Sage View | College Planning America Blog
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Most full-time college students receive some form of financial aid to pay for college costs. Learn where this aid comes from and how you can apply. At College Planning America, we use a structured approach to help parents accomplish their goals for their student's college education without having to sacrifice their own retirement in the process!
Sage View | College Planning America Blog
3w ago
What should I do now (October 2024) while waiting for FAFSA to open You will need 2. Work with Counselor on list of schools and likely acceptance to schools 3. Get accurate “Estimated SAI” (Free 90-min appointment with College Planning America available) 4. Use School list and SAI to get “College Report” from College Planning […]
The post Next Steps FAFSA appeared first on College Planning America ..read more
Sage View | College Planning America Blog
2M ago
FAFSA 2025-26 The rollout of the new FAFSA software last year was pretty much a disaster and everyone was hoping that things would be back on track this year. Usually, October 1st is the start date for new FAFSA applications. Unfortunately, there will be very limited availability to complete applications then. The full launch is […]
The post FAFSA and Student Loan News appeared first on College Planning America ..read more
Sage View | College Planning America Blog
5M ago
Student loans have become more and more expensive in the past few years.
The Federal government has determined the Federal Direct Student Loan interest rates for the school year 2024-25, and they will be higher.
This will be for new federal loans disbursed between July 1, 2024, and June 30, 2025. The net increase is 1.3% higher than last year’s rate.
Families and students considering using Federal Direct Loans for the 2024-25 school year will be charged the interest rates below. Borrowers need to understand how these rates are calculated and the impact of lon ..read more
Sage View | College Planning America Blog
11M ago
The Unpredictability of Predictions
We all make predictions about things in life—some with lesser consequences than others. But if we see or hear something on TV or Radio (or now Podcast), then SURELY that information must be from an expert who knows something, and we should follow their advice.
Here are some things I have heard going into 2023:
Because of Interest rate hikes, home prices will drop dramatically because the cost of mortgages will be so high.
Interest rates will come down by the end of the year.
Bitcoin will reach $100,000 in the next year, or another infamous (supposedly exper ..read more
Sage View | College Planning America Blog
1y ago
On Wednesday, November 15th, the Department of Education (DOE) announced that the FAFSA will be available by 12/31/2023. If finally gives everyone a firm date to work on. This FAFSA delay is due to the FAFSA Simplification upgrades.
October 1st is typically the date that you can begin completing the FAFSA.
This seems likely to be delayed when the Colleges receive the FAFSA information – probably only in late January 2024. Students should expect a delay in their acceptance letter with financial awards.
Here are some thoughts to remember:
To clarify the process, your FAFSA submiss ..read more
Sage View | College Planning America Blog
1y ago
Before we go through this, let me say that each family’s situation is unique, and I strongly suggest that you talk with a financial advisor before making any decisions.
The standard for calculations in communication from the Social Security Administration is an anacronym FRA or “Full Retirement Age” as per the Social Security Administration. For anyone born in 1960 or later, your FRA is 67. Right now, the maximum social security benefit at FRA is $3345 per month.
Generally, waiting to take your Social Security benefits will increase those benefits. With 67 being “FRA” that means taking Social ..read more
Sage View | College Planning America Blog
1y ago
Seniors – An issue we will all face today or in the future
A friend of mine got a call from his Pickleball buddy asking if he wanted to play on Saturday morning. He replied, “Don’t all the old people play on Saturday morning?”
His friend retorted, “Joe, we ARE old people!”
A subject coming up for discussion frequently with my clients is about elderly parents and how we can assist them to have their best life possible while we still have them in our lives. Both my mom and mother-in-law are still living and are in their 90s, needing some sort of assistance as they age.
Obviously, there is no for ..read more
Sage View | College Planning America Blog
2y ago
WARNING – This piece includes an opinion that some might not agree with!
Well, that is probably true of all the newsletters that I write, but the minute you include something that has a touch of politics, there is always a risk of some not being happy. Usually, I try to steer away from politics, so I am going to try to frame this as FACTS and ADVICE for each family to consider.
The subject of Student Loans is huge this month. All of us like receiving free stuff, and many of us like giving away stuff, but not many of us like giving away free stuff if we must pay for it, and if we are not part ..read more
Sage View | College Planning America Blog
2y ago
Parents – Have I had a discussion with my spouse as to who is paying for college?
Some parents want to pay for everything for college because that is what their parents did for them, or they want their students to be able to focus solely on their studies.
Other parents would like their students to have some skin in the game with some loans.
Yet other parents want their students to have some loans, and then would be willing to pay them off for the student should they get through college in 4 years.
There is no right or wrong answer here. Most importantly, is that you and your spouse are in agre ..read more
Sage View | College Planning America Blog
2y ago
Risk /Growth:
The main reason that we invest our money is that we want it to grow. If not, we would just leave it alone in cash in the bank. In order to do so, by definition, we usually add some risk.
Market Risk is: “The type of risk that arises due to the movement in prices of financial instruments and can be caused due to movement in stock prices, interest rates, and other factors. This is often accompanied by Volatility.”
Very few peop ..read more