Smart Money Moves for the College-Bound™ WEBINAR
2022-10-26 19:00 - 20:30 (America/Halifax), 2023-02-22 19:00 - 20:30 (America/Halifax), 2023-08-02 19:00 - 20:30 (America/New_York), 2023-10-25 19:00 - 20:30 (America/New_York) | Webinar
Join Joe Messinger for his Smart Money Moves for the College-Bound ™ WEBINAR.
Joe answers parent’s biggest questions about paying for college in Smart Money Moves for the College-Bound:
Where can we get into college?
Where can we get the most financial aid and scholarship money?
What strategies are available to me if I make too much money to qualify for financial aid?
What colleges can we afford based on our personal resources?
All registrants receive a recording of the webinar.
Joe Messinger, CFP®, is passionate about empowering families to become informed consumers of higher education. Don’t pay a penny more for college than you absolutely have to!
Joe works with families to help demystify the college funding process and is widely recognized as an expert in college planning.
Register Here

How to Appeal to Colleges for More FREE MONEY
2023-03-02 19:00 - 20:30 UTC | Webinar
Capstone Wealth Partners is excited to be presenting HOW TO APPEAL TO COLLEGES FOR MORE FREE MONEY – WEBINAR.
Congratulations seniors! You got into your dream school! Now you are receiving financial aid award letters and you need to figure out how to pay the bill.
Join nationally recognized college funding expert Joe Messinger, CFP® as he shows you how to:
– Decipher financial aid award letters
– Determine if you got a good deal
– Successfully appeal for more FREE MONEY
– Decide if it makes sense to appeal or not
– Compare the net cost of each school side-by-side
Unable to join us Thursday night? No problem! All who register will receive a recording of the webinar they can watch on demand.
Joe Messinger, CFP®, is passionate about empowering families to become informed consumers of higher education so that they don’t pay a penny more for college than they absolutely have to. He works with families to help demystify the college funding process and is widely recognized as an expert in college planning.
Register Here

Class of 2024: Your College Planning Task/Timeline Preview!
2023-04-12 19:00 - 20:00 (America/Halifax) | Webinar
Do you have a high school junior who is college-bound? This is an important time to get a handle on the college planning and financial tasks ahead for your family. Join Beth Probst, founder and CEO of At The Core, and Joe Messinger, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ of Capstone Wealth Partners, for an hour of support and resources to get your family started on the process. Don’t miss this unique opportunity to get the support your family needs from these two experts in college planning!
TWO OPTIONS TO WATCH:
• Register and watch live on 4/12/23
• Register and watch on your schedule (after the live event)
Register Here
We will be providing a recording of this FREE webinar to all who register so your family can watch when it fits your schedule.
INTENDED AUDIENCE: Parents and Students – Grade 11
Topics include:
• College prep tasks (research, applying, essays, etc.)
• Financial tasks during college planning (affordability, FAFSA, scholarships, etc.)
• Key dates for your family in the coming months
• Common areas of struggle for families during this process
• Resources available

Smart Money Moves for the College-Bound™ WEBINAR
2025-02-19 19:00 - 20:00 (America/New_York)
Join Joe Messinger for his Smart Money Moves for the College-Bound ™ WEBINAR.

Capstone Wealth Partners is excited to be presenting Smart Money Moves for the College-Bound™ WEBINAR in partnership with our good friends, At The Core.
How will you pay for your child’s college education?
Scholarships, loans, FAFSA, savings, 529s, appeals…there are many moving parts to understand.
Nationally recognized college planning expert Joe Messinger, CFP® will share his 5 Critical Steps to an Affordable Education during this free webinar on February 19th at 7:00pm.
Our conversation will include:

How your family will be impacted by the FAFSA Simplification Act
Finding the colleges giving away the most free money (financial aid and scholarships)
Strategies for high income families
Having the college money talk with your kids
Successfully appealing to colleges for additional scholarship money

Parents can rest easy knowing they’ll finish the program as informed consumers of a college education.
Can’t watch live? Register and receive the recording.
Joe Messinger, CFP®, is passionate about empowering families to become informed consumers of higher education. Don’t pay a penny more for college than you absolutely have to!
Joe works with families to help demystify the college funding process and is widely recognized as an expert in college planning.

