<p>Has anyone attended one of these presentations put on by companies that are supposed to help you figure out the whole financial aid thing? Are these basically financial planners who try to sell you a 529 or what?</p>
<p>I am able to say no to a salesperson. Knowing that, would it be worth it for me to attend one? What information do they give out?</p>
<p>We attended a financial aid workshop that was held in conjunction with a college showcase soccer tourney. There were a variety of workshops avail to parents while the kids met with college coaches, etc.
The worskshop I went to was excellent - it was 2 hours, but it convinced me to hire the person individually for an additional 2 hours to help me with planning. At the time, S was a junior in HS and I've found the information was very helpful and not expensive. This person was a tax planner and not trying to sell any products other than her own expertise.
One thing I'll add is that the reason I knew the right questions to ask the planner is because I had been reading this forum! It really is the best source of info. we found, if you have the ability to weed out fact from opinion. Good luck!</p>
<p>orjr,
Do you think it would have been useful if a person didn't have a lot of spare $ or complicated investments (basically, had a 529, retirement account & planned on borrowing the majority & having spouse return to work to fund rest?).</p>
<p>Sorry to be super-specific w/the question....but thinking that these seminars might be more for people w/extensive investment portfolios, $$ to move around, etc.?</p>
<p>My school district runs free financial air workshops, but I think they are geared toward just filling out the FAFSA. In our situation, we simply don't have money to move around.</p>
<p>I think it is always useful to go to any of these things that can shed some light on something you don't know. I would suggest leaving the checkbook and credit cards at home, and maybe not give out your phone number if you don't want to be bugged. Take their card and info in case YOU want to call them if you think additional help would be useful after you have a cooling off period and talk to others. Do not sign any commitment forms, just take them with you to review. Same advice I give about going to those "free" vacations that include sitting through a presentation. You can get a lot out of them for little money, if you do not buy, at least until you carefully digest the info and consider LATER.</p>
<p>Captain has good advice!
Jolynne - we are modest folks who have no investments, always have done my own taxes, and qualify for need based FA - if that gives you a sense. I had always thought the same way as your post. The info. the planner helped me with was pretty specific and mostly about the mechanics of financial aid so that you can plan accordingly. As I said, a good reading of this forum was about 80% as helpful - pretty awesome! The other reason I think my experience was good is that this person was a one person show, local, and not selling anything other than service and knowledge.
You Don't Say - my school district does too - BUT they often give bad information. After a year on this forum, they've put me in the "help seat"!! I'm telling ya'll, this is a great place to learn :)</p>
<p>orjr, thanks, that's interesting! Youdon'tsay, our district runs FAFSA workshops too (attended one in the fall...basically: fill out the form early, etc.). Cptofthehouse--agree---better to go & not buy.</p>
<p>orjr--true, I've learned tons on CC.</p>
<p>This is bad, though. I keep reading/hearing all these horror stories about the stress, overwhelming difficulty of financial aid, the monetary aspect of college, etc. I'm thinking: how bad can this really be? We fill out the FASFA, wait for the bad news, search out scholarships for son (likely, not many due to 9th/10th gr gpa) and (likely) end up taking out as many loans as we can stomach, after weighing value of education at particular school vs. cost. </p>
<p>And, I go back to work 1/2 through son's senior HS year so we can have more $$ for the first semester, then either pay back loans (in part) immediately or pay toward tuition.</p>
<p>Maybe I'm deluded (likely). :-)</p>
<p>One note, it sounds like the person orjr used was fee based not commission based....there are both types out there. If you don't want to deal with someone trying to sell you something, find a fee based person. You will pay by the hours for their time.</p>