Ketterman’s team of college funding experts works with your family through every phase of the financial aid process. We will...
1Position your family finances so your student can qualify for the most financial aid
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2Build a college list that includes schools likely to give your student the most financial aid
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3Fill out all forms so you don’t make a costly mistake and lose thousands in financial aid
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4Review all your offers and handle any appeals to make sure you get the most financial aid
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Ketterman is unique. No other college funding company...
- Offers you more financial aid services
- Gives you so much direct, one-on-one attention and support
- Give you so much continuous support
- Saves you more money by unlocking every dollar of aid you’re eligible for
- Saves you more time by handling all the paperwork and strategy
- Makes the financial aid process simpler, clearer, and less stressful
- Turns as many dream schools into real options you’ll now be able to afford
- Offers a free workshop and a free personalized face-to-face consultation to review your situation
More details about our services
Family Financial Positioning |
Colleges determine your financial aid using a number called the Expected Family Contribution (EFC). This number is calculated by a formula set by federal law, and it is based on your income, certain assets, household size, and other factors. The lower your EFC, the more financial aid you are likely to receive.
At Ketterman, we save our families thousands - usually tens of thousands - each year by implementing our customized plans and proven strategies to legally reduce their EFC and slash their college costs. Specifically…
We provide a complete analysis of your EFC using both Federal and Institutional Methodology.
We review your financial information with you and then develop an individualized game plan to reduce your Expected Family Contribution (EFC) and increase your financial aid. For example, we may have you move savings and other assets into types of accounts or business structures that aren’t counted in aid calculations; defer capital gains or delay bonuses to limit their impact on aid eligibility; strategically coordinate ownership and withdrawal timing from any 529 plans you may already have.
Our proven strategies are 100% legal, but they must be done correctly and at the right time to comply with the Higher Education Reauthorization Act of 2008 - the federal law that governs college financial aid. You’ll also want to insure that your financial moves won’t trigger IRS red flags. That’s why we don’t just tell you what your options are—we work with you to put the plan in action safely and effectively. |
Student Positioning |
Ketterman works closely with families to create the most personalized and comprehensive list of colleges where your student will thrive academically, socially, and personally. We use our experience and expertise to include the financial aid each school is likely to offer — helping you build a balanced list of dream schools, reach schools, safety schools, and schools you never imagined you could afford.
You will end up with a targeted college list that’s the best fit for your student and your family’s budget.
We make you and your student’s college and career research simpler and more organized by providing unlimited access to a powerful, easy-to-use online platform — the most complete database of careers, majors, and colleges available. All the information you need is in one place.
We meet with you and your student to build a smart college list that matches their academic strengths and interests, possible majors, personal preferences (social life and geography are common ones), and even career goals. We then use our financial aid data and expertise to estimate the package each school is likely to offer — including free money, work-study options, scholarships, and merit awards. The result is the most complete college list possible, giving your family all the academic, personal, and financial factors needed to make the most informed decision. |
Forms
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Most families will have to fill out several different financial aid applications starting with the FAFSA form which is the most important and is required for all federal grants, loans, and work-study programs. The FAFSA form is the gatekeeper to financial aid.
You must fill out the FAFSA form to receive any financial aid. Many states and most colleges use it as a starting point in determining their own aid awards. In addition to the FAFSA form, many private and some public colleges require the CSS Profile, which collects more detailed financial information to calculate their own grants, scholarships, and loans. And some colleges go even further, requiring yet another form — their own institutional application — with unique questions and extra documentation. For most families, these forms are unfamiliar, the language unclear, and the instructions confusing. Filling out one application can take hours; completing several can stretch into many nights and weekends of tedious work, all while juggling multiple deadlines. One mistake can cost thousands in aid; one missed deadline can mean no aid at all. With Ketterman’s form processing service, there is no hours and hours of paperwork. No costly mistakes. No missed deadlines. And the whole financial aid process goes from overwhelming and stressful to totally manageable.
The U.S. Department of Education reports that most people make mistakes on their FAFSA form that either causes the form to be rejected or reduces the amount of aid they receive. Simple errors - such as leaving answers blank instead of writing “N/A,” or using decimal points in numeric fields - will delay processing and may result in loss of financial aid. Costly errors - such as counting exempt assets like your primary residence - will inflate the value of your assets and lower the amount of financial aid you will be rewarded. And if you make a mistake on your FAFSA form, the impact carries over to the CSS Profile and every other financial aid form you submit. Our forms processing experts fill out ALL your financial aid forms for you - FAFSA, CSS Profile, and any additional forms required by individual schools. You do not do any paperwork. And after doing tens of thousands of applications - we do not make mistakes.
Submitting your applications as early as possible is important since some programs are first-come, first-served and may run out of funds. But no matter what, the FAFSA form must be submitted by its deadline, usually in early March. Miss it, and you won’t receive any financial aid. The CSS Profile and individual college forms have similarly strict and consequential deadlines. Our form processors submit all your documents for you. And because Ketterman submits thousands of applications, we track the entire financial aid calendar and we don’t miss any deadlines.