Register Here

Class of 2026: Your College Planning Tasks/Timeline Preview
2025-03-11 18:30 - 19:30 (America/New_York)
Class of 2026 (current juniors), are you ready for the college application tasks ahead? And are you making a plan to pay for college?
The weeks of spring and summer are the best time to get serious about college prep. Getting started early lifts the stress of waiting until school starts. Not sure where to begin? We can help.
Join two of the most trusted names in college planning, Beth Probst from At The Core, and Joe Messinger from Capstone Wealth Partners, for this FREE webinar, as they outline the process to ensure your family is AWARE OF WHAT’S AHEAD and UNDERSTANDS THE RESOURCES that are available to support your efforts.
REGISTER HERE!
We’ll discuss:
–> College prep tasks
–> Financial aid applications (FAFSA, CSS Profile)
–> Scholarship applications
–> Time-sensitive college cost-cutting strategies
–> Timelines
–> Common areas of struggle
–> Resources to help you
If you have attended one of At The Core’s Junior Year webinars in the past year, this program will be a good refresher of the coming tasks. Plus, we’re excited to have Joe join us to discuss the money side of the process.
All registrants will receive a recording. The recording will be available until 5/15/25. And as an added bonus, all LIVE event attendees will receive two valuable discounts.
Please note that not all questions may be answered during the program due to time constraints.
We look forward to seeing you. If you haven’t yet, please click this link to register now.

Smart Money Moves For the College-Bound™ - WEBINAR
2025-05-14 19:00 - 20:00 (America/New_York)
Capstone Wealth Partners is excited to be presenting our Smart Money Moves for the College-Bound™ WEBINAR in partnership with our good friends, At The Core.
REGISTER HERE!
How will you pay for your child’s college education? Scholarships, loans, FAFSA, savings, 529s, appeals… there are SO MANY moving parts.

Join nationally-recognized college planning expert, Joe Messinger, CFP®, ChFC, CLU, CCFC and learn his 5 Critical Steps to an Affordable Education during this free webinar on May 14th at 7:00 PM ET.
By attending this webinar, you will learn:

How the FAFSA Simplification Act impacts families
How to find the colleges giving away the most free money (financial aid and scholarships)
Strategies for high income families to get more free money for college
How to have the college money talk with your children
How to successfully appeal to colleges for additional scholarship money

Parents will finish the program as informed consumers of college education and rest easier knowing they now have a leg up on other college applicants.
Can’t watch live? No problem! All registrants will receive a recording of the webinar the next day, so register here today.

Smart Money Moves for the College-Bound™ - June 24, 2025
2025-06-24 19:00 - 20:00 (America/New_York) | Webinar
Capstone Wealth Partners is excited to be presenting our Smart Money Moves for the College-Bound™ WEBINAR in partnership with our good friends, Estrela Consulting.
REGISTER HERE!
How will you pay for your child’s college education? Scholarships, loans, FAFSA, savings, 529s, appeals… there are SO MANY moving parts.

Join nationally-recognized college planning expert, Joe Messinger, CFP®, ChFC, CLU, CCFC and learn his 5 Critical Steps to an Affordable Education during this free webinar on May 14th at 7:00 PM ET.
By attending this webinar, you will learn:

How the FAFSA Simplification Act impacts families
How to find the colleges giving away the most free money (financial aid and scholarships)
Strategies for high income families to get more free money for college
How to have the college money talk with your children
How to successfully appeal to colleges for additional scholarship money

Parents will finish the program as informed consumers of college education and rest easier knowing they now have a leg up on other college applicants.
Can’t watch live? No problem! All registrants will receive a recording of the webinar the next day, so register here today.

How Do Divorced Families Pay for College?
2025-08-26 19:00 - 20:00 (America/New_York) | Webinar
Not all marriages last forever, so when children of divorce grow up to be college-bound students, parents need to know how their divorce impacts their college cost bottom line. During this webinar, we’ll review :

Insider tips for Divorced Families
How Divorced Families Can Cut the Cost of College
Which Parent Should Fill Out Financial Forms
Which Schools Require Both Parents to Fill Out Financial Aid Forms
How to Determine Your Student Aid Index

Join nationally recognized college planning expert, Joe Messinger, CFP®, ChFC, CLU, CCFC and college planning consultant, Alyson Campbell of Estrela Consulting, for this FREE webinar, and learn the best practices for getting the right education for the right price.
Can’t make the live webinar? No worries. We’ll email you a copy of the broadcast the next day.
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER NOW!

