Get Started

College Planning

COLLEGE PLANNING & FINANCIAL AID

Helping Families Secure Funding for Higher Education with Confidence.

Planning for college isn’t just about picking the right school — it’s securing the funding to make it affordable. We guide students and families through FAFSA, scholarships, grants, and financial aid planning to maximize available resources and minimize debt.
Start Your College Plan

What we help you achieve

Three outcomes every college-bound family needs — and that a professional advisor delivers reliably.

Never Miss a Deadline

FAFSA errors and missed deadlines are the #1 reason families lose aid they qualified for. We file accurately and on time — every time.

  • FAFSA filed correctly and on time
  • State and school deadlines tracked
  • Application errors caught before submission
  • Renewals handled year after year

Maximize Every Dollar of Aid

Most families leave money on the table because they only apply for what they know about. We identify every grant, scholarship, and program you qualify for.

  • Federal Pell Grants — money you never repay
  • State and school-specific aid programs
  • Scholarships matched to your student's profile
  • Side-by-side comparison of financial aid packages
  • Expected Family Contribution (EFC) analysis

Graduate with Less Debt

Smart aid planning means borrowing less and paying less interest over time. We help families understand loan options and avoid unnecessary debt from the start.

  • Federal loans vs. private loans explained
  • Responsible borrowing strategy
  • Cost of attendance vs. net price analysis
  • Multi-year planning to keep debt manageable

College Planning Is More Than Filling Out a Form

The FAFSA alone can open access to thousands of dollars in federal grants, lower-interest loans, and work-study programs. But most families navigate it alone — and a single error or missed deadline can cost significant aid.

Our advisors guide you through every layer of the process: FAFSA filing, scholarship identification, understanding your aid package, and making smart borrowing decisions. We look at the full financial picture — your income, assets, family size, and the schools your student is considering and build a plan that maximizes support and minimizes stress.

Whether your student is starting high school or applying to colleges this fall, the earlier you plan, the more options you have.

Families who work with a college planning advisor consistently secure more aid than those who go it alone — not because they qualify for more, but because they know how to find and apply for everything they’re entitled to.

Susan Portnoi, CPA/PFS

Sr. Wealth Advisor

Service Details

Expand each section to understand what’s included and how we guide you through it.

The FAFSA is the single most important financial aid application your student will file. It determines eligibility for federal, state, and school-based aid programs. Filing it accurately and on time is essential — errors or late submissions can result in losing aid your family was entitled to.

What a Completed FAFSA Can Unlock

Federal Pell Grant

Need-based grant — up to $7,395/year. Money you never have to repay. The foundation of federal student aid for qualifying families.

Federal Student Loans

Subsidized and unsubsidized loans with lower interest rates than private alternatives. Subsidized loans don't accrue interest while in school.

Federal Work-Study

Part-time employment program allowing students to earn money toward education costs while enrolled. Jobs often available on campus.

State & School Aid

Many state programs and individual colleges use FAFSA data to award their own grants and scholarships on top of federal aid.

Protect Your Investment After Closing

WHAT WE DO

  • Walk you through the FAFSA step-by-step — no guesswork
  • Verify all income, asset, and household information for accuracy
  • Track federal, state, and school-specific deadlines
  • Review the application before submission to catch errors
  • Handle annual FAFSA renewals — aid doesn't auto-continue

Mortgage Protection / Life Insurance

  • Missing the deadline — many states award aid on a first-come, first-served basis
  • Reporting income or assets incorrectly — affects your Expected Family Contribution
  • Skipping schools' own aid deadlines — often earlier than the federal deadline
  • Not updating FAFSA after major life changes (job loss, divorce, new dependent)
  • Assuming you don't qualify — many middle-income families are surprised by eligibility

Important: FAFSA opens October 1 each year for the following academic year. Many states and schools run out of aid funds early — filing the day it opens gives your family the best chance at maximum aid.

