Today we’d like to introduce you to Twyla Hough & Tara Bullard.
Twyla & Tara, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Our work really started from personal experience.
For Tara, it started over 15 years ago with a personal mission. She wanted something different for her child—especially when it came to avoiding unnecessary student debt—so she took the time to deeply learn the college planning process. Her daughter went on to graduate with her undergraduate degree debt-free and is now pursuing a graduate degree with that same goal.Backed by 27 years of professional experience and advanced credentials, including an MBA and a Master’s in Human Resource Development, Tara has turned that journey into a purposeful path—helping other families navigate college planning with confidence and intention.
And for Twyla, it goes all the way back to high school. She was introduced to the college prep program, Upward Bound, and didn’t realize at the time how life-changing that experience would be. It gave her exposure to college, preparation, and support that she otherwise wouldn’t have had as a first-generation college student. That experience—combined with over 15 years in career services—led her to earn a doctorate in Family and Consumer Sciences Education and shaped her passion for helping students navigate their own paths with clarity and confidence.
So when we came together, it just made sense. We realized families don’t just need information—they need someone to walk alongside them. And that’s really how College Consulting & Career Coaching was created.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It definitely has not been a smooth road—and I think a big part of that is because what we do doesn’t fit neatly into one box.
We’re not just college admissions support. We’re not just coaching. We’re not just financial guidance. We’re really working at the intersection of all three, with the family at the center.
So sometimes the first challenge is simply helping families understand what’s possible when they start early and take a more strategic approach.
We also see timing come up a lot. Many families don’t realize they need support until later in high school, when things start to feel overwhelming. But we know the earlier you start, the more options you have—and the less stressful the process becomes.
And the reality is, a lot of families feel this way. Many parents feel like they’re missing important information when it comes to college planning. So for us, the challenge has really been about bridging that gap—helping families move from feeling overwhelmed to feeling informed and confident.
As you know, we’re big fans of College Consulting & Career Coaching, LLC. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
At the heart of what we do, we help families navigate college and career planning in a way that feels clear, structured, and manageable. But what really sets us apart is our family-centered approach.
We truly believe college planning is a family affair. So we’re not just working with the student—we’re also working with the parent. Tara naturally leans into supporting and empowering parents, and Twyla brings that deep experience of working directly with students. Together, we’re able to support both sides at the same time.
Another big piece for us is individuality. Every student is different—their interests, their goals, their motivations—and we take that seriously. We’re not handing families a generic checklist. We’re helping them build a plan that actually fits their student. And everything we do is grounded in our framework: Decide today. Invest now. Yield tomorrow.
We help families:
-Decide with clarity
-Invest their time, energy, and resources strategically
-And ultimately yield the outcomes they’re hoping for
And for us, success isn’t just getting into college—it’s helping students move into careers where they can really make an impact.
What matters most to you?
For us, it really comes back to the family. What matters most is that families feel confident, equipped, and supported as they go through this process—together. Ultimately, this isn’t just about college—it’s about making thoughtful investments in a student’s future that can have a lasting impact on the entire family.
We’ve seen how stressful and overwhelming college planning can be when families feel like they’re guessing or missing something. And we’ve also seen how different it looks when they feel informed and aligned.
We care deeply about helping families:
Make informed financial decisions
Reduce unnecessary stress
Support their student’s growth and potential
And stay connected throughout the process
Because at the end of the day, this isn’t just about college. It’s about setting students up for a future where they can walk in their purpose, contribute meaningfully, and create long-term impact—and that impact often extends beyond just one student to the entire family.
Our goal is to meet families where they are—while still providing clear, actionable guidance every step of the way. We also encourage families to view this work as an investment, not just a cost. When done well, college planning can impact financial outcomes, opportunities, and decision-making for years to come—and even across generations. Our heart is to help families navigate this process in a way that leads to little to no student debt whenever possible. It goes back to our Decide Invest Yield framework because we help families “Decide today. Invest now. Yield tomorrow.” as it relates to college and career planning and readiness.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://www.decideinvestyield.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/4cdecideinvestyield/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DecideInvestYield
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/twylahough/
- Other: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tara-bullard/
