Yet another reason to consider prepaid college tuition

College Illinois! is all about making college more affordable. I realize it sounds like a broken record, but when times are tough, allocating dollars to a 529 prepaid tuition program like us is one of the wisest financial moves you can make. Not only does it make sense to commit dollars to a college funding vehicle that is not reliant on the stock market, but consider another factor that makes navigating the choppy waters that is your child’s college funding account difficult: American colleges and universities lost 23 percent of their endowments last year.

What does this mean? Funding has dropped. Donations are declining. While many schools have avoided cutting financial aid, it is certainly being discussed. All in all, it makes for less and less dollars to go around that help students pay for college. By simply getting started in our program with a prepaid contract, you can skip reading the gloomy headlines and know that your child’s future is secure! Even if colleges cut financial aid while continuing to lose valuable endowment reserves, with a College Illinois! plan, you don’t have to worry about it! Your child’s tuition is already secure!

Take just a moment and at the very least, acquaint yourself with our many plans. We’re hopeful that one appeals to you.

Education & Sacrifice: A Call to Action

In a state of economic recession, near depression, deflation, and what some have called extraordinary times, we are faced with a decision.

In his speech on the American Recovery & Re-Investment Plan to jumpstart the economy, President-Elect Obama gave every American a call to action. He reiterated a theme: we must make sacrifices. I feel a renewed sense of commitment & urgency from Obama's words, particularly by his stance on education for all of our young people: "We could lose a generation of potential and promise, as more young Americans are forced to forego dreams of college….And our nation could lose the competitive edge that has served as a foundation for our strength and our standing in the world."

Every parent, child, citizen should heed this call. But in our current economy, how do we protect our most precious resource-- our children?

It is devastating to think that young Americans may not be able to make it to college. Ask yourself, what will it take to make a real sacrifice? The plasma TVs, Blu Rays, DVDs, Wiis, iPods, and other gadgets you buy today are luxuries. New cars are sure nice to drive, but they lose their value quickly. Restaurants & movie theatres are expensive. What are you willing to give up? Having an education in today's world? That's not a luxury. It should not be a privilege for the few. It is a necessity to compete in this global market economy. Having a college education is a requirement by today's standards.

If Obama's words are true and we all must step up, make the commitments & the sacrifice, I urge you to start thinking about the sacrifice you will need to make to help put your children & grandchildren though college. It's an expense worthy of its high price. It doesn't matter if your child goes to Harvard, UIC, or community college. What matters is that they GO. They expand their perspectives, develop much needed critical thinking skills, fine-tune their abilities, research & create what must be made….. As a nation we will be desperately seeking highly-skilled workers. Barack Obama said "Our universities are still the envy of the world", so let's make sure our children get the opportunity, take advantage of the outstanding academics in this country, & make the most of their education.

I have always been passionate about working with young people & families. A former teacher of seven years, I remain vigilant about education, and I am proud to bring you the College Illinois! program. If you are like the millions of American families out there struggling to pay bills, this plan may be an ideal solution for you. It may not be right for every family, but it is one tool you can use to really be smart about your money and plan for the future. Year after year, parents and grandparents we speak to sing the praises of College Illinois!. It has literally changed their finances, their financial outlook, their lives.

Talk to us-- See how a College Illinois! plan can help you. Call toll-free (877) 877-3724.

Amy

Poll: More than half of parents feel helpless about college expenses

(September 14, 2008) - Fifty-seven percent of parents say they feel helpless when it comes to paying for college, according to the second annual Futuretrust Hopes & Dreams survey conducted nationwide by Harris Interactive.

Current economic conditions seem to have more parents despairing. The percentage of parents that have not begun saving for their child's education, nor plan to, has increased to 21%, an increase of 5 percentage points from 2007. Of those parents who are saving for college, 37% are taking advantage of 529 college savings plans.

As many people are reeling from the economic downturn their investments have experienced lately and most are uneasy about their portfolios, there is a bright spot when it comes to investing in your child's future. That bright spot is the College Illinois! Prepaid Tuition 529 Plan.

The plan allows parents to prepay for their children's education and lock in the current rates of tuition and mandatory fees. Yet despite these benefits and clear sense of peace of mind, one may find it difficult to switch from their current investment strategy.

More and more, we are speaking with folks who are hoping for an improved return on their investments. Many are understandably skeptical about the stability of the program and the role of the state in the College Illinois! Prepaid Tuition plans.

As a result, the host of questions and issues which arise from switching to such a plan appear, at least in the short term, to outweigh the benefits of stability, safety and security. As evidenced by the aforementioned statistics and the recent Harris Interactive Poll, parents are still apprehensive about such programs. As a result, some continue to base their strategy and hang their hopes on a market rebound.

Yet despite these perceptions, it is in fact extremely simple to take advantage of the safety and security of the College Illinois! Prepaid Tuition program.

With a variety of options and tools available and the extensive benefits that come with program participation, choosing the right program for your needs and those of your children should not be based on hope and wishful thinking but rather on the facts that we are faced with in today's state of the economy.

So what are the biggest hurdles facing those who are looking for alternatives?

And why aren't more parents taking advantage of the stability of such programs to safeguard their investments?

We'd love to hear from you...What are your thoughts?