Dear 'Stressed' Parent,

I say "stressed" because if you've landed here, you are probably in some state of panic about paying for your child's college education. Perhaps you've just crunched the numbers and learned for the first time how much one year of college costs (about $25,000 – $55,000). Or perhaps, you're already in it, and just realized how long it's going to take for your son or daughter to graduate (on average, 5.5 to 6 years at a public university; closer to the 4 year "norm" at a private college).

Well, take a deep breath. One – you're not alone – 97% of Americans do not have enough money to pay for college. Two, and more importantly, it's never too late for you to do something about it.

My name is Peter Ratzan and I own College Funding Specialists in Weston, FL. I'm a long-time South Floridian, former teacher and coach at Ransom Everglades in Miami (my alma mater) and the author of Never Pay Retail For College (a guide to choosing, getting into and paying wholesale for America's best colleges). For the past five years I have personally helped hundreds of South Florida families like yours solve what is perhaps the most pressing problem of our lifetime – how to pay for college without raiding what's left of their retirement, sacrificing current lifestyle or taking on the back-breaking burden of student loan debt (college debt exceeded all other consumer debt for the first time this year).

I specialize in late-stage college funding strategies, and I assure you that with proper planning – even if your child is already in high school, cost need not limit his/her college options. I conduct a monthly class that teaches Florida's "forgotten" middle class how to restock the college odds in their favor. Some of the topics I discuss include:

  • How to research and assemble the perfect college list – one that includes schools that meet your child's academic and social needs AND have money to give, and graduate their students in four (not six) years
  • Why our state universities can cost more than the so-called pricey private colleges (even if you have Bright Futures and the Florida Pre-Paid program)
  • How financial need is calculated and why the advice of your financial advisor or CPA may cost you thousands in college scholarships (The Dept. of Ed. Title IV regulations are complex and confusing – it's like a game, but it's only winnable if you know the rules).
  • How To Avoid Financial Aid scams and dubious "loan" options and instead optimize your chances for legitimate scholarships and grants
  • What You Can Do to reduce your out-of-pocket costs and pay for college on a tax-favored basis, If you did not receive enough financial aid
  • More

My class is free. I never pitch or sell anything. One client, Beth Freeman wrote: "I owe an indescribable depth of gratitude to my fun and fearless financial aid team… There's no way that your wonderful workshops can ever capture what you really do – and sadly, in today's world, what you promote that you do is almost too good to be true."

I get this. And realize that in today's information society, you're bombarded with thousands of messages each day. There are a lot of scam artists and rip-off scholarships floating around online and off. That is not me. I am a real person with real ties to this community.

Allan Prindle, who is the President and CEO of Power Financial Credit Union, said this about my class: "Getting a college education is so important, but finding the funds to pay for the experience can be a challenge. It's no surprise that College Pete's seminars have been standing room only because everyone wants to know the secrets behind securing free financial aid and the ways to 'play the financial aid game' correctly."

So, if you have a student in high school, I strongly urge you to attend one of my classes BEFORE you begin the admissions process. I don't bite – I do, however, offer a lot of rock-solid, tested advice that will help you identify, get your child into and pay at a discount for some of America's best colleges.

I look forward to seeing you in a class soon.

Warmly,
Peter Ratzan Signature
Peter 'College Pete' Ratzan