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Making the Most of FAFSA®

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A Childhood Hobby Turned Money-Making Machine

September 20, 2020

Making the Most of FAFSA®

Each year, parents and college students face the dreaded task of filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) form. The purpose of FAFSA® is to determine how much your family will be responsible for contributing to college education. Here are some tips on how to make the most of filing:

  • The FASFA® form is eligible to be completed starting on October 1st. Some aid is given on a first come, first serve basis or have limited funding. Applying as close to October 1st as possible each year can help your family's eligibility for additional aid before it runs out.
  • Don't miss the deadline. If you didn't complete the form early, still be sure to file by your state's deadline.
  • Have all important information gathered before starting. This includes: your federal student Aid ID, social security number, driver's license number, tax return, and for new students the list of schools that you might attend.
  • There are assets that are not required to be listed on the FAFSA® form. This includes retirement plans, the equity in your primary home, and a small business owned & controlled by your family. Many families believe they own too much to receive aid without realizing most of your assets could be excluded from these calculations.
  • FAFSA.Gov does not require you to pay any fees to file their aid form. Do not file on a website that asks you to submit payment to complete the form.
  • Simple errors can often get in the way of timely filing. Be sure to check your work, make sure you don't leave any blank fields, confirm all information listed is accurate, and also confirm that you have signed the application. You don't want to miss crucial dollars from an easily fixable error.

Once your FAFSA® form is completed and submitted, you will receive a summary letting you know your submission is being processed. After that, your school will reach out with your financial aid offer. Good luck to all the parents and students completing the FAFSA® forms this year and reach out to us at oXYGen Financial if you have any questions about filing!


If you would like to receive more information on making smart money moves for your future, be sure to contact us today!

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What is the Real ROI of a College Education?

About the author

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Allison Baines

Wealth Plan Design Manager

Allison graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Georgia with a bachelor's of science in family & consumer sciences as a double major (financial planning & consumer economics). She started at oXYGen Financial shortly after in the Fall of 2014 and has been building her career in financial planning ever since. One of her biggest accomplishments was passing the CFP® exam in 2018.

Allison was born and raised in Dallas, GA but currently lives in Ball Ground, GA with her husband Rob and their son Carter. They also share their home with a Labrador named Sunny and a German Shepherd named Lola.

Securities offered through Kestra Investment Services, LLC (Kestra IS), member FINRA/SIPC. Investment advisory services offered through Kestra Advisory Services, LLC (Kestra AS), an affiliate of Kestra IS. oXYGen Financial is not affiliated with Kestra IS or Kestra AS. Kestra IS and Kestra AS do not provide tax or legal advice. Investor Disclosures: https://bit.ly/KF-Disclosures

Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc. owns the certification marks CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™, CFP® (with plaque design) and CFP® (with flame design) in the U.S., which it awards to individuals who successfully complete CFP Board's initial and ongoing certification requirements.

The opinions expressed in this commentary are those of the author and may not necessarily reflect those held by Kestra Investment Services, LLC or Kestra Advisory Services, LLC. This is for general information only and is not intended to provide specific investment advice or recommendations for any individual. It is suggested that you consult your financial professional, attorney, or tax advisor with regard to your individual situation.

Background and qualification information is available at FINRA's BrokerCheck website.

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Securities offered through Kestra Investment Services, LLC (Kestra IS), member FINRA/SIPC. Investment advisory services offered through Kestra Advisory Services, LLC (Kestra AS), an affiliate of Kestra IS. oXYGen Financial is not affiliated with Kestra IS or Kestra AS. Kestra IS and Kestra AS do not provide tax or legal advice. https://Bit.ly/KF-Disclosures

This site is published for residents of the United States only. Registered Representatives of Kestra IS and Investment Advisor Representatives of Kestra AS may only conduct business with residents of the states and jurisdictions in which they are properly registered. Therefore, a response to a request for information may be delayed. Not all products and services referenced on this site are available in every state and through every representative or advisor listed. For additional information, please contact Kestra IS Compliance Department at 844-553-7872.

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