At Hesperian Wealth, we understand the college planning maze.
Let us help you save early, shop smart, and maximize financial aid.
Our Advanced College Planning Process
We don’t stop with simple saving plans. Our expertise extends to college selection based on return on investment (ROI) and maximizing financial aid. Level-up the way you and your child are shopping and paying for college.
BIRTH through MIDDLE SCHOOL/JUNIOR HIGH
College Saving & Early Planning
- We’ll incorporate college saving goals into your overall financial plan.
- This starts with more accurate assumptions about future college costs (few actually pay full sticker price, or at least shouldn’t).
- We’ll show you how to start using tax-smart and financial-aid-smart saving options/strategies, monitoring your progress so you stay on track.
- Also, we’ll help you start taking advantage of planning opportunities that can maximize aid down the line.
FRESHMAN through JUNIOR YEAR of HIGH SCHOOL
Late-Stage College Planning Meetings
- We’ll meet together with your student to evaluate their initial list of schools.
- We’ll build a wider list based on your criteria and ROI given your child’s MERIT and NEED.
- We’ll project your initial college budget, expected financial aid, and actual net college costs.
- Then we’ll identify the funding gaps present.
- Lastly, we’ll explore strategies to improve acceptance odds and increase financial aid.
SENIOR YEAR of HIGH SCHOOL—FALL
Application Season
- We’ll meet to check the accuracy of your FAFSA and other financial aid forms.
- Your student applies to their final list of schools, meeting all priority deadlines.
- We’ll share our database of private scholarships for your student to flag and pursue.
- We’ll also perform a final “fund the gap” analysis if there are still any college funding shortfalls.
SENIOR YEAR of HIGH SCHOOL—SPRING
School Selection Meeting
- We’ll meet to review the acceptance letters and student award offers received.
- We’ll guide you through the appeals process if necessary.
- When loans are needed, we’ll help you assess the best options and understand the terms.
- Finally, we’ll put everything together into a final college cost projection to ensure everything is covered.
ONGOING
Regular Check-In Meetings
Your financial situation can change. Your child could want to change their major or school. You may have other children prepping for college. Recent changes to how need is determined at the federal level may have major consequences you may not be aware of. We’ll need to plan for this and exploit any new opportunities that may arise.
With an ongoing planning subscription, we’ll incorporate a college planning update into your annual financial plan check-in. And we’ll repeat the above journey for each of your students (and potentially for any graduate or post-graduate education needs). We’ve got you and your student covered every step of the way.
Book a Free Discovery Meeting
To get started, click the button below to schedule a free, no-obligation Discovery Meeting. This is a 45-minute informal video call to get to know each other better and discuss college planning (and your overall financial picture) in more detail.