The single highest-return decision available to a middle school family has nothing to do with sports: open a college savings account and fund it every month. This worksheet gets you from knowing that to doing it — the account, the number, and the automatic transfer — in one sitting. Type your numbers in Step 2 and the math runs itself; everything saves on this device. It pairs with the full nine-vehicle comparison on the Financial Planning page.
This is education, not investment, tax, or legal advice. We are not registered investment advisors, we do not sell financial products, and we take no commissions or referral fees. Confirm anything that affects a financial decision with a licensed professional and the plan documents themselves.
Aid treatment refers to how the FAFSA generally counts the account today; rules change and some schools use their own formulas. The most common mistake families make is saving in the student’s own name — it is usually the worst-treated place for the money.
If the last line is uncomfortable, lower the monthly number rather than skipping months. A number you keep for six years beats a bigger one you abandon in October.
At $200 a month, a family that starts in sixth grade puts away $16,800 by the start of senior year — before any growth. The same family starting in tenth grade puts away $4,800. The difference, $12,000, is larger than the average athletic scholarship, and it does not depend on a knee, a coach, or a roster spot. Run your own number in the True Cost of College calculator.
Members get a written review of this plan once a year — the vehicle, the number, and the projected four-year gap, updated as income and circumstances change. Call (865) 696-0559 or visit HigherDegreeRecruit.com.