At Accolade Financial we work with students and families of all ages, but want to share our best advice on when to start planning for college. It's easy—the earlier you start, the better. You'll save more money and be in better shape to be accepted...

Planning for retirement and paying for college go hand in hand. Whether you're a parent or a college graduate looking to pursue a graduate degree, there are a number of factors to consider. We strongly encourage you to fund an IRA, 401k, or other employee-sponsored...

2020 is right around the corner and it's time to get off on the right foot with college planning in the new year. Whether you're a freshman and your family is starting to think about college or a junior who has already started the process,...

Opening a 529 Plan is a good first step when planning on how to pay for college expenses. Many times parents or grandparents fund a 529 Plan for the benefit of their children or grandchildren to fund their higher education. It's a great way to...

Understanding what your financial aid package covers can be complicated. For students who have applied and been admitted to schools, you'll receive an award letter from each college once your FAFSA is completed. An award letter will break down the overall cost of attending the...

We can't emphasize this enough—start planning now if you want to save money on your student's college. We can help families who begin working with us in junior and senior years; but we can really help families who start planning for their freshman and sophomore...

Taking AP (advanced placement) courses in high school can save you money in college. Yes, really. AP courses aren’t for every student; they’re more difficult than a general high school course and sometimes have academic standards which need to be met before a student can...

A letter of recommendation from a high school teacher is a fairly common requirement in the college application process, but an extraordinary one can help your application truly stand out.    Which teacher should you ask It may be stating the obvious, but you should ask a teacher...

College fairs are a good opportunity to learn more about a prospective school. Many times, a college admissions officer will be joined by a local alumni or current student which provides you a chance to dig deeper and ask some questions whose answers may not...

There’s been much written about the importance of your college admission essay, or personal statement, over the years—it's your time to stand out so be sure to use your college essay to make a good impression. It’s your chance to impression admissions officers and really...