How to Pay For College Without Going Broke!

Congratulations - you're in the "VIP" area of our site. If you're here, you're probably the parent of a high school student planning on attending a four-year state college or private university. You'll want to check out our click this link to see our schedule of FREE college planning workshops….

Topics include:

• How to send your child to the school of his or her dreams…without getting trapped in a financial nightmare of high rate, high payment, expensive debt;
• How to double or even triple your eligibility for free grant money;
• Why you’re flat out wrong if you think that you make too much money to qualify for aid. The Seven Most Common financial aid myths.
• Where to find the hidden scholarships and grants other parents will never hear about.
• The single biggest mistake 9 out of 10 parents make when applying for scholarships that literally cost them thousands of dollars! More importantly, how to avoid thise fatal error!
• Haven’t saved enough to pay for college tuition, room and board, books, etc? Don’t worry, it’s not as bad as you think-if you know these three insider secrets.
• The shocking truth about the new college savings plans and how they can hurt you not help you, by costing you money.
• Did your accountant or broker show you where to save money for school? Watch out! You better move it now before it costs you a fortune.

Also, as promised, we have given you an unadvertised free bonus - our special report, “How To Send Your Child To The College Of His or Her Choice…Without Spending Your Life’s Savings, Sacrificing Your Current Lifestyle, Or Just Plain Going Broke!” It's below.

The workshops are completely 100% free and feature no obligation. You will not be subjected to some kind of time-share sales pitch or other sleazy pressure tactic. You will walk away with specific, valuable information about the resources available to help pay for college, guaranteed!

One catch (were you waiting for one?): The workshop is free, but space is limited. We typically have a waiting list, so lock in your spot immediately!

The workshops are run by College Planning Specialists of Florida, owned and operated by Broward residents Andy Lockwood, a nationally-known financial services expert, columnist and trainer, and Peter Ratzan, a former-high school teacher and consultant.

Don’t miss your chance to learn about the thousands of dollars you are eligible for…you’ll hate yourself for procrastinating!

Click here to view the dates and locations of our upcoming workshops.

Now, here's the free bonus Report!

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A Special Report by College Planning Specialists of Florida, Inc.

“How To Send Your Child To The College Of His or Her Choice…Without Spending Your Life’s Savings, Sacrificing Your Current Lifestyle, Or Just Plain Going Broke!”

Special Limited Report Details Inside Secrets of Paying For College that the High Rate, High Fee Government Lenders, Banks and Even Some Guidance Counselors Don’t Want You to Know!

Dear Neighbor:

If you're the parent of a college-bound student, you're probably stressed and uptight - wondering how in the world you are going to pay for it! You have every right to be concerned, since the average cost of a four-year college education today is between $40,000-$160,000 “all-in,” including room and board. That’s not chump change, and it’s certainly enough of a reason to toss and turn at night!

If you're like many of our neighbors, you'll probably end up mortgaging your house to the hilt, or spending your entire life's precious savings to muster up enough money to send your child to college. Or, even worse, if you don't have a lot of home equity or money in the bank, you'll end up sending your child to the least expensive school rather than the best college they can get into. This would be unfortunate.

Either way, you'll probably end up feeling guilty, frustrated, and angry when you have to tell your child the truth, "I just can't afford to send you to the college of your choice, you'll have to settle for a state university or local community college."

But what if I told you that, in most cases, you don't have to make these painful decisions?

Here's The Good News. . .

My name is Peter Ratzan. Along with my partner, Andy Lockwood, I am the co-founder and principal of College Planning Specialists of Florida, Inc., the leading college financial counseling service in the Tri-County Area here in South Florida. What I have to say to you is so important that I urge you to turn off that cell phone, blackberry or other “fruit” device, your email, internet messenger or any other nuisance of modern day life! Grab yourself a soda of cup of coffee, go somewhere quiet, kick back and read this report. I guarantee you will be amazed at the ways you can beat the high cost of college!

I know, I know, this sounds too good to be true, but it really is possible! In fact, many families discover they can send their child to an expensive private university for less than the cost of a state college!

Are you wondering why I'm telling you all of this? The answer is quite simple. My firm has helped hundreds of parents like you send their children to expensive private and state universities that they never thought they could afford...

And There's A Good Chance We Can Do The Same For YOU!

But first, let's get to the “inside” secrets most parents don't know, the high rate and fee government lenders and the college financial aid offices hope you never find out!

Secret #1. Why Some Middle-Class and Upper-Middle Class Parents Pay Close To Nothing for Their Children's College Educations

Most middle and upper-middle class parents automatically assume they won't be eligible for financial aid if they make more than a certain income per year (like $60,000), and they own a home. This is FALSE!

