Getting Comfortable — Tell Us About Your Family

• Quick snapshot: who’s in the household and who will be involved in college decisions?
• How many student(s) are you planning for and what is each student’s expected high-school graduation year? Options: 1 student, 2 students, 3+ students
• Which of the following best describes your household income before taxes? Options: Under $100,000, $100,000–$150,000, $150,001–$200,000, $200,001–$300,000, Over $300,000
• Who currently manages the family’s college savings and financial paperwork? Options: Me (primary parent/caregiver), Partner/spouse, Shared responsibility, Financial advisor/other professional, Other
• Briefly describe where you are in the college planning process right now (e.g., just curious, making a list, comparing offers, finalizing enrollment).

Is This a ‘We Can Afford It’ Assumption — or a Risk?

• When you picture your child at their top-choice school, how confident are you that your current savings and expected aid will cover it? Options: Very confident, Somewhat confident, Unsure / mixed feelings, Not confident at all
• How much do you currently have saved specifically for college (total across 529s, custodial accounts, cash)? Options: $0–$10k, $10,001–$25k, $25,001–$75k, $75,001–$150k, $150k+
• Do you have a 529 plan(s)? If so, who is the owner and how many plans? Options: No 529, Yes — I/parent is owner (1), Yes — I/parent is owner (2+), Yes — grandparent/other is owner, Not sure
• What feels most uncertain about your current college funding picture? Options: How FAFSA/CSS will treat assets, Whether merit aid will materialize, How loans will affect our future finances, Hidden costs (travel, supplies, housing), Understanding award letters, Other
• How long have you been carrying this worry about affordability? Options: Just started this year, 1–2 years, 3–5 years, Since the child was young
• Tell us about a recent moment when you felt worried or relieved about the college cost—what happened and why did it stick with you?

Where the Money Will Really Come From

• If you had to state it plainly: who do you expect will pay for most of college—you, your child, grandparents, loans, scholarships, or a mix? Options: Parents/family mostly, Student mostly (loans/work), Large mix (family + loans + scholarships), Unsure yet
• How would taking student loans affect your family’s financial comfort? Be specific: monthly payment levels, home purchase plans, retirement, or other tradeoffs.
• What is the maximum total debt you would consider reasonable for your student to graduate with? Options: $0, $1–$10k, $10,001–$25k, $25,001–$50k, $50,001–$100k, $100k+
• Which of these funding sources are realistic for your family? (select all that apply) Options: 529 savings, Current cash flow / year-to-year savings, Parent PLUS loans, Private parent loans, Student federal loans, Work-study / student earnings, Grandparent gifts, Institutional scholarships/merit aid
• Have any family members explicitly committed to contributing (grandparents, relatives, trusts)? If yes, who and what form? Options: No commitments, Yes — cash/gift, Yes — 529/college account, Yes — informal promise, Unsure
• What monthly post-graduation payment would feel acceptable for your student (or family if co-signed)? Options: $0–$100, $101–$300, $301–$600, $601–$1,000, Over $1,000

What Have You Tried — and What Frustrates You About Aid?

• When you’ve engaged with financial aid before, what surprised you most or felt most opaque? Options: FAFSA treatment of assets, CSS Profile adjustments, Award letter formatting, Timing of awards, Eligibility rules, Other
• Have you completed the FAFSA and/or CSS Profile for this student? If yes, which and when? Options: None completed yet, FAFSA completed, CSS Profile completed, Both completed, Started but not finished
• Describe a past award letter you received that felt confusing or unfair—what made it hard to decide between schools?
• How often do you find yourself second-guessing numbers on award letters or estimates you’re given? Options: Almost always, Often, Occasionally, Rarely, Never
• When you’ve asked schools or advisors questions about aid, what kind of answers left you unsatisfied or more worried?
• Would you be willing to share one recent award letter (redacted) so we can analyze it together? Options: Yes — I will upload, Not yet, need help identifying, No

If Money Weren’t the Question, What Would You Choose?