Decoding College Testing: Your Guide to the SAT and ACT
2025-09-10 19:00 - 20:00 (America/New_York) | Webinar
SAT? ACT? Or skip the test entirely? With shifting policies, new test formats, and changing scholarship rules, navigating college admissions testing has never been more complex.
Join us as test prep expert Brian Stewart and certified college financial consultant Joe Messinger break down what’s changed, what still matters, and how students can make smart testing decisions in today’s evolving admissions landscape.
REGISTER HERE FREE

Smart Money Moves for the College-Bound™
2025-09-17 19:00 - 20:00 (America/New_York) | Webinar
Capstone Wealth Partners is excited to be presenting Smart Money Moves for the College-Bound™ WEBINAR in partnership with our friends at BWS Education Consulting.
During this presentation, you will learn:

How the FAFSA Simplification Act will impact families.
How to find schools that will be the most generous with financial aid and scholarship money.
Strategies available for high income families to get more free money for college.
How to have the college money talk with kids.
How to successfully appeal to colleges for more scholarship money.

Join nationally recognized college planning expert, Joe Messinger, CFP®, ChFC, CLU, CCFC and college testing consultant, Brian Stewart, to become an informed consumer of higher education. (All who register will receive a recording of the webinar, so if you can’t make the live, no worries!)
REGISTER HERE FREE

College Costs Series: Common Pitfalls with Aid Applications
2025-10-08 19:00 - 20:00 (America/New_York) | Webinar
The journey to college is filled with excitement—and forms. The FAFSA and CSS Profile are your keys to unlocking financial aid, but a single mistake can cost you thousands.
In this essential webinar, we’ll walk through the most common and costly errors families make on their college financial aid applications. Learn how to navigate the new FAFSA, understand the CSS Profile’s deeper dive, and avoid the simple blunders that could jeopardize your student’s college dreams.
In this webinar, you will learn:

How a single blank field or typo can delay your application and lose you aid.
The difference between FAFSA and CSS Profile asset reporting and how to manage your finances for maximum eligibility.
Why filing late is a serious mistake, and how to stay on top of crucial deadlines.
The “special circumstances” that can help you get more aid, and how to effectively communicate them to colleges.
The most common errors with household size, parental information, and tax data that can completely derail your application.

Join certified college financial consultant, Joe Messinger, and college planning consultant, Amber Gilsdorf, for this educational hour and Q&A session.
REGISTER AND CLAIM YOUR FREE SPOT
Can’t make the live session? No worries! All registrants will be emailed a copy of the webinar recording and slide deck the next day.

The College Admission Edge, Part 1: Building a Great List
2025-11-05 19:00 - 20:00 (America/New_York) | Webinar
A good college list is about more than just your GPA and test scores. It’s about finding the right schools for you—academically, socially, and financially. It’s a crucial step that can mean the difference between a great college experience and a mountain of student debt.
In part one of our two-part series, The College Admission Edge, we’ll help you and your student cut through the noise and build a college list with confidence. We’ll demystify the college search process by exploring the current admission landscape, which operates much like a business. We’ll give you a new way to think about how colleges decide who to admit, how much they’re willing to pay for you, and how to spot a “likely admit” for your student.
In this essential webinar, you’ll learn how to:

Move beyond “brand names” and build a college list that is a great fit for your student’s unique needs and goals.
Understand what colleges are really looking for, including key trends in admissions and how colleges use data to build a class.
Save thousands of dollars by learning how to identify which colleges are likely to give you the most “free money.”
Avoid common mistakes like misinterpreting “demonstrated interest” and wasting time on schools that aren’t a good fit.
Navigate college visits effectively to get a true sense of the campus culture and whether it’s the right place for you.

