College Funding Solutions

You love your kids, but why give up your retirement to pay for their education? Where do you start?

We know that paying for college is one of the biggest financial challenges that families face.
You love your kids. But you shouldn’t have to sacrifice your retirement to pay for their education.

Our College Funding Solutions are designed to help families across Texas. We are happy to serve all of Texas to include Dallas, Fort Worth, Austin, San Antonio, Houston, Waco, The Woodlands, and Tyler. We guide you through the complicated and overwhelming process of college planning.

College Planning Without Sacrificing Your Future

College costs continue to rise. Admissions are more competitive than ever. It’s easy to feel lost. Our experts work with you to build a plan that fits your financial needs and your child’s educational goals.
We partner with the American College Foundation and College Funding Solutions.

Our partnerships will help you to:

* Get your child accepted into their dream school
* Find and apply for scholarships and grants
* Secure financial aid that reduces your out-of-pocket costs
* Avoid unnecessary student debt
* Protect your retirement savings

Why College Planning Matters

Top universities and colleges are hard to get into. They’re also expensive. Many schools don’t offer merit-based scholarships. Instead, they focus on need-based aid.
This can leave families with large bills, even if they qualify for some assistance.
We’ll help you understand what to expect, provide a blueprint, and walk you through the process.
Our goal is to help your child succeed, without putting your financial future at risk.

The Plush Retirement Approach

Our college planning services take a complete view of your situation. We help with:

Application Strategy: We match your child with schools that are a good academic and financial fit.
Financial Aid Navigation: We help complete FAFSA and TASFA forms. We also explain how House Bill 3 (HB3) affects graduation and aid eligibility.
Scholarship Search: We show you how to find local, national, and school-specific scholarships.
Cost Comparisons: We help you understand the total cost. That includes tuition, fees, housing, and more.
Debt Planning: We build a plan to reduce or avoid student loans.

Common Challenges Families Face

Low acceptance rates at top schools
Aid packages that don’t meet their needs
Complex application forms and deadlines
Confusing financial aid rules
Pressure and stress that affect both parents and students

We’re here to simplify it all. You don’t have to go through this alone. We’ll walk you through every step.

We serve families throughout Texas. That includes:

Dallas and Fort Worth, where competition is high
Austin and San Antonio, where college costs continue to rise
Houston, with its large and diverse student population
Waco, Tyler, and The Woodlands, where access to resources can be limited

Wherever you live, we provide the same expert guidance. We customize your plan based on your needs.

The biggest challenge to getting into the best college and paying the best price often comes down to a combination of academic competition, financial planning, navigating the admissions process effectively, processing information, and handling the stress and anxiety to make the right decision.

Scholarship Search App

Scholly-a scholarship match service ($3 fee to register)

Scholarships for undocumented students:

https://mydocumentedlife.org/category/high-school-scholarships

Scholarship Resources and Search Engines:

https://www.scholarships.com/

www.freschinfo.com/index/phtml

www.fastweb.com

www.studentaid.ed.gov

www.cappex.com/scholarships

www.needalift.org

www.scholarsite.com

www.hsf.net

https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/scholarship-search

Additional Resources:

College FS: https://mycollegeinfo.com/advisor-ric-carroll/
American College Foundation: https://americancollegefoundation.org/regional-director-ric-carroll/
Texas Comptroller Alphabetical Index to Scholarships: https://comptroller.texas.gov/programs/education/msp/funding/aid/faidalpha.php .

Applying to more than one Texas School?

Beginning in 2021-2022, each student must do one of the following in order to graduate:

complete and submit a free application for federal student aid (FAFSA) : (FAFSA)

complete and submit a Texas application for state financial aid (TASFA) : (TASFA)

submit a signed opt-out form: TEA Opt-out Form

For more information on House Bill 3.

Here is HB3 in 30 minute video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=unL1iJeBFAU.

HB3 Slides & Financial Aid Requirement Presentation: https://tea.texas.gov/sites/default/files/HB-3-FAFSA-Final-Deck.pdf

Selective Admissions: The best colleges often have very low acceptance rates, meaning that even highly qualified students may face rejection. High GPAs, top standardized test scores, impressive extracurricular activities, and strong recommendation letters are all typically required.
Holistic Review: Many top colleges use a holistic admissions process, evaluating not just academic performance but also personal qualities, unique talents, leadership, and how well you fit with the school’s values. This can make the process unpredictable.

Cost of Attendance: Top colleges can be extremely expensive, with tuition, fees, room, and board totaling upwards of $70,000 per year.
Need-Based Aid: While many elite colleges offer substantial need-based financial aid, the calculation can vary widely based on your family’s financial situation. Some families may find that their expected contribution is still unaffordable.
Merit Scholarships: Many top schools do not offer merit-based scholarships, focusing instead on need-based aid. This can make it harder to reduce costs unless you qualify for need-based assistance.

Application Strategy: Deciding where to apply, whether to use early decision/action options, and how to present your application can be complex and stressful.
Financial Planning: Balancing the desire to attend a top school with the reality of student debt is crucial. Families often need to explore various financial aid options, including federal aid, loans, work-study, and outside scholarships.
Understanding the System: The financial aid process involves understanding FAFSA, CSS Profile, and each school’s specific requirements. Mistakes or misunderstandings can lead to higher costs or less aid.

Stress and Anxiety: The pressure to get into a top college and secure financial aid can be overwhelming, affecting both students and their families.
Decision Making: Weighing prestige versus financial reality, and potential long-term debt, requires careful thought and sometimes difficult decisions.

Do you want to get your child into their dream school, but afraid the cost will be too much?

You can try it on your own, but you’re going to need lots of time, patience, and available resources….
or
How would you like someone to hold your hand and guide you through the processes and red tape?

Plush Retirement will leverage their expertise and partnerships with the American College Foundation and College Funding Solutions to get you the best school, at the very best price, through our scholarship, financial aid, grant, and “hidden money” programs.

Start Your College Planning Journey Today

You could try to do this on your own. But it takes a lot of time, patience, and research. Or you can let our experts guide you. We know the system. We know how to get results.

Let us help you plan smarter. We’ll help your child get into the best school, for the best price. We’ll also protect your financial future.

Call Plush Retirement today to start your college planning journey. College doesn’t have to break your budget.

Let us show you a better way.