College Planning

The SECURE 2.0 Act Creates New 529 Planning Opportunity

Over the past few years, significant changes have been made to the U.S. tax code regarding retirement planning. One of the most recent and impactful changes is the passing of the 2022 SECURE Act 2.0, which contains many provisions that will affect savers, including a modification to 529 accounts. […]

Nailing the College Money Conversation

April is Financial Literacy Month. As financial planners, we are passionate about helping clients, their children, and others in our community increase their financial literacy skills. Given that May 1st is also Decision Day for college acceptances, we thought it’d be timely to share our thoughts on how families might discuss the cost of college with their children. [...]

Changes Are A-Comin’ for the FAFSA

Fall is in the air. The kids have headed back to school. It is an exciting and busy time of year for most of us, but it’s particularly hectic for high school seniors getting ready to apply to colleges. As we all know, the cost of higher education is an expensive endeavor. […]

Conversation on College with My Rising 9th Grader

Now that my son is entering high school, I plan to talk to him about college by sharing some helpful information to set his expectations and to impart upon him why college is an essential investment in his future. Here are some key points I plan to make: […]

Looming College Deadlines

I’m currently taking a class on college planning, so this topic is top of mind. Additionally, the fall is the time high school seniors apply for colleges and financial aid. As such, it seems a good time to remind people of the various types of deadlines to stay on top of this time of year. […]

Are College Admissions Stacked Against Us?

Going to college is a rite of passage for many Americans. For many young adults, it’s the first time they live away from their families and take responsibility for their lives. Due to years of above-average price inflation, college has gotten to the point of being unaffordable for many or at least a significant financial commitment. And now we’ve learned [...]

What to Do if You Haven’t Saved Enough for College

Given the many competing demands on our money, many parents find themselves in a panic when their kids enter high school and they realize they have very little saved to pay for college. With the average annual cost of a private university now exceeding $45,000 and the average cost of a public university close to $25,000, most people can’t easily [...]

Is College Still Worth It?

With the average cost of a private college now exceeding $45,000 and the average cost of a public university close to $25,000, you might wonder if sending your kids to college is still a good investment. Recent research indicates it still is. […]

Wise College Shoppers Finish Less Poor

Although my kids are still young, I am starting to learn more about the college selection process to help some of my financial planning clients with older kids. It is a highly complicated and seemingly mysterious process, but doesn’t need to be frustrating. […]

How to Choose the Best College Savings Account

After the lazy days of summer, the Fall is often a time of renewed focus on planning and project completion before year‐end. To that end, if getting serious about saving for your kids’ college is one of your projects, there are several different account types to consider. Each has its own advantages and disadvantages. This article [...]