| Most American families are offsetting the high cost | | | | incorrectly. Clearly, parents are not getting enough |
| of college by applying for some degree of financial | | | | guidance on the college funding process.Well-meaning |
| aid by submitting their FAFSA (Free Application For | | | | guidance counselors invite FAO's to speak at their |
| Federal Student Aid) on or after January 2nd. | | | | high schools, trusting them to put the best interests |
| Unfortunately, this is not a simple process as the | | | | of the students above the financial interests of their |
| college financial aid system is anything but | | | | college. By evening's end, parents are often left with |
| user-friendly. There are an endless number of pitfalls | | | | a false sense of security that the college of their |
| in the application process, and it is far too easy for | | | | choice will award their student its best possible |
| families to lose some or all of the aid they are eligible | | | | financial aid package. This is hardly ever the |
| for.Many families fail to even attempt application | | | | case!Much like frugal employers whose goal is to hire |
| because they don't know how to, or they incorrectly | | | | the most talented applicants for the least amount of |
| assume they are not qualified, or simply because | | | | pay, FAO's seek the most promising students for the |
| they are intimidated by the complicated and | | | | least amount of financial aid. Relying on an FAO to |
| confusing process and all its paperwork. With far | | | | cut your college costs is like expecting an IRS agent |
| more qualified applicants than desks in all of America's | | | | to help reduce income taxes! FAO's can be helpful, |
| colleges and universities, it is reasonable to expect a | | | | but their loyalties are with their schools - not their |
| system intentionally designed to eliminate all but the | | | | applicants!Accountants may offer some assistance, |
| most knowledgeable and persistent | | | | but far too few have experience with college funding. |
| applicants.According to a disturbing statistic from the | | | | Although they are experts with income tax forms |
| US Dept. of Education, over 90% of all financial aid | | | | and tax strategies, college financial aid forms and |
| applications are rejected for errors and | | | | college funding strategies are a horse of a different |
| inconsistencies! As financial aid is awarded on a | | | | color. The good-intentioned application of accounting |
| first-come, first-served basis, the loss of time in the | | | | principles to college funding can actually hinder a |
| resubmission process results in thousands of dollars | | | | family's chances of getting all the financial aid they |
| of lost financial aid to eligible families who braved the | | | | are entitled to!There is an endless amount of |
| college funding process blindly and alone.This being | | | | misinformation on the subject of college funding, and |
| the case, what's a family to do with one or more | | | | a good deal of it is from so-called reliable sources. In |
| college-bound students facing as much as $160 to | | | | fact, one instruction on the current FAFSA, if |
| $300 thousand dollars to send their kids to a 4-year | | | | followed, will cost families thousands of the financial |
| college? Many make the mistake of relying solely on | | | | aid dollars they are eligible for! (See our website for |
| the advice of guidance counselors, college financial aid | | | | FAFSA ALERT!) So, "who you gonna call?"One of |
| officers (FAO's), and even their accountants. Sadly, | | | | America's best kept college secrets is the existence |
| these families are not getting all of the financial | | | | of the college funding professional! This small group |
| information they need and are in for a rude | | | | of admissions and financial aid experts assist parents |
| awakening!Nationally, guidance departments are facing | | | | through the college funding process and help families |
| their worst crunch ever, and are overloaded with as | | | | provide their students with the best possible college |
| many as 800 or more students for each counselor! | | | | education for the least possible cost. One would |
| Budget cuts have added to the problem causing | | | | naturally assume they are in great demand and buried |
| schools to increase the responsibilities of guidance | | | | with invitations to lecture at America's high schools. |
| counselors in areas other than guidance, leaving them | | | | Sadly, this is not the case!It would surprise and |
| with even less time for their students - and there is | | | | outrage parents to learn that, on a national scale, |
| no relief in sight!Despite these obstacles and to their | | | | most guidance departments refuse the services |
| credit, guidance counselors still manage to effectively | | | | offered by college funding professionals, often |
| advise students in career planning and college | | | | stating that bringing in "outsiders" is against school |
| selection. However, when it comes to college funding, | | | | policy, even when such services are offered |
| they come up short in providing the necessary | | | | absolutely free! The distressing result is, every year, |
| financial information that could save families | | | | parents enter the college funding arena without the |
| thousands of dollars!Counselors have little time and | | | | necessary ammunition to do battle with the system - |
| lack the expertise to show parents how to reduce | | | | and severely overpay for college!For further |
| their Expected Family Contribution (EFC), the | | | | information and guaranteed solutions to America's |
| minimum the federal government determines that | | | | higher education crisis, please visit: financial advisor & |
| each family will pay for any college, based on the | | | | lecturer for almost 3 decades, Reecy Aresty has |
| information submitted on the FAFSA. Additionally, | | | | helped thousands of families to protect their assets, |
| knowledge of specific legal financial aid strategies and | | | | increase their wealth and reduce their taxes. In the |
| their correct application would help families avoid or | | | | 1980's, he mastered the complex world of college |
| reduce an array of assessments that could cost | | | | admissions and financial aid. In 1986, a generous gift |
| them thousands of dollars for each year their | | | | from the Aresty family to the Wharton School at |
| students are in college!For example, parents and most | | | | the University of Pennsylvania established the Aresty |
| guidance counselors are unaware that students have | | | | Institute of Executive Education. So began the |
| no asset protection allowance. Consequently, | | | | Aresty family legacy; a dedication to the pursuit of |
| students with assets in their own name are assessed | | | | knowledge through higher education for all. In 1993, |
| by the federal government at 35% for each year | | | | Reecy founded College Assistance, Inc. Continuing |
| they are in college! Thus, a student with $1,000 will | | | | the family tradition, he helps parents send their kids |
| be assessed $350 for each year the $1,000 remains | | | | to the best schools for less than they ever dreamed |
| in their name. After 4 years, they will have lost | | | | possible! He has recently authored the groundbreaking |
| $1,400 in financial aid for having only $1,000 worth of | | | | new book, "Getting Into College And Paying For It." |
| assets! This is tragic as it can be legally avoided - if | | | | The first book of its kind also available in Spanish, it is |
| you know how.Periodically, guidance departments | | | | filled with trade secrets, insider information and legal |
| present "in-house" Financial Aid Nights which focus on | | | | money saving strategies guaranteed to cut the rising |
| filling out financial aid forms and understanding the | | | | costs of college! Reecy has become a major factor |
| basics of the process. Nevertheless, year after year, | | | | in obtaining affordable, quality educations for |
| 9 out of every 10 families applying for financial aid | | | | America's students. |
| continue to be rejected for filling out their forms | | | | |