Aug 23

What Expenses Can Be Paid from a 529 Plan?

You have planned for this moment. Your child is starting their first semester in college. You have saved what you could in a 529 savings plan. Now is the time to pay the bill. What expenses can be paid tax free from the 529 plan? What exactly are “qualified expenses”?... read more →

Aug 16

College Entrance Loan Counseling

If federal student loans are part of the plan to pay for college (and for most students they are!), then college entrance loan counseling will also be on the “to do” list for students heading to college. Years ago, students were expected to read the paperwork about their loan and... read more →

Aug 09

Pros and Cons of Community College

Community college can be a valuable consideration when thinking about the options available after high school. Students fail to graduate college because of the high cost, their lack of college readiness, or outside responsibilities and scheduling difficulties. Faced with these challenges today, families should at least take a moment to... read more →

Aug 01

How Does Student Loan Forgiveness Work

After the classes are done, the careers and the student loan repayment begins. Hopefully, graduates find fulfilling jobs and are able to maintain their loan payments (perhaps because they heard our message about not taking out more loan debt than they could afford). In some cases of hardship, loan payments... read more →

Jul 26

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. Friend of Capstone, At The Core, recently put out a newsletter overflowing with information about testing.... read more →

Jul 15

How does home equity impact financial aid?

Buying a home is usually the most expensive purchase in a parent’s life. However, paying for college for their children can be a close second, and the price of college is rising faster than the price of housing. So, does it matter what the value of your home is when... read more →

Jul 11

2018 Student Loan Debt Statistics

We’re honored this week to be presenting this guest blog post from Jeff Gitlen and LendEDU.com. LendEDU is a “marketplace for private student loans, student loan refinancing & consolidation, and personal loans, among other financial products.” LendEDU was created “to help student loan borrowers and consumers find transparency without damaging... read more →

Jun 29

Could free college in Ohio become a Reality?

Politicians (better than anyone) know how to tailor their message to their potential voters. One hot topic is the possibility of free college. The state of New York announced their free college tuition plan in 2017. A few other states have free tuition programs with a variety of terms and... read more →

Jun 20

The Paying for College Paradox

Ok...We’re getting a little thoughtful today. Consider this. The Oxford Dictionary defines “paradox” in part as “a statement or proposition that, despite sound (or apparently sound) reasoning from acceptable premises, leads to a conclusion that seems senseless, logically unacceptable, or self-contradictory.” To qualify for need based financial aid, students obviously... read more →

Jun 15

Grandparents and 529 College Savings Plans: What You Need to Know

Grandparents want to help. They see the expense ahead for their kids to pay for college education for their grandkids. The goal for everyone is to help the student get a great education, graduate with little or no debt, and live a fulfilling life. Many grandparents choose to open a... read more →