The Truth about Grandparent-owned 529 College Savings Plans and College Aid

Lighthouse College PlanningFinancial Aid

By Troy Onink, Forbes Magazine Contributing Writer Many grandparents save for their grandchild’s college education using 529 college savings plans for good reason, but there is confusion about whether or not it will hurt the grandchild’s eligibility for college financial aid. The answer is that it depends, but even if it does it may not have a big impact. 529 …

Tips to being a smart college shopper.

Lighthouse College PlanningUncategorized

Be a Smart College Shopper: Don’t overbuy your college tuition. Know that a low tuition doesn’t mean a low quality of education. Don’t buy solely based on a brand name or random statistics. Avoid “impulse buying” – geography, alma mater, etc. Avoid “dumb shopping” – buying based on name of university and not based on the program. Some unknown colleges/universities …

Make your holiday break count.

Lighthouse College PlanningCollege Planning, financial planning, Uncategorized

| Make your holiday break count | Staying up late, sleeping in, resting, regrouping, and relaxing are probably on every student’s to-do list. A break from school, whether it be high school or college, is a great respite. By all means, enjoy the time off but once you have been able to sleep in and recover from final exams, what …

Average Students: Where do they fit in?

Lighthouse College PlanningCollege Planning, financial planning, Uncategorized

Average students: Where do they fit in to the whole college admissions equation? Ask new residents how they ended up in a particular neighborhood and no doubt good schools and education will come up in the equation. You may be blessed to live in an area with high educational standards and achievement but recognize that that can be a challenge …

Happy New Year. Now fill out that FAFSA!

Lighthouse College PlanningCollege Planning, financial planning, Uncategorized

January 1 – Happy New Year’s! Don’t forget to get started on those important New Year’s resolutions – exercise more, eat healthier, get more sleep, get better organized, etc. Enjoy the day but don’t forget something very important – get that FAFSA completed. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid can be submitted on January 1st (midnight to be exact) …

NAIA Scholarships: A Great Option

Lighthouse College PlanningUncategorized

If you are a high school student who is considering college athletics, don’t overlook the lesser-known NAIA programs. Many times schools associated with NAIA can offer very lucrative scholarship/grant packages and you are given the opportunity to continue on in your sport while focusing on academics. NAIA schools often reward students for being student-athletes with the emphasis on STUDENT. Many …