FAFSAFred (aka Jack Wang)
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fafsafred.bsky.social
FAFSAFred (aka Jack Wang)
@fafsafred.bsky.social
Helping families pay for college without taking on a truckload of debt | Host of Smart College Buyer podcast | Volleyball coach
College planning isn’t about math—it’s 95% emotion, 5% spreadsheets. Start early, play smart, skip the kidney sale. 🎓💸

🎙 zurl.co/BdOMT
📹 zurl.co/ezQAZ

#CollegePlanning #PayingForCollege #ParentingTeens
Vercel Security Checkpoint
pod.link
November 13, 2025 at 5:00 PM
Why Waiting Until Dec May Hurt Your Aid Package

Some state and college aid pools are first-come, first-served. Waiting too long may mean missing out on institutional grants.

With stricter borrowing limits (especially on Parent PLUS), you don’t want to lean too heavily on loans to fill the gap.
November 12, 2025 at 1:00 PM
Maxing retirement + borrowing for college = no early retirement. Tuition eats future plans. Know your numbers first.

I share more details in this episode of the Smart College Buyer podcast.
🎙 zurl.co/CbVjW
📽 zurl.co/M8Dxe

#CollegePlanning #StudentDebt #RetirementTradeoffs #MeritAid
November 10, 2025 at 1:01 PM
College costs = budget trade-offs. Spend more on tuition, spend less on everything else. Know your numbers before your kid picks a dream school.

Listen to this episode of the Smart College Buyer
🎙 zurl.co/CbVjW
📽 zurl.co/M8Dxe

#CollegePlanning #MeritAid #BudgetTips
November 6, 2025 at 1:01 PM
Scholarships are a numbers game! 🎯 The more your teen applies, the better their odds.

Listen to the latest episode of the Smart College Buyer podcast for more tips.
Podcast - zurl.co/mbjKK
Youtube - zurl.co/oLbfw

#Scholarships #ParentTips #CollegeBound
November 3, 2025 at 1:01 PM
College = house/car shopping. Know 3 numbers: what school thinks you can pay, what you can actually afford, and what you’re willing to pay. Set your range first, avoid surprise debt.

🎙 zurl.co/Zvbnk
YT - zurl.co/82ZJo

#CollegePlanning #MeritAid
November 1, 2025 at 12:01 PM
Colleges post huge sticker prices, then give the smallest scholarship to lure you. Apply where your kid’s top-quartile and the school has low yield. #TuitionDiscounting #MeritAid

zurl.co/EKIdP
October 31, 2025 at 12:00 PM
Parents: 💰 Check brands you already buy from—many offer free money for college. Help your teen apply early!

Get more tips in the latest epsiode of the Smart College Buyer podcast
Podcast - zurl.co/W4wyq
Youtube - zurl.co/mhiYM

#Scholarships #ParentTips #CollegeBound
October 30, 2025 at 12:01 PM
FAFSA is open! File early to boost your aid. Gather tax docs, W-2s, bank info & set up your FSA ID. Grants > loans this year.

#FAFSA #financialaid #collegeplanning #grants
October 29, 2025 at 12:00 PM
Parents: Skip the weekend job—help your teen apply for scholarships! 🎓💰 It pays more, builds confidence, and teaches real ROI.

Get more tips in the latest episode of the Smart College Buyer podcast.

Podcast - zurl.co/dqhar
Youtube - zurl.co/zHeip
October 27, 2025 at 12:01 PM
Your teen’s part-time job:
🧹 $12/hr cleaning tables
✏️ $1,000/hr writing scholarship essays

Math says: Apply. For. Scholarships. 💸

Nia Grant snagged $1M in awards by treating scholarship apps like a high-paying hustle.

Podcast - zurl.co/UkOrI
Youtube - zurl.co/zxNl0
October 25, 2025 at 12:01 PM
📖 Parents—don’t leave money on the table. Learn how your student can unlock the right scholarships and cut college costs.

zurl.co/qZngs
October 24, 2025 at 12:00 PM
🎓 There’s no one-size-fits-all college plan.

Your family deserves a strategy built around your savings, your student, and your goals — not cookie-cutter advice.

Plan smart now, so when the acceptance letter comes, the money plan’s ready too.

#CollegePlanning #SmartCollegeBuyer #FamilyFinance
October 22, 2025 at 12:00 PM
The Hidden College Planning Tug-of-War

Admissions says “apply early!”
Financial aid says “wait for the offers!”

