How Families Reduce College Costs Without Sacrificing Retirement | Terry Wheeler on Tax Strategies

How Families Reduce College Costs Without Sacrificing Retirement | Terry Wheeler on Tax Strategies

From Parents: Is Your Teen College Ready? by Shellee Howard

May 28, 2026 · 24 min · Episode 143

About this episode

Terry Wheeler discusses strategies for families to reduce college costs while safeguarding retirement and avoiding debt.

🎙️ In this episode of Parents: Is Your Teen College Ready?, Shellee Howard welcomes wealth strategist and tax attorney Terry Wheeler for a powerful conversation about how families can reduce college costs without sacrificing retirement or taking on unnecessary debt. 💡 As a father of five, including triplets preparing for college, Terry understands firsthand the financial pressure families face. Drawing from decades of experience in wealth strategy, tax law, and retirement planning, he shares how parents can legally uncover hidden financial opportunities to help pay for college while protecting their long term financial future. 📚 Parents will learn how proactive tax planning, FAFSA strategy, scholarships, and retirement planning can work together to create a smarter path forward. Shellee and Terry also discuss why college planning should be approached like a business decision instead of an emotional one, and why it is never too late to start building a strategy. 🏡 This episode also explores practical strategies involving business ownership, side hustles, short term rentals, and the Augusta Rule, helping families understand that there may be more financial options available…

People in this episode

Host: Shellee Howard

Guest: Terry Wheeler

Topics covered

  • college costs
  • retirement planning
  • tax strategies
  • financial planning
  • scholarships
  • wealth strategy

Keywords

  • college planning
  • financial opportunities
  • tax planning
  • business ownership
  • side hustles
  • short term rentals
  • Augusta Rule

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: FAFSA

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