Mike Bink
The Truth Behind College Rankings
U.S. News & World Report recently released their annual rankings. Many schools are quick to reference these in their marketing to...
top of page
Search By Tags
Mike Bink
- Mar 4, 2022
- 5 min
Understanding Your Award Letter
Now is the time of year when families are eagerly watching their mailboxes for their student's financial aid award letters. They have...
280
Mike Bink
- Jan 21, 2022
- 4 min
5 Reasons to Have Your Student Take the ACT or SAT
Covid-19 has had a significant impact on college admissions. Many schools have now gone to being “test-optional,” which means students...
320
Mike Bink
- Nov 14, 2021
- 4 min
4 Steps to Finding More Scholarships
It's getting harder and harder for families to cover the cost of college today, but families can make the cost more manageable by...
460
Mike Bink
- Sep 24, 2021
- 3 min
The Paradox of Financial Aid
The Oxford Dictionary defines “paradox” in part as “a statement or proposition that, despite sound (or apparently sound) reasoning from...
140
Mike Bink
- Sep 4, 2021
- 3 min
Using Work Study to Help Pay for College
Paying for college hasn't always been as complex as it is today, and the financial burden to families used to be much less than it is...
110
Mike Bink
- Aug 28, 2021
- 2 min
Are there Income Cutoffs for Financial Aid?
One of the most common questions we get from parents, is whether or not it's worthwhile for them to file the Free Application for Federal...
270
Mike Bink
- Jul 30, 2021
- 3 min
529 Accounts and Tax Deductions for K-12 Expenses
Contributions to a 529 plan are made with after-tax dollars, and therefore are not tax deductible at the federal level. However, some...
420
Mike Bink
- Jul 23, 2021
- 4 min
How Does a Gap Year Affect Financial Aid?
A gap year is a period of time when a student suspends schooling in order to explore the world through work, volunteering, and/or travel....
120
Mike Bink
- May 13, 2021
- 4 min
3 Tips to Avoid Heartbreak When Shopping for College
Taking college visits with your student is one of the most memorable and exciting parts of the college planning process. However, every...
140
Mike Bink
- Apr 24, 2021
- 3 min
Common 529 Plan Myths
In a recent survey on how Americans are saving for college, only 78% of families with children are saving for college, and only 48% of...
310
Mike Bink
- Apr 7, 2021
- 3 min
Benefits and Disadvantages of Refinancing Your Student Loans
Refinancing student loan debt means you trade your current student loans for a brand new loan. The main reason people refinance student...
30
Mike Bink
- Mar 24, 2021
- 4 min
3 Ways a College Planning Advisor Can Help You Maximize Your Financial Aid Appeals
When it comes to paying for college, most people assume that the financial aid offer a school gives you is set in stone. We’ll let you in...
130
Mike Bink
- Mar 13, 2021
- 3 min
Being a Smart Student Loan Borrower
For most college-bound families, student loans are part of the picture when paying for college. Nearly 7 in 10 students graduate with...
110
Mike Bink
- Nov 14, 2020
- 4 min
College Planning for Divorced Families
The combination of stress, financial strain, unemployment, illness, and homeschooling children has put a significant strain on...
120
Mike Bink
- Jun 27, 2020
- 3 min
How to ensure your student doesn't end up with too much debt after college?
With the cost of college continuing to rise, for most families, student loans will be part of the equation when it comes to paying for...
40
Mike Bink
- Jun 6, 2020
- 3 min
6 Common Misconceptions About Parent PLUS Loans
One of the types of federal student loans available are Parent PLUS Loans. These types of loans are meant to fill the gaps when a family...
120
Mike Bink
- May 28, 2020
- 4 min
Using Retirement Funds or Home Equity to Pay for College
Paying the high cost of college in today's climate requires planning and creativity. It is no longer feasible for most families to pay...
110
Mike Bink
- May 21, 2020
- 2 min
Coronavirus and College - 4 Tips to Help Close the Funding Gap
1. Appeal for More Financial Aid: High school seniors and current college students completed the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal...
140
Mike Bink, AAMS®, CCFS®
- May 11, 2020
- 1 min
Avoiding tax problems from college refunds due to Covid-19
If you received a refund from college for room and board or other expenses, consider yourself lucky. But beware the potential tax bite....
230
bottom of page