Whatever the age of your children, whatever your income, whatever your assets, college planning is complex and daunting. Sometimes grandparents want to help, but don’t know what to do. In other cases, families may have specific circumstances that demand special planning decisions. Some employers want to provide help to their employees, but feel limited by employment regulations.

College Money has developed strategies and step-by-step processes to help families build a college plan that suits their specific circumstances. To begin your plan, click the link that fits your situation:

• CRISIS PLANNING – Families in this category have a student in high school and haven’t been able to save what they need for college. At this point there is no time to save…parents need a plan to get their child in the right college for the student’s needs and goals without depleting the parent’s retirement resources.
• LONG-TERM SAVINGS - Parents of young children have the time to take advantage of financial leverage. They can begin saving early and if invested properly they can capitalize on investment growth. Some families can even get help from Uncle Sam through tax-savings. Identifying the best investment choices for your family’s specific situation is the key to a successful college savings plan.
• GRANDPARENTS – Grandparents are in a unique position to help their grandchildren realize that dream of a college education. This help can come in several ways: 1) They can show caring in that they are interested in their grandchildren’s educational opportunities, 2) They can provide wisdom and knowledge by learning about the many options available to families today, 3) They can provide financial assistance, whether large or small 4) they can provide leadership by urging parents to start planning or starting a plan themselves. Grandparents need to take care that the “good” thing they are trying to do doesn’t backfire on the college student or on themselves. A College Money Plan can help them avoid the pitfalls inherent in college planning.
• MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS – Because medical professionals are usually highly educated people, ensuring a college education for their children is a high priority. But the potential of lawsuits has long plagued them when saving for college. It is critical that their children’s futures are not vulnerable to legal settlements. Coupled with shrinking incomes due to the impact of malpractice insurance, HMOs and Medicare, these issues mean that doctors, dentists, and veterinarians need special guidance when creating their college savings plans.
• HIGHLY COMPENSATED EXECUTIVES – Many corporate executives are counting on bonuses or stock options to pay the college bills when the time comes. These “perks” seem like the perfect solution to busy executives whose long hours discourage them from creating a systematic savings plan. What they fail to realize is that by not planning in advance they are putting their children’s college education at risk. What happens if the company is having a bad year when it comes time to pay those college bills and there are no bonuses? What if the stock options are out of the money? Is there a better way to get tax leverage? By taking the time to explore options and set-up a savings plan now, executives can rest easier about their children’s future.
• HUMAN RESOURCES PROFESSIONALS – Human resource professionals wear many hats for their employer. Not only do they find the employees, let them go when necessary, they also create and manage programs designed to keep the employees happy and productive. This includes typical benefits like health insurance and retirement plans. But it also can involve finding ways to help employees solve problems that distract them from the work at hand. Many employees are worried about paying for college. By providing education about college funding along with easy savings options like payroll deduction college savings plans, a human resource director can remove a major distraction and help employees be more effective. College Money can help devise a plan for your employees. Or if you already have a plan, College Money can help focus and motivate your employees to take action.