Articles

How Assets Impact Financial Aid

Mon, 24 Oct 2016 09:10:00 +0000

Parents often have no idea which assets hurt their financial aid chances and which do not.

Big Changes on the College Admission Scene

Thu, 22 Sep 2016 16:12:00 +0000

Significant changes have just kicked in for the FAFSA.

Nine Things to Know About College in Europe

Wed, 17 Aug 2016 09:14:00 +0000

More students are attending college in Europe, where many bachelor’s programs offer free or inexpensive tuition.

Measuring a College Grad’s Salary Prospects

Wed, 06 Jul 2016 09:00:00 +0000

Institutional evidence of graduate salaries is flimsy at best. But many outside groups now generate salary and job statistics for individual schools.

Six Unconventional Facts Behind Standardized Tests

Wed, 18 May 2016 09:00:00 +0000

The recent overhaul of the SAT may have clients and their kids worried about test scores. Here are six ways advisors can help ease their stress.

Three Tools to Cut the Cost of College

Tue, 22 Mar 2016 09:00:00 +0000

There are few other major financial decisions clients will make from such a clueless position.

Seven Ways to Appeal a Financial Aid Award

Fri, 19 Feb 2016 16:00:00 +0000

Are your clients unhappy with a stingy award? A college or university’s first offer isn’t always the final one.

Cracking Financial Aid Forms

Tue, 12 Jan 2016 16:49:00 +0000

Advisors who are well-versed in commonly used financial aid forms can help their clients save thousands of dollars.

The Financial Aid Advisor

Mon, 14 Dec 2015 15:29:00 +0000

Help clients and their children avoid costly mistakes on aid applications.

What Public Universities Cost at the State Level

Tue, 17 Nov 2015 14:06:00 +0000

How much a college degree will cost your clients can often depend on what state they live in.

An Important Change in Financial Aid

Wed, 21 Oct 2015 09:00:00 +0000

An executive order from the White House will bring the college admissions season in line with tax season. Here’s how that helps your clients.

An Untapped Market in College Financial Planning

Mon, 21 Sep 2015 10:00:00 +0000

Financial planning for college is a pain point even for wealthy clients, and an underserved niche for advisors.

Tackling Student Debt

Mon, 24 Aug 2015 10:00:00 +0000

Student debt is rising. Help your clients sort through some of their options, from refinancing to consolidation.

The College Arms Race for Affluent Students

Mon, 20 Jul 2015 10:05:00 +0000

State universities are competing aggressively for the children of your affluent clients.

How to Handle Overblown College Fears

Thu, 18 Jun 2015 09:05:00 +0000

Put clients at ease by dispelling these commonly held beliefs about the college admission process.

To Save, Send the Kids to College, Not a University

Thu, 28 May 2015 18:17:00 +0000

Colleges typically offer better scholarships and grants than universities.

Colleges don’t enjoy the same visibility as research universities do, so they typically offer better scholarships and grants to applicants.

College Savings Don’t Hurt Chances For Financial Aid

Mon, 27 Apr 2015 09:05:00 +0000

Clients will be in a far better position if they’ve saved for their child’s college education. Here’s why.

The Nation’s Most Generous Colleges

Fri, 27 Mar 2015 13:39:00 +0000

The tab that high-income students pay allows these schools to defray the cost of students who require a great deal of financial assistance.

Helping Parents Deal with College Stress

Mon, 23 Feb 2015 10:05:00 +0000

It’s not that important where your clients’ children go to college. What matters more is their teens’ mental health. Advisors can calm parents’ nerves.

Five Secrets Colleges Are Keeping From You

Fri, 23 Jan 2015 10:05:00 +0000

Don’t be fooled; colleges are high-stakes businesses that are preoccupied with enhancing their own prestige.

Five Ways to Maximize College Financial Aid

Wed, 26 Nov 2014 10:08:00 +0000

Clients with college-bound kids may ask to move money around to up their chances for financial aid; it rarely works, and there are better ways to help.

How to Get An Athletic Scholarship

Wed, 22 Oct 2014 10:45:00 +0000

If clients are convinced their kid will get a sports scholarship, here’s what advisors need to know.

The College Illusion

Fri, 19 Sep 2014 13:00:00 +0000

Are your clients and their kids getting ripped off? New research says it’s quite possible.

The Most Attractive Student Loans

Mon, 25 Aug 2014 12:53:00 +0000

More than likely, your clients’ children will have to borrow for college. Advisors can help them find the loans with the best terms.

Eight Ways to Avoid Student Loan Debt

Wed, 09 Jul 2014 13:01:00 +0000

A disturbing number of Americans have defaulted on their student loans. Advisors can help guide them out of it.

One Angry Mom and No Scholarships

Thu, 29 May 2014 20:36:00 +0000

Teenagers have to be strategic when applying to schools, especially if money is an issue. One angry mom learned that the hard way.

