The College Money Guys - April 2018

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April 2018

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Send Your Kids to College, Keep Your Money at Home

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THE KIDS ARE ALL RIGHT REFLECTIONS OF A PROUD FATHER

April is here, and college and high school students alike are getting fitted for their caps and gowns. So let me begin by saying congratulations to our graduating seniors! And to the parents of those students, job well-done. Turning the tassel is one of life’s great milestones. Treasure it dearly. As a father of three, I’ve been to my fair share of graduation ceremonies, and I still have a few more to go. They never fail to be emotional affairs. As a parent, it can be hard to swallow the strange cocktail of pride and sadness that comes with the irrefutable evidence that, yes, your child has grown up. With our youngest finishing his bachelor’s degree, his brother earning a Ph.D., and our eldest preparing herself to join the Peace Corps, I’ve come to terms with the fact that my children are no longer, well, children. As I write this, I can’t help but reflect on raising them and remembering how they had similar experiences but ended up taking such radically different paths. Scout programs are an integral part of the Goedecke household. My sons, Thomas and Gregory, started as Cubs and worked their way up to join me at the rank of Eagle Scout. As a parent, I couldn’t be prouder. As a troop leader, I was fascinated by how the boys each made the experience their own.

Gregory, meanwhile, took a leadership path. He was accepted into the National Youth Leadership Training (NYLT) program and took to it with gusto. Gregory combined his leadership skills with his passion for music and activism to organize a concert to raise awareness about human trafficking. Many members of the local legislature showed up to the event, which featured guest speakers working to combat this terrible crime. Amelie, our daughter, didn’t have the same room for advancement in the Girl Scouts as her brothers did in Boy Scouts, but she still came away with a passion for service, mentorship, and travel. At the time of writing, she’s preparing to ship off to Gambia to aid in education and economic development in one of the world’s most disadvantaged communities. The Peace Corps seems tailor-made for Amelie’s interests and goals. We know she’ll go far. As you can tell, I have no problem talking about my kids. To be fair, they make it easy to be a proud father! They’ve all been through one Scout program or another, but each of them has put their own unique spin on what they’ve taken out of the experience. Each of my kids has striven to make the world a better place, and they’ve done it in their own way. That’s one of the late surprises of parenting — when you suddenly realize your children are inspiring you. Maybe for some of you, that moment has already happened. But I’d wager that, for many parents, that moment will come in about a month, when their seniors take the stage as students and leave as graduates.

“That’s one of the late surprises of parenting — when you suddenly realize your children are inspiring you.”

Thomas became a member of the prestigious Order of the Arrow, a Boy Scout society dedicated to preserving the diverse history and folklore of Native Americans. To Thomas, this wasn’t just some exclusive club — he took the work seriously. While at USC, he volunteered with local Native American communities to help teach kids about their heritage, customs, and dance.

–K u rt Goedecke

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Why You Should Consider Investing in a Family Garden After spending a winter cooped up inside with your family, there might be a little tension between everyone. Fortunately, it’s spring, and the warm weather, melting snow, and blooming flowers offer a good way to ease restlessness. This season, why not bring your family closer together by starting a family garden? DECIDING ON PLANTS GARDENING: BRINGING FAMILY TOGETHER

When it comes to deciding which plants you want in your garden, there are many variables to consider. Do you want to grow edible plants, ones that have magnificent blossoms, or ones that are easy to care for? Flowers are a good start if you want a plant that grows a little faster; plus, they lend a pop of color to your garden. Growing vegetables is also rewarding, as the kids will take great pleasure in eating what they’ve grown. Other possibilities include sunflowers, blackberries, peas, and lettuce. You might be surprised at how willingly children eat their greens when they’ve had a hand in growing them.

A LEARNING EXPERIENCE

Nearly every step in the gardening process can be a learning experience for kids and parents alike. Begin by discussing where you should start and why, what supplies you’ll need, and the types of plants you want to grow. Gardening also offers opportunities to learn about science, ecology, and nutrition.

Family gardens can bring something new and fresh to your home. So, get outside, enjoy the sun, and discover the joys of plants and gardening.

COLLABORATION

Gardening gives your family a chance to collaborate. When you’re stuck inside for long periods, you may be spending time together, but it’s usually not quality time. Working in a group to create and maintain a garden is a hands-on experience for everyone. It’s a chance to get the whole family involved with a single project, and you can literally share the fruits of your labor.

OUR CLIENTS SAY IT BEST

“Mr. Goedecke is very informative and helps a lot in the decision process.”

–Lucas R.

“The College Money Guys walking us through this process has been wonderful. I could not imagine going through this without them. They provided us with all the details that needed to be done and had deadlines to ensure we all stayed on task. It was great. We will definitely use them when our daughter graduates.”

“Working with the College Money Guys has helped me get a better night’s sleep with each visit!”

–Holli C.

–Shawn P.L.

