<p>Anyone had any experience with these people? They want to show you how to move money around so you will get more financial aid.</p>
<p>No, but my guess is that the only place they want to move money is from your account to . . . theirs!</p>
<p>If you really want to pay for advice (instead of getting it on CC for free), then buy this:</p>
<p>[Paying</a> for College Without Going Broke, 2013 Edition (College Admissions Guides): Princeton Review, Kalman Chany, Bill Clinton: 9780307945327: Amazon.com: Books](<a href=“http://www.amazon.com/Paying-College-Without-Edition-Admissions/dp/0307945324/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1376774509&sr=8-1&keywords=kalman+college]Paying”>http://www.amazon.com/Paying-College-Without-Edition-Admissions/dp/0307945324/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1376774509&sr=8-1&keywords=kalman+college)</p>
<p>I went to a free 1 1/2 hour seminar. Then they wanted to sign us up for a Free Fafsa review. I have already sent 2 kids to college so I didn’t just fall off the turnip truck. They want complete financial info so they can show you where to move money so you look more needy. I am willing to go to see when he is going to ask for money, but so far it is described as a FREE FAFSA REVIEW. I know it smells, but even I did pick up a few tidbits this morning. Just curious how much he thinks someone will pay, and how legal is it to just move money into different accounts? Do you think we will drive to the appointment, then he will say he cannot proceed until he sees the financial info??</p>
<p>In all likelihood, it’s an insurance sales scam. That’s the latest thing - and if you do an internet search on “college financial aid” and “insurance scam”, you’ll likely find it. Hooking the parents of high school students is an almost surefire moneymaker. Honestly, I wouldn’t waste the money on gas to get there.</p>
<p>Are they registered investment advisors? Do they have the letters CLU after their names (chartered life underwriter)? Then my guess is that they’re primarily selling investments or selling insurance, or both.</p>
<p>There are strategies that can help make a student eligible for more financial aid at schools that actually meet full need – but I wouldn’t say that new investments (insurance,…) is part of that answer for the most part. But maybe they give practical recommendations like:
- If you have a bunch of money in bank accounts (more than the protected amount) AND you have a bunch of consumer debt, paying off some of that consumer debt has two benefits (at least) --less contribution in the formulas towards your EFC and frees up cash flow (in terms of monthly payments) that you can then use towards the cost of college;
- Spreading out 529 usage evenly across four years might not be the best strategy for maximizing financial aid if your student goes to a college with a lot of aid;
- How to document excess medical expenses and request professional judgment for them (and what counts as a medical expense: many people forget premiums, which can be substantial for the self-employed) and how to request consideration for Roth conversions;
- Are family sizes counted correctly? (Harder than it seems – I’ve seen a number with errors on this, particularly in the case of divorced parents.) Undercounting by one kid has a big impact.
- Correctly documenting wages from work, which is also frequently misinterpreted.</p>
<p>When you go to these presentations, one needs to look and see what is in it for these groups, people to spend the time to give advice and information. If a school or organization is giving the presentation,as pure info for the community of college parents, or your congressman, your township, as a public service, that’s one thing. </p>
<p>Any of the sessions can give valuable information. But the instant you are asked to pay anything or transfer money into some investment vehicle, it’s time you look at exactly what you are doing and what they are getting from you. </p>
<p>Personally, I believe that college admissions, financial aid, payment option counselors could be worthwhile investments if the information they give is timely, accurate and thorough and when those giving it are upfront about what the charges are, what you get and what they want from you. I get testy when things start getting into the sneaky area, where folks end up transferring funds into investment vehicles without getting the whole picture. There is a lot of gray territiory there. </p>
<p>I’m the type who doesn’t go on those condo sessions for a free night at a hotel,meal or whatever because it bothers me, but I know many who do and get some benefits from that. As long as you don’t get talked into something you don;t want, can’t afford, not the best choice for you, it can be a win situation.</p>
My wife went to a seminar by “College Authority” advisor I went to one by financial aid person from a state university we could not both do to same seminars because we are very busy and have multiple pre college kids. Also had CA advisor run our numbers and present their services to us. It is not a scam but not cheap either. Everything the man said is what I have read elsewhere. It is all legal and very time consuming possibly a good deal for very busy professional parents with good incomes but little extra time. Important to start planing early. Expect to pay about $2850 for first child and about $1850 for each additional child but $500 discount for referral is possible. This includes about 12 different profession services that you could and probably should do yourself but many not be as effective at. Many people think the State school is the cheapest because the tuition is lower but if State U provides you with less aid the private may actually cost you less out of pocket, also if you do not know how to make them compete over you/or child you could leave a lot of money on table, and not know how to negotiate effectively after an offer has been made by the university on aid. Especially 2nd year and beyond. Knowledge is power and $$$. “College Authority” does not know anything that is not in the public domain, but how much time do you have to learn what you need to know? How much money is at stake? All money you set aside of all your kids can be demanded for just the first kid who goes to college, these are the federal rules/law right or wrong that is how it works. Know the game rules before you play. Same thing with savings for assisted living or elderly parents, protecting money is not illegal just smart but many other strategies are also important CA can help but help yourself as well with knowledge that is in public domain. I.e. which std testing can child improve on SAT or ACT then focus on that. many more, like which and how many universities to apply to.
That’s all good info and might have helped the OP 18 months ago when the thread was started. Closing old thread.