College Funding

Prepare now to see your kids through college. How much will it cost? What % of the cost do you want to pay? How much should you save now?

To look up costs for each school, including many other facts about each campus, visit www.collegeboard.com.

College 529 Plans: This investment vehicle is a great way to save for future college expenses. The money grows, tax deferred, and no taxes are paid on withdrawals used for education expenses. We recommend setting up an automatic monthly funds transfer from your checking or savings account.

To compare the many 529 plans out there, visit www.savingforcollege.com.

Our pick is www.vanguard.com. Their expenses are about as low as you can go, and you can choose an age-based fund to simplify your investment choices. You must start the account with $3,000.

If you prefer to start an account with less than $3,000, then our pick is the Iowa 529 Plan, which provides access to Vanguard with a lower initial investment. Visit www.collegesavingsiowa.com.

Financial Aid: More than 55% of the undergraduate students in the USA receive financial aid to help pay for college. Over $85 billion in financial aid is awarded to college students each year.

For information regarding federal aid, visit the US Department of Education at www.federalstudentaid.ed.gov.

For information regarding scholarships and grants offered from sources outside the federal government, visit www.collegeanswer.com.