For most families, student loans must be part of the college funding conversation. Through careful planning to include smart savings, tax considerations, college choice, cash flow, scholarships, and other mechanisms, families can minimize the amount of debt their students take on. How much debt is too much though? How can... read more →
Jul
26
Jul
18
If you are a parent of a teenager, you are very familiar with cash flow. The cash flows in to you and out to your teen--clothes, food, fun, etc. But using cash flow can be an important part of a smart college funding plan. For many families, paying for college... read more →
Jul
12
Everyone owes money (well, almost everyone). The government owes money. We read a lot about the government’s deficit--the debt we owe other countries due to our spending. The United States deficit exceeded $22 trillion back in February. Americans owe money. We are bombarded with student loan debt statistics. The total... read more →
Jun
27
When it comes to planning for college, families need help. Maybe they just need a bit of help or maybe they need some intensive guidance. No matter the level of support needed, a great way to get started is through two educational workshops: Tips for the College-Bound and Smart Money... read more →
Jun
27
Update June 2019: The Current State of student loan debt in America...EVERY SECOND America’s student loans GROW by close to $3,000! The increase in tuition is directly related to the free flowing market of student loans. If I were in the lending business, I would love to have a loan... read more →
Jun
20
Every year, college graduates leave their home of the past four or five years and consider the road ahead of them. Most start their careers, but some consider continuing their studies and embarking on graduate school. Maybe they approach their parents and say “hey, is graduate school a possibility?” To... read more →
Jun
14
This fact may shock you...only 69% of students entering four-year public colleges graduate in eight years. (Yes, you read that right EIGHT years.) If you include two-year public colleges, the completion rate drops to 60.4%. For every 10 students entering postsecondary study, four are leaving school without finishing (or taking... read more →
Jun
07
Too often parents can become stuck in a mindset that the only possible college for their student is an elite one. The recent college admission scandal is a great example of parents who are misinformed about the many different paths students can take. Families need to consider all the options... read more →
May
31
How much can a student and their family afford to pay for college? Colleges use a few different formulas to try and estimate that amount. (You can find a detailed look at the comparison between the two here.) Most colleges use the Free Application for Federal Student Aid or FAFSA... read more →
May
23
Up to this point, parents have SAVED for college and SHOPPED for college. Suddenly, you come to a momentous occasion--you have to PAY for college. Gulp! Often parents face this first payment in May of their child's senior year. If you have a 529 plan, you hopefully have spent a... read more →