Well, the government returned to work last week (that is, the 13% of the federal government which was actually closed because of the "shutdown") ... and we did too! We got through the October 15th deadline for extended returns, and we are now laser-focused on the year-end (for tax planning purposes), and the 2014 filing season.
As the cliche goes, I do love the fall ... but it is also a harbinger, for us, that our lives are about to get MUCH busier. Especially as we've had more inquiries, attention and phone calls this year than we have in quite some time -- and it's not even tax season yet!
One thing I am NOT looking forward to is the now-postponed showdown over the budget that Congress will undertake by January 15th. Just in time for the opening of electronic filing of tax returns.
(And btw, I'm not touching Healthcare.gov with an 11-foot pole right now, just so you know.)
Could be a rough open to tax season, folks, if Congress keeps up its procrastinating ways. I will certainly keep you informed, if anything affects you. Otherwise, if you hear nothing from me on this issue, don't let it stress you out. We'll handle all that for you!
And speaking of rough times (you liked that segue, I know you did), let's talk college tuition costs for our children. There's been a ton of hand-wringing about how they are skyrocketing (including in this space) ... but perhaps there's some good news on the horizon?
Michael Kessler's"Real World" Personal Strategy Note
A Leak In The College Costs Bubble?
"Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement. Nothing can be done without hope and confidence." -Helen Keller
The Georgia Institute of Technology, better known as Georgia Tech, plans to offer a $6,600 online master's degree in computer science, a sixth of the price of its on-campus degree. With this announcement, we are finally starting to see online education cause disruptions that can slow soaring college costs.
For the last 50 years, four-year college costs rose at roughly a rate of 7% annually, nearly double the consumer price index during that same period. Overall costs of some higher education, including even the vaunted bargains of community colleges, jumped 24% in the last five years, according to the College Board.
Even after adjusting for inflation, the cost of college has more than doubled over the last 30 years. Using 2012 dollars, public four-year costs averaged nearly $8,000 per year in 1972-73; they now average $17,860. Out-of-staters and students of private colleges generally pay double the costs for in-state students.
The only vast improvements to the college experience that I am aware of seem focused on dining and recreational experiences. Seriously, have you seen the climbing walls, Olympic-size pools, and gourmet food courts? Parents need to wake up and make sure the college degree they've promised to pay for their child is worth the price tag that comes with it.
As we see in the healthcare sector, another notable area of recent runaway inflation, costs expectedly jump up when the general public receives massive subsidies. Increases in federal grants and loans now offset increases in educational costs. Instead of making college more affordable, Uncle Sam lines the pockets of colleges and universities who raise their prices proportionately.
Recent college graduates also face harsh economic realities. Along with their diploma, many enter the work world with loads of debt and less earning potential than those who graduated before them. The recent 6% unemployment rate for recent college graduates remains stuck nearly 2% higher than the more muted rates prior to the Great Recession.
Breaking out of this cost vortex comes a partnership between Georgia Tech's Computer Science Department and a Silicon Valley startup company named Udacity. Georgia Tech's foray into "Massive Open Online Courses" will dramatically lower costs for Tech's prestigious master's degree in computer science to under $7,000. On average, those with computer engineering degrees earn $70,400 per year post-graduation. That's a lot of bang for the buck.
Current projections suggest that 10,000 new students will be added over the next three years to the current department enrollment of about 300. And although you can't expect to have your hand held by a PhD-seeking teaching assistant or a college dean, Udacity has a proven track record of leveraging technology to create a pleasant and rigorous learning experience. Georgia Tech assures prospective students that coursework will be graded with the same rigorous expectations online as it is in the classroom.
As a tax advisor who works with many families, I couldn't be happier about this recent announcement. It's discouraging to project how much young parents need to save to prepare for looming college expenses. As a result, many make the mistake of failing to save anything because the cost of saving for everything is too high. If you have young children and haven't started saving for their future college costs, make it a priority to begin a college savings plan today.
Preparing for the future is one of the best lessons in financial management that you can model for your children. And Georgia Tech's announcement means that the future price tag may be a bit more reasonable.
To your family's financial (and educational) future …
Warmly,
Michael Kessler
(516) 449-2852
