As a parent, you probably have many worries and responsibilities when it comes to your children. However, planning for college has become one of the most stressful and expensive things that you will face as a family.
In recent decades, the cost of college has skyrocketed, increasing much faster than general inflation1, while wages have stagnated in comparison.2 Improperly large amounts of student loan debt can prevent young adults from investing, buying a home, or starting a family, and while having a college degree still pays off over a worker's lifetime3, the up-front cost can seem overwhelming for many families.
We believe that a college education can be an important asset for many young adults, but it's important to plan properly in order to receive the best "return on investment" when it comes to attending college.
We provide comprehensive college planning services for families who want help planning for what we call one of the biggest "wealth transfers" of their lives: Paying for college. We can help with any and all of the following aspects of the college planning process:
♦ Planning for the College Gap
We can help you evaluate your current plan to pay for college and analyze your college funding "gap" so you can develop a solid strategy to pay for the difference. Families with multiple children going to college will have additional challenges, and we will help you strategize and find the best schools for each student's personal goals and preferences in order to minimize time in college and maximize financial aid opportunities. We also offer a comprehensive online college search portal with cost estimates, comparisons, and reports, scholarship opportunities, and more.
♦ Preparing Your Student for College
Our unique process provides one-on-one student coaching with a member of the National Association of College Admissions Counseling to help your student prepare for college and a future career path. We also offer services to help your student improve his or her ACT scores, prepare a stellar college essay, stay on top of the application process, and more.
♦ College Funding Strategies
We offer guidance with minimizing your out-of-pocket college expense, analyze and provide recommendations for funding your college gap, and provide a comprehensive financial overview on college, cashflow, and retirement planning to make sure you are optimizing your results in each area.
As you can see, we take a holistic approach to planning for college. We believe one of the most important things a family can do financially is to have a plan for how to handle the high cost of college - without negatively impacting your retirement plans - and we provide support throughout the entire process to help you and your student find success!
From mitigating costs, to minimizing time in school, to finding the best places to save and grow your money even while paying for college, we can help families face this costly life event with confidence and come out ahead.
Want to discuss your college plan with a Certified College Financial Consultant? Request a free family strategy session here, or click here to learn more about our comprehensive college planning services.
Sources:
1.) https://www.bestcolleges.com/research/college-costs-over-time/
2.) https://research.com/degrees/cost-of-getting-a-bachelors-degree
3.) https://www.bestcolleges.com/news/analysis/is-college-worth-it/