College Planning

Before you begin, it is imperative that you understand two major principles. First, “college” is a big business and you are a consumer! With that in mind, you need to educate yourself just as would with any other large purchase.

Second, you must understand that Federal financial aid is a government program. Like most government programs there are many rules and regulations that guide how they work.  If you are going to maximize your financial aid award, you must learn how to speak the language of financial aid; learn how income, assets, home equity and even family dynamics have a direct affect upon the outcome of your financial aid award. Having a strong understanding of both the language and the rules will be crucial to your success.

 Below we have some very important information to share with you; including some key information about our five different programs along with helpful definitions and some of our very own “Did You Know” tips.

This vital report is designed to help your family navigate through the endless sea of information about each of the colleges your student is interested in attending.

All too often students are enticed by the glossy brochures and promises of the college experience rather than what is truly important.

The College Report will uncover the key information and statistics for up to 15 colleges of your choice that will help answer questions like "can we afford this college?", "how much debt will my child graduate with?", or "is my student even qualified for admission?" All of the pertinent college financial data that you will need to make completing your e-course simple can be found in this informative report.

EFC: is short for Expected Family Contribution. This is the amount of money that the Federal Financial Aid offices are expecting you to put towards the cost of your college education. Don’t be fooled into thinking that you can not affect or lower this amount. There are Federal Financial Aid rules that can have a dramatic affect on how much you need to pay out of your pocket. I can assure you that these rules are not in your favor. In our E-Courses we will teach you how to navigate within the Federal Laws and what you can do in your specific family situation to lower your EFC.

FASFA: This acronym stands for Free Application for Federal Student Aid. This is the form that will be filled out annually by all current and incoming college students (both undergraduate and graduate) to determine eligibility for federal student financial aid.

Percentage of need met: This is the average percent---I repeat the average percent--- that a college will meet of the aid package you will be offered on your SAR report. Each college will publish their average percent of need met. You will need this average number to obtain a reasonable expectation of the amount of aid you will receive from any one particular college. It will vary from student to student.

Treasure Coast College Planning has developed five e-courses around "Ten Core Principles" that are vital for any family during their college preparation. Our courses will stop you from spending countless hours researching ideas and trying to understand the financial aid system.  We have brought it all together in one simple inexpensive and easy to use format just for you.

The best part of our program is that we have created it for you to take in the comfort and convenience of your own home, on your time frame, on-line, and 24 hours a day. After each e-course you will take your new found knowledge and create a step by step plan to properly adjust your assets, find the right colleges that will give you the most aid, protect your home or business equity, properly use tax credits, grants loans, debt, and most importantly, make sure that you are not sacrificing your hard earned retirement assets in exchange for sending your student to college. After you are complete with our college planning e-courses, you will have peace of mind, receive more aid and send your student to college for less.

If you are not the do it yourself type or just don’t have the time, then let one of our professional college planning coaches handle it all for you. You personal coach will create your specific college financial action plan on your behalf. Check with us for more information about this program.

Did you know: that money you have been saving for younger siblings will dramatically affect the financial aid package of your older child heading off to college? We can help you fix this mistake?

Did you know: that you can adjust your financial picture including changes to income, home equity, assets, and many others that will affect your financial aid package, right up to the December 31st deadline to submitting your FASFA form? Let us help you find the right strategies to help your family save thousands of dollars.

MAKE YOUR STUDENT STAND OUT FROM THE REST!!! Student preparatory services are a great way to prepare your student to stand out from the endless sea of college applicants and become a better prospect to the college of their choice.

Did you know:that there are savings for families making upwards of $160,000 per year?

Did you know:you can shelter certain assets so they will not count against your financial aid award?

The average college student takes 4.5 to 5 years to complete a 4 year degree, so if you decrease the time it takes for your student to graduate, then it’s nothing but savings to you!

Did you know: that a private college may treat your home equity different than public college will? Let us teach you how this discrepancy can be used to increase your federal aid package.