Next to retirement, saving for college is the number two savings priority for parents. (1) But despite the importance of having a college plan, many Americans feel ill-equipped to tackle their goals. On top of that, there are multiple ways to save for your child’s post-secondary education and not all savings vehicles are created equal. It can be difficult to know … [Read more...]
The Top Four Regrets In College Planning
June 15, 2018 by
When you first held your child in your arms, you might have dreamed of all the things they would do in their life. Was one of those dreams seeing them get a top-notch college education that would launch them into their career? According to a ChildTrends report, almost 90% of parents expect their children to go to college, (1) yet 35% of parents have not started … [Read more...]
The 5 Biggest College Planning Mistakes I See
June 1, 2018 by
College planning is no simple task. There are plenty of moving parts and mountains of paperwork, not to mention deadlines. The fact is, if you don’t do it right, it could cost you thousands more than it should. Over many years of guiding clients through the college planning process, we’ve identified the most common mistakes people make. By understanding these … [Read more...]
Ten Questions To Ask About College Planning
May 17, 2018 by
Most people understand the importance of seeking help with their retirement planning or appreciate the value of investment management, but college planning is an often neglected piece of the financial puzzle. The average graduate leaves college with huge student loans (1) and parents also take on debt to cover the cost of higher education. According to a Sallie … [Read more...]
Five Facts You Should Know About Social Security
May 14, 2018 by
When anticipating retirement, you may think of the first work-free years of pursuing hobbies or traveling. However, your years in retirement may be longer than you think. Knowing when to claim benefits can give you a better chance of making your retirement money last. Here are five things you should know: 1. Full Retirement Age doesn't mean … [Read more...]
Five Steps to Get Your College Plan in Order
May 7, 2018 by
Regardless of whether your child is two or twelve, the thought of college has probably crossed your mind. In the busyness of life and never-ending financial pressures, it is all too easy to put saving for college on the back burner. But one thing in life is certain; time moves quickly. Don’t get caught unaware and unprepared for college. Your child’s education is … [Read more...]
What We Do and How We Can Help
April 11, 2018 by
By Dave Coen Just because your student is leaving the nest, it does not mean they have to take your nest egg with them. When it comes to the future of our children, as parents we all want the very best for them. We want to be able to send them to the best-fit schools for an education that will help them achieve their best in life as well as achieving the … [Read more...]
Why I Became a Financial Advisor
March 29, 2018 by
By Dave Coen I’ve often been asked why I entered this industry and chose to become a financial advisor. From a young age I always had a spirit of an entrepreneur. I sold fudge at school to friends – using ingredients that my Mom bought with her money. I naturally fell into having my own business from a young age, but always enjoyed the parts where I could … [Read more...]
Question 5 – 8 (12 Questions I should ask myself about Retirement and College)
March 8, 2018 by
Have we thought of what the impact of that might be on student #2 or #3? Sometimes we are so focused on getting our first student through college that we forget that there are one or two more coming along later. As parents, we are just trying to do the very best we can for our students, but it is not uncommon for us to see the students who come later suffering … [Read more...]
12 Questions I should ask about Retirement and College
March 1, 2018 by
(For the sake of brevity, I have included 4 here and the rest will follow the next time.) The answers to these questions are different for each family and there are no right or wrong answers. Your family is unique and your needs are different from your neighbor. All we strive for is to help the parents and the student to be on the same page so … [Read more...]
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