Brad Baldridge

Brad Baldridge, CFP®

College decisions get even more complicated after losing a spouse. Often the college challenges are on top of parenting and managing the family finances during a time of profound grief and change. Are you overwhelmed by things like:

• Missing or looming deadlines for financial aid, applications, registration and housing
• Keeping the college selection process on track
• Taking a gap year, delaying college, or withdrawing from college entirely
• Filling out financial aid forms like the FAFSA or CSS Profile
• Deciding whether to appeal for more financial aid
• Navigating conversations with a college’s financial aid office
• Understanding whether to continue with the same college plan or choose a different path
• Figuring out what to do with 529 plans, inherited assets, or life insurance proceeds

I can help you navigate the decisions in front of you, understand your options, and figure out what needs attention first.

Unfortunately, most attorneys, accountants, and financial planners don’t have a strong grasp of how college planning and financial aid work, and many families find themselves struggling to get quality guidance on what can be a very complex topic. I am often brought in alongside a family’s existing advisors to fill that gap, making sure the college decisions are coordinated with the broader financial and tax picture.

I am a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional and college funding specialist. For more than 20 years, I have helped parents plan, save, and pay for college. In my financial planning practice, I have guided hundreds of families through college planning, including parents who have lost a spouse or ex-spouse. I have also worked with families that received an inheritance and dealt with the complexity of divorced and blended families.

Beyond college, I can also help with your broader financial life — reviewing your overall picture, identifying what decisions are most time-sensitive, and helping you understand what you hav...