About Joe Messinger, CFP®

Joe is a leading authority on late-stage college funding. He frequently speaks to organizations and parent groups such as BMI Credit Union, Westerville City Schools, At the Core, CollegeWire, and I Know I Can, among others. He is also a highly regarded thought leader in the financial planning community. He is frequently asked to speak at industry conferences about his College Pre-Approval™ process providing Continued Education for CPA’s and CFP® through through the FPA, XYPN, and OSCPA and has been published in the Journal for Financial Planning.

Quirks of the Financial Aid Application: Answers to Some FAFSA FAQ

When you think about financial aid, “quirky” might not be the first word that comes to mind. However, with something so complex as finances and all the different personal situations... read more →

All You Need to Know About the FSA ID

Part of the college application process for seniors is applying for financial aid and/or student loans by filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid or FAFSA. The very... read more →

Cwp Only 41% Of Undergraduates Finish In 4 Years

New Student Loan Forgiveness Plan

Recently, President Joe Biden announced a sweeping student loan forgiveness plan. We want to clarify what, exactly, this plan is, and the key information you need to know. Student Loan... read more →

September 13, 2022
Joe Messinger, CFP®
College, College Planning, Financial Planning

Only 41% of Undergraduates Finish in 4 years

Updated September 2022. If your goal is to keep the cost of college down, it's critical that your student graduates in four years. The average price of college tuition today... read more →

The Most Dangerous Words in College Planning

"If you get in, we'll make it work." These 8 words are by far the most dangerous words in college planning. We hear from parents who have told their children... read more →

Today’s Colleges: Sophisticated Marketing Machines

We have to warn you. The competition for your student is fierce. Many parents already know what we’re talking about. When your student reaches high school (often after they register... read more →

Why Are Students Dropping Out of College?

This fact may shock you...as of 2022, the college dropout rate is up 32.9%. Undergraduate freshmen have a one-year dropout rate of 24.1%. These numbers are startling, especially for parents... read more →

Action Plan for College: Junior Year

Junior year is when students can start to see the finish line of high school. They are actively thinking about their next steps--college, career, or maybe military? Things have become... read more →

Action Plan for College: Sophomore Year

Sophomore year is a time when high school students have settled in. They know the drill, and are comfortable with how high school works. At this point, they will start... read more →

Action Plan for College: Freshman Year

In your child's freshman year, everything about high school is new (and sometimes kind of scary). New school, new classes, new classmates, new teachers...your child is starting on the next... read more →