In most cases, these parents are eligible for some forms of financial aid since college aid formulas take into consideration factors other than income:

• the total number of family members;
• how many of these family members will be attending college at the same time,
• the cost of the colleges and universities being applied to,
• and more.

Don't assume you won't be eligible!

At our firm, we've even discovered a way for higher income, higher tax bracket families earning well over $100,000 a year to pay for college ...on a tax favored basis.

Secret #2. Why High School "Financial Aid Nights" And High School Guidance Counselors Can Be Hazardous To Your Wealth!

Many parents unknowingly assume that all of their concerns will be answered at the high school "Financial Aid Night" or by their child's guidance counselor. Unfortunately, this rarely turns out to be the case.

Nothing against guidance counselors, but they’ve got a full plate. They are too bogged down dealing with issues such as teenage pregnancy, drugs, helping students pick colleges, etc. to devote the adequate amount of time necessary to help each individual parent apply for financial aid. There are only so many hours in the day for these folks, and the nuances of college funding are so intricate that they demand a 100%, focused effort to master them.

Here’s an example. Financial Aid Nights primarily focus on how to fill out the forms to apply for aid. You go to a crowded, noisy room, maybe grab a donut and a luke warm cup of coffee. Then you listen as someone literally reads you the very form you have in front of you!

More importantly, your instructor will not explain how to legally and ethically increase your eligibility for financial aid by simple, but sophisticated "income and asset" planning. They also do not help you pick schools based on each school's ability to give you a good financial aid package. Finally, they will not show you how to negotiate to get the best possible financial aid package from each school.

Why? Because these three disciplines require a level of sophistication and attention to detail that is nearly impossible for a guidance counselor to acquire!

Listen, here’s the bottom line. I’m not against these gathering. I would encourage you to go to your Financial Aid Night. Just DO NO'T expect it to solve all your problems.

Secret #3. How To Send Your Child To An Expensive Private University For Less Than A State School! (This one really amazes our clients!)

You’re going to have a tough time believing this one, but some private schools end up being cheaper than a state school or a local community college! I know, I know, I can hear you thinking, “this is crazy!” How can this be? Let me explain. . .

No matter where your child applies, you will have to pay your "Expected Family Contribution." This is the minimum amount of money the government will expect your family to pay at any school. It’s figured out by formula.

So let's say your child applies to two schools - one private university and one state college. The private school costs $35,000 per year, while the state school costs $10,000 per year. Let's assume your family contribution is calculated at $5,000 - the minimum the government expects you to pay towards either school.

But here's what happens. Because the private university is well-endowed and has a lot of money to give out, it offers you financial aid that covers all expenses above $5,000. So your out of pocket to send your child to a $35,000 a year school is $5,000.

Now let’s look at the state school choice. Unfortunately, the state school does NOT have a lot of money to give out. Consequently, all they offer you is $2,000 in aid. So you end up paying $5,000, plus the $3,000 they “shorted” you…for a total of $8,000!

That’s how it can be cheaper to send your child to a private school than to a public school1

Sound crazy? I assure you, this is exactly the way it works!

Secret #4. How To Lower Your "Out-of-Pocket" Costs, And Get The Maximum Amount Of Money From Each School !

Just like a good C.P.A. can minimize your tax liability, I can show you how to set up your financial situation in the most favorable terms legally allowable! (One word of caution – I’m not a C.P.A., so you should run this by your own tax advisor. I speak to CPA’s on behalf of my clients all the time, too, so have them call me directly!)

Here’s a fact that you must understand. Some assets are counted much more heavily in financial aid formulas than others. Where you keep your money would mean the difference between getting $10,000 in financial aid or getting nothing. If you don't know how to legally and ethically position your money properly for purposes of financial aid, you could end up losing thousands in financial aid. (I’d be happy to speak to you about a more detailed description of what I mean by “positioning,” but it’s too long a discussion to squeeze into this report.)

Let’s keep it simple, though, ok? Take two families, each with $100,000 in assets. Family “A” consults a smart college planner, Family “B” wings it. Through the use of simple, easy to understand every day financial techniques, Family A shifts its assets. The result: $25,000 in aid! Family B, on the other hand, same assets, different places for them: zero aid. Which family would you want to be?

Secret #5. How To Pick Colleges That Will Give You The Best Financial Aid Packages - More FREE Money, Fewer Loans!

Why waste your time applying to schools that will never give you the money you need?

Some schools, practically all of the most competitive schools out there, are well-endowed and have the ability to award a lot of money to students. Other schools have very little money to give away. Do you know which is which?

It's important for you to know this information before you ever apply to a school.

By knowing ahead of time which schools give the best financial aid packages, you can focus your student on picking schools where they have the best shot of getting money from. This way, you don't waste time and money applying to and visiting schools you will never be able to afford!

Secret #6. How To Fill Out The Complicated Financial Aid Forms Accurately and On-Time! More than 90% Go In With Fatal Errors!

