This year will be my first time attending the Higher Education Financial Wellness Summit, and I'm really excited to be take part in a conference dedicated to such a unique topic. I am confident that this will be a great opportunity to expand my knowledge of how other institutions approach financial literacy, and a chance to bring back some valuable ideas for new campus literacy initiatives.

But first, a little bit about what I do.

Much of my time as a Financial Aid Counselor at the University of Rochester has been dedicated to working with students who are economically disadvantaged and have been selected for the New York State Arthur O. Eve Higher Education Opportunity Program.

Many students are first generation and I enjoy providing resources to help them understand their financial aid options and gain a foundation for navigating their personal finances. A helpful tool has been Inceptia's Financial Avenue program. It has been such a rewarding experience to see students grow in confidence using this platform. One of my students, Dennis, is a reminder to me of why I do what I do. He recently reflected upon his experience:

• "As a high school senior preparing for a tough financial transition into college, I had the fear of being financially ignorant after learning about my admission to the University of Rochester. However, a previous moment of financial ignorance turned into financial literacy after the introduction of Financial Avenue. The courses not only taught me about the ability to save money for college, but to regard it as an investment. Thanks to Financial Avenue, I was able to save enough money for emergency use until the end of the semester."

Another way Inceptia has positively impacted the University of Rochester is through our campus food pantry, which just launched in 2019. I have been a stakeholder in the planning of the food pantry, whose purpose is to serve the immediate needs of hungry students who stay on campus over the summer and are without a meal plan.

In preparation for the launch, I attended various Inceptia webinars highlighting the issue of systemic food insecurity across college campuses. It has been eye-opening to see the data supporting the need for this campus resource. I will be looking for ways to invite this student population to use Inceptia's Financial Avenue resources to help them with day-to-day budgeting and money management skills.

I believe the upcoming Higher Education Financial Wellness Summit will provide a fruitful experience by enhancing my work in financial aid. There are a number of breakout sessions being offered that will address the challenges of the populations of students with whom our Financial Aid Office interacts.

Of particular interest to me is the "Full Minds, Empty Stomachs: Food Insecurity on Campus" session, presented by Inceptia's very own Carissa Uhlman! Other session topics I'm excited about include developing peer programs, promoting responsible loan borrowing, and ways to assess and evaluate program success.

I am eager to share ideas about financial literacy programming implementation with representatives from other institutions. The pre-conference session, "Where Do I Go Next? Moving beyond Getting Your Program off the Ground" will be a great place to share our successes and best practices with one another. I, for one, know that I could use some fresh ideas on how to build partnerships across campus as a means of gaining new Financial Avenue participants!

Not only am I looking to bring back new concepts to implement on campus, but I'm also looking for opportunities for personal enrichment, as well. Joshua Becker is one of four keynote speakers who will be at the summit. He recently posted an article on his website titled, "Our Money is Only as Valuable as What We Choose to Spend It On." He promotes a minimalistic lifestyle, and boy does that sound liberating! I look forward to his insights and hope to bring a more mindful approach to spending money in my own life.

I've been following the summit's Twitter account (@the_hefwa) for the last month. If you don't follow them already, it's a great way to get a preview of what's to come and keep abreast of the summit happenings in real time. I will be tweeting as well, so follow me @ChrisFSchmidt or, better yet, come find me at the summit!

About the author:

Christina Schmidt, M.Div. - Christina has worked in higher education for seven years in a combination of admissions and financial aid. In her current position as an Assistant Director for Financial Aid at the University of Rochester, she implements financial literacy programming using Inceptia, a division of National Student Loan Program. She coordinates financial aid outreach efforts across campus and in the local community.She was selected to be the Inceptia Ambassador at the 2019 Higher Education Financial Wellness Summit. Follow her on Twitter @ChrisFSchmidt.

Lincoln, Neb. (October 25, 2018) – Inceptia, a leader in uncomplicating financial aid for students and schools, shares their first multiyear research project regarding insight into students’ financial behaviors.

