E187 Ann Garcia

From Ann:

Like you, I’m a parent. I have twins who are attending their top-choice colleges—one at an elite private school, the other at an out-of-state public school—because they were able to get scholarship packages that made those choices fit our family’s budget.

I’m also a CFP® and owner of Independent Progressive Advisors, a fee-only Registered Investment Advisor in Portland OR, author of The College Financial Lady blog  (thecollegefinanciallady.com). My blog has approximately 15,000 subscribers in various media (blog, Facebook). In addition, I’m regularly cited in national media (New York Times, US News & World Report) on the subject of college planning. I earned a BA from the University of California, Berkeley, and am a member of Phi Beta Kappa and of NAPFA, the leading association of fee-only financial advisors. 

Early in my career as an advisor, I noticed that clients had so many questions about college—and very few advisors were willing to tackle those questions. Since I kept hearing the same questions again and again (and wanted the answers myself), I started writing down answers in blog format, and The College Financial Lady was born. After seven years, I have developed a wealth of content on this topic through research, interaction with readers, and personal experience. Two years ago, I had an opportunity to put my knowledge to the test when the time came for my own children to apply to college.