education planning

A piggy bank sits atop a stack of books on the right, while wooden blocks on the left spell out "FAFSA" vertically. The background is neutral, contrasting with the books and blocks, hinting at upcoming FAFSA changes.

10 Main Changes to FAFSA

Dreading the FAFSA this year? Things just got better. You may have heard that the federal Student Aid office revamped its FAFSA form.  This is the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, and it has historically been a doozy to complete.  It has been intimidating, so much so that many have chosen not to complete it, potentially missing out on significant financial aid. Changes were made to the 2024-25 FAFSA form in an effort to

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A pair of hands holding a pile of pennies with a small card on top that reads "College Fund." The background is out of focus, emphasizing the hands and the card.

Financial Planning for College

Are you planning to help your children with getting a degree someday? Financial planning for college has become a big priority for many American households. However, with education expenses on the rise, the total price tag may be much larger than you think. The average cost of attending a public college is $27,940 for in-state students, $45,240 for out-of-state students, and $57,570 for a private school per year.[1] For students seeking to earn a bachelor’s degree,

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A woman is sitting on the gym floor, holding a laughing child who is lying on her lap with arms raised, on a blue mat with red lines in the background. Both are wearing athletic clothing and appear to be having fun together, capturing a happy moment that underscores the importance of special needs planning.

Balancing Special Needs Planning with Your Retirement

Parents with a special needs child have many of the same wishes as all other parents. They want to make memories, do the best for their family, and prepare their child for the future. They also hope to retire one day with a measure of financial peace of mind. When there’s a will, there’s a way — and that is true of financial planning for families with special needs. It is true that unique circumstances

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Balancing Financial Planning for College with Other Goals

Are you planning to help your children with getting a degree someday? Financial planning for college has become a big priority for many American households. However, with education expenses on the rise, the total price tag may be much larger than you think. The average cost of attending a public college is $27,330 for in-state students, $44,150 for out-of-state students, and $55,800 for a private school per year.[1] Add to that other major expenses like

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A glass jar labeled "EDUCATION" is filled with coins and has a graduation cap on top. The jar is placed on a wooden surface with a stack of coins beside it. The background is blurred greenery. This scene symbolizes saving money for education.

529 Plans: A Secret Weapon for College Savings

529 plans are tax-advantaged savings accounts to save for your child’s college education. The technical name given to the 529 plan by the IRS is a Qualified Tuition Plan (QTP). Under this QTP, a contributor can prepay a beneficiary’s qualified higher education expenses at an eligible education institution — or contribute to an account for paying those expenses in the future. Distributions from 529 accounts are tax-free when used for qualified educational expenses. A great

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Illustration showing the shape of the U.S. state of Michigan, highlighted in red. The state is divided into two main landmasses: the upper and lower peninsulas, separated by water and connected by the Mackinac Bridge. The image background is white, featuring a subtle MESP watermark.

Exciting Changes Ahead for Michigan 529 College Savings Plans

The Michigan Education Savings Plan (MESP) recently announced important enhancements to its 529 College Savings Plans. These changes take effect on June 15, 2020. MESP is expanding the current investment lineup to include underlying investment options from Vanguard, Charles Schwab and iShares while maintaining the existing investment offerings from TIAA-CREF.  In conjunction with the new investment offerings, account owners will see more of their 529 contributions put to work with a reduction in overall fees.

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