Inceptia is pleased to release The State of Student Finances 2018: Results from a Multiyear Assessment. Presenting results gathered from 20 months of data, this research brief provides insight from over 60,000 students concerning their everyday financial habits and capabilities.

The Financial Behavioral Assessment touches on five key areas: budgeting and spending, financial planning and protection, credit, banking, and student loans. Each of these areas present findings that can be a springboard for financial discussions.

"Gauging student knowledge tells you what they’ve learned; evaluating and assessing student behaviors reveals what they retained and applied," says Carissa Uhlman, Vice President of Student Success. "We had several findings in our survey that came as quite a surprise and were able to identify some key behaviors by hearing directly from students."

The findings challenge current perceptions on how students really budget, their knowledge of a healthy financial future, credit usage, and even how they bank. What we found is a disconnect between student self-ratings of financial knowledge, and how financial choices are made. Not only does this assessment provide insight into this juxtaposition, but it also offers valuable suggestions for using the results to better inform and shape financial education efforts.

Request your download of The State of Student Finances 2018: Results from a Multiyear Assessment research brief from Inceptia now.

ABOUT INCEPTIA
Inceptia, a division of National Student Loan Program (NSLP), is a nonprofit organization committed to offering effective and uncomplicated solutions in financial aid management, default prevention, and financial education. Our mission is to support schools as they launch brilliant futures for students, armed with the knowledge to become financially responsible citizens. Since 1986, we have helped more than two million students at 5,500 schools reach their higher education dreams. Each year, we help more than 278,000 students learn how to pay for college, borrow wisely, resolve their delinquency issues, and repay their student loan obligations. Our solutions are designed to support student success by helping financial aid administrators maximize resources, so they can spend more time focusing on students.

Lincoln, Neb. (August 29, 2018) – For the third consecutive year, Nebraska nonprofit Inceptia and personal finance company NerdWallet have partnered to create a free e-guide, "Great Advice for Parents." The guide, which features a collection of articles from NerdWallet’s experts, is intended to provide parents and students with valuable information regarding college planning and finances.

"It’s never too early to sit down with your high school-aged child and make money a common, healthy topic of conversation, rather than something to be avoided," says Brianna McGurran, student loans expert with NerdWallet. "They will soon be making major life and financial decisions that will shape their future. We want them to be as prepared as possible when they step into the real world."

This year’s guide focuses on connecting college choice with college cost, and how to borrow wisely. "Students leaving college are telling us they wish they had made better choices, or that they don’t remember student loan entrance counseling" says Carissa Uhlman, vice president of student success at Inceptia. "If we can help students and families have these conversations now, they can make better-informed decisions regarding college-fit and student debt."

The 2018 edition of Great Advice for Parents contains articles that focus on three distinct areas:

• Choosing the right school
• Having "the money talk"
• Student loan lowdown

“Great Advice for Parents” is also meant to be a useful resource for high school educators, counselors, coaches, and mentors, as well as other nonprofit organizations that assist students and families in preparing for college. It is available for free download or may be shared with students and families through our downloadable Great Advice for Parents flyer.

ABOUT INCEPTIA
Inceptia, a division of National Student Loan Program (NSLP), is a nonprofit organization committed to offering effective and uncomplicated solutions in financial aid management, default prevention, and financial education. Our mission is to support schools as they launch brilliant futures for students, armed with the knowledge to become financially responsible citizens. Since 1986, we have helped more than two million students at 5,500 schools reach their higher education dreams. Each year, we help more than 278,000 students learn how to pay for college, borrow wisely, resolve their delinquency issues, and repay their student loan obligations. Our solutions are designed to support student success by helping financial aid administrators maximize resources, so they can spend more time focusing on students.

