My daughter is starting high school this year and I’m worried about paying for college. I’ve saved some, but as a single-mom, I’m afraid I just won’t be able to cover it all. Is there anything I can do to increase her chances of receiving financial aid? —A Reader Dear Reader, I’m glad you’re asking this question now while you still have several years to plan for college. As I’m sure you know, college can be expensive but it’s also one of the best investments you can make in your daughter’s future—not only in terms of an education, but also for her career opportunities and lifetime earnings. You’re also smart to think ahead about financial aid because it’s such a powerful resource. In fact, the average award for a full-time student in 2018-19 was $15,210 per undergraduate student and $28,140 per graduate student. Here are some key steps you can take, starting now, to help get the most out of financial aid while at the same time potentially strengthening other aspects of your personal finances. Consider saving In the next several years leading up to college, I encourage you to look into a 529 account, for a couple of reasons. Not only do they offer the potential for tax-free earnings for qualified higher education expenses, but the ownership rules are more favorable than for UTMA/UGMA when it comes to federal aid. Generally, 20 percent of a child’s assets and 5 to 6 percent of the parents’ regular investment assets are used for evaluation. However, a child- or parent-owned 529 is considered owned by the parent and assessed at the 5 to 6 percent rate. Grandparent-owned 529 accounts aren’t included in the asset evaluation, but distributions may count depending on the year of withdrawal. Try to avoid large income spikes in the two-years prior to applying for financial aid. This can distort your overall financial picture in FASFA. That’s because the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) considers income from “prior-prior” or last year’s tax filing (for example, if your daughter is going to school in the Fall of 2024, it will be based on your 2022 tax return.) This isn’t to say you wouldn’t welcome a pay raise or bonus. But consider avoiding or minimizing high income from the sale of securities, large withdrawals from retirement plans, exercising stock options, etc. during these calculation years. Other potential strategies include managing financial gifts, deferring bonuses, or accelerating a sale of assets. For example, a financial gift to your daughter could be made to a 529. Bottom line, it’s smart to work with a tax and financial advisor before making any big financial moves. Fill out the FAFSA® The FAFSA® is the main gateway to most financial aid: Grants, scholarships, work-study programs and tax benefits are aid sources you don’t have to pay back. Subsidized and unsubsidized loans can bring down costs and provide additional but, unless forgiven, will need to be paid back. A common mistake is to incorrectly assume you won’t qualify for aid, so don’t fall into that trap—and don’t rule out schools with an expensive sticker price. Financial aid can help bridge the gap with schools you may think are out of reach. Colleges that admit you will use your FAFSA® to determine amounts and types of aid you’re eligible to receive. You’ll then need to contact the financial aid offices for specifics of applying for aid at those colleges. Don’t skip this key step. —Moneythink has a cool new tool called DecidED to help students and families understand student financial aid award letters—and assess factors like institutional outcomes and starting average salary. This helps you to know the true cost of your college options, evaluate and compare your choices, and make an informed - and affordable - enrollment decision that reduces the guesswork. Set yourself up for success Contrary to popular belief, having more debt doesn’t increase your chances of aid. Paying off your high-interest debt from taxable accounts can both reduce the amount of reportable assets you have and save you interest. Next, keep saving in your retirement accounts. Qualified retirement accounts like IRAs, 401(k)s, TSP, 403(b(s) aren’t reportable assets when applying for federal aid. On the other hand, consider avoiding buying annuities or life insurance products that are sometimes sold to “hide” assets. High fees, lack of liquidity and high complexity can make insurance products a poor solution. To me, insurance products should only be purchased if you need the insurance. Complete all financial aid applications on time, and update as needed Look out for federal, state, and institution deadlines because they may all be different! And some financial aid is available on a first-come, first-served basis. It’s always wise to be an early bird. Also, don’t be reluctant to appeal your financial aid offers if your circumstances change. Divorce, death in the family, a job loss, or losses due to the pandemic or natural disasters can all impact eligibility, so in these cases reach out to the school’s financial aid officer. Don’t ignore small scholarships Winning a full-ride athletic or academic scholarship may be great, but in reality very few families pay for all of their college costs this way. Don’t overestimate your chance of winning a scholarship and neglect to save. But do keep in mind that scholarships come in all different shapes (including merit-based, academic, athletic, and affinity groups) and sizes. Smaller or lesser known scholarships often go overlooked, but even small awards can add up! Double check GI Bill benefits This may not apply to your family, but it’s important for active duty/reservist service members and vets to know that the Post-9/11 GI Bill allows service members to transfer unused education benefits to certain family members. Recently, one of my colleagues realized he had 21 months that he could transfer to his spouse or child even after completing an undergraduate and an MBA degree! If you’ve earned this benefit, make sure you use it. As you look to the future, keep your eyes on the finish line. Save as much as you can, fill out the FAFSA®, and pay attention to key steps, deadlines, and planning considerations to maximize your chances. Best of luck on achieving what can be a life-changing journey for your daughter. Have a personal finance question? Email us ataskcarrie@schwab.com. Carrie cannot respond to questions directly, but your topic may be considered for a future article. For Schwab account questions and general inquiries,contact Schwab. Disclosures: The Charles Schwab Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, private foundation that is not part of Charles Schwab & Co., Inc., or its parent company, The Charles Schwab Corporation. The information provided here is for general informational purposes only and should not be considered an individualized recommendation or personalized investment advice. The investment strategies mentioned here may not be suitable for everyone. Each investor needs to review an investment strategy for his or her own particular situation before making any investment decision. All expressions of opinion are subject to change without notice in reaction to shifting market conditions. Data contained herein from third-party providers are obtained from what are considered reliable sources. However, their accuracy, completeness or reliability cannot be guaranteed. Investors should consider, before investing, whether the investor’s or designated beneficiary’s home state offers any state tax or other state benefits such as financial aid, scholarship funds, and protection from creditors that are only available in such state’s qualified tuition program. COPYRIGHT 2020 CHARLES SCHWAB & CO., INC. MEMBER SIPC. (#0121-10GB)
