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The new Simplified FAFSA is here! Here’s a quick video with some tips that will help you get through it with a minimum of chaos and maximum of financial aid. 🔗
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College costs more than people think it will— and Americans have the student loan balances to prove that. How do you get a handle on college costs and how you’ll cover them?
Your 529 is more flexible than you might think. Here are some of the many qualified uses of 529 dollars.
Sending your baby off to college is emotionally messy. Here’s a suggestion to make it a little better.
Your student needs more than just extra-long sheets. Here are some important documents that should be created before they head off to college.
Highlights
We’re almost there: acceptance letters are arriving and the May 1 decision day is right around the corner. For most families, how much schools cost is part of the decision making process.
Happy 2025! Last year I made a New Year’s Resolution and kept it. That makes me a self-appointed expert on New Year’s resolutions. Here are some resolutions for parents planning for college— and my expert advice on how to keep your resolutions.
What is and isn’t an asset on the FAFSA? Here’s a quick “is it or isn’t it?” for you.
Parent assets seem to be the area that most families and planners focus on, despite the fact that they typically have the smallest impact on the formula of each of the components. Strategies and tactics to minimize parent assets abound, but for most families these result more in nibbling around the edges than actually making a significant dent in SAI.
The College Board’s annual Trends in College Pricing and Student Aid report was released recently. Among the headline findings: college tuition prices increased at extremely low rates for the second year in a row, reflecting both a combination of continued impacts of the pandemic and enrollment pressures from demographic trends.
Filing the FAFSA raises tons of questions for divorced parents. Here are some answers.
Happy FAFSA Day! Are you completing the FAFSA for the first time this year? While you’re waiting for the site to load, here are some resources that will help you get through it with a minimum of chaos and maximum of financial aid.
I think Oregon is one of the last places in the US that starts school after Labor Day so my apologies if you’re no longer in back-to-school mode. Here are some resolutions your family might make for the coming school year. And, here’s hoping they don’t get broken as quickly as the typical New Year’s diet-and-exercise resolutions!
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The FAFSA & CSS Profile
Saving for College
Student Loans
Application Process
Miscellaneous
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Dear Tyler & Isabella, Let’s Pick a College
Today’s post is written by a fellow fee-only advisor, Richard Freight, CFP®, EA, of IAM Financial, who is a father of two who will hopefully be college-bound.
“And, It Comes With a Money Back Guarantee”
For Grandparents Wanting to Help
Fee Increase for Struggling Student Loan Borrowers
Rising Interest Rates and Student Loans
On Wednesday the Fed raised short-term interest rates by 0.25%, with additional rate hikes expected over the course of the year. What does this mean for student loans? Several things.
Tax Season Tip: Income
Income management tips for future FAFSA considerations.
Tax Time Reporting: 1099 Q
Insights for folks who need to report 1099 q income on your tax return.
Rebalancing 529 Accounts
You can rebalance your 529 plan account twice a year. Just because you can, should you? If you’re in an age-based investment option, you don’t need to rebalance to maintain the correct asset allocation. Learn more…
Every college offers scholarships. Every student is eligible for scholarships. But not every student will be offered scholarships at every college. Here’s how to find colleges that will give scholarships to you.