Can’t make the live session? No worries! All registrants will be emailed a copy of the webinar recording and slide deck the next day.
RESERVE YOUR SPOT NOW

The College Admission Edge, Part 2: How to Get Into the World’s Most Selective Colleges + Case Studies
2025-11-12 19:00 - 20:30 (America/New_York) | Webinar
You’re a high-achieving student with big goals, and you’ve set your sights on a highly selective college. But what does it really take to get in when the acceptance rate is in the single digits? It’s about more than just a 4.0 GPA and a perfect SAT score. It’s about understanding the unspoken rules of highly selective admissions and crafting a unique application that can’t be ignored.
In this webinar, we’ll pull back the curtain on the “secret sauce” of highly selective college admissions. We’ll help you and your student move beyond the myths and develop a strategy to truly stand out from the crowd. We’ll share what these colleges are looking for and give you the tools to create an application that highlights your unique strengths and passions.
During this session, you’ll learn:

What “highly selective” really means and how to set realistic expectations for the application process.
The “secret sauce” that sets apart successful applicants, including the key qualities and experiences that selective colleges are truly seeking.
How to craft a compelling narrative through your essays, activities, and recommendations that tells your unique story.
The biggest mistakes students make when applying to selective schools and how to avoid them.
How to stand out and demonstrate your passion in a way that resonates with admissions officers.

Can’t make the live session? No worries! All registrants will be emailed a copy of the webinar recording and slide deck the next day.
RESERVE YOUR SPOT FREE

Smart Money Moves for the College-Bound - Alabama School of Fine Arts (Private)
2025-12-03 19:00 - 20:00 (America/New_York) | Webinar
Capstone Wealth Partners is excited to be presenting Smart Money Moves for the College-Bound™ WEBINAR in partnership with the Alabama School of Fine Arts.
During this presentation, you will learn:

How much college think you can afford vs. how much your family can afford
The key differences between the FAFSA and CSS Profile
How to find schools that will be the most generous with financial aid and scholarship money
How to have the college money talk with kids
How to successfully appeal to colleges for more scholarship money
The college funding gap and resulting student loans

Join nationally recognized college planning expert, Joe Messinger, CFP®, ChFC, CLU, CCFC to become an informed consumer of higher education and find ways to save BIG on the cost of college.
All who register will receive a recording of the webinar, so if you can’t make the live session, no worries!
(This is a private event for the families with the Alabama School of Fine Arts. If you have any questions about the webinar, please contact us at info@fkl.bcv.mybluehost.me.)

Smart Money Moves for the College-Bound™ (St. Charles Preparatory School, PRIVATE)
2026-02-04 19:00 - 20:00 (America/New_York) | Webinar
Capstone Wealth Partners is excited to be presenting Smart Money Moves for the College-Bound™ WEBINAR in partnership with St. Charles Preparatory School.
During this presentation, you will learn:
* Key differences in the FAFSA and CSS Profile
* How to find schools that will be the most generous with financial aid and scholarship money.
* Strategies available for high income families to get more free money for college.
* How to have the college money talk with kids.
* How to successfully appeal to colleges for more scholarship money.
Join nationally recognized college planning expert, Joe Messinger, CFP®, ChFC, CLU, CCFC, to become an informed consumer of higher education and find ways to save BIG on the cost of college.
All who register will receive a recording of the webinar, so if you can’t make the live, no worries!
This is a private event, so if you need to register or are having difficulties registering, please contact us.

College Costs Series: Understanding & Challenging Your Aid Package
2026-02-11 19:00 - 20:00 (America/New_York) | Webinar
Congratulations! You’ve received your college acceptance letters — but the financial aid offer at your top-choice school isn’t quite what you expected. Before you let your “dream school” slip away, it’s time to learn how to advocate for the funding YOU deserve.
The college financial aid process doesn’t have to end with your initial award letter. In this session of our College Costs Series, we will pull back the curtain on the “appeals” process, showing you how to strategically request more aid.
Whether your family has experienced a recent financial shift or you simply want to leverage a better offer from a competing institution, we will give you the tools to bridge the gap.
What We Will Cover:

Deciphering the Award Letter: Learn how to identify “gift aid” (grants and scholarships) vs. “self-help aid” (loans and work-study) to find your true out-of-pocket cost.
Special Circumstance Appeals: How to formally request a “Professional Judgment” review if your family has experienced a significant change, such as job loss, medical expenses, or divorce, that isn’t reflected on the FAFSA.
Competitive Appeals & Matching: Strategies for using offers from other colleges to negotiate a more competitive package at your preferred school.
Budget & Dependency Appeals: Understanding how to challenge your Cost of Attendance (COA) or request a dependency override in unique situations.
The Appeal Timeline: Knowing when to reach out to the financial aid office to maximize your chances of success before funds run out.