• Imagine cost is no object—what schools or types of programs does your child truly dream about?
• Which factors matter most when deciding on a college (pick up to three)? Options: Academic fit/major, Career outcomes, Prestige/rankings, Location/close to home, Cost/affordability, Campus culture/social life, Size/class format, Athletics/clubs
• What would ‘a successful college decision’ feel like for your family three years in—emotionally and financially?
• What tradeoffs would you be willing to make if it meant reducing out-of-pocket cost? (e.g., public in-state, smaller school, gap year, heavier reliance on loans) Options: In-state public option, Smaller private with better aid, Encourage student to take loans, Start at community college, Gap year / defer enrollment, None — want top choice regardless
• Which outcomes would feel unacceptable even if they saved money (for example: student unhappy, major unavailable, excessive commute)?

Where We See the Biggest Levers — Tell Us Your Red Lines

• What are your non-negotiables for your student’s college experience (e.g., max debt, must-have programs, location limits)?
• What’s the single biggest financial change you would consider to make college affordable? Options: Encourage merit-focused list, Choose in-state public, Increase loans, Delay enrollment/gap year, Change major/length of program, Other
• Is there a specific maximum net price or annual out-of-pocket you will not exceed? If so, please state it.
• How flexible is your student about shifting college preferences to match financial reality? Options: Very flexible, Somewhat flexible, Reluctant but possible, Not flexible
• How long would you be willing to delay a decision to improve financial outcomes (e.g., gap year to earn/save, wait for better scholarships)? Options: Not at all, A semester, A year, More than a year

How Would You Like Us to Work With You?

• When you picture working with an advisor, what would make you trust them quickly? Options: Clear pricing/fees, Specific examples and results, Transparent process/timeline, Positive referrals, Certifications/experience
• What level of involvement do you want from an advisor (pick one)? Options: Full-service — we hand off everything, Collaborative — we do some, advisor does critical tasks, Light-touch — coaching and review only, Unsure — want to discuss options
• Which communication style do you prefer for sensitive financial conversations? Options: Scheduled video calls, Phone calls, Secure messaging/email, Shared documents + occasional calls
• How important is fee transparency and predictable pricing when selecting an advisor? Options: Critical — must be clear upfront, Very important, Somewhat important, Neutral
• What would success look like after our engagement (specific financial targets, clarity on awards, enrollment choices)? Please list measurable outcomes you want.
• Are you ready to take a next step right now—schedule a planning session, upload documents, or request a sample award analysis? Options: Not ready, Schedule a planning session, Upload documents now, Send sample award for review, Need more info first

• Current State & Consequence Confirmation
• Tailored Funding Scenario Walkthrough
• Trade-offs & Validation Workshop
• Final Sign-off & Next Steps (Solution Experience Close)

