104 | Strategies for a Debt-Free College Experience with Ann the College Lady

Are you aware that college doesn't have to leave you or your kids in crushing debt? Picture this: a friend of my guest Anne's son managed to attend college for free! It's true, and it's just one of the many possibilities out there when it comes to college financing. Join us as we team up with Anne, the author of How to Pay for College, to unpack the complexities surrounding college costs and reveal the manifold ways to make it affordable. We talk about the broader implications of a college education for your children’s life satisfaction, building a strong foundation for their future.

We'll dive headlong into the world of scholarships, breaking down the three types you can tap into: need-based institutional scholarships, merit-based scholarships, and outside scholarships. We'll guide you through the role of high school counselors and the use of net price calculators in securing these scholarships. Plus, we introduce you to a great tool, CollegeData, to help you understand a college's scholarship offerings. Along the journey, we'll also unravel the advantages of 529 College Savings Accounts, spotlighting their tax benefits and how they can boost a student's chances of college enrollment and graduation.

It all sounds overwhelming, right? The senior year is fraught with emotional upheaval and planning for college only adds to it. But worry not! We've got your back, providing you with a roadmap to navigate these choppy waters. From dual enrollment programs to free community college options, we've explored various pathways through college. We'll also help you understand the tax benefits of 529s and how to use gifting pages to access them. This episode is your toolkit to make your college planning journey less stressful and more successful. So, tune in and get ready to revolutionize your approach to planning for college.

Ann Garcia has helped thousands of families save millions of dollars on college. She is a fee-only fiduciary advisor and author of the critically-acclaimed "How to Pay for College." She has been quoted in the New York Times, Money, the Oregonian, and U.S. News and World Report, to name a few. Ann's website, 

College Financial Planning Starts Here | The College Financial Lady

 , includes a wealth of free college planning resources, plus an interactive online course to help parents affordably build saving for college and applying for aid into their broader financial plan. As a parent whose twins just graduated from college, Ann's expertise expands beyond FAFSAs and 529s — she understands the emotional components of helping your child set and achieve goals for their future. Outside of financial planning, Ann is an avid runner, skier and fan of middle school rock concerts.

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