Supporting clients through college planning and transition

The college journey is one of the most significant milestones for families. In this episode, John Bryson is joined by Nancy and Gail to share insights on financial planning, admissions decisions, family dynamics, and managing the emotional transition.

Together, they discuss the wide range of decisions and emotions families have to navigate, and offer practical strategies advisors can use to support clients. Here’s a snippet of the conversation.

How can advisors help parents through the college admission process?
Nancy: Meet with families early, when kids are young, to come up with a college savings plan. Then meet with them again as college approaches to set a realistic budget with the family, including the details of where that money is coming from. Advisors can also help families be clear with their children about the college budget, so they can visit appropriately priced schools and get excited about them.

What are practical ways advisors can support families in the first few months of college?
Gail: The most valuable thing an advisor can do isn't necessarily to have a financial answer ready. It’s about noticing this new development. If a client is talking about a child who just left for school, it’s worth asking further, “How’s that adjustment going for you?” and “What does this next chapter look like for you, not just for your child?” This isn't about solving anything. You just need to be one of the people in their life who notices.