How To Pay for College Without Breaking the Bank

Transcription

1 How To Pay for College Without Breaking the Bank Amy Leis, Financial Advisor Accredited Wealth Management Advisor, Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor Janney Montgomery Scott LLC 2017 Janney Montgomery Scott LLC Member SIPC, NYSE, FINRA

2 We ll Talk About Cost of College Financial Aid FAFSA & EFC Funding Strategies

3 A Parenting Decision To Pay or Not to Pay? Not like when you went to college But keep in mind retirement

4 Tuition Inflation Source: BLS Consumer Index, JP Morgan Asset Management. Data represents cumulative percentage price change from 12/31/82-12/31/16

5 Future Four-Year College Costs

6 Current Cost of Attendance (tuition, fees, room & board) New Jersey Rutgers University New Brunswick In state: $32,191 Out of state: $48,132 The College New Jersey In state: $34,467 Out of state: $45,896 Seton Hall Private: $59,062 Princeton University Private: $66,950 Pennsylvania Penn State Main Campus In state: $34,344 Out of state: $51,572 Temple University In state: $32,300 Out of state: $44,060 Villanova University Private: $68,232 University of Pennsylvania Private: $68,600 Source: updated

7 Community College Hybrid Programs Rowan College Burlington County 3 yrs at RCBC, 1 year at Rowan Camden County College 2 years at CCC, 2 years at Rutgers-Camden Passaic County Community College 2 years at PCCC, 2 years at Rutgers, Fairleigh Dickinson, Thomas Edison Note: transfer agreement depends on major For more info:

8 FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) Required by all accredited schools Determines a family s Federal EFC Submission deadlines vary by school 2 year lookback (2016 data for school year) Get FAFSA in early October 2018!!!

9 Parents vs Kids vs Assets Kids assets assessed: 20%* Parents assets assessed: 5.64%* 529s in kids name assessed at parents level Multiple 529s roll up to oldest child Parent: 5.64% of assets example: $10k in savings = $564 added back in to expected contribution Student: 20% of assets example: $10k in savings = $2,000 added back in to expected contribution * Under Federal Methodology

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11 CSS Profile (Administered by College Board) Used by over 200 private colleges and universities to award institutional money (the college s own money) Deadlines vary by school 1 year lookback (2017 tax returns and estimated 2018 income) Longer form than the FAFSA

12 Assessable vs Non-Assessable Assets FAFSA vs CSS Retirement Accounts (must add back in prior year contributions) Home equity in primary residence Rental properties (LLC, cleaning, laundry) Mortgage, credit card debt Annuities Cash Value Life Insurance Trust Funds and UGMA/UTMAs Grandparent assistance

13 But There Are Scholarships, Right?

14 But my kid is super-gifted! Most schools offer merit (non-need based) scholarships (but not the Ivy League schools) Schools can base their awards on a student s talents or skills, community involvement, geographic location, ethnicity, religion, etc. Non-traditional ideas Head West Play the tuba

15 But my kid is great at sports!

16 Are there any non-athletic scholarships? Financial Need vs Merit Based DO NOT PAY to apply to a scholarship!!!

17 Funding Strategies More conservative asset allocation as student gets closer to college Roth IRA (but NOT your retirement assets) Whole Life Insurance Tax Credits HELOCs College Condos

18 529 Plans State specific? Taxation of assets? What about no college?

19 Federal Loans: Subsidized Loans 5.05% Direct PLUS Loans (for parents) 7.6%

20 Education Tax Credits American Opportunity Credit $2,500 tax credit, per student Lifetime Learning Credit Up to $2,000 tax credit per return Tuition and Fees Deduction Up to $4,000 taxable income reduction per year IRS Publication 970 Important there are income limits and other variables that determine eligibility. Get advice on Tax Credits from your CPA.

21 Non-Traditional Strategies Roth IRA (but NOT your retirement assets) Whole Life Insurance HELOCs College Condos

22 Veterans Benefits Post-9/11 GI Bill Montgomery GI Bill Reserve Educational Assistance Program Veterans Educational Assistance Program Survivors & Dependents Educational Assistance Program Contact the US Department of Veterans Affairs for more info

23 The Three Types of Families Type 1: Families that will always qualify for need-based financial aid at any college. Type 2: Families that would not normally qualify for need-based aid, but with proactive planning, will qualify. Type 3: Families that will not qualify for need-based aid under any circumstances.

24 Type 2 Family Case Study - Borderline financial aid Andrew is a sophomore in high school only child Parents have $2.5 million in assets (mostly annuities and retirement accounts) Andrew has $65k in his name UGMA/UTMA and personal savings from summer job 529 has $25k Combined income is $160k (mom just retired to start small business) Wealthy grandparents They live in NJ

25 Solutions Spend down all $$ in student s name & reduce his income Spend all non-retirement assets on first year of school Take out home equity line of credit Max out 401k, defer additional income if possible Grandparents pay for senior year of college

26 Type 3 Family Case Study - Does not qualify for aid Julie is starting Drexel Univ in the Fall She has 2 little sisters and works part time for her parents manufacturing business at $8/hr Business is very successful S Corp, parents have $1.1mill net income annually 529 is empty No additional assets other than several real estate holdings They live in PA

27 Employ Your Child Pay your child wages from your business or rental to reduce your income taxes Not subject to Social Security taxes if the child is under 18 and paid from a sole proprietorship Use retirement accounts such as a Roth IRA to reduce taxable income

28 Solutions Increase Julie s salary significantly Put $$ through 529 straight to college and also put $$ in for sisters--get tax break Fringe Benefit Tuition Program Educational Assistance Tuition Program Whole Life Insurance Hire younger sisters & put $$ into Roth IRA Roth IRA conversion for parents College Condo

29 Questions? Amy Leis Financial Advisor Janney Montgomery Scott LLC East Gate Drive, Mt Laurel, NJ Need a speaker for your next meeting? Give me a call! Member SIPC, NYSE, FINRA

30 Sources & Citations JP Morgan Asset Management, College Planning Essentials, fafsa.ed.gov finaid.org irs.gov (IRS Publication 970) collegesavings.org savingforcollege.com Paying For College: Use Trump s tax plan to pay $0 tax on $30,000 of capital gains, Troy Onink, forbes.com 2017 Guide to College Financial Aid, the FAFSA and CSS Profile, Troy Onink, forbes.com Disclosure Statement: The information provided is general and educational in nature. It is not an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy the products highlighted. It is not intended to be, and should not be construed as, legal or tax advice. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC does not provide legal or tax advice. Laws of a specific state or laws relevant to a particular situation may affect the applicability, accuracy, or completeness of this information. Federal and state laws and regulations are complex and are subject to change. Janney makes no warranties with regard to the information or results obtained by its use. Janney disclaims any liability arising out of your use of, or reliance on, the information. Consult an attorney or tax advisor regarding your specific legal or tax situation. Investment products offered are not insured by the FDIC or any other government agency. They are not deposits or obligations of, or guaranteed by the financial institutions where offered. They also involve investment risk, including the possible loss of principal. Past performance is not an indication of future results.