Savvy College Planning What You Need to Know in 2017 & Beyond By Lynn O Shaughnessy
Late Stage College Planning Definition When parents are nearing the end of saving for college, how do they stretch whatever they have managed to save as far as possible when contemplating their college costs.
Your Gift
What You Need to Know in 2017 & Beyond 1 Understand what the new financial aid changes mean. 2 Implications for grandparent giving. 3 Latest college loan changes. 4 A major source of college money. 5 Checking a student s salary potential at a specific school.
Winning Strategy No. 1 Understand what the financial aid changes in the fall of 2016 mean.
Big Change in for Aid Applications Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) FAFSA is required to qualify for federal and state aid and usually aid from colleges, too. CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE PROFILE, a creation of the College Board, is used by 229 undergrad schools (mostly private) to determine who get their in-house awards.
New Filing Deadlines FAFSA & PROFILE Students applying for 2017-2018 school year, started filing the FAFSA beginning Oct. 1, 2016 instead of Jan. 1, 2017.
Using Older Tax Returns Families will use two-year-old tax returns. Referred to as prior-prior taxes (PPY).
Using Older Tax Returns For the 2017-2018 school year, families are using 2015 tax returns.
New System = Fewer Mistakes Your clients can use IRS data retrieval tool. Tool connects client filing out FAFSA to the IRS. The IRS fills out the relevant financial information from tax return.
Slowing Down the Aid Clock The MAD DASH to complete forms will disappear. No rush = More accurate information.
Changes Are a Big Win for Families Families should be able to get award offers much earlier and compare offers. Acceptances and offers can arrive together. Awards will be more accurate. This change will help families make better decisions.
What This Means The mechanics are straightforward, but implications aren t. Your finances will matter beginning in sophomore year in high school. 1 st base year: 2nd half 10 th grade/1 st half 11 th grade. Last base year: 2 nd half freshmen yr./1st half sophomore Finances won t matter after sophomore year in college. Current assets will still count.
Maximizing Financial Aid Harder Parents will need to think about potential moves earlier. Selling stock for capital gains. Avoid taking retirement distributions. Sink more money into retirement accounts earlier. Moving money from UGMA/UTMA to custodial 529.
Help from Grandparents
PPY: Grandparent Friendly Grandparents can help earlier without hurting aid chances Grandparent help with costs is considered child s untaxed income that s assessed at up to 50%.
PPY: Grandparent Friendly Grandparents used to have to hold back to avoid hurting aid chances Grandparents used to need to wait until the final financial aid application was filed to help.
PPY: Grandparent Friendly Grandparents can help a year earlier Grandparents can help with costs after the aid application has been filed in 2 nd semester sophomore year.
Families Can Appeal For parents taking a hit with priorprior tax returns They can ask for a professional judgment from colleges.
Winning Strategy No. 2 Know changes in college loan landscape.
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Federal Direct Loans These are loans for students only. These are best loans because of the federal safety net. No credit requirement for college students. Must be enrolled at least half time.
Subsidized vs. Unsubsidized Loans Subsidized loan: government covers interest while student in school, 6-month grace period after graduation and deferments. FAFSA formula determines who qualifies for the subsidized Direct Loan.
Subsidized vs. Unsubsidized Loans Unsubsidized loan: students are responsible for all the accrued interest beginning when money borrowed. Students of any income can qualify for the unsubsidized Direct Loan.
Subsidized vs. Unsubsidized Loans Unsubsidized loan: are the only Direct Loan option for graduate students. Graduate and professional students have another federal loan option.
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Parent Loan Options
Parent PLUS Loan This federal loan allows parents to borrow up to the amount not covered by child s financial aid. Can t have certain adverse black marks on credit history.
Parent PLUS Loan All qualified parents get the same rate. Begin payment immediately or wait until child graduates or leaves school. Interest rate for 2016-2107 school year: 6.31% Loan amount fee: 4.27%
New Parent Private Loans Private loans have traditionally been taken out by child and cosigned by parent or other adult. Now there are private college loans for parents. Only parent is obligated to pay the debt.
New Parent Private Loans Private loans can be less expensive than PLUS Loans for borrowers with very good or excellent credit scores (750+). Only parent is obligated to pay the debt.
