Your Advocate for
Affordable Education & More
Bill Dutton is more than a Financial Advisor and Fiduciary; he is a professional who understands the life-changing power of a scholarship. Having attended USC on a music grant and maintained a 50-year career as a professional musician, Bill is passionate about ensuring every student has the same access to opportunity.
With nearly 30 years of experience in financial advising, Bill specializes in "asset positioning"—the art of structuring your wealth so it doesn't count against your student’s financial aid profile.
Career Profiling
Major Reccomendation
College Reccomendation
Course Reccomendation
SAT ACT Prep
Personalized Learning Paths
Engaging Practice Tools
College & Career Alignment
FAFSA Answer Key (Free Application for Student Aid)
CSS-Profile
Financial Reward Letter Analysis & Appeal
College Funding Target Gift Aid Projections
FinancialRoadmapTM
Values-Driven Strategy
Comprehensive Diagnostics
Goal Definition
Roadmap to Independence
An Experience
Built Around You
Ideally, the "sweet spot" is during your student's sophomore or junior year of high school. This allows us enough time to strategically position your assets and income before the "base year" (the tax year used for financial aid applications) begins. However, even if your student is a senior or already in college, we can often find significant opportunities to appeal award letters and improve your cash flow.
Many families are surprised to learn that "financial aid" isn't just for low-income households. While you might not qualify for federal Pell Grants, our strategies focus on Merit-Based Aid (which is based on the student's profile) and Asset Positioning to lower your Student Aid Index (SAI). We specialize in identifying schools that are "generous" with high-income families to ensure you aren't overpaying for a degree.
It can, depending on how it is owned and reported. At College Funding Solutions, we use our Dollars & Sense method to analyze your 529 plans and other investments. We then advise you on how to best position these assets so they remain productive for your family while minimizing their "negative weight" on the FAFSA and CSS Profile.
Absolutely. Bill Dutton is a Fiduciary and Financial Advisor with 30 years of experience. Our goal is to ensure college is funded without sacrificing your retirement or estate legacy. We provide holistic guidance on wealth protection, retirement income, and even special needs trusts, ensuring that your "college plan" is actually a "total family wealth plan."
Estimated Costs To Attend College in 2044
With a 4% inflation rate, a four-year degree in 2044 is projected to average $535,000. Professional planning is vital to navigating these costs and accessing opportunities like the Visionary Scholarship Award.
Don’t Be Your Own Worst Enemy
For Love or For Money...
If you no longer need life insurance for loved ones or debt, a life settlement lets you sell your policy for a lump sum exceeding its surrender value. This provides immediate cash for retirement or healthcare while permanently eliminating premium payments.