About this episode

The episode discusses the financial implications of college for 2026 graduates and strategies for maximizing solo 401(k) contributions.

Learn what 2026 grads could borrow for college and how solo 401(k) contributions can build retirement wealth. How much could it cost to go to college in 2026, and is a four-year degree still a smart financial move? Hosts Sean Pyles, CFP®, and Elizabeth Ayoola dig into a new NerdWallet analysis of federal data with senior news writer Anna Helhoski and NerdWallet data writer Erin El Issa. They explore why most Americans say the federal student loan system feels broken even as they still see college as worthwhile, the rising appeal of the trades, how AI is shifting the way teens think about majors and careers, and what new borrowers could expect from the federal repayment options rolling out July 1. Then, Ryan Sterling, wealth advisor at NerdWallet Wealth Partners, joins Sean and Elizabeth to help answer a listener's question about how to split solo 401(k) contributions between the employer and employee sides of the account to maximize retirement savings. They discuss how solo 401(k)s differ from standard workplace plans, how to think about the contribution split if you also have a W-2 job, when traditional versus Roth contributions could make more sense, how solo 401(k)s stack up…

People in this episode

Hosts: Sean Pyles, Elizabeth Ayoola

Guest: Ryan Sterling

Topics covered

• college costs
• student loans
• retirement savings
• solo 401(k)
• financial planning
• trades vs degrees
• AI in education

Keywords

• college worth
• student loans
• solo 401(k)
• retirement wealth
• financial analysis
• trades
• AI impact

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: NerdWallet, NerdWallet Wealth Partners, NerdWallet Inc.

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