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.

How to prevent your car from being stolen

Here’s an alarming thought that should cause you to pause as a driver and car owner: Car theft is rising.

In fact, more than 1 million vehicles were stolen in 2022, representing a 7% increase over 2021 and the most thefts since 2008, according to fresh data from the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB). Disturbingly, more than 250,000 auto thefts were reported in the fourth quarter of 2022 alone. The estimated total vehicle theft losses measured last year is $8.9 billion.

Learn more about states with the highest incidences of car theft, the top 10 most stolen vehicles, how to safeguard against car theft, and what to do if you are the victim of a stolen car by reading my newest article for Carinsurance.com, available here.

Execute a better ground game

It’s never too early to give thought to your home’s curb appeal and the condition and cosmetic appeal of your yard and grounds. If you want to be prouder of the home you own and catch the eye of visitors and passersby, it pays to devote extra focus to landscaping improvements in 2023. Consider, for example, how outdoor spaces have become increasingly important to many homeowners, especially those seeking to amplify al fresco entertainment and backyard parties as well as ecologically-minded Americans.

Learn more about landscape upgrades you can make this year by reading my article on the topic, published in the Daily Herald, available here.