• Introductions & Objective
• Customer clearly sees actual net cost and borrowing implications per school under each scenario.
• Demonstrate how the chosen scenario materially improves the defined consequence (less borrowing, predictable cashflow, preserved retirement).
• Obtain initial client validation on one or more preferred scenarios to tune further.
• Advisor refines the client's selected scenario(s) into a detailed comparison report with year-by-year cash flows.
• Client reviews the comparison report and flags any preference or constraint changes.
• Schedule the Trade-offs & Validation Workshop to converge on a final recommended funding mix.
• Recap Preferred Scenarios & Objectives
• A validated, signed-off funding mix that aligns with the family's numeric and non-financial objectives.
• Documented contingency triggers and mitigation steps should aid outcomes deviate.
• Clear assignment of owners and dates for the tasks required to operationalize the scenario.
• Advisor prepares the formal recommended plan summary including year-by-year cash flows, loan projections, and contingency steps.
• Client signs or confirms acceptance of the recommended scenario and agrees to the implementation timeline.
• Advisor creates operational checklist for Enrollment Execution tasks (FAFSA/CSS, award-letter comparison, scholarship applications).
• Restate Problem, Consequence, and Chosen Future State
• Formal client acceptance of the recommended funding scenario documented in writing.
• Clear, actionable schedule of Enrollment Execution tasks with named owners and dates.
• Agreement on monitoring cadence and contingency activation process.
• Advisor finalizes and shares the signed plan document and implementation checklist.
• Client completes any immediate actions (confirm 529 changes, authorize loan exploration, or allocate deposits) required to meet the timeline.
• Schedule the Enrollment Execution kickoff meeting and recurring checkpoints.
• One-sentence, agreed current state that all parties reference in every scenario.
• Explicit, quantified consequence (dollars/year, cumulative borrowing, household cashflow impact) for each target school.
• Agreement on modeling assumptions and confirmation that required data is available.
• Client uploads any missing financial documents and confirms target-school priorities.
• Advisor builds baseline projections per school and prepares 3-4 funding scenarios tied to the confirmed assumptions.
• Schedule the Scenario Walkthrough meeting with required participants and share pre-read.
• Recap Current State & Consequence
• Weighted Decision Matrix
• Scenario Assumptions Overview
• Present Final Numbers & Key Metrics
• Confirm Financial Snapshot
• Stress Test & Contingency Planning
• Target School List & Preferences
• Confirm Implementation Timeline & Owners
• Scenario A — Savings-first (Proof)
• Risk Checklist & Contingency Triggers
• Scenario B — Balanced Aid + Loans (Proof)
• Quantify Consequence by School
• Validate Impact on Household Finances
• Formal Sign-off & Next Meeting Scheduling
• Agree Assumptions & Next Steps
• Confirm Final Adjustments
• Scenario C — Aid Optimization + Scholarships (Proof)
• Comparison Matrix
• Assign Owners & Timeline
• Sensitivity Check
• Validate & Confirm Preferred Scenario(s)

• Prepare and Submit FAFSA Forms
• Prepare and Submit CSS Profile
• Assemble and Upload Tax Documents for Aid
• Execute 529 Investment Reallocations
• Initiate 529-to-529 Rollovers
• Execute 529 Beneficiary Changes
• Produce Award Letter Comparison Spreadsheet
• Draft and Submit Financial Aid Appeal Letters
• Prepare and Submit Scholarship Applications
• Source and File Private Student Loan Applications
• Prepare and Submit Federal Student Loan Applications
• Enroll Borrower in Income-Driven Repayment
• Process College Enrollment Deposit Payments

Prepare and Submit FAFSA Forms

• For which enrollment year should we prepare the FAFSA? Options: Upcoming academic year, Current academic year, Next year / planning ahead, Not sure
• Who will be the primary FAFSA filer (select the household member(s) whose information will be reported)? Options: Parent/Guardian 1, Parent/Guardian 2, Student (independent), Other
• What is your filing status for the relevant tax year? Options: Married filing jointly, Married filing separately, Single / Head of household, Headed by one parent (divorced/separated), Not filed yet / pending
• Have FSA IDs been created for the student and parent(s)? Options: Yes — student and parent(s) created, Partially — some created, No — none created
• Do you want the advisor to complete and submit the FAFSA on your behalf (with consent), or guide you through it? Options: Advisor completes & submits (proxy), Advisor completes draft, family reviews & submits, Advisor guides family to submit themselves, Unsure / need more information
• List any unusual household circumstances that could affect FAFSA (e.g., recent job loss, one-time income, divorce, noncustodial parent issues).

Prepare and Submit CSS Profile

• Which colleges on your list require the CSS Profile? (list school names)
• Do the colleges require institutional documentation (e.g., noncustodial PROFILE, additional tax schedules)? Options: Yes — several require additional docs, Some schools require it, No — not required by your list, Not sure
• Will you need assistance identifying and gathering the CSS-specific items (business/farm schedules, asset statements, private school tuition)? Options: Yes — full support needed, Partial help (review only), No — family will handle
• Who will be listed as the parent(s) on each school's CSS Profile (sometimes differs by school)? Options: Parent 1 only, Parent 2 only, Both parents, Varies by school / need guidance
• Do you anticipate needing fee waivers for any CSS Profile submissions? Options: Yes — qualifying for one or more waivers, No, Not sure
• Please note any school deadlines or institutional deadlines for CSS submissions.

