What We Do
College Planning Experts – What We Do
The following items comprise our College Planning Service:
1. We will perform a career search (including education requirements, career description, as well as starting salary estimates). This will be based on the general interests of the student, and the student will be given access to an on-line program (DISCOVER) which maintains this information.
2. We will provide a best fit college search. This will based on the general interests of the student, and the student will be given access to an on-line program (DISCOVER) which maintains this information. We will also give additional recommendations if needed.
3. We will perform a personalized, private student interview to discuss with the student his or her career/major choices, college selections, as well as admission and career tips we have gleaned over the years.
4. We will allow your student access to our Client-Only College Admissions Application Boot Camp which will entail discussing admissions requirements, admissions essays, selecting the right colleges, how to fill out the different types of admission applications, and what the student should be doing now.
5. We will provide a college planning checklist containing essential deadlines, up-coming events, and time lines concerning what we will be doing for you and your student and when.
6. We will calculate your Estimated Family Contribution (EFC).
7. We will provide recommendations and/or a plan to reduce the EFC.
8. We will provide financial aid award estimates for each school being considered as well as recommend additional schools to be considered.
9. We will analyze your financial situation using our college cash flow maximizers software and provide appropriate recommendations for the best way to pay for your share of college costs.
10. We will provide a complete financial overview, analyzing all areas as they relate to college as well as your budget, taxes, retirement and other areas of financial management.
11. We will provide a management report detailing ways to improve your tax situations, retirement, and other areas of financial management.
12. We will provide proprietary tax scholarship information when applicable.
13. We will complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
14. We will register your student for the CSS Profile if applicable.
15. We will complete the CSS Profile and all supporting paperwork if applicable.
16. We will complete any other institutional financial aid forms that are required by the individual schools that you provide for us.
17. We will confirm the accuracy of the Student Aid Report (SAR) and make any adjustments.
18. We will sponsor teleconferences for what you need to be aware of or what you should be doing at that time to keep everyone on-track.
19. We will sponsor a client-only event in March/April of your child’s senior year to discuss negotiation strategies, how to read your award letters, what to do if they don’t offer you enough aid, as well as additional tax and budgeting tips that concern paying for college. (We buy dinner, by the way!)
20. We will provide you with a hard-copy and a diskette copy of our tested negotiation letter as well as the exact steps to follow when negotiating with the colleges. (We can’t negotiate directly with the schools, but we will hold your hand through the whole process.)
21. We will provide updates of changes in legislature relating to college tax laws or anything that might affect your financial situation through our newsletter and special semi-annual client-only events.
22. We will provide your student with unlimited telephone support (your student can call us as much as they wish with as many questions as they wish).
23. We will provide you, the parents, with unlimited telephone support. (You are not billed by the hour. Therefore, you never have to worry about watching the clock. Our only concern is getting your questions answered.)
24. Bonus: A binder of special reports including: “Guide to Surviving Student Dorm Life”, “Guide to the Student College Admission”, “Secret List of Tips That Make Applying to College Easier”, “What You Should Know Before You Hire a Financial Adviser”, “The Eleven Biggest Mistakes Retirees Make and How To Avoid Them”, and “The Investment that Always Fits”.