Maybe you've decided that graduate school is the path to advancement in your current job or your ticket to a better career. Or maybe you just want to take a few classes to upgrade your skills. Either way, returning to school as an adult often involves financial sacrifices. How will you pay for it? Personal savings, financial aid, employer-funded tuition, and private loans may be available to you, and education tax credits might help out at tax time. Calculate the costs Before you jump into … [Read more...]
Teaching Your College-Age Child about Money
When your child first started school, you doled out the change for milk and a snack on a daily basis. But now that your kindergartner has grown up, it's time for you to make sure that your child has enough financial knowledge to manage money at college. Lesson 1: Budgeting 101 Perhaps your child already understands the basics of budgeting from having to handle an allowance or wages from a part-time job during high school. But now that your child is in college, he or she may need to draft a … [Read more...]
Spring Cleaning Your Way to Better Finances
Spring is a good time to clean out the cobwebs, and not just in your home or apartment. Your personal finances can benefit from a good spring cleaning, too. Here are some questions to ask yourself regarding your budget, debt, and taxes. Is there room in my budget to save more? A budget is the centerpiece of any good personal financial plan. After tallying your monthly income and expenses, you hopefully have money left over to save. But... is there room to save even more? Review your budget … [Read more...]
Interest Rates on Federal Student Loans Decrease to Record Lows for 2020-2021
Subsidized vs. unsubsidized What's the difference? With subsidized loans, the federal government pays the interest that accrues while the student is in school, during the six-month grace period after graduation, and during any loan deferment periods. With unsubsidized loans, the borrower is responsible for paying the interest during these periods. Only undergraduate students are eligible for subsidized loans, and eligibility is based on demonstrated financial need. For the second year in a … [Read more...]
Five Key Benefits of the CARES Act for Individuals and Businesses
By now you know that Congress has passed a $2 trillion relief bill to help keep individuals and businesses afloat during these difficult times. The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act contains many provisions. Here are five that may benefit you or your business. 1. Recovery Rebates Many Americans will receive a one-time cash payment of $1,200. Each U.S. resident or citizen with an adjusted gross income (AGI) under $75,000 ($112,500 for heads of household and … [Read more...]
The ABCs of Finance: Teaching Kids About Money
It's never too soon to start teaching children about money. Whether they're tagging along with you to the grocery store or watching you make purchases online, children quickly realize that we use money to buy the things we want. You can teach some simple lessons today that will give them a solid foundation for making a lifetime of sound financial decisions. Start with an Allowance. An allowance is often a child's first brush with financial independence and a good way to begin learning how to … [Read more...]
Student Debt: It’s Not Just for Young Adults
Recent college graduates aren't the only ones carrying student loan debt. A significant number of older Americans have student debt, too. In fact, student loan debt is the second-highest consumer debt category after mortgage debt. In total, outstanding student loan debt in the United States now stands at approximately $1.5 trillion, with the age 30 to 39 group carrying the highest load. Source: New York Fed Consumer Credit Panel/Equifax (Q3 2019 … [Read more...]
College Financial Aid Planning
Individuals who want to attend College but cannot afford the costs outright must find alternative funding through various types of financial aid. Many factors affect eligibility for federal financial aid; therefore, all students should apply for financial aid every year even if they think they do not otherwise qualify. Read More... College Financial Aid Planning … [Read more...]
What is a college income-share agreement?
A college income-share agreement, or ISA, is a contract between a student and a college where a student receives education funding from the college today in exchange for agreeing to pay a percentage of future earnings to the college for a specified period of time after graduation. The idea behind ISAs is to minimize the need for private student loans, to give colleges a stake in their students' outcomes, and to give students the flexibility to pursue careers in lower-paying fields. Purdue … [Read more...]
Rules on Opening a 529 Plan Account for College
“529 plan assets reach $333 billion assets in 529 plans reached $333 billion as of September 2018 — $310 billion (93%) in college savings plans and $23 billion (7%) in prepaid tuition plans.” Source: Strategic Insight, 529 Data Highlights, 3Q 2018 Year over year, participation in 529 plans continues to rise.1 Anyone can open an account, lifetime contribution limits are typically over $300,000, and there are tax benefits if the funds are used for college. Here are some common … [Read more...]
