5 FAFSA Tips That Will Reduce Your EFC

Here are 5 FAFSA Tips that will reduce your expected family contribution (EFC) And help you get more financial aid!

To set up a FREE 10 minute discovery call with me to learn more about my programs and services click here,

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Registration for my Financial Aid Academy for the 22/23 year (for parents of high school seniors) is open! 🙌

This virtual program runs every year from September 1st and runs through May 31st.

It's not to late to join, enrollment is open through December of each year!

There are three different levels of service in the Academy for you to choose from, depending on how closely you want to work with me throughout the senior year financial aid process.

✨BASIC, PLUS and PRO.

Last year the PLUS and PRO levels filled up and I had to cut off registration early as I limit the number of families in these levels so that I can provide quality services to them.
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How The Financial Aid Academy was born. 🤩

When I started this business I quickly realized that 90% of my clients and people reaching out to me for questions were parents of high school seniors navigating the overwhelming financial aid process for the first time.

Often times they came to me in sheer panic 😫when the financial aid offers rolled out not knowing how they were going to afford college tuition.
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So I set out to create an AFFORDABLE coaching program specifically for them that spanned the entire senior year to help them:

✅ Get prepared before that time came so there were no surprises
✅ Better understand the financial aid process and feel less stressed navigating it
✅ Fill out the FAFSA and CSS Profile (if required) correctly and avoid common mistakes that could cost them thousands of dollars
✅ Stay on track and not miss important deadlines
✅ Find colleges their families could
✅ Access all the financial aid they are entitled to
✅ Maximize their financial aid offers
✅ Feel more secure and confident while having direct access to a professional who has worked in the financial aid field for over 30 years.

I have helped hundreds of families navigate the overwhelming financial aid process and get the best aid offers possible through my Financial Aid Academy.

On average, families who enroll in the Academy receive an additional $25,000 in financial aid over the course of 4 years on top of their regular financial aid offers! 💰

Click the link below to learn more.

If you're looking for a shorter program where you can learn everything you need to know about financial aid and how to maximize your aid offers then check out my Financial Aid 101 MasterClass!

This course is set up in easy to digest sections and designed for you to move along at your own pace.

[michelleocampo]

Thank you for your help ! Really appreciated our phone call. I also want to warn folks NOT to use IRS DRT ( Data Retrieval Tool). It is not transparent and it screwed up our EFC because of an IRA rollover.

[HaHe]

Thank you for sharing your tips! I'm was worried because my EFC came out bigger than I wanted when I completed the FAFSA recently but I'm going to contact my financial aid office now to ask about special circumstances c:

[heather]

Explain how important it is to have the child listed as a dependent on your taxes even if you are already head of household. Divorced and I am the custodial parent. Are the new FAFSA rules for 2024/2025 settled yet? I’m doing my taxes now for 2022 tax year. We normally alternate years taking child as our dependent on the taxes. That is part of the divorce agreement. We can make alterations as long as it benefits the child. Should I keep them as my dependent (I am the lowest income parent) all college years going forward? I use the direct IRS tool linked on FAFSA. Is that “dependent” status a hard and fast new rule?? Very fuzzy….. can’t seem to get a solid answer in my searches.

[mdmaharabbarchowdhury]

What do we have to do to get some scholarships that will fund for masters program. I know there’s no pell grant for masters program only student loans for masters programs which I don’t want to take

[micaw]

Does it depend who claims the child on the taxes who fills out the fafsa ?

[Songmyz]

Do brokerage/mutual fund account count as retirement?

[Erikaaagz]

Does it matter what housing plan we put on the FASFA

[mariannec]

Is a custodial savings bank account listed under student’s assets or parent’s assets ?

[allisonhaines]

Do they require a step parents income and checking/savings account information?

[concken]

What does it mean to be an 'independent student'?

[staceyl]

Do you lump sibling savings/checking acct info with parent savings/checking acct money? I have 3 kids with savings and checking accounts which I am on; one of which is saving up for a car. We obviously won't be using her money towards her brother's college fund, but wondering if I am supposed to count it. Also, my son, whom we're filling this forward out for still has me on his accounts. I imagine he will be including his checking/savings on his fafsa form. If I hypothetically include his $ on my form, we'd be counting that twice. What to do in this situation? Thank you!

[nathaliefeola-guerrieri]

When should you notify the FA offices on loss of income? Prior to or after FA awards is best? Thanks

[cammieroberts]

How do we arrange a call with you? We are the parents and in desperate need of help.

[marianneoriordan]

Inheritance .. invested it and can’t take it out now. It’s fluctuating everyday . Do I tell them it was a one time windfall and it’s losing money?

[zulaikhaayub]

Do I need to report money balance I have in my company employee stock purchase plan ('not 401K)?

[jennifersande]

Here’s a question. My husband didn’t listen to me and watch to some of your videos. He included information on our assets which isn’t required. Since its already submitted are we kind of screwed moving forward? I feel like it’s going to send up red flags.

[Tonal]

I’m totally confused on the EFC. Student aid website say it’s not the amount the family has to contribute. But every YouTube video says the opposite.

[DMS]

Wait. I have a rental house deeded in my name alone (it was purchased with money I inherited) and is my individual property.

Are you saying I can “separate” from my wife, go live in that house and then just use my wife’s numbers to fill out the FAFSA?