Is tuition insurance worth it?

Pursuing a college education involves a significant investment. Case in point: the average annual tuition for public in-state four-year universities is $10,740, on average, while public four-year out-of-state university tuition costs are $25,760 and private four-year universities charge around $38,070, per College Board data for the 2021-2022 academic year.

Considering these expenses, the worst-case scenario for families is when their student has to withdraw from school after these costs have been paid. While you might get a refund, it may not be the full amount paid for tuition, fees, room and board, and other expenses. In fact, the entire amount may have to be forfeited.

Fortunately, a form of protection exists in tuition insurance, which will pay out in particular situations and serve as a valuable financial safety net for college students and their families if they have to pull out of school. Learn more about tuition insurance, what it covers and doesn’t cover, who offers it, and if it’s a worthy investment by reading my latest article for Forbes Advisor, available here.

You're well covered with a pergola

Want to create an eye-catching outdoor living space with a shady area for sitting and relaxing? There are several structures you can consider, including a pavilion, gazebo, arbor, or pergola. What is a pergola, you ask? Picture an outdoor structure with a lattice-style roof that may be ideal for your backyard or garden.

Learn more about the differences between pergolas and other outdoor living structures, how to build a pergola, what you can expect to pay for one, and if a pergola is worth the investment by reading my latest article for Ownerly.com, available here.

Cineversary podcast honors 100th birthday of Safety Last with Richard Correll and Suzanne Lloyd

Richard Correll and Suzanne Lloyd

In Cineversary podcast episode #58, host Erik Martin honors the 100th birthday of the timeless silent comedy Safety Last, starring Harold Lloyd, by speaking with Richard Correll, chief archivist for the Lloyd Trust, and Suzanne Lloyd, Harold’s granddaughter and president of Harold Lloyd Entertainment. Erik and his guests assess this film from a top-floor view and examine why Safety Last is worthy of celebration a century later, the ways it has stood the test of time, its influence on pop culture, and more.

To listen to this episode, click here or click the "play" button on the embedded streaming player below. Or, you can stream, download, or subscribe to Cineversary wherever you get your podcasts, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Audible, Castbox, Google Podcasts, Pocket Casts, PodBean, RadioPublic, and Overcast.

Learn more about the Cineversary podcast at Cineversary.com and email show comments or suggestions to cineversarypodcast@gmail.com.

Credit card or HELOC: Which financing option is better?

Whether you’re looking to fund a home improvement project, pay off high-interest debt, or have a major expense coming up, a home equity line of credit (HELOC) or a credit card could be a worthy funding choice.

In my newest piece for The Mortgage Reports, available here, I break down the pros and cons, eligibility requirements, and good candidates for a HELOC vs. credit card.