Tag: 529 Plans
Paying for College While Protecting Retirement (Ep. 4)

Paying for College While Protecting Retirement (Ep. 4)

By |

College costs continue to rise, leaving many families wondering how to prepare without putting their future at risk.

How do you balance paying for college, preparing for retirement, understanding scholarships, and making informed decisions when so much can change over time?

In this episode, Brock Jolly, CFP®, explores the realities of college planning and the financial decisions families face long before tuition bills arrive. He explains the difference between sticker price and actual cost, breaks down scholarship misconceptions, discusses the role of need-based and merit aid, and shares why flexibility matters when saving for education. 

The conversation also highlights inflation’s impact on college costs, common planning mistakes, and ways families can evaluate college affordability while protecting retirement goals.

Key takeaways:

  • Why college sticker prices often differ significantly from what families ultimately pay
  • How scholarship expectations can create planning gaps when costs continue rising
  • What parents should consider before committing large amounts to 529 plans
  • Why inflation remains a major factor when estimating future college expenses
  • How balancing retirement and college funding requires evaluating tradeoffs early
  • And more!

Connect with Brock Jolly:

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

Subscribe: RSS | More
College Planning Is About More Than Paying Tuition (Ep. 1)

College Planning Is About More Than Paying Tuition (Ep. 1)

By |

Most families approach college planning with assumptions that quietly cost them options. In this episode, Brock Jolly breaks down the biggest myths families believe about paying for college, the first question every family must answer before choosing a strategy, and common planning mistakes that can create unnecessary financial pressure later.

In this episode, Brock Jolly, CFP®, talks about how education, financial literacy, and intentional planning intersect, and how families can make smarter college decisions without putting retirement at risk.

You’ll learn about:

  • Who really qualifies for financial aid and who doesn’t
  • Why scholarships rarely cover what families expect
  • The first planning question that determines which strategies actually apply
  • How overfunding a 529 plan can create avoidable tax and penalty issues
  • Why it is rarely “too late” to improve a college funding plan
  • How college and retirement planning should work together
  • And more!

Resources:

Connect with Brock Jolly:

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

Subscribe: RSS | More