2017 EDUCATION MAGAZINE

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2017 EDUCATION MAGAZINE LINCOLN DAILY NEWS MARCH 1, 2017 Page 47
It is also important to realize there are fees associated
with these plans and any money withdrawn from the
plan and not used for education expenses will have a
tax penalty.
For those who have not been able to save, there are
many scholarships you can apply for.
Siddens says, “If your child is in high school, start
looking for scholarships. Contact the financial aid
office at the colleges you are interested in attending to
see what they have available.” She says “Most of the
area high schools have a list of scholarships. Check
with your employer. If you are a religion major, even
the church that you attend might have scholarships.”
Siddens also says, “There are online scholarship sites
where you can enter your personal information and
they will email you scholarships that are available.
One reputable site is .” Fast web offers
information on scholarships, financial aid, student
loans and more.
Bridget Schneider, a Certified Financial Planner with
Level Four Wealth Management in Lincoln has talked
to many people about saving for college education.
Schneider says, is a good
website she has directed many people to. The site
has links to 529 plans, college savings 101, college
planning, and some financial aid basics on both self-
help and gift aid.
Schneider says, “Financial planning and starting early
is important. It is good to work with a professional on
creating a financial plan for short and long-term goals.
It will help you have a clearer picture of where you
are going and how you will get there. Working with a
Certified Financial Planner professional can give you
peace of mind.”
Schneider also says, “If you have goals for saving
for your child’s college education, working with a
financial planner may be helpful.”
Schneider says not all scholarships are based on
academic performance, but it requires a lot of work
to find these scholarships. They might have some
unique requirements, so Schneider says to start early
in looking into these scholarships.
Filling out a financial aid application is important for
those who are getting ready to enter college.
Siddens says, “Every student attending college will
want to complete the Free Application for Federal
Student Aid which will determine their eligibility for
federal and state grants. The FAFSA can be completed
as early as October 1 for the next academic year. For
example, if a student will begin college in August
2018, complete the FAFSA as early as October 1,
2017.”
Completing the FAFSA will be helpful for knowing
your options for financing your college education and
for how much aid you may be eligible.
As Siddens says, “Don’t assume that going to college
will be too expensive for your family. Check out all
your options.”