Posts Archive
Education Planning
Top 11 Ways to Prevent Fraud and Identity Theft
By Matt Boelter, Viridian Financial Advisor and Shareholder Almost every day we hear stories from families affected by some form of fraud. According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), identity theft is one of the most commonly reported types of fraud. Here are some suggestions for staying out of harm’s way, and a few of…
Read MoreHow are you paying for college?
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 night owl, until we coax her into consciousness. …
Read MoreHow can I save for my child's college education?
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 is used to pay college expenses) Your certainty that your…
Read MoreThe Joys and Financial Challenges of Parenthood
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 they will be grown, independent, and ready to move out…
Read MoreFinancial Aid 101
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 money distributed primarily by the federal government and…
Read MoreFunding Private Elementary/Secondary School
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 are fewer outside options to reduce your out-of-pocket expenses.…
Read More529 Prepaid Tuition Plans
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 private colleges (called college-sponsored prepaid plans). State-sponsored prepaid plans…
Read MoreSaving for College and Retirement
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 need to save for college and retirement at the…
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