Discover hidden financial aid “loopholes”  -- and stay clear of deadly, money-losing "landmines" -- that ANY family can use to beat the overpriced, rip-off colleges at their own slick, sick game...

"This program works especially well for parents who think there's NO WAY they'll ever qualify for anything"

Dear Fellow Parent:

Guidance counselors are useless.

Your accountant can't help either.

And colleges are BIG BUSINESS -- they want every last dollar they can wring out of you...

...Even in the middle of a recession!

If your child is headed off to college in the next year or two, and you're officially you-know-whatting-a-brick when you realize just HOW RIDICULOUSLY EXPENSIVE tuition has gotten since YOU applied back in The Day...

...and you're asking yourself, How on god's green earth will I possibly be able to afford to send my kids where they deserve to go...

...without raiding my retirement or selling an organ? 

I suggest that you shut down TikTok, Faceborg or whatever else you have open, turn off your texts and other "dumb phone" intrusions, and give yourself 10 minutes of uninterrupted time to read this note, because it might open your eyes to relief that you didn't know existed.

I'm featured regularly on local, national and international television and other media for my college expertise (e.g. Wall St Journal, Fox News, CBS).

I'm not bragging, because, seriously, who cares?  I'm telling you this only to offer some of my credentials, because I too would roll my eyes if some guy in the Internet promised something that sounded too good to be true.

But if you bear with me and see what I have to say, I'll prove that I'm NOT exaggerating or wasting your time.

True, this message is about our college financial aid consulting services, but it's really about something more important...

It's About YOU Getting Free Grants and Scholarships

Technically, for "free"

I'll explain that in a moment.

But first, let me give you a quick lay of the land, so you can see how and why our program works for qualified families, at no expense.

It’s no secret, college costs have SKYROCKETED to insane levels over the past 30 years, and there’s no realistic relief in sight (sorry, Bernie and Elizabeth!).

Student loan levels have eclipsed 1.6 Trillion and counting, defaults are on the rise and 50% of college grads from two years ago STILL don’t have a job that requires a college degree!

This was BEFORE coronavirus, by the way.

Colleges act like they’re on your side, but don’t count on them for help.

These "non-profit" colleges and universities are businesses -- BIG BUSINESSES -- and want as much of your money as they can get their hands on!

They need to build new dorms with flat panel TVs, construct Lazy Rivers and pay their presidents and other higher-ups seven-figure salaries, among other “necessary” budget line items.

But don’t expect the government to step in on your behalf either:

Student loan interest and fees totaled $66 Billion, according to the Government Accountability Office. That’s more of a profit than most Fortune 100 companies make --- the Feds aren't giving up that revenue so fast!

What about your average CPA and accountant?

Forget it.

They’re too busy trying to keep up with voluminous tax law changes, they simply cannot devote the extra time to master the convoluted, non-common sense, punitive financial aid regulations.

I say “punitive” because the financial aid system PUNISHES responsible families who earn a living, pay their bills and live below their means, while rewarding less responsible families by showering them with grants and scholarships. 

(I realize that this isn't politically correct, but I'm just getting warmed up!)

Last, and most disappointing, guidance counselors are woefully untrained in this area too, not to mention severely outnumbered (the average ratio of child to counselor is more than 400:1, nationally).

Pretty bleak. But hopeless?

Good news: You might have a better shot at getting aid than you think. Check out these little-known stats:

• Most financial and merit aid goes to parents in the top 25% of income  (families earning six and seven figures)
• At most colleges, roughly 25% of families pay Full Boat, subsidizing a whopping 75%. Which group would you rather be in? (That's a rhetorical question.  Don't answer.)
• The AVERAGE tuition discount at a private college is a staggering 52.2%, according to an industry report. (BEFORE coronavirus --I expect it to increase!)  Colleges are cutting deals left and right - paying full price today is an OPTION, not an obligation!

Many parents screw up the courage to admit how guilty and ashamed they feel because they fell short saving for their kids' college educations. 

They softly confess their regret, stress and strain from fighting with their spouse and teen about which colleges they can afford to apply to.

But what if there were a way to avoid this frustration and family tension? 

To get your hands on the grants and scholarships you need -- and deserve!

To make paying for college seem as easy and carefree as spending a lazy, summer day sipping your favorite cocktail, relaxing by the pool?

