Get your kid through college without wrecking your finances.
Explore free resources or build a personalized college savings plan.
College is expensive.
Planning can make it affordable.
We can help you:
Create a customized college savings plan that works for your family.
Learn the system: Find opportunities and avoid costly mistakes.
Get the most out of your savings.
Set your child up for success: Help them pick the right school, graduate, and start adulthood without overwhelming debt.
Start NOW: Time is your biggest asset. If you don’t have time, that’s OK, too. How to Pay for College materials—the free resources on this site, the book, and the Masterclass—meet you where you are.
Build a college savings plan
Free Resource Blog
Explore articles and worksheets on topics like applying for financial aid, tax paperwork, and strategies for paying down student loans. Head directly to the blog or use the site menu to navigate by topic.
Read the Book
The critically acclaimed book is great for parents at all stages of the planning process. Chapters pair with online worksheets to help you get started on a custom plan to pay for college. Buy the book.
Take the Masterclass
Ideal for parents with kids in high school, the Masterclass combines educational videos and interactive worksheets to help you build a personalized plan. We can help you get over the finish line.
The College Financial Lady
How to Pay for College began with Ann Garcia, also known as The College Financial Lady. As a Certified Financial Planner, Ann helps families plan for their children’s education. She’s also been through the process herself—her twins graduate in 2023.
Ann started The College Financial Lady blog to share both her expertise and her experience. The response from both parents and professionals led to a book and a masterclass, both designed to meet you where you are.
Whether you’re new parents or a few years away from college, have a lot saved or haven’t started yet, How to Pay for College has resources to help you prioritize and plan.
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What people are saying
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“Ann was great in helping us navigate the maze of hard rules and rules of thumb. The explanations and materials were clear and easy to follow. Can’t thank her enough for helping my family pull together a college plan for our kids.”
Tom Fry, Colorado
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"As a parent with three in college at once, and a high school administrator overseeing the college counseling systems, I feel very knowledgeable about the application and financial aid process. But I knew there were some gaps in my knowledge that could cost me money and my kids opportunities. I learned so much from the course; I was able to strategize and save even more!"
Vicky Virnich, Colorado
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"Ann Garcia was...the light being turned on in a dimly lit room full of 'where do we begin' and self doubt... We signed up for her offered services and after completing the process, we began to understand where we stood in it. "
William Durkin, New York
How to think about college planning
It isn’t always easy to know where to start. That’s why we created this general page to help you wrap your head around college planning.
We tackle how much you should aim to put aside and the best accounts to keep your money in order to maximize both savings and potential financial aid.
Picking the wrong school is by far the most expensive mistake high schoolers can make. We look at how to evaluate colleges, prioritize applications, and game the admissions system.
Financial aid and scholarships
From the FAFSA to the CSS profile, filling out financial aid forms can be critical to winning scholarships and grants in addition to need-based aid. We help you understand the process so you can maximize your aid package.
Get strategic about student debt to set your child up for success after graduation.
Need more personalized help?
How to Pay for College offers numerous tools to help parents build a College Savings Plan that fits their family finances. While these materials can help most people come up with a sound strategy to balance college planning with other goals (like saving for retirement!), occasionally folks need more specialized help. If that’s the case, reach out to Ann via Independent Progressive Advisors. In addition to her specialization and outreach here at How to Pay for College, Ann is a Certified Financial Planner and fee-only advisor who works with families to reach a wide range of financial goals.
Ann is an investment fiduciary, meaning she is legally obligated to put client interests first.