Real College Funding Strategies: Scholarships, FAFSA, and 529 Tips

Real College Funding Strategies: Scholarships, FAFSA, and 529 Tips

November 18, 2025 · 1h 11m · Episode 189

About this episode

This episode discusses effective college funding strategies, including scholarships, FAFSA tips, and the benefits of 529 savings plans, while balancing homeownership goals.

College funding strategies parents ignore. If your buyers are asking how to afford tuition and a mortgage, this episode breaks down real-world college savings plans, FAFSA filing tips, and scholarship stacking strategies. Learn how one Texas family used student-athlete recruiting and a 529 savings plan to cut future student loans without derailing their homeownership goals. Episode Overview College funding strategies take center stage in this episode as Mike and his daughter Catey walk through the real-life steps they used to navigate scholarships, FAFSA planning, and long-term college savings. Catey shares her experience as a student-athlete, giving Realtors insight into how athletic recruiting actually works and why academic scholarship planning matters early. The episode explains how a 529 savings plan can reduce future debt and why so many families overlook smaller, local scholarships. Mike also breaks down FAFSA filing tips, plus what every parent should know about tuition planning at private vs. state schools. For Realtors who get asked, “Should we save for college or buy a house first?” this conversation provides practical language for guiding clients through major…

People in this episode

Host: Mike Mills

Guest: Catey

Topics covered

Keywords

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: FAFSA, 529 savings plan

Places: Texas

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