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...]
How much does child care really cost?
Typical child-care fees vary widely by state, as do other living costs. But in all regions, the average annual cost of center-based care for one infant now exceeds the average amount of money families spend on food and transportation combined. Child-care costs for two children exceed the median cost of housing for homeowners with a mortgage in 35 states and the District of Columbia. IMPORTANT DISCLOSURES ERB FINANCIAL is an independent contractor who offers Investment Advisory … [Read more...]
Can a flexible work schedule help you stay in the workforce after having children?
Yes, it just might be the key. Your job is the foundation for general financial security, including retirement. In addition to providing you with a steady salary and valuable employee benefits, it typically brings with it the ability to save in a tax-advantaged employer-sponsored retirement plan like a 401(k), and if you're lucky, a pension. It also allows you to start qualifying for Social Security retirement benefits. Women and men may start out on relatively equal financial … [Read more...]
How can I get a tax break for child care?
More than 60% of children under age six in the United States have two parents in the workforce. 1Many of these working parents must spend a burdensome share of their earnings on child care, especially if they don't have relatives who are willing and able to help out. The following tax benefits may help you offset some of the costs paid for a nanny, babysitter, day care, preschool, or day camp, but only if the services are used so you can work. Child-care tax credit Families with one … [Read more...]
What’s so great about a college net price calculator?
If you're saving for a child's college education, at some point you'll want to familiarize yourself with a college net price calculator, which is an invaluable tool for estimating financial aid and measuring a college's affordability. Available on every college website, a net price calculator gives families an estimate of how much grant aid a student might expect at a particular college based on his or her personal financial and academic profile and the college's specific criteria for awarding … [Read more...]
When should I submit college financial aid forms?
For the 2019-2020 school year, the federal government's financial aid form, the FAFSA, can be filed as early as October 1, 2018. It relies on current asset information and two-year-old income information from your 2017 tax return, which means you'll have the income data you need when you sit down to complete the form. This is a relatively new process. A few years ago, parents had to wait until after January 1 to file the FAFSA and use tax data for the year that had just ended, which forced them … [Read more...]
Take Charge of Your Student Debt Repayment Plan
If you have federal student loans, you aren't automatically eligible for an income-driven repayment plan — you have to fill out an application (and reapply each year). Outstanding student loan debt in the United States has tripled over the last decade, surpassing both auto and credit card debt to take second place behind housing debt as the most common type of household debt.1 Today, more than 44 million Americans collectively owe more than $1.4 trillion in student debt.2Here are … [Read more...]
The College Landscape After Tax Reform
College students and their parents dodged a major bullet with the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017. Initial drafts of the bill included the elimination of Coverdell Education Savings Accounts, the Lifetime Learning Credit, and the student loan interest deduction, along with the taxation of tuition waivers, which are used primarily by graduate students and college employees. In the end, none of these provisions made it into the final legislation. But a few other college-related items did. These … [Read more...]