ABOUT NERDWALLET
NerdWallet is on a mission to provide clarity for all of life’s financial decisions. As a personal finance website and app, NerdWallet provides consumers with personalized, unbiased advice so they can make smart money moves. From finding the best credit card to buying a house to investing their next dollar, and more, NerdWallet is there to help consumers make financial decisions with confidence. Consumers have free access to our expert content, tools and tailored advice that help them stay on top of their finances, and save them time and money, giving them the freedom to do more. For more information, visit nerdwallet.com.

Inceptia was proud to be Platinum Sponsor for this year’s Higher Education Financial Wellness (HEFW) Summit. As part of our commitment to broadening the financial wellness discussion, we sponsored an essay contest to choose an Inceptia Ambassador, someone who would be a welcoming source of engagement for those both attending and observing the conference from afar. We were happy to have Paul Goebel fill that role; here are his thoughts on his HEFW experience.

Benjamin Franklin wisely observed, “Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn.” I saw these words come alive when I attended the 2018 Higher Education Financial Wellness Summit in Portland this July as Inceptia’s inaugural HEFW ambassador.

A Learning Community
Most presenters involved their audiences with some type of exercise or discussion. You could feel the energy and desire for learning among the attendees: many new to the field of personal financial education; others, seasoned professionals with several years of experience sharing their insights and expertise. And a growing number of colleagues like myself: becoming veteran elders with many more years of service to students. Regardless of their backgrounds, experience, institution type, or titles, every one of the 300+ attendees had one goal in common – to learn.

I believe one test of determining whether a conference program is comprehensive lies in the degree of difficulty attendees experience when selecting which sessions to attend. In Portland I heard from many fellow attendees how hard it was choosing one session over another.

Presenter Highlights
Another point of distinction for a conference program is having keynote speakers who genuinely engage their audiences with new ideas, different perspectives, and calls to action. The three keynote speakers (behavioral scientist, community college president, and a vice president for finance and administration) at this year’s summit introduced attendees to new and thought-provoking ideas and programming initiatives. Kudos to the HEFWA advisory Committee for planning another outstanding program.

Particularly popular in this year’s program was Dr. Sarah Newcomb’s keynote address. Dr. Newcomb is a behavioral economist with the Morningstar organization. She discussed her work in assimilating research findings within the field of behavioral science into tools for individuals and financial advisors.

I thoroughly enjoyed Emily Schwartz’s Just Budget Already! Using Motivational Psychology to Influence Students’ Money Behaviors session. I aspire to be a presenter like her. A great combination of knowledge, humor, and audience engagement. Wow.

This year I also had the opportunity to facilitate two sessions with colleagues I have not had the pleasure to work with in the past. I am proud that the summit offers opportunities to feature and highlight new professionals and their work. One lesson I apply to every conference I attend – whenever possible steal good ideas! I did just that, and came back to my campus with a bagful of good ones I stole from others.

You can now view a number of the sessions at https://www.hefwa.org/2018-presentation-downloads/.

How was the experience of serving as Inceptia’s inaugural HEFW ambassador?
It was an honor and privilege...even though I was not given an official sash to wear! Seriously, I thoroughly enjoyed introducing others to the incredibly talented on-site team and the company’s financial education resources.

As an industry leader and innovator, I appreciate Inceptia’s efforts to continually focus on building a brighter financial world for students and schools. Being entrusted to provide on-site commentary through my limited Twitter skills was both frightening and fun.

A big shout out to Carissa and the entire Inceptia team for bestowing on me the honor of serving as the first in what I hope will become a very long line of HEFW ambassadors.

Inspired to attend the summit?
Planning has already begun for the 2019 Higher Education Financial Wellness Summit. The 2019 summit will be held at Indiana University in Bloomington, IN July 14-16, 2019. Registration is scheduled to go live on January 28, 2019...so you've got some time.

One highpoint for the 2019 summit will be the introduction of a new student-centered program -- “The HEFW Student Experience.” A one-day student symposium that will be held prior to the summit. The event will bring students from around the country together to discuss financial wellness in the higher education world and engage in peer learning experiences.

