financial advice & planning

Types of Alternative Tuition Plans for College

By College Raptor StaffLast updated on December 22, 2022

Alternative tuition plans are designed to help students pay their college fees without taking out expensive student loans. There are three main types of alternative tuition plans – Prepaid Tuition Plan, Tuition Guarantee Plan, and Tuition Payment Plan. All three work differently and have different terms and conditions. The most notable benefit of alternative tuition …

financial advice & planning

Who Gets the COVID-19 Stimulus Check – Dependent or Independent Students?

By College Raptor StaffLast updated on December 22, 2022

The economic fallout from COVID-19 has been jarring. It jeopardizes the finances of families and businesses across America. Among those the changes hit hardest are college students. Which is where a stimulus check could come in handy. However, the rules are different for independent vs. dependent students. Here’s what you need to know. Colleges Blindsided …

financial advice & planning

How to Find the Best Savings Account Rates

By Hilary CairnsLast updated on January 24, 2023

As we’ve talked about in previous articles, you don’t want to choose just any savings account for your money. Something you need to consider when selecting a new account is the rate. So how do you find the best rates for a savings account? Start with Research Rates can vary from bank to bank and …

financial advice & planning

Can You Get a Personal Loan with Bad Credit?

By Hilary CairnsLast updated on March 1, 2023

When you think about getting a personal loan, something you need to know is your credit score. When is the last time you checked yours? But if you find your score is bad, can you still qualify for a personal loan? We cover that here in this article. Yes, You Can Still Qualify Yes, you …

financial advice & planning

How to Use a Personal Loan Calculator to Plan Out Your Loan

By Hilary CairnsLast updated on December 22, 2022

Whether you have a loan or you’re looking at your current loan options, a personal loan calculator can absolutely come in handy for your finances. Are you using it to its full potential? We cover how you can make the most of it for your loans in this article. Make Sure Your Information is Accurate …

financial advice & planning

How to Find the Best Savings Account for You

By Hilary CairnsLast updated on December 22, 2022

When it comes time to obtain a savings account, do you know where to look? Or what process you should follow? It may take time to find the best savings account for your needs. Check out these tips: Shop Around You shouldn’t opt for the first savings account you come across if you can help …

financial advice & planning

8 Vital Finance Tips For College Students to Save Money

By College Raptor StaffLast updated on May 22, 2023

College presents a lot of financial challenges to students and their families. There are scholarships to win, tuition prices to consider, loans to take out, debt to repay. Not to mention many college students are financially on their own for the first time, and have to deal with budgets, paychecks, and the like. Check out these …

financial advice & planning

How Parents Can Start on Their Child’s College Finance Planning

By College Raptor StaffLast updated on December 22, 2022

With college fees increasing every year, it has become impossible for the average parent to pay their child’s tuition entirely on their own. Making smart saving decisions will at least help you cover a larger part of the fees while keeping your child’s student debt to the minimum. And it definitely pays to start thinking …

financial advice & planning

How EFC Affects Your College Cost and Financial Aid Planning

By College Raptor StaffLast updated on January 24, 2023

Saving or raising money to pay for college can be a long and challenging process. There are a lot of elements that go into the planning, and so many affect one another. One of the biggest factors when it comes to financial aid is EFC. Let’s break it down. What is EFC? EFC stands for …

financial advice & planning

What Are The 529 Plan Rules?

By College Raptor StaffLast updated on December 22, 2022

When it comes to saving for college, 529 plans are often at the forefront of many parents’ savings research and goals. However, there are a lot of rules and information to digest. States offer 529 plans to give parents a way to save for their kids’ college tuition. Parents who start saving in a 529 …