Beth Probst, Founder and CEO of At The Core, has some thoughts to share about high school course options and how they can save money on college. At The Core helps students figure out what they want to do after high school through educational path planning, informational programming, and personalized self assessment. Capstone is honored to be part of their upcoming events. Students today face a dizzying array of high school course options. When most of us went to high school, we were either college prep, vo-tech, or took standard high school classes. We spent all day sitting at a desk in our hi ..read more

Has your student been struggling to decide what they want to do after they graduate high school? They’re not alone. In a recent study, close to 41% of high school students surveyed felt “unprepared to make a career choice or declare a major” upon graduating. For some, looking into military service may be a good option to gain both career experience and life skills, while also planning to return to college at low or no cost later on in life. While this option isn’t for every student, it may be worth exploring. Let’s look into the details. Paying For College with Military Service Today’s student ..read more

With the price tag of a college education reaching higher levels every year, students will have a very hard time shouldering the entire cost burden all by themselves–unlike 30 years ago. However, students can help pay for college by putting in some work both ahead of college and during school. When parents and students sit down for the college money conversation, parents need to set expectations for how much of the financial burden they expect their student to take on. Together, you can create a game plan to incorporate some or all of the ideas below. Working a Job During High School When stud ..read more

The cost of college today is a reach for most families–to say the least! Families can make the cost more manageable by understanding how to be an educated consumer. The ideal solution is finding ways to pay for college using other people’s money. Scholarships or “gift aid” are free money for college based on your student’s qualifications–their need, talents, traits, or interests. The giver of the scholarship determines what qualifications are required to receive their money. Have the College Money Talk First things first, if you haven’t already done so, you need to have the “College ..read more

Families with college-bound students are always looking for a magical solution to the high cost of college. Our “magical” solution at Capstone Wealth Partners is careful planning. In all seriousness, creating a plan that combats the hefty college bills many families face today means saving proactively, researching colleges, considering tax strategies, applying for scholarships, understanding your cash flow, and developing a smart borrowing strategy. With the ever-increasing cost of college, families must closely examine what they can afford. It’s also helpful to consider other ways to reduce t ..read more

The FAFSA for the 2024-2025 school year has not rolled out as smoothly as anyone would have expected. We’ve put together three quick videos for you to watch regarding the slow rollout, tips and tricks to completing the FAFSA this year, what you should do when you get your admissions letters, and more. As always, if you have any questions, contact us here. We’re here to help! FAFSA Woes: FAFSA: Tips & Tricks   FAFSA Non-Need Merit Scholarship: The post FAFSA Woes – What You Need to Know appeared first on Capstone Wealth Partners ..read more

As we step into the new year, we wanted to bring to your attention a significant change in the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) timeline. This year, the FAFSA application period is set to open on December 31st, deviating from its usual opening date of October 1st. Whether your child is a high school senior preparing for college or you have a child already in college, the timely completion of the FAFSA is crucial in securing the financial aid necessary for their education. In light of the delayed release date for the 2024-25 academic year, we recommend completing the FAFSA by Fe ..read more

When choosing a college, nearly half of students recently surveyed indicated that cost was a key factor when ruling out institutions. They also looked at: Major offered Location/size University’s academic reputation The cost of a particular institution was often one of the most important factors when making their choice. When weighing the choices available, community college can be a valuable college option for post-high-school education. Students fail to graduate college because of the high cost, their lack of college readiness, or outside responsibilities and scheduling difficulties. Faced ..read more

Every year, students and their parents complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Every year, parents wonder, “What’s the point?!” The FAFSA is a tool used by the government to calculate a student’s need for aid when paying for college. When the FAFSA goes live every October 1st (in 2023, hopefully by December 31st), it may be too late to maximize a student’s and their family’s numbers. If you’re looking for more assistance in financial aid, understanding a few key points and careful preplanning can maximize your benefit and get you the most financial aid. 1. Understand wha ..read more

For most families, student loans must be part of the college-funding conversation. Families can minimize the amount of debt their students take on through careful planning for smart savings, tax considerations, college choice, cash flow, scholarships, and other mechanisms. However, the question still comes up: How much debt is too much? How can families make smart choices about loan debt levels in college planning? How much can a student afford to borrow to pay for college? Believe it or not: “more than 2.5 million borrowers have student loan debt greater than $100,000.” How is debt level this ..read more