Stay informed by visiting hefwa2019.org for updates and latest news. See y’all in Bloomington next July!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
PAUL F GOEBEL MBA, CPFM^™ is the founding and managing director of the Student Money Management Center at the University of North Texas. The center has received numerous national and institutional awards of excellence under his leadership. Paul and his team of professionals and student mentors have worked tirelessly to streamline all money management education services under the oversight of one dedicated office serving as a single entry point to eliminate frustrations and confusion among students seeking support, counsel, and resources. Paul was named Educator of the Year by two national associations and was selected to serve as Inceptia’s inaugural HEFW Ambassador.

Lincoln, Neb. (June 25, 2018) – Inceptia, a leader in uncomplicating financial aid for students and schools, announces new solutions to their Financial Aid Management suite.

Inceptia is pleased to announce Award Letter Advisor and Form Innovator as the newest additions to their Financial Aid Management solutions – uncomplicated solutions financial aid administrators can leverage to streamline processes and connect with students.

“Managing financial aid for students isn’t getting any easier. Financial Aid offices are tasked with gathering a lot of student information to deliver the best financial aid possible, and getting awards out quickly to help with enrollment, while helping students understand their responsibilities”, says Deana Unger, Vice President, Financial Aid Operations. “Adding these two solutions creates a complete solution set to assist throughout the student lifecycle.”

Form Innovator makes it easier to gather student information in an intuitive, automated way. Choose from the interview-style forms included with the solution, upload existing forms and create new forms with the form builder. Collecting information online also saves time from scanning and indexing.

Award Letter Advisor helps you promote enrollment with an easy-to-understand format that outlines the details of a student’s financial aid package and school cost estimate. The template-style design makes it easy to populate with student data and brand with your school’s messaging and logo so you can distribute quickly.

Award Letter Advisor and Form Innovator are easy for students to access through the secure Student Knowledge HQ dashboard, 24/7, on any device.

“It’s our mission to continue to serve and educate students on their financial journey and provide schools solutions that will help increase productivity, save time and make financial aid easier,” said Inceptia president and CEO Randy Heesacker. “Award Letter Advisor and Form Innovator fit perfectly into our solutions that serve both the student and school.”

ABOUT INCEPTIA
Inceptia, a division of National Student Loan Program (NSLP), is a nonprofit organization committed to offering effective and uncomplicated solutions in financial aid management, default prevention, and financial education. Our mission is to support schools as they launch brilliant futures for students, armed with the knowledge to become financially responsible citizens. Since 1986, we have helped more than two million students at 5,500 schools reach their higher education dreams. Each year, we help more than 278,000 students learn how to pay for college, borrow wisely, resolve their delinquency issues, and repay their student loan obligations. Our solutions are designed to support student success by helping financial aid administrators maximize resources, so they can spend more time focusing on students.

Since 2005 I have been engaged in the design, development, implementation, expansion, and assessment of financial wellness programming and services at the fourth largest public 4-year university in Texas – The University of North Texas. Perseverance, commitment, and understanding that failure is not final helped to transform the concept of collegiate financial wellness programming into the Student Money Management Center. Since that first semester I have been joined by an incredible group of professional colleagues and student workers with one common DNA – a passion to serve students. Our efforts, successes, and even failures helped build a national award-winning program. Together we provide a dynamic array of student-centric programs and services meeting the ever-changing face of the student experience for our diverse student body of more than 38,000 traditional, non-traditional, on-campus, and online students. Even after 38 semesters this small group of determined and creative spirits is still making a difference in the lives of tens of thousands of students every year.

As a leader and educator, I often found myself existing on a professional island within higher education due to the limited number of collegiate financial wellness programs that existed across the state and nation during our center’s formative years. From 2005 to 2013 my colleagues and I were often invited to present workshops on our center and the emerging field of collegiate financial wellness at conferences addressing broader student issues within the purview of the fields of student affairs, financial aid, academic counseling, and business administration. While I appreciated the opportunity to share our experiences with other professionals and educators in higher education, I still felt like the ‘odd man out,’ since the majority of conference attendees were engaged in other aspects of the student experience. I wondered if I would ever find my own place.

