Knowing when and even how to make a 529 Plan withdrawals can be confusing. My children have completed twenty-eight of thirty-two college semesters. Yes, I am counting. Learning about 529 Plans has been educational. The purpose of a 529 Plan is to incent saving for college costs by providing a tax-free shelter of the money. Details can be found … Read more
Advantages of a 529 College Savings Plan
by BL Schultz
February 27, 2017
529 College Savings Plans provide incentive for saving for college through favorable federal and state income tax treatment. Gains in 529 Plans accumulate tax-free. 529 account withdrawals are tax-free provided the money is used for qualified educational expenses. An IRS 529 college savings plan Q&A is available here. It is much less expensive to pre-pay education expenses in a 529 Plan while the … Read more
FAFSA – Help with the Application Decision
by BL Schultz
October 21, 2016
As the parent of four college students (two graduates, two current), I receive many questions from other parents about the college application process and specifically want to focus on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid or FAFSA. The FAFSA is used by colleges to determine financial aid eligibility. Think of it as the gateway … Read more
You’ve Got Mail
by BL Schultz
May 22, 2016
College graduation often means one thing – credit card offers to accompany that newly minted degree. Even the college newbies now receive credit card offers in today’s competitive financial environment. The co-ed has been cross-checked and triangulated by Big Data, who then sells that info in bulk to thirsty credit card companies looking to replenish … Read more
Leave Home Without It
by BL Schultz
April 18, 2016
Spring is in the air and that means one thing to parents of college students – moving their kid’s stuff. The unwieldy pile of treasures goes from home to dorm to apartment to home to different apartment to storage to wherever-the-heck. As the designated mover during last year’s shift for one of my daughters, I … Read more
FAFSA Dates Change in 2016
by BL Schultz
December 28, 2015
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid or FAFSA has made a significant change to the application process beginning in 2016. For high school seniors graduating in Spring of 2016 and existing college students the application process remains the same as prior years. That means the FAFSA application for the 2016-17 school year will be … Read more
