Could an elite private college cost less than an in-state public university? Can a middle-income family still qualify for college financial aid? The sticker price alone can’t answer either question.

In this episode, Brock Jolly, CFP®, talks about why families should compare a college’s net price before removing it from their list. He explains how need-based aid, merit-based scholarships, income, assets, and school-specific formulas can affect what a family may pay. Brock also shares five practical areas to review when comparing public and private colleges, including net price calculators, four-year costs, financial aid renewal, retirement, and plans for other children.

You’ll learn about:

• Why an elite private college may cost less than an in-state public university
• How need-based financial aid differs from merit-based scholarships
• How income, assets, real estate, and business ownership may affect college financial aid
• What to compare when estimating a college’s net price and full four-year cost
• And more!

Resources:

• Student Aid Index Calculator
• College Funding Workshops and Webinars

Connect with Brock Jolly:

• 703-424-2401
• Toll-Free: 800-969-2362
• Veritas Financial
• The College Funding Coach
• LinkedIn: Brock Jolly

Do you make too much money for college financial aid but still worry about paying the full tuition bill? Before you cross an expensive college off the list, do you know what your family might actually pay?

In this episode, Brock Jolly, CFP®, talks about how to pay for college without draining your savings, taking on more student loan debt than necessary, or losing sight of retirement. He explains how financial need, academic merit, the Student Aid Index, asset positioning, and school selection can affect your college funding options. Brock also shares why upper-middle-income and high-income families shouldn’t automatically rule out financial aid, merit scholarships, or private colleges based on the sticker price alone.

You’ll learn about:

• How financial need and academic merit can affect your aid eligibility at each college
• Why the same student may receive very different financial aid offers from different schools
• How upper-middle-income and high-income families can explore merit scholarships
• How to compare a college’s sticker price with your family’s potential net cost
• And more!

Resources:

• College and university Common Data Sets
• Student Aid Index calculation tools

Connect with Brock Jolly:

• 703-424-2401
• Toll-Free: 800-969-2362
• Veritas Financial
• The College Funding Coach
• LinkedIn: Brock Jolly

Can your family afford your child’s dream college without sacrificing retirement? The earlier you understand college costs, financial aid, and your family’s budget, the more options you may have when acceptance letters arrive.

In this episode, Brock Jolly, CFP®, talks about how families can pay for college while protecting their retirement goals. He explains why college admissions, affordability, and student fit should be considered together. Brock also explores how need-based financial aid and merit scholarships affect the actual cost of college, when to start saving, and how to talk with your teenager about building a realistic college list before applications are submitted.

You’ll learn about:

• How to determine whether your family can afford your child’s dream college
• How financial aid and merit scholarships can change what you pay for college
• Why student fit can influence admission and scholarship opportunities
• How to save for college without sacrificing your retirement goals
• And more!

Resources:

• How America Pays for College

Connect with Brock Jolly:

• 703-424-2401
• Toll-Free: 800-969-2362
• Veritas Financial
• The College Funding Coach
• LinkedIn: Brock Jolly

Is an expensive college really worth it? How can you tell if your child’s dream school is the right financial decision for your family? College is one of the biggest investments many families will ever make. Looking beyond rankings and campus life can help you choose a path that supports both your child’s future and your long-term financial goals.

In this episode, Brock Jolly, CFP®, talks about how parents can evaluate the true return on investment of a college education before choosing a school. He explains why the right college should be the right academic, social, geographic, and financial fit, how student loan debt can shape life after graduation, why finishing college in four years instead of the 5.4-year average can reduce costs, and how families can compare college costs, financial aid, merit scholarships, and future career opportunities before making one of the most important financial decisions they’ll face.

You’ll learn about:

• How to evaluate the return on investment of a college education before choosing a school
• How financial aid, merit scholarships, and in-state colleges can help reduce college costs
• Why student loan debt can affect career choices, retirement savings, and financial flexibility
• Why graduating in four years instead of the 5.4-year average can save both time and money
• How to balance your child’s dream school with your family’s long-term financial goals
• And more!