Then in 2014 I received an invitation to attend the first National Summit on Collegiate Financial Wellness. What? Not only was there a conference dedicated solely to the mission of our center, there were others doing the same jobs and putting on similar programs as our team. Suddenly all feelings of professional isolation evaporated quicker than raindrops hitting the sidewalk during a summer thunderstorm in Texas. With a mixture of excitement and relief I packed my bags and boarded the flight to Ohio.

Within minutes of walking into the summit’s first event I knew that I had found my place. The actress Gina Bellman once noted, “I love those connections that make this big old world feel like a little village.” That first summit experience made the big old world of higher education that I was floating through like a satellite for years feel more like a little village filled with wonderful friends. No longer did I experience awkward silences when talking with other conference attendees about my team’s dreams and challenges. Throughout the summit I connected with talented and innovative educators and practitioners from a cross section of higher education institutions, from community colleges to professional certification programs to four-year universities. One connection led to another that then led to another and so on. I left that inaugural summit revitalized.

I have been fortunate over the years to attend and present at other summits. Today I consider the summit to be my primary professional development opportunity. The summit continues to be a rich source of ideas, possibilities, and best practices shared by colleagues. The very nature of the summit of learning and sharing has resonated throughout the field of collegiate financial wellness. From my personal experiences within higher education, it would be quite hard to identify another group of colleagues who readily and openly share insights, experiences, and resources with their peers as I have found across the field of financial wellness. This pulse of fellowship that flows throughout our field has at its heart the national summit.

Last year, the Higher Education Financial Wellness Summit (HEFW) was rebranded from the National Summit on Collegiate Financial Wellness. Even with a name change one constant has remained – to be the premier collegiate financial wellness professional development event. The 2018 HEFW is being held at Portland State University, July 15-17. Registration is open (hefwa.org/2018-registration) through July 15 - it's not too late! I am already looking forward to connecting with friends and learning from others across all areas of higher education who are helping students realize greater success in their personal financial lives. Pack your bags for Portland!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
PAUL F GOEBEL MBA, CPFM^™ is the founding and managing director of the Student Money Management Center at the University of North Texas. The center has received numerous national and institutional awards of excellence under his leadership. Paul and his team of professionals and student mentors have worked tirelessly to streamline all money management education services under the oversight of one dedicated office serving as a single entry point to eliminate frustrations and confusion among students seeking support, counsel, and resources. Paul was named Educator of the Year by two national associations and was selected to serve as Inceptia’s inaugural HEFW Ambassador.

Lincoln, Neb. (January 9, 2018) – Inceptia, a division of NSLP, is pleased to announce a new partnership with the Lone Star College Knowledge Corps, an AmeriCorps program, to further the financial literacy of Texas high school students. Inceptia’s online financial education program, Financial Avenue, will combine with College Knowledge Corps’ current programming and outreach efforts to better equip these students for a lifetime of financial capability.

Financial Avenue offers engaging, interactive online courses specially designed to align with the learning needs of today’s tech-savvy students. Through learning objectives aligned with the financial education core competencies established by the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Financial Literacy and Education Commission, students will gain knowledge of key personal finance concepts from budgeting and investing to debt and repayment, and come away from each course with a customized action plan to translate concepts into behaviors. Courses like “Psychology of Money” also guide students toward an understanding of their personal relationship with money, so they can alter habits to become more financially healthy and aware.

The mission of College Knowledge Corps is to partner 2nd and 3rd year college students with high school or 1st year students to build skills for a positive college experience. By sharing their knowledge and experience with mentees, the members of College Knowledge Corps reinforce their own knowledge of these skills, continuing their own growth and creating a win-win scenario for all students.

