The earlier you begin, the more options you may have. Ideally, families should begin planning during the student's freshman or sophomore year—before the financial aid base year and well before college applications are submitted. Early planning provides more time to evaluate college costs, financial aid eligibility, student goals, and potential financial strategies.

Higher income does not necessarily mean your student will receive no financial assistance. Eligibility can vary significantly from one college to another based on your family's financial profile, the school's cost, its financial aid policies, and the student's qualifications. We help families evaluate potential need-based and merit-based opportunities and identify colleges that may make financial sense.

Yes. We assist with FAFSA and, when required, the CSS Profile and other institutional financial aid forms. We also review information for accuracy, assist with college follow-up requests, and help families understand and compare their financial aid offers.

They may be able to help with tax-related information, but financial aid planning involves more than transferring numbers from a tax return. We look at how income, assets, household information, college-specific methodologies, and other factors can affect financial aid eligibility and college costs—and how those pieces fit into your family's overall college strategy.

If your family experiences a significant change in circumstances—such as loss of income or another qualifying financial event—a college may be willing to reconsider your student's financial aid eligibility. We can help you evaluate the situation and determine whether requesting a financial aid review or appeal may be appropriate.

Sticker price doesn't tell the whole story. We can estimate your Student Aid Index (SAI) or Family Contribution, evaluate your family's financial profile, and project potential financial aid based on how different colleges award need-based and institutional aid. This can help families build a college list with affordability in mind before applications are submitted.

Depending on your family's circumstances and how early you begin planning, there may be strategies that can improve financial aid eligibility or make college costs more manageable. We evaluate income, assets, savings, projected college costs, and other factors to identify appropriate planning opportunities and develop a college funding strategy.

The first step is to schedule a consultation. We'll discuss your student's current stage in the college planning process, your family's financial situation and goals, and the areas where you may need assistance. From there, we can determine which services are appropriate for your family.