more private scholarships. It eases the financial burden of getting a college degree and minimizes the need for student loans. And it allows you to focus on your studies while at school. 
But scholarship applicants can face several potential pitfalls along the way. The odds of winning scholarships are often low, and you must be mindful of scholarship scams, displacement, and scholarship taxes. 
By learning how to anticipate and respond to these scholarship gotchas, you can increase your chances of scholarship success. This article guides you through the many considerations you need to make before applying for scholarships, so you can feel more confident throughout the process. 

The short answer is no, you cannot use a 529 plan to pay for SAT prep. 
However, all is not lost. While SAT prep courses can be expensive, they don't have to be. There are affordable options to help you prepare for the SAT. Here's what you need to know