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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 Are You Going to Pay For It?
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?
Is College Worth It?
As expensive as college is, it’s normal to wonder if it’s worth it. The answer: Yes it is.
It’s Graduation Time!
Where does the time go? It seems like just yesterday that they were learning to walk, and now my kids are graduating from college?!?
529 Plans: How to get Money Out
My socials are full of prom and graduation pictures, which means it’s time to talk about how you get money out of the 529 plan to which you’ve been diligently (or otherwise) contributing.
Student Loan Interest Rates for the 2023-24 School Year
Rising interest rates have resulted in increases in student loan interest rates for the coming year.
Colleges Still Have Openings!
Dream school didn’t come through? Plenty of colleges are still accepting applications.
FAFSA Simplification: What You Need to Know 2
FAFSA Simplification is changing many elements that contribute to the Student Aid Index.
FAFSA Simplification: What You Need to Know
FAFSA Simplification is coming this year. Last week the Department of Education announced that this year’s FAFSA will come out in December. But that’s not all!
Life Insurance is a Terrible Choice for College Savings
Life insurance policies are great for life insurance salespeople. They’re not great for paying for college.
How Do You Get Outside Scholarships?
Outside scholarships can be a great way to stretch your college budget. They can also be an exercise in frustration with countless applications yielding small dollars. Knowing how they work and how you get them can make your search more rewarding.
Where is the Pause Button?
Senior year is a whirlwind. It’s worth taking a minute to take it all in, especially when all the doors are still open.
Free College!
Want to pay nothing for college? You have more options than you might think.
SECURE 2.0 and 529 to Roth IRA Rollovers
The SECURE 2.0 Act allows for 529 to Roth rollovers— but with some limitations.
Does It Matter Where You Go to College?
This year’s Rhodes Scholars recipients were announced a couple of weeks ago. Normally I pen a paean to the diversity of colleges represented in the selection, supporting the notion that plenty of schools prepare students to compete at the highest levels.
Make Your List, Check It Twice
Your last-minute college application checklist