May 21, 2012
By Lynn O'Shaughnessy
Look for borrower protection, consider credit unions and apply for multiple loans. ...
Apr 16, 2012
By Lynn O'Shaughnessy
Financial aid letters are often confusing and misleading. You can help your clients if you know show them how to read between the lines. ...
Mar 19, 2012
By Lynn O'Shaughnessy
Your clients’ kids can get a lot more student aid if they qualify as “independent students.” But it’s nearly impossible to qualify. ...
Mar 1, 2012
By Lynn O'Shaughnessy
At a college workshop that I conducted recently in San Diego, I asked the dozens of parents in attendance to guess what percentage of high school seniors...
Feb 28, 2012
By Lynn O’Shaughnessy
Some surprising statistics about this year’s crop of college freshmen: Most get into the school of their choice, they go to school close to home, and they excel in self-confidence. ...
Feb 3, 2012
By Lynn O'Shaughnessy
Too many students apply to schools that are way out of their league academically and financially. It's a wasted effort....
Jan 24, 2012
By Lynn O'Shaughnessy
When families start looking to pay for college, some put their hopes in private scholarships – there are an estimated 1.5 million private scholarships out there, though how many are awarded annually is difficult to track. But only in a handful of cases will these make much of a dent in a tuition bill. If your client insists on seeking them out, here are five things they should know:...
Dec 19, 2011
By Lynn O’Shaughnessy
Millions of teenagers will be taking the SAT and ACT tests this year, which always generates tons of stress for the test takers and their parents. ...
Dec 1, 2011
By Lynn O'Shaughnessy
The full tuition paid by less qualified wealthy students allows colleges to admit highly talented low-income students....
Nov 21, 2011
By Liz O’Shaughnessy
Roughly two-thirds of college students borrow money for college. The average college graduate leaves school with about $25,000 worth of debt.
Is $25,000 a reasonable amount of student loans? It really depends on where students are turning for money.
...
Nov 1, 2011
By Lynn O'Shaughnessy
Here are eight simple strategies for helping your clients get college costs down in a funky economy....
Oct 3, 2011
By Lynn O’Shaughnessy
How much will college cost us?
That's the question all parents want to know, but traditionally they have been left in the dark until each spring when the acceptance letters and aid awards arrive in the mail. When students receive awards that are skimpy—or none at all -- they are in trouble since it is too late to apply elsewhere.
...
Oct 1, 2011
By Lynn O'Shaughnessy
Your clients can strike gold by seeking aid from the country's private colleges directly. Some dole out merit awards worth up to half of tuition....
Oct 1, 2011
By Kevin McKinley
College savings plans are useful, but other moves might be more important or effective....
Sep 1, 2011
By Lynn O'Shaughnessy
Check out the nation's most expensive colleges and universities....
Aug 1, 2011
By Lynn O'Shaughnessy
Colleges reserve financial aid for the neediest and for kids who are well above their student body average in grade point or test scores. Affluent families should research the financial aid histories of the colleges on their kids' lists....
Jul 1, 2011
By Lynn O'Shaughnessy
Your clients should probably know a lot more about selecting a college for their kids than they currently do. The list below will help...
May 25, 2011
By Lynn O’Shaughnessy
Seven things grandparents can do to help pay for college without screwing up the financial aid equation...
Apr 22, 2011
By Lynn O'Shaughnessy
Today, it is very difficult for parents to know how much financial aid they might get from any particular college. That will change in October, when colleges will be required by federal law to place cost calculators on their websites...
Apr 1, 2011
By Lynn O'Shaughnessy
It's the caliber of the student who gets into an Ivy League college, more than the academics or connections she makes, that is the better indicator of future success....
Mar 1, 2011
By Lynn O'Shaughnessy
Here are a few things your clients should know as they embark on the process of getting their kids into college — without breaking the bank....
Feb 1, 2011
By Lynn O'Shaughnessy
That could save you thousands of dollars....
Jan 1, 2011
By Lynn O'Shaughnessy
It's a competitive game. But here are some common sense-and counter-intuitive-rules to follow....
Jan 1, 2011
By Lynn O’Shaughnessy
Here are some strategies for navigating the system. ...
Dec 1, 2010
By Kevin McKinley
How to decide when and how money is best withdrawn from college savings plans....
Dec 1, 2010
By Lynn O'Shaughnessy
He better focus on his homework....
Nov 17, 2010
By Kevin McKinley
When and how should you take 529 money out? It can make a big difference in how much is left over for those students and their families, especially if the funds are used for purposes beyond higher education expenses. ...
Nov 1, 2010
By Lynn O'Shaughnessy
Calculating EFC, or expected family contribution, is essential to finding a college that's the best financial fit. You can help your clients....
Nov 1, 2010
By Kevin McKinley
Keep your cash. Today's federal lending programs offer low rates and flexible repayment plans....
Oct 11, 2010
By Kevin McKinley
Keep your cash. Today’s federal lending programs offer low rates and flexible repayment plans....
Oct 1, 2010
By Lynn O'Shaughnessy
Too many colleges have abysmal four-year graduation rates, and this can jack up the cost for parents. Make sure your clients know which ones can get junior across the line in good time....
Sep 27, 2010
By Lynn O'Shaughnessy
When your clients attempt to pinpoint what their college costs will be they often underestimate the price tag. ...
Sep 1, 2010
By Lynn O'Shaughnessy
A lot of people pay full price. That doesn't mean your clients have to....
Sep 1, 2010
By Kristen French
These days, you can quite literally invest in your own future. ...
Jul 1, 2010
By Lynn O'Shaughnessy
The sticker price can be reduced, if you know how to do it....