You might find this a little weird, but here's an illustration of how things work...

Back when Barack Obama and Mitt Romney were competing for the presidency, word got out that Romney paid an effective 14% tax rate -- that was close to half of what Obama paid.

Many folks were outraged, but interestingly, NOBODY claimed that Romney was doing anything illegal.

Yet Romney out-earned Obama by multiple millions of dollars!  How did he pay less in taxes?

Fast forward to Trump vs. Hillary.

Same issue: Hillary accused Trump of hiding his tax returns, claiming he didn’t want the world to know how little he paid in taxes.  

Trump’s response:

“That makes me smart.”

Look, you can love or hate Trump, Hillary, Romney or Obama. But you should be a little curious how Romney and Trump managed to slash their tax bills, legally (let’s just assume that).

You don't have to wonder too much. Here's the answer:

They relied on two powerful words...

Romney didn’t look at his legal and accounting bills as EXPENSES.  Rather, he viewed them properly as INVESTMENTS that paid off in an amount FAR GREATER than the sizable checks he cut to his accountants.

Romney, Trump and all successful businessmen and women understand the ROI (Return on Investment), when it comes to hiring experts to advise them.

In a nutshell, THAT premise is the bedrock of our firm, Lockwood College Prep.

For clients who meet our criteria, we're known for this simple proposition: 

You give us X, we return you a MULTIPLE of X  by way of grants, scholarships and other financial aid. (See below client results.)

Some parents think getting financial aid  is merely about filling out a little paperwork.

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is the "easy" form required by all colleges.  The Department of Education wants you to believe that it's straightforward.

They're right -- the FAFSA APPEARS  to be simple, to the unassuming eye. 

But that's misleading, because appearances are only part of the story:

There are more than 1,100 pages of regulations behind this so-called "simple" form!

The devil is in the details, especially when you delve into the regulations pertaining to what needs to be disclosed, and what doesn't. 

If you "overshare" on the FAFSA and reveal something you did not have to disclose, you will literally rob yourself of thousands -- perhaps tens of thousands of dollars.

Maybe that's why Arne Duncan, former Secretary of Education and a Harvard grad, was famously quoted as saying, 'You basically need a Ph.D to figure that thing out."

On the flip side, if you never stumble across the four legal and ethical "loopholes" that permit you to "hide" -- or shelter -- your savings from the financial aid formulas, you could lose tens of thousands in aid that you otherwise deserve, too.

Oh, that's just the FAFSA.  The even scarier application, The CSS Profile, is required by approximately 400 mostly private, competitive colleges.

It's  twice as long and 10 times as difficult as the FAFSA, and governed by a separate, distinct methodology.

If you're the do-it-yourself type and plan on filing these forms yourself, you need to be super-organized and METICULOUS - even one little mistake like transposing a social security number or date of birth could make or break your results. 

You'll need to devote at least one full weekend to getting the forms done.  Probably more, if you're going to comb through all of the directions.  Then add a week or two if you're going to research strategies to improve eligibility. 

Or you can save time and money with an "insurance policy:"  bringing in expert help.  We prepare hundreds of these applications for our clients each year, quickly, accurately and before their deadlines,  and in a way that OPTIMIZES their eligibility for grants and scholarships. 

Here's how our our program works:

(That's the simplified view of the regulations behind the FAFSA - the "easy" form)

The Financial Aid Warrior System

The first step is for us to meet on Zoom or over the phone to determine whether you're a good fit.  There are dozens of strategies to get funds for college, but they don't work for everybody.

Currently there's no charge for this introductory call, but there might be one "catch:"

We may not have capacity for any more clients by the time you read this letter, because it's posted on the Internet and I don't know when you discovered it.

Assuming we have room, and it turns out that you are in fact a good fit, you may enroll with a discounted one-pay or a payment plan, plus our monthly "Inner Circle" support membership (but this is actually free, see below).

Upon enrollment, we'll send you a short list of the items we need you to provide, including tax returns, W2s and other information required by the colleges.

The next step is a conversation to gather the rest of your information, answer questions and identify any strategies to help qualify for more grants and scholarships.

The final step is to finalize the forms, and, with your approval, file them!

That's the final step of the FIRST PHASE, by the way. 

Because, as Pearl says, filing is when things START, not finish.

