- Shellee Howard explained how her experience guiding her own children to graduate college debt-free inspired her career as an independent college consultant.
- She described why high school guidance counselors are often unable to provide comprehensive college planning due to overcrowding and competing responsibilities.
- The discussion emphasized starting college preparation early by helping students identify their core values, strengths, and long-term interests rather than focusing only on grades or test scores.
- Shellee stressed that college readiness is about preparing for adulthood, not chasing prestige or comparing against other families.
- We explore how poor financial literacy leads many students to take on unnecessary debt without understanding return on investment.
- Shellee argued that college is a business decision and should be evaluated like an investment, with scholarships, fit, and outcomes prioritized over name recognition alone.
- Many students are not ready at 18 to make high-stakes decisions and why exploration through service, internships, and extracurriculars matters.
- The value of college branding versus actual educational and career outcomes are debated, with examples showing that different paths work for different students.
- Shellee outlined key timing considerations, including the critical importance of middle school and early high school years for maximizing opportunity and financial aid.
- Parents were encouraged to stay actively involved in guiding their children rather than leaving major financial and life decisions to teenagers.
College Without Crushing Debt with Shellee Howard
Money Tree Investing
Shellee Howard is on the show today to talk how to do college without crushign debt for your kids. She shares how her journey as a “mom on a mission” led her to help families navigate the college process strategically, emphasizing early preparation, self-discovery, and return on investment rather than prestige alone. She explains why overcrowded school counselors fall short, how students should clarify their values, talents, and career goals before choosing colleges, and why college should be viewed as a business decision and a stepping stone to adulthood, and not a status symbol. With the...
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The Best Ways to Invest in the Run It Hot Economy
Money Tree Investing
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Secret Franchising Profits For Investors
Money Tree Investing
Barbara Friedberg | Follow on Facebook: Follow LinkedIn: Follow on Twitter/X: For more information, visit the show notes at
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2026 Predictions... This is What Will Outperform in 2026
Money Tree Investing
Douglas Heagren | Follow on Facebook: Follow LinkedIn: Follow on Twitter/X: For more information, visit the show notes at
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Money Tree Investing
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Why AI Hype and Clickbait Are Failing Serious Business Owners with Elliot Holland
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Elliot Holland joins us to explore the realities of building and sustaining a high-quality, trust-driven professional business in an era dominated by AI hype, declining marketing efficiency, and algorithmic noise. We discuss skepticism around AI’s real-world impact especially in high-stakes financial decisions. We also talk marketing and content strategy, why sensationalism and clickbait may win algorithms but will always repel discerning clients. We also unpack our frustrations with modern marketing platforms like Google, Facebook, and HubSpot as they grow increasingly expensive and...
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Today we're sharing the tax loss selling secrets you need to know before 2026! We also talk understanding personal strengths and psychological limits in investing. It's good to avoid shiny-object strategies like day trading and prioritize risk management through diversification. We explore how market structure, valuations, and historical data suggest future returns may be lower and more volatile, making stress-testing portfolios and aligning risk with temperament essential. Remember long-term success comes from discipline, education, adaptability, and thoughtful strategy rather than chasing...
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Sallyann Della Casa, CEO Dubai-based “community as a service” GLEAC, joins us to share her personal journey and how collaborative leadership will thrive in our AI-drive future. She explains how access to networks, proximity to experience, and “quiet capital” are often more powerful than credentials alone in shaping opportunity, leadership, and career outcomes. We explore inequality driven by access rather than ability, leadership and gender mental models, and examines why modern society struggles to produce widely respected leaders. We also education and AI, arguing that traditional...
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Money Tree Investing
Douglas Heagren | Follow on Facebook: Follow LinkedIn: Follow on Twitter/X: For more information, visit the show notes at
info_outlineShellee Howard is on the show today to talk how to do college without crushign debt for your kids. She shares how her journey as a “mom on a mission” led her to help families navigate the college process strategically, emphasizing early preparation, self-discovery, and return on investment rather than prestige alone. She explains why overcrowded school counselors fall short, how students should clarify their values, talents, and career goals before choosing colleges, and why college should be viewed as a business decision and a stepping stone to adulthood, and not a status symbol. With the right planning, families can avoid debt, maximize scholarships, and choose schools that truly align with a student’s future goals.
We discuss...
Today's Panelists:
- Kirk Chisholm | Innovative Wealth
- Barbara Friedberg | Barbara Friedberg Personal Finance
- Phil Weiss | Apprise Wealth Management
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For more information, visit the show notes at https://moneytreepodcast.com/college-without-crushing-debt-shellee-howard-784