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If you are thinking about going to grad school… or have children heading off to college soon, you’re probably wondering ‘How the heck can I afford it? How do I plan for it?’ The cost of higher education in the US has skyrocketed more than 500% over the past 30 years, all while salaries and labor market have stagnated. Today’s guest, Lynnette Khalfani-Cox, who is the CEO of TheMoneyCoach.net and a New York Times bestselling author of “College Secrets: How to Save Money, Cut College Cost, Graduate Debt Free” is here with us today to dispel misconceptions about college and give important advice on how to make school affordable for you or your child and family.

Before launching TheMoneyCoach.net in 2003, Lynnette worked for nearly a decade as a Dow Jones Newswire reporter and a Wall Street Journal reporter for CNBC, where she covered business and personal finance news.

Three takeaways from our interview:

— 5 financial options you should consider before applying for student loans

— What criteria determine the “best” school for you. (Hint: It’s not about the brand name.)

— #1 financial habit that makes a huge difference in Lynnette’s marriage

If you’d like to learn more about Lynnette Khalfani-Cox, visit her website www.themoneycoach.net or follow him on Twitter @themoneycoach. Also, check out her recent book “College Secrets: How to Save Money, Cut College Cost, Graduate Debt Free.”

My favorite quote from the interview: “Getting your money right is… about having a stress-free life.” – click to tweet