Next, we handle all of the follow-up items that crop up after we file, including:

• Requests from colleges for new information, triggered by what has been filed (if your child applies to 10-12 schools, this can get overwhelming)
• Requests from colleges for previously-provided information, that they claim they can't locate (annoying!)
• Key timelines and deadlines for follow up, that you cannot afford to miss
• Negotiation/appeal of your awards, once received.
• Loan paperwork for government student and parent loans, if desired

You may cancel your monthly membership (described below) at any time, without penalty.

However, anyone who stays in the Inner Circle support membership gets their financial aid forms filed, for free, next year. 

(Yes, you apply for aid each year!)

Let’s talk turkey.  I don't yet know if you'd be a good fit for this program. 

Assuming we're still taking on new clients, we need to see if you're qualified before any money changes hands.

Our 1-on-1 private college advising clients invest between $12,000- $20,000, or more for personal advice on college selection, essays, extracurriculars and so forth.

But Financial Aid Warrior is a different program, focused solely on getting you the maximum amount of grants and scholarships possible.  

The "cost?"

Technically, it's free.  

Here's what I mean:

Although the investment for the Financial Aid Warrior program is $3,495 plus a cancellable, $47/month "Inner Circle" support membership, our clients receive much more than that amount in return.  

We also offer a payment plan to help with cash flow.

Economically speaking, it's actually better than free:

We are a money-MAKER for you.  Not an expense.

The next logical step is to apply for a call to see if you meet our criteria.  If you don't, we'll tell you not to waste your money on hiring us.

If you contact us within the next couple of days I'll even knock off a couple hundred bucks if we decide to move forward.

There's no charge and no risk to apply.  Yet, working with us could be the best decision you'll ever make.

Just wait 'til you brag about hiring us at the next neighborhood barbecue! :)

Quick comment:  we cannot guarantee results that are out of our control, such as whether or not your kid gets INTO a certain college, where your child "stacks up" in GPA, SAT/ACT scores, etc. compared to the rest of the kids he or she is competing with, your colleges' budgetary constraints, endowment returns and a lot more.

While we cannot guarantee results, we can promise that we will not take you on as a client unless we can show you a legal and ethical way to get financial aid in an amount far in excess of our fee.

Finally, NO college advisor should offer any guarantee for the above reasons, not to mention that the legitimate industry groups we all belong to say explicitly that it's unethical to offer one.

I Need to Come Clean

I said earlier that this letter was about you, but that was slightly misleading.

Because it's also about me, Pearl and our entire firm.   

Specifically, my reputation as a college advisor, which is impeccable.  And I intend to keep it that way.

Selfishly speaking, I have a long-standing, IMMACULATE  track record among clients as well as my professional colleagues.  I'm a continuing education provider for CPAs, and I run a certification program that trains others how to become college advisors. 

I'm constantly asked to speak to PTAs and other parent groups, at public libraries, police unions and other venues.

But if I were to suffer a blow to my reputation in today's ratings-centric society, all of that goes up in smoke!

I've worked too hard to jeopardize these relationships and will do anything and everything to always deliver what I promise, and more, in order to safeguard the brand we've built up over the years.

That's the main reason why Pearl and I work only with clients that we can genuinely help.  

One More "Catch"

But we have one more, important criterion;  we help only people we actually ENJOY working with.

We do NOT do well with high-maintenance "Energy Vampires," who refuse to follow our system and advice, or need constant babysitting and multiple reminders about information they agreed to provide when they enrolled, but failed to do so.

That's why you cannot sign up for our services online anymore.  Now, if we have room on our client roster, the first step is an interview to ensure that you're a good fit.  Of course this protects you, too.

If you don't qualify for our program, I or someone on my team will tell you in that interview and advise you not to waste your money retaining us.

But if this feels right to you, I really hope you apply.  My lifetime goal is to help 10,000 deserving families avoid crushing college debt and financial strain. 

My "Back Story"

I don't talk about this much, but, between college and laws school, I racked up 100,000 plus in crushing, high rate, high fee debt.

It took me years to dig out from under this awful mess, not to mention years of calls from creditors, threatening legal letters and being turned down for rental and mortgage applications.

All demoralizing and depressing.

Today's kids have it far tougher than I -- graduating with three times as much debt into a much shakier economy.

That's why I created the Financial Aid Warrior Program...

