The New College Funding Playbook For Advisors: Strategies For 2026 & Beyond

As the landscape of college funding continues to evolve, financial advisors must adapt to a new set of rules shaped by regulatory changes, shifting student loan dynamics, and the growing influence of AI in higher education. What was once a relatively stable planning domain is now a moving target, creating both uncertainty for families and opportunities for advisors who are prepared to serve as trusted experts in this space.

In this webinar, Joe Messinger explores policy changes that affect college planning strategies for 2026 and beyond, focusing on how advisors can deliver more proactive, high-value guidance. The session examines practical approaches to optimizing college funding outcomes, including strategies for navigating complex family situations (such as divorced households under new aid rules), maximizing the expanded flexibility of 529 plans, and implementing more tax-efficient distribution strategies.

To highlight key decision points in the college planning process, Joe uses case studies to illustrate when to prioritize need-based versus merit-based aid, how to reduce a family’s Student Aid Index (SAI), and how advanced techniques can be applied for high-net-worth families and business owners to improve tax efficiency and cash flow.

Learning Objectives:  
- Discuss the current landscape for college funding, considering increased college costs, changes at the Department of Education, and the rise of AI in the workforce of tomorrow.
- Explain the financial aid process and how new financial aid rules may impact clients’ college funding opportunities.
- Determine the best strategies to help clients plan for college, whether working to qualify for financial aid, planning for tax efficiency, or focusing on school selection.
- Highlight the key differences between the FAFSA and the CSS Profile, and evaluate which may be most advantageous for clients.
- Understand the expanded use of 529 plans to fund education expenses and what you can do with leftover funds.   

Accessing the webinar:
You can find your custom link by accessing the email confirmations that have been sent to you via email from webinar.host@bigmarker.com. You can also find your individual sign-on link within the downloadable calendar invite for the webinar.

Continuing Education (CE): 1.5 Credits
For attendees who want to receive CE credit for designations managed by the CFP Board, IWI, and American College, we will report your attendance directly to these organizations within 72 hours as long as you enter your certification numbers during registration and attend the live session for at least 75 minutes.

For attendees who want to receive CE credit as an Investment Adviser Representative (IAR), we will report your attendance directly to FINRA within 72 hours as long as you enter your certification numbers during registration and attend the live session for at least 75 minutes. Additionally, Kitces Members must have purchased the IAR Add-on to have their CE reported to FINRA as an IAR.

For attendees who want to receive CE credit as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), you must attend the live session for at least 75 minutes and complete all polls presented at the live event. A certificate will be provided to you for self-reporting to NASBA.

All attendees who meet the minimum attendance requirement of 75 minutes will also receive a completion certificate that you can use to report CE to other organizations. We don't report for state-level insurance licensing although some states may accept completion certificates if you self-report.

NASAA does not endorse any particular provider of CE courses. The content of the course and any views expressed are my/our own and do not necessarily reflect the views of NASAA or any of its member jurisdictions

Recordings:
Non-Members: Those who are NOT Kitces.com Members will have access to the recording for 30 days. Though continuing education is available for the live session, the recording is not CE eligible. 

Kitces.com Basic & Premier Members: The video presentation and a recording of the live Q&A will be available on the Webinars page in the Members Section. Note: If you were not able to attend the live session for the full 50 minutes, successful completion of a quiz will be required in order to receive CE for viewing the RECORDED VERSION posted to the Members Section.