Paying for college is one of the biggest financial shocks families face — not just because tuition keeps rising, but because the decisions parents make in the moment can have an outsized effect on their own financial future. Most people think college planning is about saving early, opening a 529, and hoping the FAFSA works out in their favor. But as college funding strategist Brian Eyster explains, the system is far more complex, and the consequences of getting it wrong often show up decades later… in retirement.
Brian joins Matt to break down the hidden rules of college-saving — the ones most parents never hear until it’s too late. In this episode, Brian reveals why traditional advice often falls short, how to legally reduce what colleges expect you to pay, and using tools like home equity, cash flow, and even student loans strategically so you protect your long-term financial health.
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“We’ll unpack why traditional college savings plans can quietly sabotage your future and how to use home equity and cash flow more efficiently—and even how business owners…can turn college funding into a smart tax strategy.”
“If you have filed the FAFSA and no one looked over it, it is the equivalent of writing your college dissertation without any edits.”
“We took the SAI from fifty thousand dollars and got it down to three thousand…It’s a hell of a lot more than just ‘oh, I’m going to take money and dump it into a 529.’”
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Guest Links:
Website: www.essentialstrategies.net
Certified College Funding Specialist: https://www.hireaccfs.com/brian-eyster
For up-to-date Medicare information, visit:
www.prepareformedicare.com
