Introduction.

PART I: Quantifying the College Problem and Communicating with Parents.

CHAPTER 1. Putting Together the College Cost Forecast (Understanding College Costs and Inflation).

Understanding College Costs.

Good Information Is Difficult to Get.

Using Today s College Costs to Forecast Future College Costs.

Understanding College Inflation.

Completing the College Forecast Model.

Using the Forecast Tables.

Introducing The College Savings Calculator™.

CHAPTER 2. Communicating with Your Client Using The College Savings Calculator™.

Working with The College Savings Calculator™.

Helping Clients Set Realistic Goals.

Helping Clients Quantify Risk and Reward to Overcome College Inflation.

Helping Clients Understand the Cost of Delayed Savings.

Summary.

CHAPTER 3. The Impact of Financial Aid.

Do Not Skip This Step.

What Is Financial Aid?

How Is Need-Based Financial Aid Eligibility Determined?

Understanding How Asset Titling Can Affect Financial Aid.

What Is a Financial Aid Test?

Using the Financial Aid Test in Savings Plan Design.

CHAPTER 4. Communicating with Your Client Using The Financial Aid Test™.

Working with The Financial Aid Test™ Software.

Doing a Financial Aid Test.

Exploring the Effect of Plan Design on Financial Aid.

Summary.

CHAPTER 5. The College Funding Time Horizon.

The Four Ways to Pay for College.

Defining the Three College Funding Periods.

Strategies to Make the College Funding Plan Work.

CHAPTER 6. Communicating with Your Client Using The College Funding Integrator™.

Introduction.

Working with The College Funding Integrator™.

Exploring Time Horizons in Developing the College Plan.

PART II: Exploring College Planning Tools and Products.

CHAPTER 7: Beginning Plan Design Using The Attribute Evaluation Worksheet™.

Using the Attribute Evaluation Worksheet™.

The Importance of Account Titling.

CHAPTER 8. Exploring the College Funding Tools.

U.S. Savings Bond College Savings Plan.

Education IRA (Coverdell Education Savings Account) College Funding Plan.

IRA College Savings Plan.

Roth IRA College Savings Plan.

The Simple Plan™.

Life Insurance College Savings Plan.

Retirement Plan College Savings Plan.

Direct Tuition Payments to the College by Grandparents.

CHAPTER 9: Understanding and Using Qualified Tuition Plans.

Prepaid Plans.

Savings Plans.

Rules and Requirements for QTPs.

Key Planning Attributes.

UGMA/UTMA Accounts.

Plan Costs.

Other Considerations.

Private Prepaid Tuition Plans.

Summary.

Using the Tool Comparison Chart.

PART III: Putting the Plan Together.

CHAPTER 10. Implementing the Plan: Case Studies.

The College Savings Plan Checklist.

Case Studies.

Other Situations of Note.

Final Comments.

APPENDIX A: The College Savings Calculator™ : Savings Required for the 20 Benchmark Colleges.

Western Region State (Resident).

Western Region State (Nonresident).

Western Region Private (Medium Cost).

Western Region Private (High Cost).

Western Region Ivy League.

Midwest Region State (Resident).

Midwest Region State (Nonresident).

Midwest Region Private (Medium Cost).

Midwest Region Private (High Cost).

Midwest Region Ivy League.

Southern Region State (Resident).

Southern Region State (Nonresident).

Southern Region Private (Medium Cost).

Southern Region Private (High Cost).

Southern Region Ivy League.

Northeast Region State (Resident).

Northeast Region State (Nonresident).

Northeast Region Private (Medium Cost).

Northeast Region Private (High Cost).

Northeast Region Ivy League.

APPENDIX B: How to Install The College Savings Calculator™.

APPENDIX C: The Financial Aid Test™ Input Form and Instructions.

APPENDIX D: How to Install The Financial Aid Test™.

APPENDIX E: How to Install The College Funding Integrator™.

APPENDIX F: Helpful Information Sources for the Planner.

APPENDIX G: How to Contact State Departments of Education.

Index.