Education Funding Specialists

05/01/2025

Join us today, 5/1 at 4:30pm ET for this week's Chat with Chris!

Chris Lester will be diving into an important topic: "How to Build a Floor for Retirement."

Learn how to create a solid foundation of income you can rely on — no matter what the market does.

Don't miss it!

04/28/2025

Join us this Thursday, 5/1 at 4:30pm ET for this week's Chat with Chris!

Chris Lester will be diving into an important topic: "How to Build a Floor for Retirement."

Learn how to create a solid foundation of income you can rely on — no matter what the market does.

Don't miss it!

12/18/2024

2025 College-Bound Families: Don’t Miss These FAFSA Tips! 🎓

If your child is heading to college in the 2025-2026 academic year, **filing the FAFSA** (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) should be at the top of your to-do list! The FAFSA is the gateway to federal financial aid, grants, work-study programs, and many state and institutional scholarships.

Here’s what you need to know to stay ahead of the game and maximize your child’s financial aid opportunities.

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**Key Dates for the 2025-2026 FAFSA**
📅 **FAFSA Opens:** **December 2024** (delayed this year!)
📅 **Deadlines Vary:** Each college sets its own FAFSA priority deadline, and state deadlines may be earlier. Submit your FAFSA as soon as possible after it opens to maximize aid.

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**5 Tips for Filing the FAFSA in 2025**

1. Create Your FSA ID Early
Both the parent and the student will need an **FSA ID** to access and submit the FAFSA. Set this up before December 2024 to avoid delays!

2. Know What Documents You’ll Need
You’ll use **2023 tax returns** to complete the FAFSA. Gather other documents like W-2s, bank statements, and information about untaxed income so you’re ready to go.

3. File ASAP After the FAFSA Opens
Aid is often distributed on a first-come, first-served basis, so don’t wait until the last minute. Schools and states may run out of funds if you delay filing.

4. Avoid Common FAFSA Errors
Double-check your entries to avoid mistakes like mismatched Social Security numbers, incorrect tax data, or leaving fields blank. Small errors can delay processing or reduce aid eligibility.

5. Understand How Aid Is Calculated
The FAFSA now uses the **Student Aid Index (SAI)** instead of the Expected Family Contribution (EFC). The SAI calculation includes **parental income, student income, assets**, and other factors. Learn how assets like savings accounts or 529 plans may affect your child’s aid eligibility and consider repositioning assets if necessary.

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**Bonus Tips to Maximize Aid Opportunities**

💡 Don’t stop at FAFSA– Many colleges require the CSS Profile for additional aid. Check if your school is one of them.

💡 Communicate with colleges – If your financial situation has changed since 2023, reach out to the financial aid offices to discuss a potential appeal or special circumstances.

💡 File for each year – FAFSA isn’t a one-time event! You’ll need to file every year your child is in college.

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Filing the FAFSA can feel overwhelming, but taking it step by step will help you unlock valuable financial aid for your child’s education. Don’t leave money on the table—start preparing now!

Have questions about the FAFSA or college funding strategies? Let’s chat! 🎓 732-302-1810

05/02/2024

If you won the lottery and had the option to take the cash or the annuity payments, what would you choose?

In the same line of thought, If you had the cash to pay for a house outright, would you? Does it make financial sense, or should you get a mortgage?

Join us at LIVE at 4:30pm for Mortgage Master Move to answer this question - there are various financial considerations including negative amortization, cash on-hand, interest, rate of return on investments. Let's dive into this interesting financial concept.

Link to join in comments!

03/16/2024

March brings St. Patrick's Day. But you can't count on the luck of the Irish, a four-leaf clover, or a shooting star when it comes to your finances. Retirement takes planning and unexpected events can impact your goals. Having a plan in place can help you feel more confident in your financial situation and retirement journey.

I can help evaluate your retirement readiness and explore whether an annuity might be a fit for you. Discover how an annuity can help:

· Provide income that is contractually guaranteed for life
· Reduce risk with income not dependent on the ups or downs of the market
· Protect a portion of your assets

Don't leave your retirement to chance. Create a plan.

If I can help, please call 732-302-1810 to schedule an appointment to discuss your retirement planning needs.

03/14/2024

What we've learned over the years as that people often invest more time planning a two-week vacation than they do planning for their retirement. The Financial GPS is a powerful tool that enables us to create a personalized map guiding you toward your destination in retirement. Join us today, Thursday at 4:30 pm ET to discover what your unique financial map could look like and gain valuable insights on how to navigate your journey.

Link to join in comments!

03/11/2024

What we've learned over the years as that people often invest more time planning a two-week vacation than they do planning for their retirement. The Financial GPS is a powerful tool that enables us to create a personalized map guiding you toward your destination in retirement. Join us this Thursday at 4:30 pm ET to discover what your unique financial map could look like and gain valuable insights on how to navigate your journey.

Link to join in comments!

01/26/2024

In case you missed the live stream last night, be sure to checkout NJ101.5's Town Hall: Securing Your Financial Future featuring Professional Planning Services' Chris Lester! It was a valuable call on retiring in NJ, planning and paying for college, hidden taxes, buying and selling homes and more.

https://smpl.is/8k58k

Disclosures: Advisory services through Retirement Wealth Advisors, Inc. (RWA), an SEC Registered Investment Advisor. Professional Planning Services and RWA are not affiliated. This Email is being sent by or on behalf of a Registered Investment Advisor. It is intended exclusively for the individual or entity to which it is addressed. This communication may contain information that is proprietary, privileged, or confidential, or otherwise legally exempt from disclosure. If you are not the named addressee, you are not authorized to read, print, retain, copy or disseminate the Email or any part of it. If you have received this Email in error, please notify the sender immediately by Email or fax, and destroy all copies of this communication. Please be advised that you may conduct securities transactions only by speaking directly with your Investment Advisor Representative either by phone or in person. Requests for securities transactions via email will not be executed by Retirement Wealth Advisors, Inc. To help protect your privacy, we strongly suggest you avoid sending sensitive information, such as account numbers and social security numbers via Email. Please be further advised that, pursuant to the Bank Secrecy Act, the USA PATRIOT ACT, and similar laws, any communication in this email is subject to regulatory, supervisory, and law enforcement review.

So many New Jersey residents fear they will never be able to afford to retire.From saving for retirement to purchasing a home, this special New Jersey 101.5...

10/17/2023

During this call, Chris goes over investing using
"covered call" options. You'll learn what they are and how they work. Check it out: https://smpl.is/7u8pf

10/07/2023

During this video, we will delve into the intriguing concept of the "Horse Race" and take a closer look at the three primary tax environments in which we channel our savings and investments: taxable, tax-deferred, and tax-free accounts. By comparing these approaches, we aim to equip you with a comprehensive understanding of how to optimize your financial growth potential.

Watch now: https://smpl.is/7u8p6

10/04/2023

Check out this video on Social Security Optimization - It's crucial to grasp the complexities of Social Security, and with Chris's expert assistance, you can gain valuable insights into the ideal time to begin taking your Social Security benefits.

Link in comments!

09/29/2023

During this call Chris went over how we can use AI to predict "lifespan" and "healthspan" to better customize your retirement plan. Watch the recording now! Link in comments.