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| The Real Cost of College: How to Finance Your Kids’ College Education Without Bankrupting Your Retirement® Comments from Parents |
| Praise for C. Gary Hoffman's College Planning Seminars: "How did this program impact you and your knowledge about college financial planning?" I now realize how unprepared I am, I know what I need to do. Susan T., Mechanicsville, VA. This program enlightened me in terms of the most important years in school (Jr. & High) to help start checking out colleges, apply, etc...Great to know about Gift aid vs. self-help aid, as well as where to place assets to best benefit us. The 529 Savings vs. 529 Prepaid Plan explanation was very clear and helpful. Kimberly F. of Mechanicsville, VA. I've learned you can't start saving too early and that we should not sell ourselves short on financial aid. We also learned not to be scared off by the cost of private schools because they may be willing to give more help. Tom & Jane D., Mechanicsville, VA. I thought I would come home depressed that we could never do this, but I actually feel encouraged. Melissa O. Mechanicsville, VA. This was good advice. I am now going to reconsider some of my college planning strategies. Steve & Karen E., Glen Allen, VA. Basic info of what goes into EFC was great! Addison H., Mechanicsville, VA. Helped in knowledge of FAFSA apps, also in hearing private colleges can be same or even less money than public with financial aid. Lisa N., Mechanicsville, VA. Very informative. Actually broadened our options based on the knowledge we gained. Danette H., Mechanicsville, VA. This made me realize private colleges are not as un-affordable as I thought earlier. Glenn B. Ashland, VA I gained a lot of information that needs attention with the kids, like trying to get their GPA higher. Daniel R. Aylett, VA This was informative, can we have a second class? How can you get an idea of what your aid opportunity is before January? Elizabeth L., St. Stephens Church, VA. [Elizabeth will be notified of The RealCost Of College™ calculator. Just what she wants!] Very informative - I liked the retirement - tax - financial aid angels. David & Virginia D. Aylett, VA Great review of options/strategies and things to watch out for with planning. Sarah B., Richmond, VA VERY Helpful - would like to have had more time devoted to the "retirement" aspect, especially the last 15 minutes of class. Anonymous, Hanover County, VA. Cleared up some gray areas. Enjoyed the class very informative! Deborah H., Glen Allen, VA Very helpful...gave me a good head start on catching up to where I need to be. Brought the need-based aid into the picture for me. Michael G., King William, VA. Opened our eyes to more options. Tony & Ali W., Hanover, VA Should have done this five years ago! Jerry S., Hanover County, VA Learned about financial aid and the importance of putting money away for retirement. Anon., Hanover County, Va. Wow, owning your own business seems to be a way to get ahead. If I only knew that 20 years ago! Anon. Hanover County, VA. Now I know more questions to ask of college aid officers. Mark & Suzanne L., Charlottesville, VA. Great broad information and specific ideas as well. Hal H. Glen Allen, VA. So much information at one time! Penny H. Montpelier, VA. Opened my eyes to how important it is to learn more and start planning now as well as how complicated it is on your own. Mary Anne & Charles W., Mechanicsville, VA |
Harford County Kids online: Investing For College: What Savvy Parents Need to Know by Melanie Snyder
| C. Gary Hoffman, MBA College Planning Specialist As quoted in: |
| C. Gary Hoffman, MBA Gary's experience comes first and foremost from being the parent of five children ranging in age from 11 to 24. He has been a Certified Financial Planner since 1985 and became a Certified College Planning Specialist through the National Institute of Certified College Planning Specialists (NICCP.com) in 2003, training directly under the Institute co-founder, Rick Darvis, CPA.
"As parents we can never forget the birth of our first child. I know for me it was the most amazing day of my life. As a new father there is an immediate and instinctive urge to provide and protect our child which endures at least until their adulthood. As a dad, I have felt that primal sense of responsibility to provide for my kids starting with my first son from the moment of his birth. A college education comes first and foremost on our list of financial ways to help our children to become self-sufficient and most capable of providing for themselves and their own family in a very challenging world. At the same time, as a husband, I also have a strong sense of responsibility to provide for myself and my wife Jennifer for our retirement years. We try to eat healthier and generally take better care of ourselves and we expect to live a long time which creates an even greater reliance on our retirement funds. Many parents put off having children until their 30s and 40s. This causes a dilemma, shortening the number of years between the youngest child's graduation from college and the parent's prospective retirement target. Therein lies the conflict! Outside of the purchase of a home, college expenses are our next single greatest family expense besides retirement itself. Literally every dollar spent to pay for our kids’ education is money that is not otherwise available for our retirement. Saving & spending for one goal (college) affects the other goal (retirement)." |
| C. Gary Hoffman, Financial Aid Speaker for the Johns Hopkins Center For Talented Youth Pathways to College "Mr. Hoffman's knowledge and expertise in the area of College Financial Planning is undeniable. For the past two years he has participated at our Pathways to College program by leading the "Financial Aid and Planning" Workshops at the University of Virginia and Johns Hopkins University. The Pathways to College series is offered to a diverse group of academically talented students and their parents which focuses on various aspects of the college application process. I have always found Gary to be extremely professional and up to date about the numerous costs associated with attending college and how best to plan for this expense. Participants have found his session to be much more informative than other Financial Aid seminars they had attended in the past and for some his was the most worthwhile session of the day. "Professional", "Wealth of Knowledge", "Excellent", "Insightful", are among the praises used by families to describe Gary's session. In one instance a parent had "given up on FAFSA aid" until attending Mr. Hoffman's workshop and discovering new information that encouraged him to give it another look." Jana Pickard Assistand Program Manager Johns Hopkins University - Center for Talented Youth Family Academic Programs |