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BEYOND FINANCIAL AID SECRETS TO SAVING (EVEN MORE) MONEY

Each year, it becomes more and more difficult to get a great financial package from colleges. When you receive that final award letter and still find your options lacking, it can be a crushing experience. Thankfully, these letters aren’t always the last word. This month, we’re sharing some of Brannon’s secret strategies for making college more affordable despite insufficient financial aid.

Then they can transfer over to a private university for their last two years. You can end up saving yourself about $30,000, and your child will end up with a diploma from a private university to boot.

after they graduate. The student usually makes enough money to pay a good portion of their tuition, and they have a much better chance of landing a good job after they graduate.

TURN TO OUTSIDE SCHOLARSHIPS

LOOK INTO COOPERATIVE EDUCATION

True, private scholarships only make up 1 percent of all monies available for paying for college. But you definitely won’t get any of this money if you don’t apply for it. Just beware of bogus scholarship search companies. If the amount of available

About 900 colleges and universities across the country offer programs in which students can alternate between full-time study and a full- time job. This differs from work-study in that work-study jobs tend to be part-time jobs that students work at for a couple of hours a day until they’ve earned the amount of the award.

START AT STATE SCHOOL AND THEN TRANSFER

If the private university offers you a less- than-competitive package and sending your child there would put you deep into debt, our recommendation is to consider sending them to a state school for two years. They’ll get their introductory lessons out of the way, earning credits and saving money.

scholarship money a company or website advertises sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

On the other hand, cooperative education offers periods of full-time employment in jobs the student is interested in pursuing

ROASTED ASPARAGUS WITH LEMON BREADCRUMBS

HAVE A LAUGH

INGREDIENTS • 2 pounds asparagus • 1/3 cup plus 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil • Kosher salt • Freshly ground pepper • 2 garlic cloves, minced INSTRUCTIONS

• 1 cup panko breadcrumbs • 1 tablespoon flat-leaf parsley, chopped • 2 teaspoons lemon zest • Juice of one lemon (not packaged lemon juice)

1. Heat oven to 425 F. Toss asparagus with 2 tablespoons olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Place on baking sheet and bake for 20–26 minutes, turning asparagus halfway through. 2. When asparagus is nearly done, heat remaining olive oil in a small skillet over medium heat. Add garlic and cook for 1 minute. Add breadcrumbs and cook for 5 minutes, stirring frequently. Remove from heat and fold in parsley and lemon zest. 3. Transfer asparagus to serving platter, drizzle with lemon juice, and top with breadcrumb mixture. Recipe inspired by Food and Wine Magazine

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2000 North Loop West Suite 200 Houston, TX 77018 713.422.2720

INSIDE

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Mentally Preparing for Graduation Gardening: Bringing Family Together Hear From Lucas, Holli, and Shawn! Saving Money After Financial Aid

3 Places to View Natural Wonders

BONUS MONEY-SAVING CONTENT INSIDE!

If you’re lucky enough to be in the right place at the right time, you might see rare magical sights — baby turtles scuttling toward water, glowing lagoons, or a shimmering sky. But when and where do you need to be to catch these natural wonders? SEA TURTLES HATCHING IN HAWAII On Oahu’s North Shore, head to Turtle Beach, which gets its name from the many turtles that nest along its shores. During late spring and summer, the waves subside, allowing turtles to crawl onto the beach to lay their eggs. Baby turtles hatch at night and make their way to the water by the light of the moon. If you do head to the beach at night to see this spectacle, don’t use white light, as it can disrupt the turtles’ progress (that means no flash photography). BIOLUMINESCENT PLANKTON IN JAMAICA Imagine looking out at the water as the sky gets dark and seeing it turn a bright, glowing blue. That’s the sight you might be treated to at Luminous Lagoon in Jamaica, where dinoflagellates, microscopic organisms in the water, lend their glow to the lagoon. These tiny organisms thrive in areas where salt water and fresh water meet, making the lagoon in springtime an ideal place to see them. ONE-OF-A-KIND NATURESCAPES ECO TIP: Look, but don’t touch! It’s illegal to touch a sea turtle in Hawaii.

you when you leave and be respectful of the beautiful environment that is yours to enjoy.

NORTHERN LIGHTS IN SCANDINAVIA One of the most elusive natural wonders, the aurora borealis, can only be seen on dark nights in the most northern parts of the world. That makes Sweden and its Scandinavian neighbors a great place to see the phenomenon. From December through April, you’ll have your best chance of seeing the northern lights. Sightings are dependent on solar activity, so it’s impossible to predict the exact timing and location, but they’re easier to see during the longer, darker nights of winter and early spring.

ECO TIP: Book your trip through a responsible travel company, such as those that practice a fair-trade policy.

Thank you for your referrals!

Nassar Family Graham Family Trusko Family Hansen Family

Kelly Family Nadel Family Orsak Family Hiremaths Family

Silva Family Dukes Family Pennino Family

ECO TIP: To ensure this magical sight will remain for years to come, always go with a “pack it in, pack it out” mentality. Take all of your belongings with