If your strategy helps one side but hurts the other, it’s costing you 💸.

🎧 Learn how to align both on the Smart College Buyer Podcast.
zurl.co/Eje88
October 20, 2025 at 4:57 PM
New Law = Big Changes for Student Loans

➡️ PLUS loans are now limited
➡️ Private student loans are stepping in
➡️ But private loans = credit score + income requirements

📊 Don’t wait until the last minute. Check your credit profile NOW and prepare your finances before borrowing.

zurl.co/1BGit
October 17, 2025 at 12:00 PM
What helps your kid get in might cost you 💸 in aid or scholarships.

True college planning means aligning admissions + money strategy — not choosing one over the other.

🎧 Learn who can actually help
zurl.co/HSixC

#CollegePlanning #SmartCollegeBuyer #FinancialAid #Scholarships #FamilyFinance
October 16, 2025 at 12:01 PM
🛑 Don’t drain your retirement to pay for college.

With the right plan, you can protect savings 💰, cut debt 🎓, and still give your kid every opportunity to succeed.

🎧 Learn how on the Smart College Buyer Podcast.

zurl.co/fo2Cu

#CollegePlanning #SmartCollegeBuyer #FamilyFinance
October 15, 2025 at 12:00 PM
There’s no one-size-fits-all college plan.

Your family deserves a strategy built around your student, your savings, and your goals — not cookie-cutter advice.

🎧 Where to turn for help?
zurl.co/Y3MDY

#CollegePlanning #SmartCollegeBuyer #FamilyFinance #StudentLoans #PayingForCollege
October 14, 2025 at 12:01 PM
Most “college experts” only know half the game. 🎓
Counselors = admissions.
Advisors = money.
Aid officers = rules, not strategy.

Want to pay less for college? Find someone who knows all three.

🎧 Listen to the Smart College Buyer Podcast.
zurl.co/OcTtj

#CollegePlanning #FAFSA
October 9, 2025 at 4:05 PM
🎓 Why Price ≠ Value in College

A bigger price tag doesn’t always mean a better education. Smart families focus on:
💼 Career outcomes
📊 Debt vs. starting salary
🎯 Graduation & job placement rates

Sometimes, paying less sets your student up for more success.

Subscribe to my podcast zurl.co/5ob22
October 8, 2025 at 4:00 PM
GI Bill planning =
💡 With strategy: “Free college!”
😬 Without strategy: “Surprise bills + ramen diet.”

🎓 Plan ahead. Use benefits wisely.

Podcast - zurl.co/bKGr5
Buy the book - zurl.co/S62Dh

#MilitaryFamilies #GIBill #CollegePlanning
October 6, 2025 at 12:01 PM
🎓 Free money alert: Pell Grants can cover tuition, housing, books, even bus fare—and you don’t have to pay it back. Max award for 2025-26? $7,395.

Parents: don’t miss this. Click the link to see if your student qualifies!

zurl.co/a6BwT

#PellGrant #FAFSA #CollegeFunding #PayingForCollege
October 3, 2025 at 12:00 PM
GI Bill ≠ free magic college card. 🎩✨
➡️ Mess up the transfer? Gone.
➡️ Pick the wrong school? Bye-bye housing $.
➡️ Forget taxes? Hello, IRS 👋

🎓 Plan now. 4 years. All in. No surprises.

Podcast - zurl.co/hnf0d
Buy the book - zurl.co/DJd7K

#MilitaryFamilies #GIBill #CollegePlanning
October 2, 2025 at 12:01 PM
Thanks so much to Erin Gobler and Crediblefor including me in this article on an issue that is increasingly important to student loan borrowers given the new law passed.

www.credible.com/refinance-st...
Student Loan Rehabilitation vs. Consolidation
Find out which option is best for you.
www.credible.com
September 30, 2025 at 4:36 PM
GI Bill for college? Powerful.

But:
Equal split = MRE for dinner
Zip code = $$$ or peanuts
August bill, Sept VA check = awkward

🎓 Plan ahead. Use your 36 months wisely.
Get THROUGH college, not just TO it.

Podcast - zurl.co/v4lTR
Buy the book - zurl.co/PB5Bn

#MilitaryFamilies #GIBill
September 29, 2025 at 12:01 PM