Mar 26

Choosing a College You Can’t Afford

This title seems to go against everything we share at Capstone. We always talk about the importance of choosing a college you CAN afford. Occasionally though, we come across a case where a family really should choose a college they can’t afford, and we help them make the careful adjustments... read more →

Mar 19

Paying NCAA Athletes: What Does That Mean?

College sports is big business. The NCAA earns billions of dollars every year, and colleges are tax-exempt so their earnings are tax-free. Only a few sports make money--mainly football and basketball--and often some of the revenue from those two sports go towards paying for all the other sports offered by... read more →

Mar 13

Making the Most of Tax Advantaged Savings Plans

In an earlier blog, we took a look, in a general way, at some key investment concepts. Now, let's explore the tax implications of some investment options. We want you to choose the right tax advantaged investment vehicle. Your choice can have a huge impact in the long term. "In... read more →

Mar 03

The College Visit Scorecard and Money Questions You Need to Ask

When the calendar turns to March, many families start to plan college visits. High school sophomores and juniors hit the road over spring break and summer vacation to tackle an important (and fun!) part of the college search—the college visit. Physically walking a campus can be key to finding the... read more →

Feb 28

Investing 101: A Beginner’s Guide for Recent College Graduates

For young adults like recent college graduates, investing can seem like an impossible (and massively complex) undertaking. The majority of recent grads are just happy to have a job that makes enough to buy food, pay for the rent and for their car, and the occasional trip out with friends.... read more →

February 28, 2020
Joe Messinger, CFP®
Investing

Feb 19

How to Choose a 529 College Savings Plan

If you are a regular reader of Capstone’s college blog (or simply living and breathing), you know the price of college is soaring to record levels. To make this massive purchase, families are trying to save more and using 529 savings plans to do it. Although shockingly, only a third... read more →

Feb 14

Choosing a College: The Financial Aid Award Letter

High school seniors and their families are waiting on pins and needles in mid-February. They have acceptance letters from several colleges, but they might not know a very important key to the decision--how much it will cost! Colleges send out financial aid award letters to provide all the details, but... read more →

Feb 07

What Is a Credit Score and How Does Interest Work?

We hear the ads all the time--"Do you know your credit score?" The actors are just miserable because their credit score is "bad." What is a credit score anyway? How is it affected by our actions? How can we improve it? Why should we care? Credit scores and your credit... read more →

Jan 31

How much will college cost?

In 2019/20, the College Board reported the average public 4-year in-state, on-campus "all in" college cost was $26,590. When we originally wrote this article in 2017, the cost was $24,610. For private schools, the cost was $53,980 ($49,320 in 2017). So what does "all in" mean? Aren't we just looking... read more →

Jan 21

Smart Budgeting and Cash Flow for College Graduates

Did you have an allowance when you were a kid? Maybe some change or a few dollars if you did your chores? Were you the kid who spent your allowance right away or did you save all your pennies toward some big goal? Some of those habits may have followed... read more →