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Her money comes to you through PRX. Hi I'm Jean Chatsky and welcome to her money. There is not a topic that lights up my inbox more these days at least than student loans.

If you've looked at the statistics recently you know today's college grads are coming out of school with about 33,000 on average in

student loans which of course means that many people more than half have

significantly more than that and what we're learning is that it really sets

them back in terms of taking on life. Young adults who are strapped under the weight of a lot of student loans, they're getting married later. They're having kids later. They're buying homes later. They're just putting adult life on pause while they try to get a grip on this massive debt.

And what we're also learning is that the best defense may be a good offense. In other words, taking the time before you

borrow while you've still got kids in high school to look not only at college as a value proposition, making sure that you go to a school

that really wants you and is willing to give you significant amounts of merit aid in order

to have you there, but that you're making the right

choices when it comes to borrowing, that you're maximizing your federal student aid before you dip into the pool for private

student aid that you fill out the FAFSA, the free application for federal

student aid correctly? Is it confusing and complicated? You bet.

Which is why I've asked Kelly Peeler, who runs a company called Next Gen Vest, to join me today on the show.

She is a whiz at simplifying these matters and has built a system of mentors

to actually help students going through the process get a helping hand.

Hi Kelly, welcome.

Hi, thanks for having me.

Thanks for being here.

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