Capstone Wealth Partners

The rules are COMPLETELY different when filing your FAFSA vs. the CSS Profile.

Key differences include...

💍 Divorce & Separation: While the FAFSA focuses on the parent providing the most financial support, many CSS Profile institutions require detailed financials from the non-custodial parent as well.
🏡 Home Equity: The FAFSA completely excludes primary home equity, but many CSS Profile schools assess it—some capping it relative to income, and others with no cap at all.
📊 Small Business Value: FAFSA rules treat small business assets differently than the CSS Profile, which takes a far deeper look into business values and finances.

Want to hear everything else you need to know about the FAFSA vs. CSS Profile? Check out our guide at the link in our comments.

When I was young, I had a secret weapon that turned every job interview into an easy win. And now I'm passing it on to the next generation:

Instead of just studying abroad during college, consider working abroad.

Navigating a new country, earning a paycheck, and managing day-to-day responsibilities in a real work environment shows future employers independence, adaptability, and resilience.

Long after college, interviewers will STILL be asking about your international work experience before anything else because real-world international work builds practical problem-solving skills that stand out far more than traditional coursework on a resume.

Did any of you work abroad during college? Let me know down in the comments. ⬇️

The biggest mistake families make with college loans is...
..exhausting all cash and 529 savings early, only to get stuck with expensive private loans in junior and senior year.

Here's how you don't run into those speed bumps down the road:

🏦 Leverage Federal Direct Loans Early: Federal Direct Student Loans have annual caps (~$27,000 total across 4 years). If you don't take advantage of them year by year, you lose that allowance.
👀 Watch out for Parent PLUS & Private Debt: These carry higher interest rates and less flexible repayment terms.
🚫 Never borrow more in total student debt across four years than your expected first-year starting salary after graduation.

Don't make paying for college harder than it already is. Be proactive and make a plan. Hope is not a strategy.

Early Decision might double your student’s admissions odds—but at what financial cost?

Early Decision gives your student a HUGE acceptance rate advantage, but it's also a binding agreement. If your senior gets in, they are expected to attend—meaning you forfeit the chance to shop around and compare financial aid offers.

College admissions shouldn't just be about getting in; it must be about the money, too. You need a clear picture of what that degree will cost your family for all four years—not just freshman year—before you commit to Early Decision!

Before you tap into your 529 college savings plan, make sure you avoid costly tax mistakes with proper timing.

📆 Match the Calendar Year: Always take distributions in the exact same tax year the qualified education expenses are paid.

👉 Direct vs. Indirect Payments: Paying the school directly keeps documentation simple with year-end tax forms.

🏡 Off-Campus Living: If paying room and board off-campus, reimburse yourself and keep detailed receipts to prove qualified education expenses.

Plan out all 4 years down to the penny before pulling the first withdrawal!

Want to hear the most dangerous words in college planning?

"If you get accepted, we'll figure out how to pay for it."

When I hear that phrase, there's a pretty good chance that family will be paying student loans for the rest of their lives, and even worse, they might have to rob their retirement savings to do so.

Don't be this family! Make a plan now and join me on Wednesday, August 26th at 12:00 PM EDT for my live webinar: Smart Money Moves for the College-Bound!™ and we'll cover:

💰 How much colleges think you can afford vs. how much your family can afford
📝 The key differences between the FAFSA and CSS Profile
👀 How to find schools that will be the most generous with financial aid and scholarship money
🗣️ How to have the college money talk with your kids
🤝 How to successfully appeal to colleges for more scholarship money
💸 The college funding gap and resulting student loans
⌨️ How to access your FREE College Money Report™ that will tell you exactly how much you’ll have to pay for college… down to the penny!

Can’t make it live? Register anyway, and we’ll send the full recording straight to your inbox.

Click the link in the comments to save your spot!

The Senate passed the College Transparency Act to give families real numbers on college costs, aid, and post-grad salary expectations. BUT there's a catch...

The main agency gathering that data is currently facing MAJOR cutbacks.

The good news is you, the parent, can gather your OWN data. Here is what you need to do :

1️⃣ Don't rely on a single data source.
2️⃣ Use the college's Net Price Calculator on their site.
3️⃣ Call the financial aid office directly.

Want help making sense of it all? Check out our FREE College Money Report and read our latest blog post.

ATTENTION: The Common App opens on August 1st!

The Common App gives you access to apply to over 1,100 colleges all in one place. It’s easily one of the best college planning tools available, but staying organized is key.

Here are a few quick reminders to get ahead of the game:

📋 Track school-specific requirements: Watch out for varying application fees and additional essay prompts.
⏰ Mind your deadlines: Keep an eye on specific cutoffs, especially if you’re applying Early Action or Early Decision.
🛟 Plan for financial aid: Focus on your admissions app now—financial aid applications open in October!

Need help figuring out the financial side of college planning? Book a meeting with me at the link in the comments.

Parent PLUS loan interest rates just went over 9%... 😳💸

The new federal student loan rates for the '26-'27 school year are locked in:

🔹 Student Direct Loans: 6.52% (plus a ~1.057% origination fee)
🔹 Parent PLUS Loans: 9.07% (plus a ~4.228% origination fee)

Federal loans are getting pricier, so families with good credit may want to consider private loan alternatives. (We just locked in a 6.8% private loan with ZERO origination fees for a client this week!)

Do your homework before you borrow, and schedule a complimentary session with me using the link in the comments.