<p>I'm looking to transfer colleges next year. After going through last year's emotionally scarring experience of filling out the forms myself, I have decided to bite the bullet and get some help. Our situation is a little complicated (my father owns a small business) and my parents are the opinionated, we-don't-need-to-justify-anything type. (love them, they're just not especially conducive to financial aid forms).</p>
<p>Ideally, we could meet with a live human being. Does anyone know what type of financial person would be able to help with this sort of stuff? I tried doing just a Google search but really didn't know what to search for. We could meet with this person, bring our tax forms/w-2s, etc. and they can crunch the numbers and get the answers out of my parents rather than me.</p>
<p>I'm also not opposed to an online service. If anyone has any experience with a specific service, I would love to hear about it.</p>
<p>It’s rather hard for me to get a rational response from my parents regarding our finances. I think that the psychological aspect of filing for financial aid is often overlooked. In consulting with a professional, I am essentially paying someone else to ask those hard questions that my parents aren’t willing to give me a straight answer for. In theory, someone with credentials and know-how is more trustworthy and skilled than I am.</p>
<p>I appreciate your willingness to help, though! If it weren’t such a tricky emotional situation I would gladly take you up on your offer.</p>
<p>Okay, then - a question for you: Who does your parents’ taxes? That person should, for his or her usual hourly fee, be able to help you navigate your parents’ finances sufficient for you to complete much of the paperwork without having to ask them directly. Might that be a solution?</p>
<p>The reality is that accountants don’t generally understand financial aid . . . but all you really need help with is understanding your parents’ finances, and the experts in this forum can help you with any questions you have once you know what numbers you’re dealing with.</p>
<p>My parents do hire an accountant–that is a great idea, I’ll definitely look at that option. I’ll try and find the most challenging aspects of the forms to bring to the accountant.</p>
<p>In addition, these forms are due March 1, which is before my father will have filed taxes for his company. Should I go ahead and fill out these forms, going through all the trouble with the accountant and whatnot–or should I just try and do it myself the first round with 2012 data and then go through with an accountant for the final 2013 taxes?</p>