<p>This may be a silly question - but hopefully someone can answer it. When you put the value of an investment on the Fafsa how do you value it? For instance we have some college money in 529 accounts - can we use the value on the most recent statement or do we somehow have to find the value on that day. Same for stocks etc. Even bank accounts - the statement on the day of the Fafsa may not reflect deposits/checks outstanding etc. Am I making this too complicated?</p>
<p>For bank accounts, we have used the balance per our check register as of the date the FAFSA was filed and kept a photocopy of it for the records, because you've no control over when checks clear.
For stocks and other investments, many companies offer the ability to check account balances online and even print the values as of the day you file FAFSA. My understanding has always been to value everything as of the day of the FAFSA filing.</p>
<p>a statement value would probably work just fine if it was the most recent. I honestly don't know if when you submit a FAFSA report what credit/investment information it opens up. I would imagine they have the ability to check vaules. I could not see them punishing you if you used your most recent information and a slight difference appeared later. </p>
<p>You also have the ability to ammend your FAFSA as well.</p>
<p>With our checking and savings , I check the value of them ( even if outstanding checks have not cleared ) online on the morning I file the FAFSA.</p>