Equity/Assets/Ownership Is The American Dream!

The Board game of life and the pursuit of becoming financially debt free. M.B.D
Contrary to everything you’ve ever heard about higher education, the cost of going to college is slowly dropping. While eye-watering sticker price increases at top schools have stolen headlines and triggered a cacophony of grumblings about “the state of things,” the actual price students pay to get a bachelor’s degree has gone down over the last decade, according to a report released last week from the College Board.
The numbers: Once you factor in inflation and grants awarded to students, the average net cost of tuition and fees for an in-state freshman attending a four-year public university was $2,480 for the 2024–2025 school year—a 40% drop from $4,140 in 2014–2015.
About half of the students who graduated last year finished their degrees without debt, compared to two-fifths of graduates in 2013. Private school tuition has declined by 12% in the last decade.
The average net price for a year of private college post-financial aid awards was around $16,510 this year, compared to $18,680 during the school year beginning in 2014.
What happened? With more colleges competing for a smaller pool of prospective students, schools have been forced to tamp down tuition. More state and federal funding flowing into universities following the 2008 financial crisis hasn’t hurt, either. Plus, many colleges got an extra Covid-era boost in funds.
Still not cheap In an effort to avoid sounding like the Lucille Bluth banana meme , it’s important to note that, yes, college is still expensive. For every $1,000 spent by US households last year, $12 of it went to college tuition alone, according to a Bureau of Labor Statistics analysis. And these costs don’t include room and board or hidden costs like textbooks.
Bottom line: The report is a (dim and maybe flickering) ray of light in the gloomy narrative of unaffordable higher ed.—MM

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Retire Me Now Planning Made Simple

January 7, 2025

Given these findings, it’s clear that achieving a comfortable retirement requires careful planning, consistent saving and strategic investment decisions. Here are key strategies to consider: Parents educate your children early. Retirement savings early! Make regular contributions, even if they are small, as they can accumulate significantly over time. The older you get. Reduce your debt reduction. Less is more. Start selling and down sizing. Consider paying off mortgages before retirement to decrease monthly expenses. Consult with Xcapital28 for a personalized and tailored portfolio. Life consulting can help in creating a direct approach and maximize returns. Contribute the maximum amount to retirement accounts like 401(k)s and individual retirement accounts (IRAs) to take full advantage of tax benefits Cash for pennies pledge account. Diversify your portfolio across various asset and tax benefiting to reduce and mitigate risk. Include stocks, bonds, real estate and other alternative investments like art, which has seen has seen a 13.8% annualized return, surpassing the 10.2% from the S&P 500. There is no such thing as and emergency fund. Just having access to funds creates no emergency way of thinking. Learn how to cover unexpected expenses. This prevents the need to withdraw from retirement savings prematurely. Pull equity much sooner before selling off assets Money Pickle is the easiest way to consider hiring a matched financial advisor tailored to your specific goals. If you're ready to invest in the long-term financial well-being of you and your family, book a video call with a vetted professional committed to your growth today. Book a call with a coach fromXCAPITAL28.

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Opening Up a Roth Retirement Account is a Must

January 7, 2025

Retirement is a mandatory goal and should be added to your budget and for many Americans, achieving the ideal savings target remains elusive for many. The average American retiree had about $170,726 in retirement savings in 2023, Only 12% of retirees have achieved or exceeded this recommended savings amount.