March Newsletter 2014: College Award Letters, TACS & More
It’s March!
We’ve officially dived into spring, and if you are a senior, it’s decision time! The time has arrived to weigh your college options and finalize your college funding plan.
Remind your student to keep an eye out for award letters, some of which are now sent via e-mail. As award letters come flooding in, your student needs to make sense of all the offers presented to them. This month’s Senior Scoop explains what “out-of-pocket” cost means and the best tactics for evaluating the cost of attendance for each college.
Are you self-employed and earn too much to qualify for need based financial aid? Listen to our recent College Smart Radio broadcast where guest Jodi Eramo CPA, CCPRS, spoke with Mark and I about Westface College Planning’s Tax-Advantaged College Strategies (TACS) program.
Reserve a seat at a webinar or give me a call when you are ready to take your next step on the path to creating a clear college funding plan. To avoid rushing or being shut out of opportunities, both financial and academic, having a plan is key!
If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to contact me.
Beatrice Schultz, CFP®
Westface College Planning
College Funding Specialist
650-587-1559
College Smart Radio: Tackling the Runaway Costs of College
Tune in to 1220am KDOW – the Wall Street Business Network from 3:00pm-3:30pm every Saturday for my radio show, College Smart Radio – Tackling the Runaway Costs of College. The show can be streamed live at www.KDOW.biz, too!
Curious what College Smart Radio covers? Tune in this Saturday, Mar. 8th where we’ll speak with our guest Farah Sheikh, Education Campaign Specialist at DoSomething.org about their special campaign “Would You Rather” aimed to help students manage their money.Listen in to the College Smart Radio podcast where we discussed Westface College Planning’s Tax-Advantaged College Strategies (TACS) program with guest Jodi Eramo, CPA, CCPRS with College Planning Relief® (CPR).
Featured Find: Financial Planning Makes College Education a Reality for Many
“For many, the goal of returning to school to earn a college degree provides the opportunity for impactful, long-lasting change and a more fulfilling life and career.
New data shows college graduates receive benefits in addition to a higher salary potential and lower chance of unemployment.
For example, in 2011, 14 percent more bachelor’s degree holders were covered by employer-provided health insurance when compared to individuals holding a high school diploma. That same year, 65 percent of bachelor’s degree holders working full time, year-round were offered retirement plans by their employers, compared to only 52 percent of high school graduates.”
Upcoming “Tackling the Runaway Costs of College” Webinars
Our next upcoming workshops are:
- Tackling the Runaway Costs of College – Webinar:
Tuesday, March 11th 2014, from 7pm to 8pm. - College Financial Planning Workshop:
Wednesday, April 2nd 2014 from 6:30pm to 7:30pm.
Woodside High School
199 Churchill Ave, Woodside, CA - Tackling the Runaway Costs of College – Webinar:
Monday, April 14th 2014, from 7pm to 8pm.
Senior Scoop – Clearing the Confusion: What to Expect from Award Letters
Seniors: As we dive into the spring months of March and April, it’s time to look out for award letters and college admission offers.
The majority of colleges will send out awards letters in March and require your acceptance before May 1st.
Breaking Down Award Letters
While you can easily find sample letters online to get the gist of what an award letter generally says, there’s no designated format for them. This may throw you for a loop when trying to compare one against another.
As you sift through these letters, it’s important to figure out what financial offer they’re willing to give you. How much money must you pay back and what amount is handed to you for free?
Continue reading Senior Scoop here.
Advice & Insight
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If you are a typical parent with college bound students, you’re probably overwhelmed by all the research necessary to help your sons and daughters make the right choices and prevent overpaying for their education.
You are not alone!
Get the facts. Educate yourself to potentially save tens of thousands of dollars on a single college education. Parents of more than one child heading to college in the next few years, can save even more.
At Westface College Planning we work with families to help you plan for and navigate the “paying for college” process. We teach you how to minimize your out-of-pocket expenses, maximize financial aid eligibility, understand the best way to navigate through the college selection process and prioritize your sources of college funds to protect your life savings!
Sign up for a free workshop or webinar or call to schedule a complimentary college funding consultation today.
More information at westfacecollegeplanning.com.
Ready for your own success story?
If you’re a typical parent with college-bound students, you’re probably overwhelmed. You want to help your sons and daughters make the right choices and prevent overpaying for their education. You’re not alone! We’re here to help. Schedule your free consultation today – click below to get started!
Catch our free, on-demand webinar:
How to Survive Paying for College
Join Beatrice Schultz, CFP® for our on-demand webinar, where she provides parents with the exact steps that often greatly lower the cost of college, even if there’s little time to prepare.