Are you filing the FAFSA this year? Or in some near-future year? Below are some resources to help you get through it. First though, a quick overview using the 5 W's and an H:

• Who: The FAFSA is the student's FAFSA and is completed by the student and the parent(s)

• What: The FAFSA is the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. Key elements of that: Free means you don't pay to file it. Federal Student Aid means completing it is how you get access to federal aid programs: Pell grants, work-study and federal student loans. It's also used by colleges to award need-based financial aid.

• When: The FAFSA is available Oct. 1. That doesn't mean you need to file it on Oct. 1. Most people are better off waiting until they've paid their big bills for the month: rent or mortgage, credit card, etc., since your assets are counted on the day you file. Who should file early? Students with high need who live in states that offer their own need-based grants on a first come, first served basis.

• Where: File the FAFSA at www.studentaid.gov.

• How: You can file the FAFSA online or on paper, but online is easier. Make sure to use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool to pull your tax data directly from the IRS. This minimizes errors and the likelihood of being selected for verification.

• Why? If you don't file the FAFSA, you won't be eligible for need-based financial aid or federal student loans.

A few things to get you started:

• How to Complete the FAFSA video: long version or multiple shorter ones.

• FAFSA Basics series: Parent Income, Parent Assets, Student Income, Student Assets

• Info for divorced parents

• EFC Formula Guide, aka "how the sausage gets made."

• What counts, when?

• 52 Pearls podcast: Demystifying the FAFSA

What else do you need? You are most welcome to submit questions in the comments section below!

Want to save money on college and get more financial aid and scholarships? Check out my online course, The College Financial Plan. You'll learn how the FAFSA, merit scholarships and so much more work and develop a detailed plan to get a great college education at a price that works for your family.