Connect with Brock Jolly:

• 703-424-2401
• Toll-Free: 800-969-2362
• Veritas Financial
• The College Funding Coach
• LinkedIn: Brock Jolly

Wondering how to pay for college without sacrificing your retirement? Before you rule out a private or out-of-state school because of the sticker price, you may be overlooking financial aid opportunities that could make your child’s dream college more affordable than you think.

In this episode, Brock Jolly, CFP®, explains why families shouldn’t assume an in-state public university is always the most affordable option. He breaks down how need-based financial aid, merit scholarships, the Student Aid Index (SAI), Net Price Calculators, and financial aid appeals can affect what your family actually pays for college. Through real-world examples, including a family that saved approximately $168,000 after successfully appealing a financial aid offer, Brock shares practical strategies to help families make more informed college funding decisions.

You’ll learn about:

• Why the sticker price isn’t always what you’ll actually pay for college, and how private colleges can sometimes cost less than in-state public universities.
• How need-based financial aid, merit scholarships, and the Student Aid Index (SAI) influence college affordability and why eligibility can vary from one school to another.
• Why Net Price Calculators aren’t always accurate, what to do if your financial aid offer falls short, and when it makes sense to appeal a college financial aid package.
• What colleges look for when awarding merit scholarships, and how understanding the financial aid process can help families compare college offers with greater confidence.
• And more!

Resources:

• TuitionFit
• Common Data Set

Connect with Brock Jolly:

• 703-424-2401
• Toll-Free: 800-969-2362
• Veritas Financial
• The College Funding Coach
• LinkedIn: Brock Jolly

College costs continue to rise, leaving many families wondering how to prepare without putting their future at risk.

How do you balance paying for college, preparing for retirement, understanding scholarships, and making informed decisions when so much can change over time?

In this episode, Brock Jolly, CFP®, explores the realities of college planning and the financial decisions families face long before tuition bills arrive. He explains the difference between sticker price and actual cost, breaks down scholarship misconceptions, discusses the role of need-based and merit aid, and shares why flexibility matters when saving for education.

The conversation also highlights inflation’s impact on college costs, common planning mistakes, and ways families can evaluate college affordability while protecting retirement goals.

Key takeaways:

• Why college sticker prices often differ significantly from what families ultimately pay
• How scholarship expectations can create planning gaps when costs continue rising
• What parents should consider before committing large amounts to 529 plans
• Why inflation remains a major factor when estimating future college expenses
• How balancing retirement and college funding requires evaluating tradeoffs early
• And more!

Connect with Brock Jolly:

• 703-424-2401
• Toll-Free: 800-969-2362
• Veritas Financial
• The College Funding Coach
• LinkedIn: Brock Jolly

Paying for college has become one of the biggest financial stress points for families, and most parents feel like they are trying to solve it alone. This episode sets the stage for a smarter, more human approach to college planning, one that does not force families to choose between their kids’ education and their own future.

In this episode, Brock Jolly, CFP®, talks about why college funding has become so confusing, why many traditional planning conversations fall short, and how families can approach the process with more clarity and confidence.

You’ll learn about:

• Why college planning sits at the intersection of emotion, urgency, and complexity
• How college costs have outpaced nearly every other expense in the economy
• Why focusing only on in-state options may limit better-fit opportunities
• How thoughtful planning can support both college and retirement goals at the same time
• Who this podcast is for, and how it is designed to support parents, advisors, counselors, and students
• And more!

Resources:

• Visit the College Funding Coach

Connect with Brock Jolly:

• Veritas Financial
• The College Funding Coach
• LinkedIn: Brock Jolly

College planning often feels like something you can deal with later, until later arrives faster than expected.

In this episode Brock Jolly, CFP®, CLU®, ChFC®, CLTC, CASL®, CFBS®, RICP®, talks about why early college planning creates flexibility, reduces stress, and gives families more control over how they pay for college, without sacrificing retirement.

You’ll learn about:

• Why saving early is about options, not perfection
• Waiting to plan limits flexibility and increases pressure
• The power of compounding small monthly habits over time
• Why college planning should be treated as a process, not a last-minute event
• How early conversations can improve family decision-making and reduce stress
• And more!

Resources:

• College Funding Coach

Connect with Brock Jolly:

• Veritas Financial
• The College Funding Coach
• LinkedIn: Brock Jolly