The task of planning for a child's college education can be a daunting one. There are the tax rules, the different account options, and the financial aid implications to consider.

For many people, a solid college planning adviser is worth their weight in gold.

If you are trying to decide between a CFP, CPA, CCPS, or another type of professional, you'll want to take a look at our Guide to College Planning Professionals.

To get the latest college planning news and tips in your inbox, be sure to sign up for our FREE weekly newsletter.

Someone recently approached me for advice about their soon-to-graduate child.

As long as they can remember, they've always told their child that their only responsibility was to "get good grades and go to college."

We'll, the kid has delivered. They got straight A's, but they've also got a serious attitude problem.

The kid is so ungrateful to the parents in every aspect of life that the parents have major reservations about paying over $100,000 in tuition. But then again, that would be going back on everything they've told their child about college and their expectations.

Drop into our forum and share your best parenting advice.

Be sure to also sign up for our free weekly newsletter for parents and students.

One of the great myths of financial aid is that it is not available for community college students. In fact, most of the major loan and scholarship programs don't differentiate between community college and university students.

The only major requirement that some community college students fail to meet is the requirement to attend school at least half-time.

For more details, check out my new guide to financial aid for community college students.

For more information on planning, saving, and paying for college, sign up for our FREE weekly E-Newsletter.

With the economy becoming ever more rocky, some parents may find it necessary to raid their kids' college funds to keep their lifestyle afloat.

Is that okay? Aren't there rules against that? What do you think?

I've put together a quick guide to the withdrawal rules for the three most used college accounts: UGMA / UTMA Accounts, Section 529 Plans, and Coverdell ESA's.

Take a moment to read the three page guide, then take a minute to post your thoughts in our forum.

Be sure to also sign up for our FREE weekly newsletter on everything related to college finances.

I've posted what little I've been able to find about the different candidates' plans to make college more affordable for students and parents.

If you have any knowledge about any of the candidates' plans, or have an opinion about why one plan is better than another, we'd love to hear it!

Please drop by our Saving for College message board and share your opinion.

Thanks!

Many people don't realize that many student loans (Perkins Loans and certain Stafford Loans) are subsidized by the U.S. Government. In other words, the interest that should accumulate during college is actually paid by Uncle Same until after graduation.

Additionally, it's arguable that the rates on the Federal student loan programs are kept artificially low for students, with the use of taxpayer funds.

So... What do you think?

POLL: Should the government use taxpayer dollars to offer lower cost or interest-free loans to college students?

1) Yes
2) No

Be sure to share your thoughts in our Saving for College forum while you're at it!

To receive future poll results and receive college savings tips, sign up for our FREE weekly E-Newsletter.

I hate to be "that guy," but for those of you on the verge of graduating, it's time to start thinking about how you're going to repay those student loans.

Besides finding a job somewhere other than Starbuck's (which isn't a half-bad option in this economy), you'll also need to pick a repayment plan for your loans.

If you haven't even begun to think about this stuff, check out my Guide to Repaying Your Student Loans. It covers everything from repayment plans to grace periods, hardship options, and loan forgiveness programs.

To get other financial guides and tips in your inbox, sign up for my free weekly E-Newsletter.

If you haven't got a chance yet, join the gripe session and post your student loan balance in our forum! The biggest balance wins!

As the Federal financial aid deadline creeps up (June 30th), I've received a lot of questions about which form needs to be completed by students or their parents.

The confusion centers around the difference between the FAFSA form and the CSS Profile.

In a nutshell, the FAFSA form is used primarily for Federal financial aid, though some schools also use it in lieu of creating their own financial aid forms. The CSS Profile on the other hand, is used by approximately 600 private schools and scholarship programs, and typically includes more factors than the FAFSA.

To find out if you need to complete the CSS Profile, you should contact your school or check the CollegeBoard's list of participating schools. Unlike the FAFSA, deadlines for the CSS Profile vary by school.

If you've completed the CSS Profile for a specific school, we'd love for you to share your experience in our forum.

To get more tips and pointers on saving and paying for college, sign up for our free weekly newsletter.

How does the E*Trade Coverdell college savings account stack up? Read the review and find out.

Do you have an E*Trade Coverdell ESA or one from another firm? Help other parents by sharing your opinion in our forum.

Get free reviews of college savings vehicles by signing up for our weekly E-Newsletter.

For many high school seniors, this is the week when they have to decide where they're going to spend the next four years of their lives.

For most students, it won't be as simple as picking the highest ranked college they got accepted to. They've got to evaluate the unique financial aid packages offered by each school, as well as the intangible costs such as travel and local costs of living.

To help you sort out the different pieces of the puzzle, here is a list of some recent and relevant articles.

• The Basics of Federal Financial Aid Programs
• Applying for Financial Aid
• The Basics of Tuition, Room, and Board
• Understanding the Rising Cost of Tuition
• The Montgomery GI Bill: An Alternative to Scholarships
• Keeping Credit Card Offers Out of Your Student's Mailbox
• A Guide to College Planning Professionals

If you have a student entering college in the next few years, be sure to sign up for our E-Newsletter. You'll get a weekly update with tips and tricks on saving and paying for college.

Need to brag about your student getting accepted? We want to hear! Post it in our forum!