With this partnership, both organizations seek to empower Texas high schoolers with the critical knowledge to navigate the financial choices associated with college and beyond. “With Financial Avenue, Inceptia’s mission has always been to educate and support student financial success, and help build solid futures,” remarked Randy Heesacker, president and CEO of Inceptia.

"Our partnership with the College Knowledge Corps gives us an exciting opportunity to connect with high school students and offer them valuable financial literacy resources they may not receive anywhere else. Together, we can put them on track to financial success early on."

"We are very excited to partner with Inceptia to provide Financial Avenue to complement the financial education outreach already being conducted through our program. This online curriculum provides a solid foundation in all the need-to-know financial topics that students face now and into the future," said Keelie Barrow, program manager for Lone Star AmeriCorps College Knowledge Corps.

For more information, please visit www.financialavenue.org.

ABOUT AMERICORPS COLLEGE KNOWLEDGE CORPS
The College Knowledge Corps is a program funded by AmeriCorps. Through this program, 2nd and 3rd year college students, already successful in navigating the complexities of high school and college processes, can become AmeriCorps members and mentor high school or 1st year college students in skills that help them to have a positive college experience. Ultimately, as our members mentor others, their own knowledge of these skills will be reinforced, allowing the members to continue to the next step of their own education.

ABOUT INCEPTIA
Inceptia, a division of National Student Loan Program (NSLP), is a nonprofit organization committed to offering effective and uncomplicated solutions in financial aid management, default prevention, and financial education. Our mission is to support schools as they launch brilliant futures for students, armed with the knowledge to become financially responsible citizens. Since 1986, we have helped more than two million students at 5,500 schools reach their higher education dreams. Each year, we help more than 160,000 students learn how to pay for college, borrow wisely, resolve their delinquency issues, and repay their student loan obligations. Our solutions are designed to support student success by helping financial aid administrators maximize resources, so they can spend more time focusing on students.

ABOUT LONE STAR COLLEGE
Lone Star College has been opening doors to a better community for more than 40 years. Founded in 1973, LSC remains steadfast in its commitment to student success and credential completion. Today, with almost 83,000 students in credit classes, and a total enrollment of more than 95,000, Lone Star College is the largest institution of higher education in the Houston area and one of the fastest- growing community colleges in the nation. Stephen C. Head, Ph.D., is the chancellor of LSC, which consists of six colleges including LSC-CyFair, LSC-Kingwood, LSC-Montgomery, LSC-North Harris, LSC-Tomball and LSC-University Park, seven centers, LSC-University Center at Montgomery, LSC-University Center at University Park, Lone Star Corporate College, and LSC-Online. To learn more visit LoneStar.edu.

Lincoln, Neb. (October 05, 2017) – On September 28^th, Lincoln’s Railyard was host to “Financial Literacy Rocks!”, a rock concert to raise funds for financial literacy throughout Nebraska. As part of their nonprofit mission and commitment to Nebraska students, Inceptia proudly co-sponsored the event with the Nebraska Council on Economic Education.

Over the past few years, the NCEE has made great strides in engaging Nebraska students by introducing financial education through the music of Gooding, a global financial literacy rock band. After performing a high-energy set for students, Gooding talks frankly to students about their financial struggles as a band. Through their relatable message, and tips for financial empowerment, student response throughout Nebraska has been overwhelmingly positive.

Jennifer Davidson, president of the NCEE, explains why the concerts are so well-received.

“Partnering with Gooding has been the most fun and engaging way to bring the important financial literacy message to today’s students. The rock concert catches the students off guard and they are paying attention; it’s not something they are used to in a school setting. They have a great time listening to truly amazing musicians. After the concert piece the magic truly happens. The band has established how authentic and cool they are; then, Gooding, the lead singer and guitarist who has a natural teacher instinct and demeanor, talks to students about the importance of saving, how compound interest works, why to stay away from payday lenders, and how making wise financial decisions can give you the opportunity to make your dreams come true; if you are not a slave to debt you have so much more freedom to reach your goals.”

