Saving on the Cost of College with Brad Baldridge

Saving on the Cost of College with Brad Baldridge

Author: Chris Hutchins November 27, 2024 Duration: 1:00:44
#203: Learn to save on the cost for college. Chris and college funding expert Brad Baldridge discuss common mistakes, leveraging 529 plans and tax benefits, types of financial aid, creative tactics to maximize savings, and much more. Brad Baldridge, founder of Baldridge College Solutions and Taming the High Cost of College, is a Certified Financial Planner® who has helped hundreds of families plan and pay for college, their retirement, and more. Link to Full Show Notes: https://chrishutchins.com/saving-money-on-college-brad-baldridge Partner Deals Maui Nui: 20% off the most nutrient-dense red meat with code ALLTHEHACKS Vuori: 20% off the most comfortable performance apparel I've ever worn Daffy: Free $25 to give to the charity of your choice Cultural Care: Get $250 off flexible childcare with international au pairs DeleteMe: 20% off removing your personal info from the web For all the deals, discounts and promo codes from our partners, go to: chrishutchins.com/deals Resources Mentioned Brad Baldridge: Website | Newsletter Free Scholarship Guide for Busy Parents Free Financial Aid Calculator 529 Plan Investment Options: A Quick Guide for Parents 7 Quick Tips for FAFSA Season The Best Student Loan Options for 2024-25 3 Last-Minute Strategies to Save on College Costs CSS Profile: Everything You Need to Know to Complete the CSS Profile Wealthfront: 529 Plan Rakuten ($40 for new members) Credit Cards: Rise Student Card Robinhood Gold Card U.S. Bank Smartly Card Gift of College Gift Cards CardPointers Pro (50% off here) ATH Podcast: Membership Chris' Newsletter Email us for questions, tips, deals and feedback Full Show Notes (00:00) Introduction (02:08) Biggest Mistakes People Make When Planning to Pay for College (03:18) Early Stage Planning vs. Late Stage Planning (05:56) Tax Benefits & Advantages for College Savings (16:40) How Your Assets Impact/Doesn’t Impact Need-Based Financial Aid (18:01) Recent Big Change On The FAFSA (22:41) What Is The CSS Profile? (27:31) The Different Types of Financial Aid (30:24) How to Plan for Scholarships (35:50) Transferring from A Local Community College to A Competitive College (37:49) Saving Strategies for Families with Higher Income (42:57) Ways to Utilize Student Loans (48:13) Student Loan Forgiveness Programs (50:36) Brad’s Final Takeaway (51:57) How Much Money Can Families Save on College Costs? (52:36) Where to Find Brad & His Services (53:16) Utilizing Credit Cards for College Tuition (55:08) How to Maximize Gift of College Gift Cards (1:03:35) Brad’s Disclosure Connect with Chris Newsletter | Membership | Twitter | Instagram | LinkedIn Editor’s Note: The content on this page is accurate as of the posting date; however, some of our partner offers may have expired. Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ever feel like there's a smarter, more efficient way to navigate your finances, your travels, and your daily routines? That's the core question driving All the Hacks: Money, Points & Life. Hosted by Chris Hutchins, this podcast is built on a simple, powerful idea: maximizing value doesn't mean sacrificing enjoyment. Instead, it's about the strategic choices that free up resources-both money and time-for what truly matters. Chris approaches life as a series of systems to be optimized, drawing from his own experience saving millions through meticulous analysis. The conversations here are practical and wide-ranging, moving seamlessly from credit card points strategies and investment philosophies to the less tangible hacks for personal fulfillment. You'll hear from a diverse roster of experts and icons, including Tim Ferriss, Tony Hawk, Codie Sanchez, and Gary Vaynerchuk, who all bring their unique perspectives on building wealth and designing a compelling life. Each episode feels like a focused workshop, offering actionable advice you can use immediately, whether it's planning a luxury vacation for a fraction of the cost or rethinking your approach to career and leisure. This isn't just about frugality; it's about unlocking freedom and excitement through smarter decisions. Tune in for a consistently insightful blend of tactical moves and deeper conversations that challenge the conventional trade-offs between spending, saving, and living well.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

All the Hacks: Money, Points & Life
Podcast Episodes
The Custom Everything Era with Kevin Rose [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:07:14
#275: Chris and Kevin dig into how they're actually using AI tools in their daily lives right now. They explore real-world AI use cases, the tradeoffs of sharing personal data, the collapse of trust online, and what all…
The Surprising History of Points and Miles [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:25
#274: Chris walks through the complete history of points and miles and breaks down the $140 billion machine behind them, so you can get more out of every point you earn. He covers the legal accidents that made credit car…
Stop Overthinking and Start Deciding with Derek Sivers [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:52:11
#273: Learn to stop overthinking and make better decisions. Chris and Derek discuss how optimizing can go wrong, a coin flip trick for making decisions, journaling as a superpower, how your actions might reveal what you…
My Process for Booking Travel with Points & Miles [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 54:29
#272: Learn how to turn your points into significantly better travel experiences by following a simple, repeatable system. We cover how to plan, find award availability, choose the right tools, and decide between portals…
How to Actually Live the Life You're Optimizing For with Sahil Bloom [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:41
#271: Learn why over-optimizing your life can quietly destroy the things you actually care about. Chris and Sahil explore the doorman fallacy, why big life decisions should happen fast, how to use AI as a thinking partne…
Ski Trip Mishaps, AI Interior Design, Reflecting on Life and More [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:08:15
#270: Chris and Amy discuss lessons from three ski trips with kids, using AI to redesign rooms on a budget, their favorite new gadgets, navigating high-deductible health plans, and more. Link to Full Show Notes: https://…
Credit Cards: What's in My Wallet for 2026 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:14:45
#267: Chris reviews his credit card lineup for 2026, sharing which cards he's keeping and canceling and why. He also covers how to evaluate annual fees, the best cards across major spending categories, and the apps he us…
Why Change Is Hard and How to Make It Your Advantage with Maya Shankar [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:22
#266: Chris and Maya break down the science-backed tools that make change easier and more intentional. They explore why most people misunderstand change, how to anchor your identity to your deeper “why,” and practical to…