New Private Lender List Private Student Loans Guru
Growing Number of Private Lenders Sources of private loans: Traditional banks. Credit unions. State loan programs. Online lenders.
Emphasize Saving It s always cheaper to save than to borrow.
Cost of $1 Borrowed Assuming 10 year repayment Subsidized Direct Loan: $1.24 Unsubsidized Direct Loan: $1.39 PLUS Loan: $1.71
Cost of $1 Borrowed Assuming 25-year repayment Subsidized Direct Loan: $1.65 Unsubsidized Direct Loan: $1.84 PLUS Loan: $2.58
Winning Strategy No. 3 Check 4-Year Grad Rates
Check Graduation Rates 33% Four-year grad rate at public colleges and universities Four-year grad rate at private colleges and universities 53%
Check Four-Year Grad Rate
The Chronicle of Higher Education s College Completion
University of Texas: Four- Year Grad Rate
Winning Strategy No. 4 A look at where the college money is in 2017.
Where the College Money Is
Don t Believe the Sticker Price 58% of students at public colleges and universities get institutional money. 88% of students at private institutions, get institutional grants and/or scholarships.
The Typical Price Cut Average discount at private schools is 55.5%.
Throw a Wider Net
Don t just look at research universities. Check out colleges and master s level universities.
Research universities provide 68% of freshmen with discounts.
Master s level universities provide 86% of freshmen with a discount.
Colleges provide 91% of freshmen with a discount.
Merit Aid and College Rankings
Schools That Don t Aid Wealthy Students Rank Highest Highest-ranked schools often provide the best financial aid. SWARTHMORE HAVERFORD POMONA WELLESLEY REED WILLIAMS CALTECH PRINCETON DARTMOUTH HARVARD PENN BROWN
CASE STUDY: High- Income Family $700,000 in merit scholarships for affluent student from Pennsylvania
Percentage Receiving Awards
Percentage Receiving Awards
Percentage Receiving Awards
Winning Strategy No. 5 Research schools beyond their name.
Key is making the most of wherever you attend college.
Schools aren t monolithic. Check at the department level.
Only resource with actual beginning salaries by majors.
Check salaries among similar type schools.
Why You Should Take the Course Colleges are businesses. Their No. 1 priority is themselves. Families are lost and are desperately looking for answers. And they aren t finding answers.
Here s How You d Benefit From
It will help you stand out from the crowd
Antidote to Robo Advising Advising is becoming a commodity. Every advisor can build an asset allocation plan. That s not going to set you apart. College can help get your foot in door.
Attract Ideal Clients Affluent parents are the ones most proactive seeking answers. They are appalled at price of top colleges. They aren t finding answers from high school counselors and college consultants.
Cement Relationships Understanding college basics can help you cement your relationship with clients. College planning can help you reach out to your clients grown children.
Boost Your Referrals Understanding college basics will make you referable. CPAs, attorneys, college consultants and other professionals will send business your way. Become the first person these professionals think of when the issue of college comes up!
Parents Guide
What You Get in Savvy College Planning
WHAT S Inside Savvy College Planning Four advice-packed webinars. You ll have instant access to all the recordings. Two update webinars throughout year.
Two Client Presentations With speaker notes
Parents Guide The Savvy Parents Guide to Cutting College Costs 50 six-sided guides These are incredibly popular among parents.
Scholarships & Financial Aid Lists 605 major scholarships from 1,200 colleges. The schools that provide the best financial aid. Colleges that don t offer merit scholarships. Average price discounts at 740 schools.
Marketing Tool Kit 75-page guide Includes PDF templates, posters, postcards, press releases FINRA approved
Article Reprints FINRA-reviewed. Brand these article reprints with your contact information, photo and logo to create a client touch that is both instructive and memorable.
9 CE Exam Credits 90-question online exam Answer 60 correctly to qualify for 9 Continuing Education Credits
Sampling of What You ll Learn Strategies for finding college bargains. Where affluent students can find merit awards. How home equity, investments, trusts & more impact aid. How grandparents can help with college costs safely. Maximizing financial aid. Names of schools the offer the best financial aid. How divorce/separation impact financial aid. Boosting admission chances & money. Best way to use college rankings. Inside scoop on athletic scholarships Best ways to borrow for college. Best ways to repay college debt.
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