College Planning Involves More Than Dollars in a 529 Account

The process of searching for and applying to colleges has changed dramatically. Navigating admissions, financial aid, and rising costs can feel overwhelming, but the right combination of strategies can make all the difference.

Our key focus is usually helping families prepare for all the expenses involved in higher education. But like with retirement, we know there is a need to provide help with navigating other parts of the process since many of today’s trends can be counterintuitive.

With social media and the popularity of sports teams, some colleges you may not expect have overwhelming admissions hurdles. This has also led to exorbitant increases in the cost of popular schools while institutions that are comparable academically are struggling to attract students. This is a trend that can work for or against a student, depending on the approach they take. Standardized testing has also become a hot-button issue and is not as simple as it used to be. Also, students need to stand out from the crowd and be more passionate about their extracurriculars, rather than participate in as many as possible. There have been changes to the rules around the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the way financial aid is applied for and processed. The total cost of attendance (not just tuition) varies widely depending on the availability of dorms and inexpensive student housing close to campus as well as other factors.

Luckily, we meet with expert consultants regularly to stay up-to-date and gain better insights into getting the most out of college. We have invited Cozy Whitman from College Inside Track to present a webinar on Wednesday, September 17, 2025, from 6:00–7:30 p.m. about relevant topics and trends. Sign up for the webinar at wefinancialadvisors.com, on Eventbrite, or by calling 317-872-5090.

- Kyle McCune, CFP®, Worley Erhart-Graves Financial Advisors

This article was included in the Worley Erhart-Graves Quarterly Newsletter.