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The College Financial Lady

The College Financial Lady

By Ann Garcia

Ann Garcia, CFP®, a financial advisor and author of the popular College Financial Lady blog, explores the world of preparing for college in a series of interviews with experts in areas from admissions and academic preparation to athletics, gap years and more.
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A Roadmap for Student Success With Louis E Newman

The College Financial LadyAug 03, 2023

00:00
42:48
A Roadmap for Student Success With Louis E Newman
Aug 03, 202342:48
Merit Aid Myth Busters

Merit Aid Myth Busters

The world of college merit aid is rife with myths and urban legends. Fortunately, Cozy Wittman of College Inside Track joined me to bust the myths and give you the straight scoop. Who gets merit aid, why, from which schools, what can you do to improve your chances of getting scholarships and so much more-- Cozy provides a wealth of information and strategies that any family can use to bring down the cost of college. 

Jun 15, 202130:57
Living with Student Loans: A High School Counselor's Story

Living with Student Loans: A High School Counselor's Story

As a high school guidance counselor, John McMichael has a lot of conversations with students about borrowing for college. That's in no small part because about two decades into his career, he's still paying off his own student loans. His experience with student loans is instructive: how not planning for college costs led to borrowing, graduate school's impact on his debt, the challenges of Public Service Loan Forgiveness, balancing his student loan obligations against saving for his own children's educations, and so much more. Fortunately for his students and for all of us, he's very generous in sharing his story. 

Jun 08, 202142:02
The College Application Process

The College Application Process

Applying to colleges can be arduous and stressful, but also a great opportunity for students to learn about themselves and build their futures. Certified education consultant Terry Mady-Grove of Charted University Consultants outlines the key steps and decisions in the process including researching schools, writing essays, enjoying the high school years, and whether Early Decision makes sense. 

May 25, 202142:19
Emotional and Practical Realities of College Savings

Emotional and Practical Realities of College Savings

Paying for college has emotional and practical components. As parents we want to provide opportunities for our kids, but the practical realities of college costs can make it seem like we're not doing enough even when we're doing all we can. Megan deBoer of Tended Wealth shared some strategies for both coming up with a practical savings plan that works for your family, and managing the emotions associated with this monumental financial undertaking. 

May 11, 202136:49
College Financial Literacy

College Financial Literacy

Planning and paying for college is confusing and complicated. As coordinator of Student Financial Literacy and Advising at the University of Southern Connecticut, Lew de Luca helps families navigate the college funding process from financial aid and scholarships to payment plans and cost-saving strategies. Lew shares a wealth of information on managing college costs and making good financial decisions. 

May 04, 202139:45
What's Going on With Standardized Testing?

What's Going on With Standardized Testing?

As test-optional admissions gain steam, many are questioning the place of standardized testing in the college admissions process and even whether or not to take the SAT or ACT. Scott Clyburn of North Avenue Education walked me through the ins and outs of test optional and test-taking in general. Should your student test? Listen and learn!

Apr 06, 202127:07
On Campus with COVID

On Campus with COVID

What's it like to be a college student during the pandemic? A lot depends on where you're going to school. I caught up with three current college students-- from Gonzaga, the University of Chicago and the University of Michigan-- and heard three really different stories. Each student has a different perspective and experience. What do they have in common? They all feel good about what their schools have done to address the pandemic. 

Jan 19, 202134:08
Prepaid Tuition Plans and the Private College 529

Prepaid Tuition Plans and the Private College 529

Prepaid tuition plans are a slightly different take on 529s: rather than investing for growth that might outpace tuition inflation, these plans aim to match tuition increases. While there used to be many prepaid tuition plans, currently there are only a handful, with the Private College 529 being one of the leaders. Jonathan Sparling, Director of Strategic Partnerships for the Private College 529, joined me to discuss the ins and outs of prepaid tuition plans and how they might fit into a family's overall college planning strategy. 

