For decades, young adults have been told to work hard, go to college, and trust that everything else will fall into place. This white paper by PerFin Consulting Group challenges that assumption. The Default Approach: Rethinking the College First Narrative examines how college became the default path, often chosen without a defined career destination, and why that sequence no longer works in today’s economy. It introduces a practical, career-first framework to help young adults identify sustainable, well-paying career paths before selecting education or training, and explores how rising costs, student debt, and artificial intelligence are reshaping which careers offer long-term stability.

College tuition, student debt, and housing prices have risen together to create an affordability crisis that’s reshaping the American Dream. This white paper by PerFin Consulting Group explores how federal student loan expansion, inflation, and housing policy collided to burden a generation, pushing the average age of first-time homebuyers to 40 and fueling disillusionment with the promise of upward mobility. It concludes with actionable steps to restore stability through financial literacy, education reform, and renewed civic engagement.