Homeownership still feels like the American Dream, but for Gen Z and younger millennials it can also feel like a moving target. We sit down with Central Ohio real estate expert Jessica Craig, founder of the Craig Group and a leader in the Columbus housing market, to get honest about what’s actually stopping young buyers and what still works when affordability is tight.

We dig into the real first-time homebuyer obstacles Jessica sees daily: shoppers starting with a “forever house” instead of a comfortable monthly payment, waiting too long to talk to a lender, and assuming AI or Zillow can replace local expertise. We also unpack how expectations collide in today’s market, with sellers remembering 2021 and buyers hoping for 2009. Along the way, we talk mortgage rates, why pre-approval is not the same as affordability, and how credit score and debt-to-income ratio can shape your choices.

Then we get practical. Jessica explains down payment options (including why 20% down is often a myth), common loan paths like conventional, FHA, USDA, and VA loans, plus creative strategies like gift funds, family help, and even home hacking. We also cover rent vs buy with a realistic lens, especially for relocation and new careers, and we close with a powerful negotiation lesson: seller credits and interest rate buydowns can reduce payments far more than a small price cut.

If you’re trying to buy your first home or you’re a parent helping a young adult map out a plan, hit subscribe, share this with a friend, and leave us a review so more people can find the Financial Huddle.

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Disclosure: Information contained in this podcast is for entertainment and informational purposes only, and should not be considered as financial advice. Financial Planning and Advisory Services are offered through Prosperity Capital Advisors (“PCA”), an SEC registered investment adviser. Registration as an investment adviser does not imply a certain level of skill or training. Keystone Financial Group and PCA are separate, non- affiliated entities. PCA does not provide tax or legal advice.

Nobody wants to think about Mom falling again, Dad getting confused about bills, or the call that changes everything. But avoiding the conversation does not avoid the outcome, it just guarantees the decisions get made under pressure. We’re the Financial Huddle, and we’re laying out the practical questions we believe every adult child should ask aging parents before a crisis forces the issue.

We start with the big picture: the rise of caregiving in America and why this is now a family communication problem as much as a financial planning problem. Then we move into the questions that create clarity fast. What should the last chapter of life look like? If living independently stops being safe, do you want help at home, to downsize, to move closer to family, or to transition into independent living, assisted living, and eventually memory care? We also talk about the real-life triggers that force change, like repeated falls, dementia, and caregiver burnout.

From there, we get specific about what must be documented. Who is legally allowed to make decisions if a parent cannot? Do the will, power of attorney, healthcare directives, and beneficiary designations exist and are they current? We also cover end-of-life wishes, funeral planning, and the underrated stress-reducer of simply knowing where everything is: accounts, policies, safe deposit boxes, advisors, and digital assets like passwords and two-factor authentication. We wrap with the question families cannot dodge forever: how will long-term care be paid for, and what does Medicaid really mean if assets run out?

If this topic hits close to home, share this with a sibling and start the conversation this week. Subscribe, leave a review, and tell us: which question do you most need to ask your parents right now?

Sources:

https://www.census.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2023/population-projections.html

https://www.aarp.org/pri/topics/ltss/family-caregiving/family-caregiving-in-us-2025/

https://www.aarp.org/press/releases/2025-07-24-new-report-reveals-crisis-point-for-americas-63-million-family-caregivers.html

https://www.pewresearch.org/social-trends/2025/11/06/experiences-with-estate-planning-and-discussing-end-of-life-preferences/

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Disclosure: Information contained in this podcast is for entertainment and informational purposes only, and should not be considered as financial advice. Financial Planning and Advisory Services are offered through Prosperity Capital Advisors (“PCA”), an SEC registered investment adviser. Registration as an investment adviser does not imply a certain level of skill or training. Keystone Financial Group and PCA are separate, non- affiliated entities. PCA does not provide tax or legal advice.

College tuition has turned into a shock test for even high-income families, and the worst part is how quietly it can derail retirement. We sit down as three dads who have lived the tuition bills and we get brutally practical about what college really costs all-in, why the sticker price is a terrible planning number, and how families end up making $100,000 decisions with almost no transparency.

We walk through the data driving today’s student loan debt crisis, then shift to what you can actually do about it. That includes starting early, picking the right savings approach (including how a 529 plan fits and where it doesn’t), and learning the financial aid and admissions system the same way you’d learn taxes or insurance. We also talk about merit-based aid versus need-based aid, common myths around “we make too much to get help,” and why you should treat award letters like something you can review, compare, and sometimes even appeal.

Finally, we put a clean ROI framework on the table: if borrowing is required, total student debt should stay at or below the graduate’s anticipated first-year salary. Pair that with choosing the right school for the right value and you can avoid overpaying for a degree that doesn’t pay you back. If you’re a parent of a middle schooler, high schooler, or a student heading into applications, this is a must-listen for college planning, FAFSA strategy, scholarships, and protecting retirement.

Subscribe for more straight talk on money, share this with a parent who needs it, and leave a review if it helps. What’s the biggest question you have about paying for college right now?

Sources:
https://educationdata.org/student-loan-debt-statistics

https://www.iciglobal.org/research/stats/529s/529s_25_g4

https://www.ici.org/topics/529-plans

https://nast.org/wp-content/uploads/cspn-529-factsheet-march2025-1.pdf

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Disclosure: Information contained in this podcast is for entertainment and informational purposes only, and should not be considered as financial advice. Financial Planning and Advisory Services are offered through Prosperity Capital Advisors (“PCA”), an SEC registered investment adviser. Registration as an investment adviser does not imply a certain level of skill or training. Keystone Financial Group and PCA are separate, non- affiliated entities. PCA does not provide tax or legal advice.