Assemble and Upload Tax Documents for Aid

• Which tax years will be needed for aid applications (e.g., prior-prior year, prior year)? Options: Prior-prior year (PPY), Prior year, Current year / estimate, Multiple years
• Do you have completed tax returns and W-2s available to upload now? Options: All documents available, Some documents available, No — need time to gather, Taxes not filed yet / filing extension
• Which of the following documents do you expect to provide? (select all that apply) Options: 1040 (federal), State tax returns, W-2s / 1099s, K-1s / business schedules, 1098-T / college invoices, Bank & brokerage statements
• Do you authorize the advisor to retrieve tax data via IRS Data Retrieval or to upload documents on your behalf? Options: Yes — retrieve/upload, No — family will upload, Need more information about the process
• Preferred upload method for sensitive tax documents: Options: Secure portal upload, Advisor uploads after receiving documents, Encrypted email, Other (describe)
• Are there special tax items to flag (business income/loss, recent sale of property, large IRA distributions, unemployment, one-time bonuses)?

Execute 529 Investment Reallocations

• How many 529 accounts do you currently hold and with which plan(s)? (list plan names and account owners)
• Are you requesting within-plan investment reallocations, or changes across age-based vs. static portfolios? Options: Within-plan reallocations, Switch between age-based and static, Both, Not sure — need advisor recommendation
• Are there target allocation goals or risk tolerances for the 529 (e.g., conservative, moderate, growth)? Options: Conservative, Moderate, Growth/aggressive, Use advisor recommendation
• Are any holdings subject to current lockups, limited windows, or blackout periods that we should be aware of? Options: Yes — restrictions exist, No, Not sure — need review
• Do you want reallocations timed to market windows or executed immediately? Options: Execute immediately, Schedule for specific date, Staged reallocation over time, Advisor to recommend timing
• Please list account numbers or upload statements to enable precise reallocation instructions.

Initiate 529-to-529 Rollovers

• Are you rolling between plans under the same owner or transferring ownership as part of the rollover? Options: Same owner, different plan, Change of owner during rollover, Changing beneficiary with rollover, Not sure / need guidance
• What is the target plan(s) for the rollover (state plan name or brokerage)?
• Is the rollover amount within the 12-month rollover limit rules and state gift-tax considerations? Options: Yes — amount confirmed, No — may exceed limits, Not sure — need advisor to verify
• Do you need assistance preparing rollover paperwork or initiating trustee-to-trustee transfers? Options: Yes — full assistance, Advisor to prepare & family to sign, No — family will handle
• Are there state tax recapture or residency rules we should consider for either plan? Options: Yes — state tax implications, No, Not sure — need review
• Preferred timeline for completing the rollover (date or milestone, e.g., before tuition due)?

Execute 529 Beneficiary Changes

• What is the requested beneficiary change (current beneficiary and new beneficiary name & relationship)?
• Is the beneficiary change due to a sibling transfer, generational shift, or other reason (e.g., child not attending)? Options: Sibling, Cousin/extended family, Next generation (grandchild), Other — explain
• Do you want to change the account owner at the same time as changing beneficiary? Options: Yes — change owner, No — owner stays the same, Maybe — need advisor guidance
• Are there anticipated financial aid implications from the beneficiary change we should analyze? Options: Yes — please analyze impact, No — negligible impact expected, Not sure — need advisor to model
• Please provide documentation required for the beneficiary change (birth certificate, SSN, ID) or note if you need a checklist.
• Preferred effective date for the beneficiary change. Options: Immediate, At next plan cycle, Before next tuition payment, Other (specify)

