College Financial Consultants

09/01/2026

Great article explaining the benefits and changes to 529 plans:

In our Wealth Wise advice column, experts explain how parents and grandparents can fund a child's education without risking their own financial future.

08/27/2026

October will be here before you know it! If you are wondering whether you need to submit a FAFSA, you should read this.

If you’re a high school senior or the parent of one, you’ve likely heard plenty about the FAFSA.

08/20/2026

Financial aid deadlines are often misunderstood. Missing deadlines can be costly. FAFSA season is around the corner! Learn more about deadlines here 👇

Financial aid deadlines vary by college, state, and application type. Here's how to stay organized and avoid missing important aid opportunities.

08/12/2026

Learn the differences between the FAFSA and CSS Profile, which colleges require each form, and how they affect your financial aid eligibility. 👇

Understanding the differences between the FAFSA and CSS Profile can help you maximize financial aid and avoid costly mistakes.

07/20/2026

Great article. Cost should be a priority when building a college list. Some solid advice here:

Research indicates that U.S. college application submissions generally rose in the 2025-2026 academic year.

07/01/2026

Families with multiple children attending college at the same time need to know important information. The FAFSA Simplification Act changed a major benefit for families in this situation, but there are still ways to access the sibling discount. 👇

The FAFSA sibling discount is gone—but families still have options.

06/17/2026

Does applying for financial aid hurt your chances of admission?

A college can admit students without considering their financial circumstances and still leave families with a significant gap to cover.

On the other hand, some need-aware colleges may offer some of the most generous financial aid packages.

Understanding the difference between need-blind and need-aware admissions can help families build a smarter college list and avoid costly surprises later in the process.

I put together a guide explaining what these terms really mean and how they can affect both admissions and financial aid. 👇

06/12/2026

Forbes published an article grading the financial health of American colleges and universities. As operational costs continue to rise, this is worth paying attention to. Check out the colleges you're interested in.

Forbes annual College Financial Grades assesses the financial health of more than 900 private not-for-profit colleges with enrollment of more than 500 students.

06/10/2026

Parents of rising high school seniors!

Many families are surprised to learn that applying Early Decision can impact more than just admissions—it can also affect financial aid.

While Early Decision may improve a student's chances of admission at some colleges, it comes with an important tradeoff: families often lose the ability to compare financial aid and scholarship offers from multiple schools.

Before committing to an Early Decision application, it's important to understand both the admissions advantages and the financial implications.

I put together a guide explaining:

• The different application options
• How Early Decision can affect need-based and merit aid
• When families can walk away from an ED agreement
• How to determine if ED is the right choice for your student ⬇️

Why Early Decision Can Feel Like a Gamble for Families Watching College Costs

06/04/2026

One of the biggest misconceptions I see during the college search process is this:

Families often assume that colleges with the highest sticker prices are automatically unaffordable.

In reality, some colleges that commit to meeting 100% of demonstrated financial need can actually cost less than a public state university. Read here 👇

Don't Let the High Sticker Price Deter You