Tag: Financial Planning
Paying for College While Protecting Retirement (Ep. 4)

Paying for College While Protecting Retirement (Ep. 4)

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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!

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Paying for College Without Sacrificing Your Future (Ep. 3)

Paying for College Without Sacrificing Your Future (Ep. 3)

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Paying for college has become one of the biggest financial stress points for families, and most parents feel like they are trying to solve it alone. This episode sets the stage for a smarter, more human approach to college planning, one that does not force families to choose between their kids’ education and their own future.

In this episode, Brock Jolly, CFP®, talks about why college funding has become so confusing, why many traditional planning conversations fall short, and how families can approach the process with more clarity and confidence.

You’ll learn about:

  • Why college planning sits at the intersection of emotion, urgency, and complexity
  • How college costs have outpaced nearly every other expense in the economy
  • Why focusing only on in-state options may limit better-fit opportunities
  • How thoughtful planning can support both college and retirement goals at the same time
  • Who this podcast is for, and how it is designed to support parents, advisors, counselors, and students
  • And more!

Resources:

Connect with Brock Jolly:

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The High Cost of Waiting — Why Starting Early Matters More Than You Think (Ep. 2)

The High Cost of Waiting — Why Starting Early Matters More Than You Think (Ep. 2)

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College planning often feels like something you can deal with later, until later arrives faster than expected.

In this episode Brock Jolly, CFP®, CLU®, ChFC®, CLTC, CASL®, CFBS®, RICP®, talks about why early college planning creates flexibility, reduces stress, and gives families more control over how they pay for college, without sacrificing retirement.

You’ll learn about:

  • Why saving early is about options, not perfection
  • Waiting to plan limits flexibility and increases pressure
  • The power of compounding small monthly habits over time
  • Why college planning should be treated as a process, not a last-minute event
  • How early conversations can improve family decision-making and reduce stress
  • And more!

Resources:

Connect with Brock Jolly:

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