Dec 01, 202031:39
Academic Success in College with Dr. Alan Shusterman

Academic Success in College with Dr. Alan Shusterman

As a professor of organic chemistry at Reed College, Alan Shusterman teaches a hard class to smart students. Over the years, as both a professor and a parent, he's learned some valuable lessons about succeeding academically in college, and was gracious in sharing them with me. 

Nov 10, 202030:29
Paying off Student Loans with Bill Nelson, CFP®, CSLP

Paying off Student Loans with Bill Nelson, CFP®, CSLP

Student loan borrowers have a dizzying array of loan and repayment options. If you're borrowing for college, Bill's guidance on how to borrow and how to repay may well save you a bundle. Bill is a fee-only financial advisor who works with young professionals and specializes in student loan repayment strategies. 

Oct 27, 202031:29
How a Financial Advisor plans for his own children's educations with Rich Feight CFP®

How a Financial Advisor plans for his own children's educations with Rich Feight CFP®

As financial advisors, we often give clients guidance on college funding strategies. In this episode I talked with fellow NAPFA advisor Rich Feight about how he's planning and saving for his children's college. With his oldest in 8th grade now, it's starting to get real!

Oct 13, 202039:13
College Applications in the COVID Era with Julia Surtshin
Sep 15, 202029:11
A First Generation Student's Story with Olivia Pura

A First Generation Student's Story with Olivia Pura

Olivia Pura is a first-generation college student who just graduated with magna cum laude from Northwestern University and is now beginning a Ph.D. program in Biochemistry & Biophysics at the University of Chicago. She shares her journey through the college admissions process and undergraduate years: lessons learned, mentors who helped her out, and what she wants other high school students navigating this journey to know ahead of time. Olivia is also Miss Illinois USA, where she gives back by using her title to advocate for female equality in S.T.E.M. fields. 

Sep 08, 202025:52
Living with Student Loans with Dr. Sarah Dougherty

Living with Student Loans with Dr. Sarah Dougherty

Sarah Dougherty attended college on partial athletic and merit scholarships, then pursued her dream of becoming a veterinarian. Now more than 10 years into her career as a vet, she owes more than three times her annual salary in student loans. Here she talks about how she got to this debt level and how it has impacted her career and adult life, from big picture items like home ownership and supporting her children's educations to everyday choices to getting into an income-driven loan repayment plan. 

Sep 01, 202026:43
Student Athletes with Kathy Connor

Student Athletes with Kathy Connor

Is your student an athlete looking to pursue their sport in college? Don't miss Kathy's insights on the recruiting process, athletic scholarships, and finding a fit not just for sports but for academics and college life as well. Kathy has experienced the student athlete life from every perspective: she helps athletes through the recruiting and college selection process through Connor College Consulting, she's a parent of two student athletes, and she was one of the most highly recruited swimmers in the nation in 1982 before accepting a full scholarship to Stanford and spending four years as a D-1 student athlete. Kathy knows the life of a student athlete and has some fantastic insights to help frame a successful college search. 

Aug 25, 202052:58
College Possible with Emielle Nischik

College Possible with Emielle Nischik

College Possible makes college admission and success possible for low-income students through an intensive curriculum of coaching and support. Since its founding in 2000, College Possible has become a leading organization in the field of college access and success with a track record of best-in-class results, rigorous evaluation and innovation. Emielle discusses the College Possible approach and the barriers that low-income and first generation students face in the college admissions process-- and some potential solutions.  

Aug 18, 202032:29
529 College Savings Plans with Richard Ellis

529 College Savings Plans with Richard Ellis

Got questions about 529s? I went straight to the top and had Richard Ellis, Executive Director of Utah's my529, answer questions about how 529s work, how to get the most out of them, choosing a plan and investment options, and more. 529s can be the cornerstone of your college funding plan, and Richard's insights will help you get the most out of your college savings dollars. 

Aug 13, 202042:11
Gap Years with Ethan Knight
Aug 11, 202024:44