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Talking to your kids about money is awkward at best. Here are some strategies to make those conversations less fraught and more productive.
One of the best ways to save for college is to have other people do it for you. Here’s how.
What do the University of Alabama, Harvard, Pepperdine and Yale have in common? At least one student from each won a Rhodes Scholarship this year.
Highlights
What is and isn’t an asset on the FAFSA? Here’s a quick “is it or isn’t it?” for you.
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 2023! 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.
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!
Categories
The FAFSA & CSS Profile
Saving for College
Student Loans
Application Process
Miscellaneous
All blog posts
How to Use Your 529's Gifting Page
If you really mean it when you say, “Please, no more toys!” you need to set up your 529’s gifting page.
Year-End Checklist
Wherever you are on the college planning journey, here are a few actions you can take before the end of the year.
It’s Thanksgiving and I’m Thankful
Even if Thanksgiving is different this year, I have so much to be thankful for.
Is a Roth IRA a Good Choice for College Savings?
Roth IRAs are often touted as a college savings vehicle because “the FAFSA doesn’t count them.” There’s more to it than that.
How Do You Choose a College?
So much goes into your college choice. My son’s choice is equal parts confessional and humblebrag.
FAFSA Simplification: What Do You Need to Do?
Next year’s FAFSA will be different from this year’s, and the changes might cost you financial aid. Here’s what you need to know to minimize negative surprises.
How Do You Apply for Scholarships?
You’ve applied to the college, but how do you get the scholarships?
What About the CSS Profile?
Have you filed the FAFSA? You might not be done yet: you might also have to file the CSS Profile. What is it and what do you do about it?
FAFSA Resources
Filing the FAFSA? Need some help? Here are a ton of resources to get you on your way.
What Year, 2022 Edition
Confused about what counts on the FAFSA and when? Here’s what you need to know.
How to File the FAFSA
Want to see the actual FAFSA? I’ve got you covered.
FAFSA 2023-24 EFC Formula Guide
How does the FAFSA calculate your Expected Family Contribution? Here’s the formula, plus what it does and doesn’t do.
Student Loan Forgiveness and Payment Restart
Student loan forgiveness is here, and with it comes the restart of loan payments. Here’s how to get forgiveness.
Step 3 in Finding Scholarships
How do you give yourself the best chance of getting scholarships?
Step 2 in Finding Scholarships
Financial aid and scholarships can be opaque and confusing. Fortunately there are some tools available to help.