Guide
College funding advisors: red flags before you pay
Some help with college costs is worth paying for. Some of it is free help sold at a markup, or a sales pitch for a product you can't easily get out of. Here's what official sources say.
Quick answer. The FAFSA is free and the FTC says never to pay anyone to fill it out or process it, or share your FSA ID with anyone. Financial aid seminars are usually high-pressure sales pitches. If someone suggests moving savings into an annuity or a life insurance policy, ask about surrender charges, fees and when you could get the money back before you sign anything.
What the FTC says
- Companies that charge a fee to handle your financial aid paperwork are often scams, partly because they may use false information about your family's finances. Never pay anyone to fill out or process your FAFSA; only you and your family should complete it, and it's always free.
- Never share your FSA ID, including with consultants.
- Financial aid seminars are usually high-pressure sales pitches. Don't pay at the seminar; research the company first; ask for three local families who used it in the last year, and get the total cost and refund policy in writing.
- Lines like "guaranteed or your money back," "you can't get this anywhere else" or "we'll do all the work, you just pay a processing fee" are signs of a scam.
Why some advisors talk about annuities and life insurance
The federal aid handbook lists what the FAFSA doesn't count as an asset: retirement plans and annuities, the cash value of whole life insurance, the family's home, and small family businesses. That's a fact about the form, not a reason to buy anything. The SEC notes that variable annuities carry surrender charges that are typically highest in the early years, fees that reduce your return, and that they "are not suitable for meeting short-term goals." Paying for college in a few years is a short-term goal.
Questions to ask before paying anyone
- What exactly will you do that I can't do free through studentaid.gov or the school's financial aid office?
- What's the total cost, in writing, and the refund policy?
- Do you earn a commission on any product you recommend? Are you registered (check FINRA BrokerCheck or the SEC's adviser search)?
- If you recommend a product: what are the surrender charges and fees, and when could I get my money out without a penalty?
Free help first
The FAFSA at studentaid.gov, your high school counselor and each college's financial aid office are free. Our aid offer comparison tool is free too.
Sources
- FTC: How to avoid scholarship and financial aid scams
- FTC: Paying for school and avoiding scams
- Federal Student Aid Handbook 2026-27, Application and Verification Guide, ch. 2
- SEC (Investor.gov): Updated investor bulletin, variable annuities
- FINRA investor alert: "free meal" investment seminars
General information, checked November 10, 2026. Not financial, investment, insurance, tax or legal advice. MCC Solutions sells no financial products.
Questions
Is it ever worth paying for college help?
Paid help can be worth it when it's for something you can't easily do yourself, like essay coaching, and when the price and refund policy are clear in writing. The FTC's advice is to never pay to file the FAFSA or to apply for a scholarship.
Does the FAFSA count annuities?
The 2026-27 federal aid handbook says annuities and retirement plans are not counted as assets on the FAFSA. Other aid forms and individual colleges can have their own rules, so ask each school.