Education Funding
"How Am I Going to Pay For It All?"
You probably found your way to this education funding web page because you have a child in your family who one day you would like to be able to go to college. They may be as young as a pre-schooler (great that you're thinking ahead!) or they may even be getting ready to graduate high school this year. Either way, you're becoming aware of just how expensive a college education is.
Education costs continue to rise at a rate of 7% or more each year. Ranging from $10,000 per year to $50,000 or more - a college education for one child is now the equivalent of buying a condo or a small house.
We all want the best for our children and the studies prove that a 4-year education will give them great advantages for the rest of their lives. On paper, it all makes perfect sense. Getting good grades, scoring well on standardized tests and building a solid student "portfolio" of activities, sports and accomplishments are all great and do help. But we know that the main question - the one that's not fully addressed by college counselors or admissions reps - is ...
"How will I Pay for It All?"
There are education funding strategies that CAN help your family save $10,000 to $50,000 on college education costs per student! We know how it’s done and can help your family in four major ways:
College Savings
If time is on your side with regards to saving, we'll help you create a strategy that uses the most tax efficient (and financial-aid friendly) methods to save for your child's education funding needs. This prepares you for the time when they're ready to leave for college, giving you the financial resources to pay for it right then and there.
Right School, Right Major
The "college years" should be a great experience for your child. Many kids don't even make it past their first year in college … over 50% drop out! Most college drop-outs are not due to the cost of the college, however. Students drop out because they are attending the wrong school and studying the wrong major.
The ALTUS Education Funding Process includes face to face work with your student to help find the educational environment and subject that would be a perfect fit – and in a place where they can thrive.
Navigating the Financial Aid Process
The FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) asks more than a hundred questions to applicants. It's equally as complicated (and important) as filling your taxes. Every error on your FAFSA translates to delays to the application process and potentially costs you thousands of dollars in potential aid. At ALTUS, we handle the FAFSA form for you. No errors. No hold up's. More Aid.
We are aware of which schools give better aid packages and which ones don't. That information alone can potentially save you thousands of dollars.
Keeping You Eligible for the Most Financial Aid
Every student that applies to a four-year university and submits an application for financial aid (and EVERY family should be doing this no matter how wealthy) will be given an Expected Family Contribution (EFC). Your EFC is dependent on a number of highly complex variables.
WHERE you keep your family wealth is important. Some wealth is visible to the FAFSA application and some is invisible. Specifically, business owners and entrepreneurs are highly susceptible to this trick, but even W2 wage earners can get a lower EFC simply by placing their savings into the right types of savings accounts.
There's no doubt that funding a college education can be costly, but ALTUS Education Funding Solutions is here to help. We are 100% committed to making the college experience work for you, your student and your family's over-all financial future.