“We feel so strongly about supporting the work of NCEE, and Gooding, because we are committed to advancing financial education in our home state,” explains Carissa Uhlman, vice president of student success at Inceptia. “Our mission has always been to financially empower students, and we’re happy to play a role in supporting Gooding’s message through music.”

The September 28^th event raised over $7,000 to help fund future Nebraska concerts throughout the upcoming school year. The event also marked Inceptia’s fourth sponsorship in bringing Gooding to Nebraska schools.

ABOUT THE NEBRASKA COUNCIL ON ECONOMIC EDUCATION
The Nebraska Council on Economic Education is a 501(c)3 nonprofit, housed at the University of Nebraska Lincoln, College of Business Administration. Its mission is to act as a catalyst and lead a statewide initiative to advance economic literacy by primarily focusing on educating Nebraska's students and providing professional development for K-12 educators. For more information on the Council please contact Jennifer Davidson at jdavidson2@unl.edu or visit nebraskacouncil.unl.edu.

ABOUT INCEPTIA
Inceptia, a division of National Student Loan Program (NSLP), is a nonprofit organization committed to offering effective and uncomplicated solutions in financial aid management, default prevention, and financial education. Our mission is to support schools as they launch brilliant futures for students, armed with the knowledge to become financially responsible citizens. Since 1986, we have helped more than two million students at 5,500 schools reach their higher education dreams. Each year, we help more than 220,000 students learn how to pay for college, borrow wisely, resolve their delinquency issues, and repay their student loan obligations. Our solutions are designed to support student success by helping financial aid administrators maximize resources, so they can spend more time focusing on students.

Lincoln, Neb. (September 7, 2017) – For the second consecutive year, Nebraska nonprofit Inceptia and personal finance company NerdWallet have partnered to create a free eGuide, “Great Advice for Parents.” The guide, which features a collection of articles from NerdWallet’s experts, is intended to provide parents and students with valuable information regarding college planning and finances.

"Avoiding burdensome college debt starts well before students ever set foot on campus," says Brianna McGurran, student loans expert at NerdWallet. "Understanding the financial aid families are eligible for, how much money they can afford to contribute, and the risks of taking on too much debt now can have a significant long-term impact on their financial health."

This year’s guide was developed to help parents and students answer the tough questions of college choice and affordability, as well as student financial responsibility. “With increasing tuition and expenses, we know that it’s no longer just parents who worry about the cost of college” says Carissa Uhlman, vice president of student success at Inceptia. “We want to help families start having these critical money discussions now so they can plan wisely for college costs, and focus on student success once they start classes.”

The 2017 edition of Great Advice for Parents contains articles that focus on three distinct areas:

• Planning for College
• Tips for Parents
• Tips for Students

“Great Advice for Parents” is also meant to be a useful resource for high school educators, counselors, coaches, and mentors, as well as other nonprofit organizations that assist students and families in preparing for college. It is available for free download or may be shared with students and families through our downloadable Great Advice for Parents flyer.

ABOUT INCEPTIA
Inceptia, a division of National Student Loan Program (NSLP), is a nonprofit organization committed to offering effective and uncomplicated solutions in financial aid management, default prevention, and financial education. Our mission is to support schools as they launch brilliant futures for students, armed with the knowledge to become financially responsible citizens. Since 1986, we have helped more than two million students at 5,500 schools reach their higher education dreams. Each year, we help more than 220,000 students learn how to pay for college, borrow wisely, resolve their delinquency issues, and repay their student loan obligations. Our solutions are designed to support student success by helping financial aid administrators maximize resources, so they can spend more time focusing on students.

ABOUT NERDWALLET
NerdWallet offers consumers clarity for all of life’s financial decisions. Whether it’s credit cards, insurance, student loans or investing, people lack the clear, unbiased information they need to make the best choice. With NerdWallet, consumers have free access to user-friendly tools and advice that save time and money, and give them the freedom to do more. NerdWallet is based in San Francisco and employs more than 440 Nerds. For more information, visit nerdwallet.com.