Rethinking the College ROI

This entry is part 1 of 4 in the series How Trades Lost the Spotlight

Why Career Education Deserves a Fresh Look Remember when graduating high school and learning a trade was a perfectly respectable, often celebrated, life path?  Wanting to become a mechanic, an electrician, a dental tech, or a machinist were suggested paths to building a stable, prosperous future. These roles were seen as skilled, essential, and worthy. But somewhere along the way, that narrative changed. Suddenly, “success” was redefined. A four-year college degree wasn’t just one option—it…

Understanding Your W-4: The First Step to Smarter Paychecks

This entry is part 2 of 5 in the series Guide to Employee Benefits

Starting a new job often comes with a flood of paperwork, and the W-4 form is usually near the top of the pile. It might look like just another tax document—but the choices you make here can impact your finances all year long.   Starting about the time of the Super Bowl, you see a lot of ads for “maximum tax refund”.  In reality, the tax refund you receive is not determined by the tax preparer…