Posts by Chris Wills
Student Loan Borrowing Limit Changes from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act has overhauled ways students and parents borrow for college. Here is a summary of the many student loan borrowing limit changes. New student loan borrowing limits for federal loans go into effect July 1, 2026. Note that the student loan changes below only apply to federal loans from…
Read MoreOne Big Beautiful Bill Act expands 529 Plans
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act expanded the uses of 529 Plans. This continues the policy trend of making them easier and more attractive to use. 529 Plans are investment accounts funded by after-tax dollars where the earnings grow tax-free and withdrawals for qualified education expenses are also tax-free. Withdrawals for non-qualified expenses are…
Read MoreNavigating Student Loan Changes
College Inside Track’s Chris Wills was featured on WCCO Talking Points with Esme Murphy discussing the changing rules with student loans 0:00 Navigating changing rules for student loans 1:06 Collecting on defaulted student loan payments 2:24 What is a federal direct student loan? 3:10 Cautioning against parent-plus loans 4:03 Future of Biden’s…
Read MoreFederal Student Loan Collections Resume
For the first time since March 2020, the Department of Education will be collecting on defaulted student loans beginning on May 5, 2025. The office of Federal Student Aid (FSA) will encourage borrowers to begin making monthly payments, enroll in an income-driven repayment plan, or pursue loan rehabilitation. The FSA is also restarting…
Read MoreHow to Develop Executive Function Skills
By Paige Feldman Developing executive function (EF) skills is a gradual process that requires consistency, patience, and support. Different groups—parents, educators, athletes, and young adults—can use specific strategies to foster EF development. Routines, accountability, and positive reinforcement are key elements in supporting EF growth. For Parents Establish Routines: Routines create predictability and reduce…
Read MoreWhat are executive function skills?
By Paige Feldman Executive function (EF) skills are the mental processes that enable us to plan, organize, and complete tasks. These skills are essential for success in school, work, sports, and everyday life. Key components of EF skills include: Planning and Prioritizing: Figuring out the steps needed to achieve a goal and determining…
Read MoreGuidelines for student loan repayment
By Cozy Wittman, As the price of college continues to climb, for many, loans will need to be part of the larger strategy to pay for school. How to pay those back should be an important part of the discussion when the student takes out the loans. Guidelines for debt payback can help a…
Read More10 Essential Skills for College Success
By Paige Feldman, Meet Scarlet, a bright-eyed, first-year engineering student who has just stepped onto campus, buzzing with excitement and dreams. Like many new students, Scarlet is eager to dive into her studies and embrace the independence college offers. However, as the semester progresses, she begins to feel the weight of her newfound responsibilities.…
Read MoreFAFSA change for small business owners
Add small business owners to the group of people impacted by the recent FAFSA changes. Previously, the value of any privately held business, including assets, with less than 100 employees did not need to be reported on the FAFSA as part of its small business exclusion. However, that exclusion has gone away as part…
Read MoreTips on the 6 trickiest FAFSA questions
The FAFSA is a quintessential government form, meaning it isn’t always as easy to understand as it should be. Far too many families make mistakes that are unnecessarily costing them money. Check out the following tips on how to tackle the 6 trickiest questions: Schooling of parents The answer should be the last level…
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