The College Money Guys News February 2018
February 2018
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AN HOURGLASS, GLUED TO THE TABLE THIS IS 50
My birthday is this month, which means I’m staring down the big 5-0. Half a century on this earth. I still can’t quite wrap my head around it! This is one of those milestones in life that really turns your thoughts inward. On the one hand, I’m acutely aware of my own mortality. On the other, I’m incredibly grateful for the life I’ve had. My mind keeps returning to the chorus of Anna Nalick’s “Breathe”: “You can’t jump the track, we’re like cars on a cable / And life’s like an hourglass, glued to the table.” Like it or not, we all have a limited time on this earth and we owe it to ourselves to make that time awesome. That’s why this year I’m breaking out the bucket list. For starters, I need to explore more of the world. My kids have become more well-traveled than I am, and I’ll admit I’m envious. There’s nothing more maddening than looking at Facebook photos of your children enjoying some exotic beach while you’re slaving away at the office! Personally, I’d love to get away to Machu Picchu and Australia in the coming years. Unfortunately, my other goals keep me from packing my bags and becoming a full-time rambler. I’ve always found business exhilarating. That’s why growing College Money Guys to its full potential is absolutely on my personal bucket list. The challenges of figuring out how to best serve our clients, in the most efficient way possible, is a special kind of problem solving that has always proven extremely rewarding. I want to keep building and growing my own experience as a business owner well into old age. We’ve got big plans for College Money Guys on the horizon, stay tuned. Next on the list is bringing my dream of writing a best-selling book to fruition. Becoming an author was a big achievement, but I want to take it a step further. My next book, “I Got Straight-A’s and All I Got Was F’ed,” is coming together nicely. This collection of case studies “Like it or not, we all have a limited time on this earth and we owe it to ourselves to make that time awesome. That’s why this year, I’m breaking out the bucket list.”
surrounding college debt is a culmination of my decades of work educating students and parents in college finance. I hope to finish it in the near future. Of course, it would help if I had a writer’s retreat. The Texas backcountry has a rugged beauty that has captured the imagination of generations of poets and songwriters. Building a house out on that scenic land would be incredible. A friend of mine built his backcountry house into a gorge, 150 feet above the ground. Framed in glass on two sides, the only thing more amazing than the home itself is the view from inside. So, there it is. Not exactly a small list! But I’ve always been ambitious, always strived for more, and it’s gotten me far in life. I’ve had the pleasure of raising three amazing kids who have grown into incredibly successful, well-rounded adults. I couldn’t have done it without the help of Elizabeth, whom I’ve been lucky to call my wife for 26 years. Liz, there’s something to be said for the fact you’ve been with me over half of my life. Thanks for being an incredible partner throughout the years, I couldn’t ask for a better friend to celebrate my 50th with. Spending time with you will always be at the top of my bucket list.
Happy Valentine’s Day,
–Bra nnon Lloyd
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3 STUDYING HACKS FOR SUCCESSFUL STUDENTS
GET OFF FACEBOOK Is your child wasting all of their precious studying hours on social media? According to Common Sense Media’s 2015 national census survey, tweens and teens spend an average of six to nine hours on some form of media daily. Help your student learn to self-regulate with StayFocusd, a web extension available for free in the Chrome Web Store. By adding this extension to your web browser, you can limit the amount of time your child spends scrolling through Facebook and maximize the time they spend on Google Scholar and Quizlet.
Are your kids already sweating exams this semester? Fear not! Combine these tips with a regular studying routine, and they’ll be set for anything their teachers assign this year. CHEW ON THIS Not all classrooms allow gum, but those that do offer students a distinct advantage. According to Scientific American, chewing gum increases the flow of oxygen to the areas of your brain responsible for attention and memory. Your student can even coordinate gum flavors with each of their classes. Do they have a biology test coming up? Encourage your student to chew peppermint gum while they study and while they take the test. Their brain will associate the minty flavor with those plant cell organelles they studied for an hour the night before. PROOFREAD WITH GOOGLE Is your child trying to perfect an essay before a midnight deadline? Be sure they leave time to read their essay aloud! Tom Stafford, a psychologist who studies typos at the University of Sheffield, notes that when we reread our work, “we don’t catch every detail; we’re not like computers or NSA databases.” Your student doesn’t catch their typos because they don’t expect them! By reading their work aloud, your student can fix those typos as they come up. But why put in all the effort when they can let Google do it for them? They can simply copy and paste the essay into Google Translate and let it read the essay aloud. Hearing their work ring out in Google’s monotone speech will help them highlight and fix those mistakes.
OUR CLIENTS SAY IT BEST “I firmly believe that I would not be attending the college I am today if it weren’t for The College Money Guys. The staff is flawless, and everyone is friendly and helpful throughout the entire college application process. I would recommend this organization to anyone who needs assistance with college applications and the financial aid process.” –Miles L. “I went to one of the free workshops by The College Money Guys because a friend referred me. I expected to get a few tips and hear a sales closing, but I experienced something totally different. Brannon Lloyd did some incredible number crunching to show what really goes on behind the scenes in regard to college financial packages and how public and private schools decide to give out free scholarship money. They had data to back up all of this, too. It was jaw-dropping to say the least. Unfortunately, I came too late into the game to take advantage of this information. I went away with a sick stomach knowing my husband and I could have saved at least $100K for our three children. I recommend the free workshop to any of my friends with kids in ninth through 12th grade … Do yourself a big financial favor and go. There is no sales closing, which was very refreshing.” –Sue K.
