Two college planners have launched a radio show to reveal 'insider' information about college financial aid, student loans and how to find grants, scholarships and other free money for college. The pair will also debunk the greatest myths about college financial aid, including the false belief that families with high, six figure incomes cannot qualify for financial aid. College costs are astronomical and increase at a rate roughly double the rate of inflation. However, there is more than 130 Billion of financial aid available. Yet, 53% of all eligible families do not apply for financial aid, mainly because they mistakenly believe that they do not qualify.

Weston, FL -- (ReleaseWire) -- 03/10/2008 -- Two college planning experts announced the airing of a radio show devoted to separating fact from fiction about college financial aid. "The College Planning Power Hour" debuted last Sunday on 1400 AM, WFTL Sports, ESPN Radio, hosted by Peter "College Pete" Ratzan and Andy Lockwood of College Planning Specialists in Weston.

College Pete and Andy cover all sorts of 'insider' information about college financial aid, student loans and how to find grants, scholarships and other free money for college. The pair will also debunk the greatest myths about college financial aid, including the false belief that families with high, six figure incomes cannot qualify for financial aid.

"This is important stuff for parents of college-bound children - they can't get this information from guidance counselors or financial aid officers. The cost of college is already astronomical, and rises approximately 6-7% per year. However, there's more than 130 Billion in financial aid available for families, even those who think they make too much money to qualify," said Lockwood.

"We'll also feature the "S.A.T. Word of the Day" with our resident "S.A.T Godfather," Michael El-Deiry of Broward Tutorial services. Each week the "Godfather" will enlighten our vocabulary with a fresh S.A.T. vocabulary word and try to stump us," said Ratzan.

"Since we're on ESPN Radio, we'll also come up with college sports related trivia and other fun stuff. For example, next week is "Selection Sunday" for the NCAA men's basketball tournament. We'll be joined by Andy Katz, ESPN college basketball reporter who will go over his picks for "March Madness." Then, we'll share OUR picks for the schools invited to the "big dance" (based on how generous each college is with financial aid.)" said Lockwood.

The College Planning Power Hour airs each Sunday, 10-11:00 am on WFTL Sports, 1400AM - ESPN Radio. You can listen online at: http://www.CollegePlanningRadio.com.

For more information and and informative and entertaining interview - contact Andy Lockwood at 954.659.1234 or "info@collegeplanningadvice.com."

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Officials for a state-sponsored financial aid event underwritten by student lenders prevent interns of college planning firm from exercising their rights of free speech by leaf-letting event attendees about alternatives to high-fee, high-rate student loans.

Weston, FL -- (ReleaseWire) -- 02/27/2008 -- Officials at "Countdown to College," a state-sponsored financial aid event, muzzled a local college planning firm that attempted to shed light on the sponsors behind the event.

This weekend, the state of Florida featured the "Countdown," a series of financial aid form assistance workshops ostensibly designed to help parents of college-bound teens fill out the Free Application for Financial Aid (FAFSA). Unbeknownst to the attendees, however, the events were underwritten by student loan companies.

When student interns hired by http://CollegePlanningAdvice.com, a Weston-based college planning firm, showed up at the event to distribute information urging families to consider other sources of college funding – including free, need-based grants and scholarships - they were met by angry, outraged organizers. Event officials moved swiftly to intimidate the teenage interns with threats of calling the police, tearing up their flyers and banning them from the parking lot.

"This event was held in a public forum. These cowardly officials shamelessly violated the interns' rights to free speech under the 1st amendment!" said Andrew Lockwood, J.D., co-owner of http://CollegePlanningAdvice.com. "But the true victims were the families who were coerced into applying for high fee, high debt student loans when unknown alternatives were available."

Lockwood and Peter Ratzan, M.B.A. co-owners of CollegePlanningAdvice.com, were shocked once they learned that event which was sponsored by USA Funds -- a student loan guarantor—and Citicorp - a student lender - would steer cash-strapped and uninformed families to risky, high cost and unsubsidized private student loans without offering an alternative solution to their college funding crisis.

"There are better, even free ways to pay for college, if you know the "rules of the game" about how federal grants are given, and to whom. There's more than 80 Billion dollars of need-based aid available through the financial aid system," said Razan. "Andy and I were shocked to learn that we would not be allowed to present that information to the families at the Countdown. Wouldn't you think that this would be information that they'd want to know?"

"We just wanted to make sure that parents found out that there was a legitimate alternative to burdening their children with deceptive, low "teaser" rate payments that, after they adjust, create late payments, non-payments, defaults and ruin your student's credit rating for the indeterminate future" said Lockwood.