Produce Award Letter Comparison Spreadsheet

• Which colleges’ award letters will you provide for comparison? (list names)
• Do you have award letters already (PDFs/screenshots) to upload, or do you need the advisor to request them from schools? Options: Uploaded now, Will upload later, Advisor to request from schools, Not sure
• Which comparison fields are most important to you? (select all that apply) Options: Net price (COA - grants/scholarships), Grant/scholarship amounts, Federal loans included, Estimated family contribution (EFC/SED/EFG), Work-study offers, Out-of-pocket per year, Total cost over degree
• Do you want normalized comparisons across a standard cost-of-attendance or the school-reported COA? Options: Normalize to standard COA (advisor recommended), Use each school's COA, Both — show side-by-side
• Would you like a recommended ranked outcome (financially optimal choice) and suggested negotiation actions? Options: Yes — include recommendation & negotiation script, No — comparison only, Maybe — discuss options
• Do you want visualizations (charts/graphs) and scenarios for multi-year cost projections included? Options: Yes — include charts & projections, No — spreadsheet only, Optional — discuss during review

Draft and Submit Financial Aid Appeal Letters

• What is the primary reason for an appeal (loss of income, medical expenses, special circumstances, misreported info, cost of attendance adjustment)? Options: Loss of income/job change, Medical/extraordinary expenses, Family size / dependency override, Business loss / K-1 issues, Other — describe
• Which schools should receive appeal letters and by what deadline?
• Do you have supporting documentation available to attach (letters, medical bills, termination notices, revised tax docs)? Options: Yes — all docs ready, Some docs ready, No — need help collecting
• Do you prefer advisor-drafted letters for family review, or templates for family to customize? Options: Advisor drafts & submits, Advisor drafts for family review and signature, Provide templates and guidance, Family does all
• What outcome would you consider sufficient from appeals (amount of additional grant funding, need-based adjustment, merit re-evaluation)?
• Do any schools have published appeal instructions/forms we must follow (attach or note any special submission portals)? Options: Yes — attach instructions, No / standard process, Not sure — need advisor to check

Prepare and Submit Scholarship Applications

• Are you targeting institutional scholarships, external scholarships, or both? Options: Institutional (college-specific), External (private/community), Both
• Does the student have essays, resume, and recommendation letters ready or in progress? Options: All ready, Some ready, None prepared — need help
• Do you want advisor support to identify relevant external scholarships and deadlines? Options: Yes — full sourcing & filing, Partial — provide curated list, No — family will source
• Which scholarship application components require advisor assistance? (select all that apply) Options: Essay drafting, Resume polishing, Recommendation coordination, Application submission, Deadline tracking
• What are the top priority deadlines or target award dates we must meet?
• Do you want a calendar of deadlines and assigned owners for each scholarship application? Options: Yes — create calendar & assign owners, No — family will track, Maybe — discuss during scoping

Source and File Private Student Loan Applications

• How much in private loan financing do you anticipate needing (per year or total)? Options: Under $5,000, $5,000–$15,000, $15,000–$30,000, More than $30,000
• Will there be a co-signer on private loans, and if so, who? (relation and credit profile summary) Options: Yes — parent co-signer, Yes — other co-signer, No co-signer / student only, Undecided
• Do you have lender preferences or existing relationships (bank, credit union, marketplace)? Options: Specific lender(s) named, Open to recommended lenders, Prefer credit union/community lenders, Undecided
• Are you seeking rate comparison, term options, and repayment simulations as part of the sourcing? Options: Yes — need full comparison, Basic rate/term options only, No — family will handle
• What is your desired loan disbursement timeline relative to tuition due dates? Options: Before tuition due date, On tuition disbursement schedule, Flexible — within semester
• Please provide borrower credit indicators or consent to run prequalification checks.