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3 QUESTIONS TO ASK EVERY FINANCIAL AID OFFICER HOW TO NARROW THE FIELD AND KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT
As we’ve said in the past, the winter of your child’s junior year is an ideal time to start the financial aid process. One of the best things you can do is narrow down the field of prospective schools to those that can meet your financial needs. With that goal in mind, here are three questions you should be asking the financial aid officers of every school.
1. Does your school guarantee to meet 100 percent of my child’s financial need?
transferring schools to keep your child in place despite the rise in price. Find out if you can count on receiving the same amount of aid before your child applies.
The answer will most likely be no. Most schools don’t pay the full amount of their students’ financial need. A good follow-up is to ask what percentage of need the school meets for the average student. This will give you an idea of how much the institution will cover. If the percentage is low, don’t waste your time and money applying.
3. What is your school’s policy on packaging outside scholarships?
Some colleges swap out money earned through outside scholarships with the money they were already going to award you, making the time and effort spent on those outside scholarships worthless. Other schools have a far better policy, swapping out loans in the package they were going to offer you for outside scholarships. Find out how each school left on your list approaches outside scholarships. It can make a significant difference on the final sticker price.
2. If my need remains the same, will my child receive the same aid package?
Some institutions offer freshmen an attractive financial aid package to lure them in their first year, only to pull back the amount of aid in subsequent years. They’re counting on the logistical and emotional difficulties of
HAVE A LAUGH
SWEET AND ZESTY DETOX SALAD
INGREDIENTS
For the Dressing •
For the Salad •
1 large carrot, roughly chopped
3 cups chopped kale leaves
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1/4 cup rice wine vinegar
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2 cups chopped broccoli florets
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2 tablespoons olive oil
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2 cups chopped red cabbage
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1 tablespoon finely chopped ginger
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1 cup matchstick carrots
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1 cup chopped cilantro
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1 tablespoon honey
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1/2 cup toasted slivered almonds
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1 tablespoon white miso
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1/2 teaspoon sesame oil
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1/3 cup sliced green onions
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Salt and pepper, to taste
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1 diced avocado
INSTRUCTIONS
1. To make the salad, add all ingredients to a large bowl; toss to combine. 2. To make the dressing, add all ingredients to a blender or food processor. Pulse until smooth. Season to taste with salt and pepper or add extra honey for a sweeter taste. 3. Drizzle dressing over salad and serve immediately. (Recipe inspired by GimmeSomeOven.com.)
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INSIDE
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Brannon’s Bucket List Make the Grade! Our Clients Say It Best 3 Questions to Ask Financial Aid Officers Adventure Is Waiting
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BONUS MONEY-SAVING CONTENT INSIDE!
READY TO BOOK YOUR DREAM VACATION? ADVENTURE IS WAITING
Are you ready to set out on a grand adventure? Many people spend their entire lives thinking about the exotic locations they want to explore, only to let the opportunity slip through their fingers. Stop dreaming about adventure and make it a reality with these top-of-the-line travel companies.
GLOBE AWARE
GRAND CIRCLE TRAVEL
Have you ever wanted to travel the world and help make the planet a better place? Then it’s time to consider “voluntourism.” Take the international trip you’ve always wanted by donating your time in a meaningful way. The experts in “aging with attitude” at Senior Planet celebrate Globe Aware for its success in catering to the adventurous and the generous. Learn how you can volunteer with orphans or help clean up coral reefs at globeaware.org.
Established by AARP founder Ethel Andrus, Grand Circle Travel specializes in affordable tour packages that let travelers focus on a true local experience. Your tour can include language lessons, visits to neighborhood schools, and home-hosted meals with local families, all of which allow you to immerse yourself in the local culture. If you’ve been dreaming of a nautical adventure, Grand Circle Travel also boasts an impressive fleet of small ships for ocean sailing and river cruises. Satisfy your wanderlust by visiting gct.com. Looking for an adventure that will also quench your thirst for knowledge? For over 40 years, Road Scholar has dedicated itself to creating memorable and educational global travel experiences. Road Scholar crafts vacations that match your interests, group size, and desired activity level. Go on a maritime expedition with your grandchild in Hawaii or enjoy a solo adventure to the ancient ruins of Egypt or Greece. It’s like taking a semester abroad in college, but with fewer essays to write. Start planning your dream vacation at roadscholar.org. ROAD SCHOLAR
There will never be a better time to take the trip you’ve dreamed of for years. Adventure is out there; don’t keep it waiting any longer.
Thank you for your referrals!
Matt McCracken Ted and Jane Nininger Nassar Family
Todd and Marla Riedel Paul and Regina Flynn Gangdhar and Shabnum Hiremath
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