Cracking the FAFSA Code

Wed, 26 Feb 2014 14:06:00 +0000

The federal financial aid form can be tricky to navigate, but here are 10 mistakes clients should avoid when filling it out.

Gallery: Five Ways to Squeeze More Money From Colleges

Wed, 16 Oct 2013 13:00:00 +0000

There are other ways to win fat financial aid packages than simply being bright. Here are the top five.

The Real Costs of College

Mon, 16 Sep 2013 13:26:00 +0000

A net price calculator allows clients to look beyond sticker prices to focus on the only price that matters to a mom and dad: the price they’ll pay for their child to attend college.

School’s (Not) Out

Mon, 26 Aug 2013 12:50:00 +0000

Parents often assume that their children are going to finish their degrees in four years. Most of the time, it doesn’t happen.

Gallery: Five Ways to Minimize Tuition Sticker Shock

Thu, 01 Aug 2013 18:04:00 +0000

No school is worth going into huge debt. Here are five easy tips to keep the costs of college down.

Don’t Hide the Disability

Thu, 20 Jun 2013 13:45:00 +0000

While it isn’t highly publicized, many colleges have resources for children with learning disabilities.

Unlocking College Data

Mon, 20 May 2013 13:21:00 +0000

What good are the loads of data about colleges, if families can’t access it? Here are four websites that are opening the vault.

Curtailing the Costs of College

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 15:03:00 +0000

By knowing the basics about late-stage college planning, you can promote deeper connections with your clients and prospects.

Getting the Most Bang for Your Tuition Bucks

Mon, 18 Mar 2013 13:13:00 +0000

Many students and parents don’t have the resources to benchmark colleges against one another, but a new college scorecard is a step in the right direction.

Majoring in Employment

Tue, 19 Feb 2013 13:55:00 +0000

One of the top reasons students attend college is to get a good job. But just how much will schools help in the job search?

The Ticking Time Bomb

Tue, 22 Jan 2013 14:17:00 +0000

One misstep on a financial aid form could end up costing your clients thousands in financial aid money.

College Admissions Fever

Mon, 17 Dec 2012 14:20:00 +0000

The college admissions process can drive teens and their parents crazy this time of year. Here are some statistics to get clients of college-bound kids to simmer down.

Value Investing for College

Mon, 19 Nov 2012 14:28:00 +0000

Several schools recently dubbed the best value by Kiplinger’s also charge the highest net prices in the nation. Shame.

College at a Discount

Mon, 15 Oct 2012 13:41:00 +0000

Next year, a Minnesota-based university will cut its tuition by 33 percent for all its students. Others will likely follow.

College Rankings Are Not Accurate

Mon, 17 Sep 2012 13:00:00 +0000

This fall U.S. News & World Report released its annual college rankings. In truth, these rankings do more for the colleges and universities that fight for inclusion than they do for prospective students trying to decide where to go.

When Dream Schools Become a Nightmare

Mon, 20 Aug 2012 12:52:00 +0000

Many parents will go to great lengths to send to their children to their dream schools, but it’s not always the best financial decision.

The Home Equity Drag on Financial Aid

Mon, 16 Jul 2012 14:32:00 +0000

For some colleges, home equity figures heavily in financial aid calculations. For others, not at all. Your clients should know which is which before their kids apply.

How College Rankings Influence Scholarship Awards

Mon, 18 Jun 2012 13:18:00 +0000

For your affluent clients, it's the schools that don't possess the marquee names that will be eager to award their children scholarships.

Common practice among prestigious private research universities and liberal arts colleges is to dispense tiny merit awards to a small group of wealthy students.

Seven Ways to Borrow for College

Fri, 01 Jun 2012 13:00:00 +0000

Look for borrower protection, consider credit unions and apply for multiple loans.

Deciphering a Financial Aid Award

Mon, 16 Apr 2012 11:00:00 +0000

Lynn O'Shaughnessy

Financial aid letters are often confusing and misleading. You can help your clients if you know show them how to read between the lines.

The Risks of Independence

Mon, 19 Mar 2012 13:21:00 +0000

Lynn O'Shaughnessy

Your clients’ kids can get a lot more student aid if they qualify as “independent students.” But it’s nearly impossible to qualify.

Inside the Mind of a College Freshman

Thu, 01 Mar 2012 17:00:00 +0000

Lynn O'Shaughnessy

Most American college freshmen get into their first choice of schools. But they're getting less financial aid and studying harder than before.

At a college workshop that I conducted recently in San Diego, I asked the dozens of parents in attendance to guess what percentage of high school seniors

Ten Facts About College Freshmen

Tue, 28 Feb 2012 14:00:00 +0000

Lynn O’Shaughnessy

Some surprising statistics about this year’s crop of college freshmen: Most get into the school of their choice, they go to school close to home, and they excel in self-confidence.

The Worst College Admission Mistakes

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 21:30:00 +0000

Lynn O'Shaughnessy

Too many students apply to schools that are way out of their league academically and financially. It's a wasted effort.