Distinguished Contributor Archives

Parenting

Preparing for Your First-Year Student’s Return Home

What’s sometimes overlooked in the preparation process is that the child you dropped off just a few months prior may be returning home transformed in one way or another with…

Patricia A. Roberts, J.D.October 25, 2025

Affording College

Is College Still Worth It? We Did the Math.

To answer that question, we reviewed the latest financial analyses as well as economic data going back decades. Then we pulled out our pencils and did a bunch of our…

Mitchel A. BaumOctober 23, 2025

Affording College Using Your 529

Celebrating the Many Rewards of Saving with a 529 Plan

By way of background, when our now recent grad was born, his father and I were still repaying a significant amount of student loan debt that we had accumulated to…

Patricia A. Roberts, J.D.October 20, 2025

Close-up of Benjamin Franklins eyes on the U.S.

Affording College

6 Financial Steps to Avoid When College Costs are Around the Corner

While some routes are better than others, others can have an adverse impact on your family’s financial health. Here are six financial missteps to avoid when college costs are soon…

Patricia A. Roberts, J.D.October 6, 2025

Using Your 529

The Power of Sharing Your 529 Plan Knowledge

We sometimes underestimate the positive impact we can have by sharing what we know about a topic with those who are less familiar. With National “529 Day” approaching (May 29),…

Patricia A. Roberts, J.D.October 2, 2025

Using Your 529

Options for School Refunds

Depending on the nature and timing of the change in direction, it’s possible that your child could be eligible for a partial refund from the institution they are attending. What…

Patricia A. Roberts, J.D.October 1, 2025

Affording College Junior Student Parenting

5 Reasons to Talk With Your Kid About College Financing Now

As a parent of a high school student, however, there’s no time like the present to have a candid conversation about college costs and the resources you have available to…

Patricia A. Roberts, J.D.September 24, 2025

Affording College

The Importance of Late-Stage College Savings

Between your child’s packed schedule plus the daily demands of your family’s life, it can feel like there aren’t enough hours in the day or enough dollars to cover today’s…

Patricia A. Roberts, J.D.September 14, 2025

Affording College Using Your 529

6 Smart Steps for Parents of Rising Juniors

This is the year when post-secondary pursuits will likely start to feel more “real” -- and a growing sense of what's next may start preoccupying minds. As such, junior year…

Patricia A. Roberts, J.D.August 17, 2025

Affording College

When 529 Funds Are Not Needed As Planned

The reasons parents find themselves no longer needing to fully utilize the value of their 529 account most typically relate to the student’s receipt of a full or partial scholarship,…

Patricia A. Roberts, J.D.August 11, 2025

Parenting Senior Student

Essential Money Conversations Before College Drop Off Day

Before college drop-off day, make sure you’ve had an open and honest conversation about the following topics if you haven’t already. 1. The overall cost of college There’s no sense…

Patricia A. Roberts, J.D.August 4, 2025

Senior Student Using Your 529

Weathering the First-Year Adjustment Phase

First-year students may express specific concerns, for instance, about the quality of food or residence halls, the workload in certain classes, roommate compatibility, or just garden variety homesickness. Some students…

Patricia A. Roberts, J.D.August 3, 2025

Distinguished Contributor

Trending Posts

Tags

Latest Articles

Categories

About Us

Articles

Timeline

Security Overview

OUR SECURITY PROMISE:

Safeguarding your own information: Account owner security checklist

Protect your account

Protect your computers, cell phone and other mobile devices

Keep your information secure

Practice safe web browsing

Create a strong password

Stay informed on the latest fraud threats

About Identity Theft

Identity theft prevention & protecting your personal information

Safeguarding your information and online transactions strong technologies and technical controls

Username and password requirements

Image verification during login

Security Questions

Customer verification

Strong encryption

Systems surveillance

Firewalls

Logging

Fraud detection

Restricted access to data

Employee education

Regularly refine and update security features