On Topic College Planning: Solutions and Concerns Let us know your thoughts at magazine_editor@morningstar.com The biggest obstacle in college planning is clients trying to fund their retirement at the same time that they are funding their children’s education. This is becoming a more relevant issue as people continue to have children at older ages. Another obstacle that I see is clients being so overwhelmed by the rising costs of college that they feel like they can’t possibly save enough, so they do nothing. Lauren Leidner Sapers & Wallack Advisors Brookline, MA Basil Herzstein Gallers Financial Group Rockville, MD Clients wake up too late for the need of college planning, and then they put in minimal amounts of savings and hope for the best. Many of our clients are concerned that their children won’t go to college or that they won’t have enough money saved. Many don’t have the means to save extra dollars. Then there is the issue of which 529 plan to choose. The Illinois plans are terrible because there is no transparency, meaning we brokers cannot evaluate where the money is being invested and what are the true expenses of the funds. John Gotschall Coaching Financial Concepts, Inc Chicago, IL 10 Morningstar Advisor Summer 2008