Written by Marcus Dusenbury The Routine This morning started like most mornings do. My son wakes up first and will sing a short song. My wife and I are up next and begin quarterbacking the home’s morning routine. There’s still no peep from my daughter, our resident...
This is a very broad question that's difficult to answer without knowing your individual situation. The option(s) you choose will depend on a number of factors: Your need for strategies with tax advantages (some investments and savings vehicles offer special tax advantages if the money...
Parenthood can be both wonderfully rewarding and frighteningly challenging. Children give gifts only a parent can understand--from sticky-finger hugs to heartfelt pleas to tag along on Saturday morning errands. You raise them with a clear goal that you secretly dread will actually take place--that someday...
It's hard to talk about college without mentioning financial aid. Yet this pairing isn't a marriage of love, but one of necessity. In many cases, financial aid may be the deciding factor in whether your child attends the college of his or her choice or...
Many parents pay for college with a combination of current income, savings, and financial aid. By learning the basics of financial aid, you'll be able to understand how the aid process works and compare the aid awards your child receives. What is financial aid? Financial aid is...
How can you pay for your child's private school? Many parents are committed to sending their children to private elementary or secondary school. Yet paying private school tuition can present a compelling cash flow problem. The reason is that, unlike with college or graduate school, there...
What is it? A Coverdell education savings account is a tax-advantaged educational savings account that you can establish for a child under the age of 18 (this limit does not apply to beneficiaries with special needs). The child does not need to be your dependent. Contributions...
What is it? A prepaid tuition plan is a type of qualified tuition program (the other type is a college savings plan) established under Section 529 of the Internal Revenue Code. Prepaid tuition plans can be offered either by states (called state-sponsored prepaid plans) or by...
What is it? These days it's not uncommon for parents to postpone starting a family until both spouses are settled in their marriage and careers, often well into their 30s and 40s. Though this financial security can be an advantage, it can also present a dilemma--the...
What is it? When you take out a loan to pay for college or graduate school, you must repay that loan at some future date. If you find yourself in the position of having to budget every month for a student loan payment after graduation, you...