I do not think it is hyperbole to say that we are dealing with a student loan crisis in the United States. As of February 2020, there is over $1.6 trillion in outstanding student debt. To give you some perspective, Forbes published an article a year ago discussing how aggregate student debt in the U.S.…
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This article was originally published on May 13, 2019. It was updated on March 24, 2020. As a college funding coach and a financial advisor, my conversations with families are often focused on how they can provide the best education and opportunity for their children without compromising their families’ financial future or taking on significant…
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How do we plan for an educational expense that may or may not happen at some point in the future? My fiancé and I are getting married soon and are planning to have children someday. A controversial question we are facing right now is this one: “Is it too early to start saving for college?”…
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The College Funding Coach team hopes that you were still able to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in these uncertain times, even if it meant staying at home with family or close friends and embracing the classic St. Patrick’s Day “Spirit(s).” St. Paddy’s Day, Awkward Moments, and Taxes March 17th brings about a pure sense of…
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What do Stephen Covey and Miguel Cervantes have in common? They are commonly attributed with two fundamental maxims that hold true in college funding. In his book 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, Stephen Covey says, “Begin with the end in mind.” In his book Don Quixote, Cervantes is credited for saying, “Don’t put all…
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This is a guest post from Edmit. Key Takeaways: College costs are high, even taking financial aid into account. On average, college has a positive ROI for graduates. Your costs, how long you take to graduate, and economic conditions will impact your ROI. There are also considerable differences in ROI based on the major, graduate…
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Verification Does Not Mean You’re In Trouble Once you submit the FAFSA, and the government calculates your family’s Expected Family Contribution (EFC), it will then be displayed on your Student Aid Report (SAR). The federal government or a specific college/university may then require verification of the information you supplied on your FAFSA. This is not…
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This post focuses on undergrad student loans. Putting the Student Loan Problem in Perspective In total, 44 million Americans owe about $1.6 trillion in student debt. About 70 percent of college grads have student debt when they graduate, with the average student having about $37,000 in loans. These statistics look really scary, but the story…
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This article was updated on February 21, 2020. It was originally published on February 18, 2016. The Student Aid Report (SAR) is a confusing government-type report that summarizes the information that you provided on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Here are the important things to look at when you receive your report.…
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This article was originally published on May 6, 2015. It was updated on February 12, 2020. No Time for Modesty The Hollywood awards season ended with the Oscars ceremony this past Sunday. Millions tuned in to celebrate—or criticize—the achievements of actors, directors, screenwriters, and musicians. Personally, The Academy Awards always serve as a reminder that…
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