Who Should Attend:

High school seniors and their parents navigating the spring “decision window.”
Current college students whose financial situations have changed mid-year.
Guidance counselors looking to support families in the negotiation process.

Don’t leave money on the table. Join us for this interactive session and walk away with a clear action plan and the confidence to challenge your aid package. Click the link below to reserve your spot now.
RESERVE YOUR SPOT

College Costs Series: Understanding & Challenging Your Aid Package
2026-02-11 19:00 - 20:00 (America/New_York) | Webinar
Congratulations! You’ve received your college acceptance letters — but the financial aid offer at your top-choice school isn’t quite what you expected. Before you let your “dream school” slip away, it’s time to learn how to advocate for the funding YOU deserve.
The college financial aid process doesn’t have to end with your initial award letter. In this session of our College Costs Series, we will pull back the curtain on the “appeals” process, showing you how to strategically request more aid.
Whether your family has experienced a recent financial shift or you simply want to leverage a better offer from a competing institution, we will give you the tools to bridge the gap.
What We Will Cover:

Deciphering the Award Letter: Learn how to identify “gift aid” (grants and scholarships) vs. “self-help aid” (loans and work-study) to find your true out-of-pocket cost.
Special Circumstance Appeals: How to formally request a “Professional Judgment” review if your family has experienced a significant change, such as job loss, medical expenses, or divorce, that isn’t reflected on the FAFSA.
Competitive Appeals & Matching: Strategies for using offers from other colleges to negotiate a more competitive package at your preferred school.
Budget & Dependency Appeals: Understanding how to challenge your Cost of Attendance (COA) or request a dependency override in unique situations.
The Appeal Timeline: Knowing when to reach out to the financial aid office to maximize your chances of success before funds run out.

Who Should Attend:

High school seniors and their parents navigating the spring “decision window.”
Current college students whose financial situations have changed mid-year.
Guidance counselors looking to support families in the negotiation process.

Don’t leave money on the table. Join us for this interactive session and walk away with a clear action plan and the confidence to challenge your aid package.
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER NOW!

Smart Money Moves for the College-Bound™ (Alabama School of Fine Arts)
2026-04-14 19:00 - 20:00 (America/New_York)
Capstone Wealth Partners is excited to be presenting Smart Money Moves for the College-Bound™ WEBINAR in partnership with the Alabama School of Fine Arts, Indian Springs School, Homewood High School, and Mountain Brook High School.
During this presentation, you will learn:
* How much colleges think you can afford vs. how much your family can afford
* The key differences between the FAFSA and CSS Profile
* How to find schools that will be the most generous with financial aid and scholarship money
* How to have the college money talk with kids
* How to successfully appeal to colleges for more scholarship money
* The college funding gap and resulting student loans
* How to access your FREE College Money Report™ that will tell you exactly how much you’ll have to pay for college… down to the penny!
Join nationally recognized college planning expert, Joe Messinger, CFP®, ChFC, CLU, CCFC to become an informed consumer of higher education and find ways to save BIG on the cost of college.
All who register will receive a recording of the webinar, so if you can’t make the live, no worries!
(This is a private event for families with students at the Alabama School of Fine Arts, Indian Springs School, Homewood High School, and Mountain Brook High School. If you have any questions about the webinar, please contact us at info@capstonewealthpartners.com.)

College Costs Series: Smart Payment Strategies
2026-04-15 19:00 - 20:00 (America/New_York) | Webinar
We hear it all the time, “If you get into college, we’ll make it work.”
Before you sign on the dotted line and commit to one of the BIGGEST investments of your life, you NEED a plan that covers more than just the first semester.
Join Estrela Consulting and me for this webinar where we’ll move you beyond the college savings basics and help you build a comprehensive roadmap for all four years — down to the penny.
During this webinar, we will cover:

Maximizing Assets: How to best utilize your 529 plan and identify other assets that can be applied to college costs.
Optimizing Cash Flow: Strategies for managing ongoing expenses during the college years.
Smart Lending: Understanding the different types of loans available and determining exactly when to use them.
Comprehensive Planning: How to build a total funding strategy before you commit to the first bill.

Don’t go into the college years guessing. Join us on April 15th at 7 p.m. to learn how to build the perfect strategic payment plan that works for your family — and your wallet.
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER NOW