• Engagement Letter / Fee Agreement
• Statement of Work (SOW)
• Consent to Access Financial Records
• Authorization to Prepare and File FAFSA/CSS
• Payment Authorization (ACH/Card)
• Timeline & Milestones Sign-off
• Roles & Responsibilities Agreement
• Acceptance Criteria & Success Metrics
• Data Privacy & Third-Party Sharing Agreement
• Electronic Signature & Communication Consent
• Cancellation and Termination Agreement

• Outcomes Validation Review
• Enrollment Funding Confirmation (Execution Walkthrough)
• Post-Enrollment Follow-up & Onboarding Support
• Multi-Year Plan Review & Stress Test
• Annual Review & Ongoing Support Enrollment Evolution

• Adjust savings contribution schedule or 529 investment allocations as agreed.
• Complete and submit final loan paperwork; confirm expected disbursement date with lender.
• Authorize a backup short-term transfer method and document the approval chain.
• Advisor to upload step-by-step billing portal guide and screenshots to the family folder.
• Confirm with school bursar that aid will be applied as modeled and capture any outstanding conditions.
• Opening & Status Recap
• Confirm all immediate post-enrollment administrative and financial tasks are completed or have owners with deadlines.
• Identify any award changes and decide on appeals or supplementary scholarship pursuits.
• Establish a clear ongoing communication schedule and escalation plan.
• Family to clear any bursar holds by submitting requested documentation (list items).
• Advisor to file scholarship appeals or applications identified during the meeting.
• Set up recurring quarterly check-ins in calendar and share the annual milestone plan.
• Confirm point of contact at the school for billing and financial aid and store contact details.
• One-sentence Current State & Assumptions
• Confirm whether the current multi-year plan is robust to key downside scenarios.
• Agree on concrete mitigation steps and who will implement them if triggers fire.
• Set monitoring triggers and a cadence for re-evaluation.
• Welcome & Meeting Objectives
• Document contingency borrowing strategy and threshold triggers (who to call, how to authorize).
• Advisor to update the multi-year model with finalized scenario assumptions and share with family.
• Set automated monitoring alerts for key triggers (income change, award reduction, major market shifts).
• Opening & One-sentence Current State
• Refresh the multi-year plan to reflect current financials and college status.
• Surface and prioritize new cost-saving opportunities or necessary adjustments.
• Agree on the upcoming year’s milestones and the advisory touchpoints.
• Advisor to produce an updated annual plan summary and checklist with assigned owners and dates.
• Family to provide any missing documents identified during the review (tax returns, account statements).
• Initiate any recommended actions identified (refinancing, scholarship applications, tax adjustments).
• Schedule the next annual review and interim check-ins based on agreed cadence.
• Confirm the family's enrollment decision and that the advisor and family agree on the chosen school.
• Validate that year-1 funding is in place and identify any remaining dollar gap and who will close it.
• Assign clear owners and deadlines for deposit, loan acceptance, and any follow-up documentation.
• Surface and document top contingencies and mitigation steps.
• Submit enrollment deposit by confirmed deadline (assign payer and amount).
• Finalize and sign loan acceptance/terms or decline loans; confirm cosigner if required.
• Transfer or schedule 529/cash disbursements to arrive before tuition due date.
• Advisor to draft a one-page Enrollment Funding Confirmation summary and share within 48 hours.
• Set calendar reminders for upcoming due dates (FAFSA follow-ups, tuition billing).
• Meeting Purpose & Pre-checklist
• Ensure every funding source has a clear execution owner, date, and required document list.
• Prevent timing gaps by aligning disbursement dates with tuition billing cycles.
• Establish one single documented payment flow the family can follow.
• Schedule and initiate 529 withdrawal to meet the tuition due date.
• Current State Statement
• Financial Year-in-Review
• Consequence Scenarios
• Administrative Checklist Review
• Verify Liquid Assets & 529 Availability
• Stress-test Results
• Review Award Letter Payment Flow
• College Status & Award Changes
• Consequence Quantification
• Award Changes & Scholarship Opportunities
• Opportunities & Recommendations
• Billing Holds and Financial Aid Conditions
• Mitigation Options & Tradeoffs
• Funding Summary & Allocation
• Loan Draw/Disbursement Plan
• Ongoing Support Plan
• Award Letter Reconciliation