If you’ve been reluctant to fund a 529 college savings account because you heard it hurts you in the financial aid formula, here’s the real truth: 529s are a powerhouse when it comes to financial aid. Yes, your student’s 529 is an asset that is reported on the FAFSA and CSS Profile. This means that about 5% of its value…

Happy 2026! Did you make any New Year’s resolutions? Research shows that the vast majority of New Year’s resolutions fail, with 80% failing by mid-February. Research also shows several common reasons why: With that in mind, here are some achievable New Year’s resolutions for parents with college-bound kids of any age. A few specific to families of high school students:…

‘Tis the season, and with all the holiday trimmings comes the often-fraught topic of gifts. If you mean it when you say, “Please, no more toys!” then you will want to make sure your 529’s gifting page is set up. One of the best ways to increase your college savings is to make it easier for others to help you…

If you’re a high school senior, now is a great time to review your college list to make sure you end up with some good choices. And if you’re not a senior, you’ll still want to keep an eye out for these topics as you build your college list. Make sure you know the answers to these questions for all…

Harvard. Rutgers. Colby College. University of Chicago. George Washington University. University of North Carolina. Stanford. Sewanee. Princeton. University of Washington. Michigan. Montana State. Air Force Academy. Claremont McKenna. What do these colleges have in common? Each had a student selected as a Rhodes Scholar this year. Rhodes Scholars are selected on the basis of academic excellence, “ambition for social impact,…