Speakers: Cheryl Rapp, College Investment Program Finance Officer, Department of Financial Institutions & Chelsea Wunnicke
Presentation Description: Elementary school counselors- it’s never too early to start supporting your students’ post-secondary plans! Join the State of Wisconsin College Savings Program and learn how to help educate your families about 529 Plans! Early awareness and planning can greatly impact a child’s future educational and post-secondary opportunities. Even small, regular contributions can add up over time. Helping families understand this early on can make college or post-secondary education more affordable and can relieve anxiety for families about future education costs. Many low- to moderate-income families aren’t aware of 529 plans. Counselors can help bridge that information gap and connect families to state-sponsored options that often have low or no minimum contributions and sometimes even offer matching grants or initial deposits. When families start saving, even a little, adults and children begin to see college or other postsecondary education as a real possibility. As counselors, we can help support our elementary students and families as they begin exploring their futures with the comfort of knowing they are preparing financially now!
Track/Theme: Academic/Career/Postsecondary
Target Audience: Elementary