You must decide whether or not to accept the first award letter from the school. If you sign an award, that decision is binding. Some schools will mis-award, under-award, or compete with other schools. We analyze your financial aid awards to determine whether you have all the aid you are entitled to or if an appeal is in order.
With over a decade of experience working directly with financial aid officers, we understand how to communicate effectively and advocate successfully. If necessary, we manage the appeals process on your behalf to help maximize your financial aid awards.
If you need student loans to pay for any out-of-pocket college costs, we’ll help you choose the right options and walk you through the process. |
Learn more about FAFSA, EFC, and individual colleges at one of our free, no obligation Live Webinars or In-Person College Planning Workshops
FAQs
Q: What is the biggest mistake a family can make in the financial aid process?
A: The biggest mistake a family can make is NOT to apply for financial aid, regardless of how much you make. Not all financial aid is need based. Different types of financial aid include federal aid, state aid, scholarships, grants, and loans.
Q: What is a Certified College Planning Specialist, and why should you work with one?
A: College planning is a specialized field within financial planning, and with the continued rise in tuition costs, the need for expert college funding planners is also growing. A financial planner focuses on showing you ways to grow your income and to create wealth. As college planning specialists, our objective is to show you how to pay for college, and potentially make it a financial "non-event" for your family.
As with buying a house, paying for college is one of the largest expenditures for many families. Similar to consulting with a real estate professional when buying a house, a College Planner can provide his or her clients with tips, expertise and valuable strategies to reduce the stress and cost of paying for college.
As with buying a house, paying for college is one of the largest expenditures for many families. Similar to consulting with a real estate professional when buying a house, a College Planner can provide his or her clients with tips, expertise and valuable strategies to reduce the stress and cost of paying for college.
Q: Can my current financial advisor or CPA offer these services to me?
A: A CPA calculates your taxes and comes up with strategies to lower them. We calculate your Family Contribution and come up with strategies to lower your college costs.
More often than not, financial advisors and CPAs do not have the expertise and insights that a College Planner has into the world of late-stage college funding. And CPA’s are not experts on financial aid forms and college profiles.
That is why many financial advisors and CPAs recommend our services to their clients who are considering ways to pay for a college education, because the value added by our specialized skills is immense.
More often than not, financial advisors and CPAs do not have the expertise and insights that a College Planner has into the world of late-stage college funding. And CPA’s are not experts on financial aid forms and college profiles.
That is why many financial advisors and CPAs recommend our services to their clients who are considering ways to pay for a college education, because the value added by our specialized skills is immense.
Q: How is your process different than our high school college advisor?
A: High school counselors do their best, but they’re often stretched thin. We give your family the time, tools, and insider strategy to get it right.
Our experts help your student find schools that are the best fit academically, socially, and personally. But unlike most college counselors, we also lower your out-of-pocket costs and factor in which schools are most likely to offer strong financial aid—so you can choose colleges that are the best fit for your family, too.
Our experts help your student find schools that are the best fit academically, socially, and personally. But unlike most college counselors, we also lower your out-of-pocket costs and factor in which schools are most likely to offer strong financial aid—so you can choose colleges that are the best fit for your family, too.
Q: We were planning on financial aid to help with tuition, but with our income may be too high. Do you have answers for families like ours?
A: We frequently help families like yours with a multifaceted approach. We will create a plan, carefully position your income and assets, apply specific tax strategies, and present your student's academic position to bring the greatest scholastic leverage. We frequently aid families who did not think they would qualify for financial aid based on their income or assets.
Q: My student is in ninth grade. Isn’t it too early to start this process? My student is in twelfth grade. Isn’t it too late to start this process?
A: Financial aid is more competitive than ever, so it’s best to start as early as possible to help manage the cost of college.
We’re one of the few companies that charges a single, flat fee—no monthly or annual costs. Whether you start in ninth grade or eleventh grade, you pay the same. The only difference is that starting earlier give you more time to get organized.
If your student is entering twelfth grade it still may not be to late to start with us. There are steps you can take when they are in ninth grade, steps you should take when they are in tenth grade, steps you have to take when they are Juniors and steps you must take when your student is a senior.
We’re one of the few companies that charges a single, flat fee—no monthly or annual costs. Whether you start in ninth grade or eleventh grade, you pay the same. The only difference is that starting earlier give you more time to get organized.
If your student is entering twelfth grade it still may not be to late to start with us. There are steps you can take when they are in ninth grade, steps you should take when they are in tenth grade, steps you have to take when they are Juniors and steps you must take when your student is a senior.
Reach out to us and we can better asses where you are and how we can help you. Ask your question and set up a private conference with us at one of our free, no obligation Live Webinars or In-Person College Planning Workshops.