...and why I'll bend over backwards to remove every last dustball of risk for you, and do anything reasonable to get this opportunity into your hands.

I've helped thousands of families just like you afford college, and want to do the same for you.

I left out the most important feature of the Financial Aid Warrior Program, one that’s impossible to put a price on:

Peace of mind.

How would it feel to finally sleep like a baby at night (remember what that's like?), knowing that you’ve brought true experts into your corner, and that you won’t make any costly, self-sabotaging mistakes.

If your family is anything like ours, you're spent years and countless thousands of dollars to give your children a leg up:  driving them all over creation to practices, games, rehearsals.  Getting them tutors, paying for club teams, tournaments, equipment, maybe private coaching too. All to give them the best you can to help them succeed.

Now you're at a critical crossroads.  NOW is when THEY NEED YOU more than ever, as they get closer to the goal line for this phase of their lives.

Now is NOT the time to fumble away this opportunity...

Because after you take care of signing up, you'll immediately feel a wave of relief, and a rush of confidence that, when your son or daughter GETS IN to the college they've been dreaming of, you will be able to easily send them where they belong...

...without  breaking into a cold sweat when your next tuition bill arrives!

Imagine what it will look like when your child rips open that fat envelope or email from her Dream College, and you hear her shriek with joy when she reads that she managed to get in!

You’ll ALL remember that moment forever!  

That’s why we’re here to help you comfortably afford to send her where she deserves, without sacrificing your lifestyle or mortgaging your home or retirement up to your eyeballs.

The cost of NOT taking action

Before I wrap up, I need to make one last, unpleasant but necessary comment:

There are very real, potentially severe consequences of NOT moving forward with your risk-free application. 

Inaction is a choice too.  If your decision is to do nothing, you could cause several, unfortunate, long-lasting but avoidable outcomes, such as:

• Saddling your child with crushing student debt
• Saddling YOURSELF with crushing parent debt
• Delaying retirement
• Having to let your son or daughter down by confessing, quietly, "Sorry, I just can't afford to send you where you deserve to go.  You did your part to get in, but I failed at mine."

Look, I'm not trying to be a jerk, but to be totally up front,  it won't matter a lick to me whether we ever talk. 

I will hit my maximum capacity of new clients again this year, whether or not you come aboard.

But again, this is about YOU. 

A quick conversation between you and me could, literally, "make" you thousands -- even tens of thousands -- of dollars in financial aid and merit aid.  It happens all the time.

If my tone offends you, please understand that wasn't my intent.

We haven't met, but I want you to know that I'm speaking frankly because I sincerely hope you don't let this opportunity slip through your fingers.

So many parents tell me and Pearl each year that they "meant to" contact us years ago.

Then life got in the way, their kids got into college and NOW  -- after they get their first bill, and see the ACTUAL COST of tuition staring them in the face, desperately hope against hope that we can still somehow help them.

Sadly, when it's too late, we can't help.  There's no magic wand or "do-overs" in our world.  Hence, the "tough talk."

My advice is to reach out ASAP while there's still time.  There's no cost to apply, and no risk if you end up enrolling after we speak. 

So why not get started now, before our strict capacity limits force us to close our doors to new clients?

I hope we speak soon!

P.S.  By the time you read this, we may have shut down -- hopefully temporarily -- in order to ensure that we can handle the annual influx of clients that seems to grow each year.  If you can't book a time to chat on our online calendar, email [email protected] and we'll put you on the waitlist if someone cancels.

