National Mortgage Crisis' Latest Victims: College Students -- South Florida Team Showing Smart Parents How To Obtain Loan-Free Financial Aid for Thei

Weston, FL (PRWEB) January 30, 2008 -- According to a report issued last week by CNNMoney, the trickle-down effects of the deteriorating subprime credit markets have forced student loan companies to tighten borrower standards and charge higher interest rates, forcing many financially-strapped students to forgo a four year degree. Despite the seemingly bleak news, Local College Planning Experts, Andrew Lockwood, J.D. and Peter Ratzan, M.B.A., are very upbeat about their students' abilities to pursue and afford a four year college degree; and in a series of free workshops titled "How to Pay For College Without Going Broke," the two are teaching families with college bound children how to deal with the rising costs of college without resorting to the kind of high fee, high cost student loans the CNN report was addressing.

"Parents who understand the 'rules of the financial aid game' are able to tap into billions of dollars of free money available, thereby reducing or flat-out eliminating the student's reliance on loans. Frankly, there's more financial aid than ever."

"There are little known 'secrets' to qualifying for financial aid that you will never hear from your guidance counselor or college financial aid officer," added Ratzan, a former high school teacher. "The biggest shame of all is that an estimated 53% of all eligible parents never even bother to apply for financial aid, chiefly because they assume they make too much money. They couldn't be more wrong."

"Too many parents needlessly exhaust their life's savings or strap themselves and their children with high rate, high fee adjustable rate student loans, instead of applying for aid. Everyone should apply for financial aid, regardless of their income or assets," said Lockwood.

To educate parents about the financial aid process, Lockwood and Ratzan offer their free workshops at several locations in Broward County, Florida. The workshops are frequently "standing room only" because of the subject matter covered. Topics include:

?How to send your child to the school of his or her dreams?without getting trapped in a financial nightmare of high rate, high payment, expensive debt;

?How to double or even triple your eligibility for free grant money;

?Why you're flat out wrong if you think that you make too much money to qualify for aid. The Five Most Common financial aid myths.

?Where to find the hidden scholarships and grants other parents will never hear about.

?The single biggest mistake 9 out of 10 parents make when applying for scholarships that literally cost them thousands of dollars! More importantly, how to avoid thise fatal error!

?Haven't saved enough to pay for college tuition, room and board, books, etc? Don't worry, it's not as bad as you think-if you know these three insider secrets.

?The shocking truth about the new college savings plans and how they can hurt you not help you, by costing you money.

?Did your accountant or broker show you where to save money for school? Watch out! You better move it now before it costs you a fortune.

?The unspoken, REAL story about Florida Pre-paid, not the "HYPE" the State of Florida wants you to believe. (Hint - it ain't all that it's cracked up to be!)

There are currently three workshops scheduled for February. Workshop times, dates and locations are posted on the website, www.CollegePlanningAdvice.com.

For an informative and entertaining interview, please contact Andrew Lockwood, J.D. at 954.389.7011.

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