"Unfortunately, here's what happened instead," said Ratzan: "The parents filled out their FAFSA. Then, they pushed a button and learned what their Expected Family Contribution (EFC) is. This is a critical number - it's the dollar amount that parents are expected to pay according to the FAFSA."

"For most parents, the EFC is not pretty," said Lockwood. "The EFC is usually several thousand dollars per year, per child. Parents freak out. Then, at the 'Countdown,' vulnerable parents rushed to apply for high fee, high rate student loans, solely because they did not see any alternative to incurring this debt! For these student lenders, signing borrowers was like shooting fish in a barrel, but with a machine gun!" said Lockwood.

"The key to avoiding being pigeon-holed like this is to start the college planning process by sophomore or junior year. This is one area where procrastination can cost you literally thousands of dollars of lost aid and high interest payments," said Ratzan.

Lockwood and Ratzan offer free college planning workshops that encourage parents to reduce or flat-out eliminate high fee, high interest rate debt. Details are available at:

http://www.collegeplanningadvice.com

Lockwood and Ratzan will co-host "The College Planning Power Hour" radio show, Sundays, 10:00-11:00 AM on ESPN Radio AM 1400, starting March 2, 2008. Their firm, http://CollegePlanningAdvice.com is located in Weston, Florida and helps parents "Pay for College Without Going Broke."

For more information and/or an entertaining interview, please contact Andrew Lockwood, J.D. at 954.659.1234 or info@collegeplanningadvice.com

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

If you're a college-bound student in Florida looking for advice on how to fill out the FAFSA, think twice about your options presented at the College Countdown.

Weston, FL -- (ReleaseWire) -- 02/21/2008 -- A local college planning firm has issued a warning about the State of Florida-sponsored "Countdown to College," a series of college financial aid form assistance workshops throughout Florida. The promotion is designed to help parents of college-bound teens fill out the Free Application for Financial Aid (FAFSA).

Although the event seems helpful on its face, http://CollegePlanningAdvice.com, a Weston, Florida-based college planning firm, advises attendees to scratch below the surface to learn the true incentive of the event sponsors.

"Check out who's sponsoring these events," said Andrew Lockwood, J.D., co-owner of the firm. "USA Funds - a lender! Citicorp - another lender!!!" added Lockwood.

"Correct me if I'm out of line - wouldn't it be nice for your student to go to college without borrowing money from high fee, high rate lenders? Wouldn't it be great if you didn't burden your student with deceptive, low "teaser" rate payments that, after they adjust, create late payments, non-payments, defaults and ruin your student's credit rating for the indeterminate future?" said Peter "College Pete" Ratzan, M.B.A., Lockwood's partner.

"I can predict exactly what will happen at these events," said Lockwood. "The parents will fill out their FAFSA. Then, they'll push a button and learn what their Expected Family Contribution is - in other words, the dollar amount that they will be expected to pay according to the FAFSA."

Lockwood continued, "It won't be pretty. This number will be several thousand dollars per year, per child. Parents will freak out. Then, I bet you dollars to donuts that these parents will rush to apply for high fee, high rate student loans, because they will not see any alternative to borrowing for college," said Lockwood. "And with the friendly student lenders lurking nearby, these parents are fish in a barrel."

If you are the parent of a sophomore, junior, or, in some cases, a senior, you still have time to prevent yourself from being coerced like the attendees of the "Countdown."

According to Ratzan, there are better, even free ways to pay for college, if you know the "rules of the game" about how federal grants are given, and to whom.

For more information, attend one of Lockwood and Ratzan's three, free workshops this month:

* Tuesday, February 26th, 6:15 pm - Southwest Regional Library, Pembroke Pines;
* Wednesday, February 27th, 6:15 pm: West Regional Libary, Plantation; and
* Thursday, February 28th, 8:00 pm: West Broward Family YMCA, Weston.

Details are available at:

http://collegeplanningadvice.com

The workshops are free and nothing will be sold or "pitched." (There will be no loan applications to fill out, either.) In fact, neither Ratzan or Lockwood don't even mention their services, because they give their workshops at public libraries, YMCA's and Community Centers and are not allowed to promote themselves.

"The secret to avoiding high fee, high rate and high payment student loans is to position yourself to qualify for maximum aid by Sophomore or Junior Year," said Ratzan. "But even if your child is a Senior, there are still alternatives to student loans," he added.

Lockwood and Ratzan co-host "The College Planning Power Hour" radio show, Sundays, 10:00-11:00 AM on ESPN Radio AM 400, starting March 2, 2008. Their firm, http://CollegePlanningAdvice.com is located in Weston, Florida and helps parents "Pay for College Without Going Broke."

