#243 – Mastering College Planning with Ann Garcia

I’m super excited about today’s episode because we have the amazing Ann Garcia, also known as The College Financial Lady, joining us and we’re diving into all things college planning!

Ann is a certified financial planner and the author of How to Pay for College who is a sought-after expert that has developed a fantastic framework for creating your own college plan.

So, what does that framework look like? Well, Ann breaks down financial tasks and family conversations by your child's life phase-making the whole process so much more manageable and clear.

As a parent of twins who graduated debt-free from college, Ann brings both professional and personal experience to the table. So, whether you’re just starting to think about college or deep in the planning process, this episode is packed with practical advice and insights.

Ready to dive in and learn how to plan for college like a pro? Let’s get started!

Anna's Takeaways:

• Intro (00:00)
• Financial Tasks & Conversations For Parents & Students (02:06)
• College Savings, Paths & Flexibility (08:39)
• Saving For College, Financial Aid & Budgeting (13:26)
• Balancing Priorities & Creating A Personalized Budget (20:15)
• Scholarships - Involving Students In The Process (27:14)
• How Parents Can Support Their High School Students (30:28)
• Managing Expectations (35:40)

About Ann Garcia:

Ann Garcia is a Certified Financial Planner and go-to expert on paying for college. She is the author of the critically-acclaimed "How to Pay for College" and a sought-after media guest who's been quoted in the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, and U.S. News and World Report, to name a few. Ann recently launched an interactive online course to help parents (and their advisors) affordably build saving for college and applying for aid into their broader financial plan. As a parent whose twins just graduate debt-free from college, Ann's expertise expands beyond FAFSAs and 529s — she understands the emotional components of helping your child set and achieve goals for their future. Outside of financial planning, Ann is an avid runner, skier and fan of middle school rock concerts.

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Guest websites:

https://howtopayforcollege.com/

Masterclass- for older kids

https://www.facebook.com/collegefinanciallady

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ann-garcia-cfp/

https://twitter.com/anngarciacfp