• How to make an expensive private college cost LESS than a so-called "cheaper" state university
• How to negotiate or appeal your "final" merit aid or financial aid offer.  Andy is the leading expert on appealing financial aid awards and just wrote a book about this.  Furthermore, his clients' results, featured above and below, speak for themselves.  Note:  this is very time consuming so you'd better apply immediately if you think you'll be interested in this service.
• Money saved as per your accountant's or "financial guy's" advice?  WATCH OUT, their recommendations may have SABOTAGED your eligibility, but we might be able to help.
• Business Owners:  Discover hidden "business scholarships" locked in your business that your accountant never told you about
• Own your primary residence?  Several hundred colleges will "count'" this against you.. How to minimize or flat-out eliminate this  penalty.
• The 529 College Savings Plan:  "Friend" or" Foe?"
• Divorced/separated families: Which parent should apply, if remarried what happens, which colleges want BOTH divorced parents to file for aid and which don't and more!
• Recruited athletes looking for sports scholarships:  the inconvenient truth about what's really out there, and what to do about it to get more
• Applying Early Decision, Early Action, Restricted Early Action or something else?  Do you know the deadlines for your financial aid applications?  We've got you covered.  You won't be late and miss out on funds you deserve.
• Best college loans?  We'll walk you through all federal loans that are available as an entitlement that you may not know about, and take care of the annoying paperwork, if you wish.
• Disabled?  You may have a gigantic silver lining loophole that hardly anyone knows about, including accountants and financial advisors
• Are you aware what happens AFTER you file?  You're not out of the woods yet, you're just a few steps in. How to deal with the barrage of follow up requests for more -- or the same -- information from 5, 10, 15 or more colleges standing in the way between you and the aid you deserve
• Money saved for retirement?  Which colleges care, which don't, and which financial aid forms include this information and which don't.  (Also a make-or-break proposition.)

More, but this letter is long enough and you more than enough information at this point.  If I can't convince you to reach out by now, I give up!

Do I make too much money to qualify? 

This may seem counter-intuitive, but there is no magic “ceiling” in the financial aid rules that prevents you from qualifying. 

We have clients who make north of $300,000 who receive need-based aid, and have seen families making less than $50,000 get nothing.

That’s because

1. There are 77 or more factors considered in the financial aid formulas (which take up more than 1,100 pages of regulations) including income, which is certainly important. 
2. Financial aid officers have discretion to consider OTHER, MITIGATING factors beyond what goes on the forms, which is why we always try to GET MORE by appealing, or negotiating, your awards
3. Colleges vary in terms of how generous they are (that's why we help you identity the ones who will be generous to YOU)

We're not going to qualify, should we bother applying for aid?

First, you might be wrong about not qualifying.

Second, many colleges require families to complete the financial aid applications in order to be considered for NON-need-based aid (merit aid).

The final reason is that, if you submit your forms and show financial STRENGTH, you could directly help your child's odds of admission, and not-so-indirectly help get merit aid, as most colleges favor affluent families when doling out merit scholarships.

Is this process overly technical and hard to understand? 

Yes, the process is complicated.

But OUR PROGRAM is not.

We've made the process as smooth and stress-free as possible...

If you follow our system.

That's why you're considering hiring us -- to get the most you can with the least amount of stress, right?

If we decide you'd be a good fit and you end up enrolling, follow our system, including providing us the information we need, responding to emails and/or calls in a timely manner and so forth, and you'll achieve the success you were hoping for.

Can I do the financial aid applications on my own (I heard they were straightforward)?

Actually, if you’re the do-it-yourself type (e.g. you file your own tax returns, do your own plumbing repairs, possibly your own taxidermy too), you certainly could. 

All I can tell you is that we have, any given year, a dozen or so active clients who are in the accounting and financial advising profession, who decided that it wasn’t worth the risk or their time to buckle down and attempt to master the 1,100 pages of nonsensical rules and regulations underpinning the financial aid forms.  

Of course I could tell you horror stories about how even these financially astute, meticulous professionals badly screwed up their applications and cheated themselves out of money they otherwise should have gotten, but you get the point by now! 

Can you guarantee that I’ll receive a full ride? 

I don't have a magic wand.

We cannot guarantee any specific result, because it’s unethical (thanks again, Lori and Felicity) and because there are numerous factors out of our control, such as where your child applies, where he gets in, his academic credentials, who else is applying to that school, and more.  

HOWEVER,  we'll screen you first, to make sure you'd be a good fit before any money changes hands. 

The examples and testimonials on this page are accurate and truthful, note the first and last names, videos, etc.  But your results may be different -- they could be worse, or they could be better.

We're both adults, so I'm guessing you know that already but I'm saying it to be thorough (and because I went to law school back in the day :) 

What if I decide I need more one-on-one help with the college applications? 

That is a separate, more involved service.  If we have capacity, we’ll be happy to chat and try to work something out.   College advisory fees start at 12,000 and can be more than 20,000 depending on when a family starts with us and the scope of engagement.

Okie dokie, that should do it!  Sign up for your complimentary consultation now, and you'll feel less stressed immediately and feel GREAT that you took a huge step toward ensuring your child's future success in college...and beyond!