For more information and/or an entertaining interview, please contact Andrew Lockwood, J.D. at 954.659.1234 or "http://info@collegeplanningadvice.com"

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

It is harder to qualify for student loans due to the subprime mortgage crisis. But there is more than 80 Billion of financial aid available, yet an estimated 53% of all eligible students never apply, probably because they think they make too much money. College Planning Specialists of Florida teach free workshops that reveal the "inside secrets" of how to qualify for financial aid - "How to Pay for College Without Going Broke."

Weston, FL -- (ReleaseWire) -- 01/29/2008 -- College Planning Specialists of Florida, Inc.


CNNMoney reports that students will find it harder than ever to qualify for and afford student loans, due to the effects of the subprime mortgage crisis. Student loan companies are tightening borrower standards and charging higher interest rates. Combined with steadily increasing college costs, the outlook for many families can be bleak, according to a local college planning experts, Andrew Lockwood, J.D. and Peter Ratzan, M.B.A.

"However, parents who understand the 'rules of the financial aid game' are able to tap into billions of dollars of free money available, thereby reducing or flat out eliminating the student's reliance on loans," said Lockwood. "There are little known 'secrets' to qualifying for financial aid that you will never hear from your guidance counselor or college financial aid officer," said Ratzan, a former high school teacher. "The biggest shame of all is that an estimated 53% of all eligible parents never even bother to apply for financial aid, probably because they assume they make too much money," added Ratzan.

Lockwood and Ratzan offer a free, eductional workshop, "How to Pay for College Without Going Broke," for parents of college-bound students. They give the free workshop at several locations throughout Broward County, Florida. The workshops are frequently "standing room only" because of the subject matter covered. Topics include:

* How to send your child to the school of his or her dreams…without getting trapped in a financial nightmare of high rate, high payment, expensive debt;
* How to double or even triple your eligibility for free grant money;
* Why you're flat out wrong if you think that you make too much money to qualify for aid.

* The Five Most Common financial aid myths.
* Where to find the hidden scholarships and grants other parents will never hear about.
* The single biggest mistake 9 out of 10 parents make when applying for scholarships that literally cost them thousands of dollars! More importantly, how to avoid thise fatal error!
* Haven't saved enough to pay for college tuition, room and board, books, etc? Don't worry, it's not as bad as you think-if you know these three insider secrets.
* The shocking truth about the new college savings plans and how they can hurt you not help you, by costing you money.
* Did your accountant or broker show you where to save money for school? Watch out! You better move it now before it costs you a fortune.
* The unspoken, REAL story about Florida Pre-paid, not the "HYPE" the State of Florida wants you to believe. (Hint - it ain't all that it's cracked up to be!)

Workshop times, dates and locations are posted on the website, http://www.CollegePlanningAdvice.com.

For an informative and entertaining interview, please contact Andrew Lockwood, J.D. at 954.389.7011 or andy@collegeplanningadvice.com.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Due to overflowing crowds, College Planners add additional workshops this month that reveal inside information on How to Pay for College Without Going Broke.

Weston, FL -- (ReleaseWire) -- 01/17/2008 -- Things got out of hand this weekend at the Weston Public Library during a regularly scheduled workshop, "How to Pay For College Without Going Broke" put on by College Planning Specialists of Florida, Inc.

Although the maximum capacity of library meeting room is approximately 35 people, the crowd swelled to more than 50.

"It was wild. People were lined up outside, even before the library opened its doors," said Peter Ratzan, co-owner of College Planning Specialists and the leader of Saturday's free workshop. "Once the doors opened, people just kept coming in. And in."

"It was messy," said Andy Lockwood, Ratzan's partner. "I felt badly for the unlucky folks standing in the back of this hot room, or sitting on the floor, even straining to listen from outside the entrance. The staff at the library was glaring at us - we thought the fire marshal was going to come in at any minute and put a stop to the whole workshop."

"We do these workshops a few times a month, so we're used to full crowds, but this was a little ridiculous!" Lockwood said.

Because of this overwhelming response and to accomodate those who were turned away, Lockwood and Ratzan have scheduled two additional workshops this month:

January 22, 6:15 PM at the Sunrise (Dan Pearl) Branch of the Public Library, 10500 Oakland Park Blvd., Sunrise; and January 24, 8:00 PM, 20201 Saddle Club Road (inside Regional Park). Each workshop is 40-47% filled, so seat reservations are encouraged. Register either online at http://www.CollegePlanningAdvice.com or by calling the office directly, 954.659.1234.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm