If you are in an age-based 529 plan, the investment portfolio should morph into a more conservative allocation as your kids approach college age, but the values are certainly not guaranteed,” Slater said. “Of course if the investments are in a totally conservative...

Let’s start with why 529 plans are so popular, and why a 529 plan could be appropriate for some families. From a financial perspective, 529 plans offer tax-free growth when the funds are used for qualified educational expenses, said David Slater, co-founder of College...

The CSS Profile is mainly required by the more selective private colleges and requires much more detailed information than the FAFSA, such as the value and debt of homes, retirement accounts and businesses, Slater said. It also has additional supplemental sections...

Applying for financial aid is a rite of passage for all college-bound students and their families. When you apply for financial aid, each college may have its own requirements and information requests, but every college wants to see your FAFSA. FAFSA, short for Free...

Start early and do not compare your kids to others, says David Slater, a college benefits research group director of finance who recently conducted a seminar at the Butler Library for parents. By start early he means get a feel for where a student wants to go. What...