FAFSA is the starting point — not the finish line. Financial aid planning goes beyond federal programs to identify every source of funding your student qualifies for, and ensures you understand and compare what each school is actually offering.

WHAT WE HELP YOU FIND

  • Scholarships matched to your student's academic profile, major, background, and community
  • Need-based and merit-based grants from state agencies
  • Institutional aid offered directly by colleges — often negotiable
  • Private scholarships from foundations, employers, and organizations
  • Vietnamese-American community scholarships and cultural foundation awards

HOW WE HELP YOU DECIDE

  • Calculate true Cost of Attendance (COA) — tuition + fees + housing + books + personal
  • Understand Expected Family Contribution (EFC) and how it affects aid eligibility
  • Compare financial aid award letters from multiple colleges side-by-side
  • Identify the "gap" between aid offered and actual cost and how to close it
  • Advise on whether to appeal or negotiate with financial aid offices

Aid package comparison tip: Two schools with the same sticker price can have dramatically different net costs after aid. We translate the numbers so you can make the decision that's best for your family — financially and academically.

When grants and scholarships don’t cover the full cost, loans fill the gap. The decisions families make here — which loans, how much, and from whom — have a direct impact on the student’s financial life for years after graduation.

FEDERAL VS. PRIVATE LOANS

  • Federal Subsidized Loans: No interest while in school · Fixed rates · Income-driven repayment options · Forgiveness programs may apply
  • Federal Unsubsidized Loans: Interest accrues during school · Still better terms than most private loans · Available regardless of financial need
  • Private Loans: Higher interest rates · Variable rates possible · Fewer borrower protections · Only consider after exhausting federal options

OUR BORROWING STRATEGY

  • Always maximize grants and scholarships first — borrow only what remains
  • Borrow only what you need — not the full amount offered
  • Benchmark: total student loans should not exceed first year's expected salary after graduation
  • Multi-year plan — track cumulative borrowing across all 4 years, not just year one
  • Explore parent PLUS loans vs. private loans — we explain the trade-offs

A student who qualifies for $30,000 in loans should not automatically borrow all $30,000. We help families make the borrowing decision that protects the student's financial future — not just the one that covers this semester's bill.

* Aid availability, scholarship eligibility, and loan terms vary by student, school, income, and state. All content for illustrative purposes only.

Frequently Asked Questions

FAFSA opens October 1 for the following academic year. File as early as possible — many states and colleges award aid on a first-come, first-served basis until funds run out. You must file a new FAFSA every year your student is enrolled, as aid eligibility is recalculated annually based on your current financial information. We handle the annual renewal so you don't miss a cycle.
Many middle and higher-income families assume they don't qualify and never apply — which is a costly mistake. FAFSA eligibility factors in income, assets, family size, number of students in college simultaneously, and more. Even if you don't qualify for need-based grants, filing FAFSA is still required to access federal student loans (which are available regardless of income) and many merit-based scholarships. Always file.
Aid packages can be misleading — schools present them differently, and some include loans labeled as "aid" alongside actual grants. We translate each award letter into a standardized comparison: true grants and scholarships (money you don't repay) vs. loans (money you do), and calculate the real out-of-pocket cost at each school. Sometimes a higher-sticker-price school ends up costing less than a cheaper one after aid is applied.
A widely used benchmark: total student loan debt at graduation should not exceed the student's expected first-year salary in their chosen field. Borrowing $80,000 for a degree that leads to a $35,000/year starting salary creates serious long-term financial strain. We help families evaluate borrowing decisions across all four years — not just one semester at a time — so the full picture is always clear.

Ready to maximize your student's financial aid and minimize debt?

The earlier you start, the more options you have. FAFSA opens October 1 — let’s be ready.

BOOK A FREE CONSULTATION

Schedule Your College Planning Appointment

Fill out the form below and our team will contact you within 24 hours to schedule your college planning service.