Oct 03

Perkins Loan: What was it, why did it die, and what has replaced it?

The Perkins Loan was a federal loan based on a student's financial need. While in college, the loan was "subsidized"--it did not earn interest. The interest rate was a low fixed rate of 5%. Not all schools participated in the Perkins Loan Program. What made this loan unique was that... read more →

Sep 27

FAFSA Mistakes To Avoid

Every October 1st, the FAFSA onslaught begins. Articles and social media posts pop up about it, and unless you are on a vacation island somewhere with no internet, you probably have seen something. We’re going to add our two cents. We wanted to share some of the common FAFSA mistakes... read more →

Sep 20

Using the FAFSA Mobile App

Every fall, we spend some time talking about the Free Application for Federal Student Aid or FAFSA. In 2018, applicants had a new way to apply--via their smartphones! The hope is that the FAFSA mobile app called myStudentAid will make the FAFSA more accessible to students who don't have a... read more →

Sep 13

All You Need to Know About the FSA ID

Part of the college application process for seniors is applying for financial aid and/or student loans by filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid or FAFSA. The very first step students and parents need to complete before starting the FAFSA, is obtaining an FSA ID. What is it... read more →

Sep 06

Student Loan Borrowing: We’re on Dangerous Ground

We've been seeing a dangerous trend. Students entering college are completely ignoring their impending student loan debt. They believe the proposals of several presidential candidates will actually become fact--that their student loan debt will magically go away. Realistically, this will never happen. Student Loan Hero recently shared the thoughts of... read more →

September 6, 2019
Joe Messinger, CFP®
College

Aug 29

ACT or SAT Test Scores Can Save You Money on College

A hot topic for parents of college bound students is always ACT and SAT testing. Parents seek out information to help their students do well on what can be a challenging task for some. At the heart of all the focus on testing is one truth, better test scores can... read more →

Aug 23

Thinking Outside the 4-Year Degree: Dual-Degree and Combined-Degree Programs

When you think of college, do you picture a 4-year program? Most of us do because that was the experience we had--four years to complete a bachelor's degree. (Although today, only 41% of first-time, full-time college students will complete their undergraduate degree in four years.) If we pursued a graduate... read more →

Aug 16

Start With FAFSA Capstone Wealth Partners Ohio

Teaching Finances to Your Future College Student

Teaching finances to students is something we feel passionately about. In the State of Ohio, the legislature has gone back and forth about how to teach budgeting and financial concepts to students. They have left it to the local school districts to incorporate learning standards as they see fit, whether... read more →

Aug 09

Colleges That Don’t Offer Merit Scholarships

If we picked a most often asked question, it might be this: "Do all colleges offer merit scholarships?" The answer in a word...no. (I guess we could leave it here, but let's dig deeper.) Merit scholarships are awarded to students who have above average academics. In an effort to enroll... read more →

Aug 01

Free Money for College – Grants and Scholarships

In today's college search, students put so much stress on themselves to find the right "fit." Often, they focus on schools where they can get in and get a great education. In other words, finding a good academic and social fit. However, with the rising cost of education, finding a... read more →