When you first held your child, you likely envisioned a bright future for them…possibly including the opportunity for a top-tier college education that could set them up for success. While many parents share this dream, few fully grasp the true cost of making it a reality. Even if you’ve begun saving for education, do you have a comprehensive strategy to avoid common college planning mistakes? Here are four key regrets parents often face and how to avoid them as you plan for your child’s future education.
1. Starting the Planning Process Too Late
When a college education in the U.S. can cost upwards of $360,000 (1) for an undergraduate degree at a top school and over $11,600 each year for in-state tuition (2) alone at a public institution, it’s a good idea to start saving for your child’s education as early as possible.
And unfortunately, good intentions often won’t cut it. Parents might plan to take care of a portion or even all the college costs for their kids, but with competing financial goals like retirement planning and paying off a mortgage, it can be challenging to meet that commitment. The earlier you start planning, the easier it will be to accommodate multiple financial goals, and the more likely you will be to succeed.
In terms of other aspects of college planning, such as scholarship research, college visits, testing, career exploration, and crafting applications, you don’t want to run out of time or make decisions in a rush. You won’t regret starting too early, but you could very well regret winging it at the last minute.
2. Missing Financial Aid Deadlines
Most colleges require financial aid forms to be submitted by the beginning or middle of February, but that doesn’t mean you have to wait that long to submit them. Even if you don’t have all your tax information for the previous year, use estimates and amend amounts later. Some schools and states award financial aid on a first-come, first-served basis until it runs out, so apply for aid as soon as possible after January 1st. It could save you a big chunk of change.
3. Not Having a Career Game Plan
While you shouldn’t expect your teenager to know exactly what they want to do with the rest of their life, you can help them examine and explore different majors and career options. Work with your child to brainstorm their interests and skills and, instead of just picking colleges based on location or reputation, do the legwork to find colleges that will help your child succeed in their future career.
That could mean looking at schools that specialize in certain fields or ones that help students get internships or mentorships. If your child is unsure of what they want to do, make sure you pick a college that offers a variety of majors and has opportunities for students to switch majors without adding years to their education. With the rising costs of tuition, (3) you want to maximize what your child is getting out of their college years.
4. Not Relying on a Professional
College planning is complex, with many moving parts that can easily catch you off guard. Even if you’ve started the process, there are hidden pitfalls that could derail your progress, as well as strategies you may not know about that can give you a financial edge.
Whether you’re just starting or well into the process, partnering with a professional with experience in college planning can help you optimize your resources and simplify the journey. To avoid these common college planning mistakes (and others) and stay on the right track, schedule an introductory meeting by reaching out to us at rob@elevateasset.com or 307.461.5550.
About Rob
Rob Johnson is a financial advisor at Elevate Wealth Management, an independent, fee-only wealth management firm serving young professionals, pre-retirees, and retirees in Sheridan, Wyoming, and surrounding areas.
With a passion for helping others achieve their goals, Rob is committed to working closely with clients to empower them to make the best financial decisions for their lives. Rob understands that every person faces unique circumstances when it comes to their financial future, so he will tailor his approach and recommendations to ensure clients feel confident about the direction they’re headed. Rob has an enthusiasm for customer service, which is apparent during every client interaction he has. Honesty and integrity are at the center of the advice and recommendations he gives, and he will work hard to build and maintain trust in every relationship.
Rob has a bachelor’s degree in economics and finance from Black Hills State University and is actively working toward his CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER®, CFP® designation. He is a Wyoming native who grew up at the foot of the Big Horn Mountains in beautiful Dayton, Wyoming. He believes strongly in giving back to the community that helped raise him by volunteering his time and serving as an active board member with various non-profit organizations in the area.
Rob and his wife Emma have two sons, Michael and Sammy, who are the lights of their lives. Rob has a passion for sports and is an avid golfer. During the warmer months of the year, there’s a good chance you’ll find him on the first tee. To learn more about Rob, connect with him on LinkedIn.
The views expressed represent the opinion of Frontier Asset Management. The views are subject to change and are not intended as a forecast or guarantee of future results. This material is for informational purposes only. It does not constitute investment advice and is not intended as an endorsement of any specific investment. Stated information is derived from proprietary and nonproprietary sources that have not been independently verified for accuracy or completeness. While Frontier Asset Management believes the information to be accurate and reliable, we do not claim or have responsibility for its completeness, accuracy, or reliability. The use of such sources does not constitute an endorsement. Frontier does not have an affiliation with any author, company or security noted within. Statements of future expectations, estimates, projections, and other forward-looking statements are based on available information and the Frontier Asset Management’s view as of the time of these statements. Accordingly, such statements are inherently speculative as they are based on assumptions that may involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Actual results, performance or events may differ materially from those expressed or implied in such statements. Investing in securities involves risks, including the potential loss of principal. Past performance is not indicative of future results.
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Elevate Wealth Management is the financial planning division of Frontier Asset Management. Frontier Asset Management is a Registered Investment Adviser with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm’s ADV Brochure and Form CRS are available at no charge by request at info@frontierasset.com or 307.673.5675 and are available on our website www.frontierasset.com. They include important disclosures and should be read carefully.
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(1) Financial Advisor, “Ivy League College Costs Soar to More Than $90,000 a Year,” April 8, 2024
(2) Business Insider, “Average Cost of College Tuition,” November 12, 2024
(3) US News, “A Look at 20 Years of Tuition Costs at National Universities,” September 24, 2024