Why is this important? If you make one of the major mistakes, you could lose most or all of your eligibility for financial aid!

According to the Department of Education, more than 90% of all financial aid forms go in with errors or inconsistencies. Simple mistakes like omitting a social security number, using white-out to make corrections, and not registering a male student for the selective service can actually "bump" a form and possibly nix any chances of you ever receiving a dollar from that college! Harsh, but true!

Your best case scenario is that you’ll have to reprocess your financial aid forms, which will take another 4-6 weeks. Since financial aid is awarded on a first come, first served basis, it is imperative that you get your forms in accurately and on time, or you will miss out on thousands of dollars in financial aid that you should have received, but for your silly mistake. Ouch!.

Secret #7. Locate and Apply For Every "Need-Based" Scholarship, Grant, and Low-Interest Loan That Your Child May Be Eligible For!

Leave no stone unturned when searching for money for college. Be sure to apply for all "need-based" sources of funding through the Federal government, the state you live in, and the colleges and universities your child is applying to. Most of these financial aid programs can be applied for by simply filling out the Federal form (the “FAFSA”) and, in some cases, the Institutional Form (the Financial Aid Profile).

Sound like a daunting task? I won’t kid you, it ain’t easy. But if you’re the do-it-yourself type, and like rolling up your sleeves and digging in, you will reap the rewards: thousands of dollars in grants, scholarships and aid! Your other alternative, of course, is to hire a qualified college planning specialist.

Secret #8. How To Pay For Your Child's Education On A Tax Favored Basis!

This is my favorite, “show-stopper” technique that I’ve used to help my higher tax bracket clients who don't qualify for need based financial aid! Clients who thought I’d never find them one red cent of college money!

Do you make in excess of $100,000 a year?

If you answered "Yes", there's a good chance you won't qualify for need based aid. But what if I told you there is a way for you to make college tuition tax deductible? Do you think that might save you some money?

On average, we can show higher income clients how to save over $4,000 a year in taxes! Best of all, this is not a hokey, wack-a-doo, pie in the sky scheme! Once I explain it to you, it will be like a light bulb going off in a deep, dark cave!

Secret #9. How To Send Your Child To The College Of His or Her Choice Without Spending Your Life's Savings Or Paying Out of Your Current Income!

Just like a good CPA can help you lower your tax liability, a good college funding consultant can help you get more money for your child's college education. But before you pick a consultant, make sure he helps you:

• Structure your income and assets to lower your "out-of-pocket" costs and increase your eligibility for college aid;
• Pick only schools that you have the best shot of getting money from;
• Fill out the two major financial aid forms so they go in accurately and on time; and
• Negotiate with schools to get the best possible aid package - the package you deserve!
• Not employing any of these "9 Secrets" could literally cost you thousands of dollars in lost financial aid….money that’s practically sitting there, with your student’s name on it! Don't let this happen to you!

Does all this sound too complicated and too much of a hassle for you? If you don't want to take the time to learn all of this, but are interested in maximizing your child’s chances of receiving the financial aid package he or she reserves, call my office today to set up a consultation.

Our fee is $275 for a one-hour session, but I’ve decided to offer you a "shameless bribe!" Because you've read this report, we will waive our typical fee and allow you to come in for a free 60 minute consultation...if you come in within two weeks of today's date, 07/18/2007.

One other “catch,” because of the time intensive nature of our practice, we can work with only 9 new clients each month. We’re typically booked 3-4 weeks in advance, so if you’re serious about obtaining the college money for your child that he or she deserves, call us at 954-659-1234 (if it’s busy, don’t give up - we’re jammed this time of year!). You can also email us at info@collegeplanningadvice.com with the subject header "free consultation."

Last, if you haven't taken note already, we hold free workshops 2-3 time per month at various convenient locations. For more information on dates, times and locations, click here. One warning, these workshops can book up pretty quickly so don't hesitate if you're "waffling!"

Dedicated to Making Your Child’s College Dreams Come True,

Peter "College Pete" Ratzan

Andrew Lockwood, J.D.

College Planning Specialists of Florida, Inc.

1825 Main Street

Weston, FL 33326

Tel: 954-659-1234

Fax: 954-659-7899

P.S. I have a strong feeling that once you see how much money we can find for you, along with how much time we can save you, you’ll be the newest of our family of happy clients! Check us out at an upcoming FREE workshop!

P.P.S. Remember, financial aid is awarded on a first come-first served basis. So, it is imperative that you start your planning immediately since waiting can severely limit your chances of receiving the maximum amount of financial aid.

P.P.P.S. I mentioned that we can serve only 8 families per month because of the time-intensive nature of our services. If you can't make our workshop but want to speak with us, please contact us now to lock in your free consultation! 954-659-1234!