In 2000, Mark Maiewski launched his college financial planning company in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. Since then he's worked with hundreds of families.

He is one of only 400 certified college planning specialists in the country and has been widely recognized as Virginia's premier college planning expert. Over the past nine years he has created a service that caters to parents who are frustrated with the college planning process and are rightfully scared of losing their hard earned dollars needlessly.

His service makes sure college bound students are accepted to their first choice schools and maximizes their ability to secure endowment and scholarship money from schools. Then he works with parents to lower their out of pocket costs through cash flow strategies and tax scholarships, as he walks them through the college funding maze and eliminates the administrative nightmare.

Mark says:

"With the continued rising costs of college, parents are just being overwhelmed when they look at the staggering amount of money it will take to send their children to college. They need real guidance.

We work with students to think backwards--what do they really want to do based on their skills and interests, then show them how they can accomplish that. Then if positioned properly, these students can qualify for endowment money, which will lower the family's out of pocket costs.

We want parents to make smart decisions with their money and to guide students to make positive choices for their future. This is accomplished by a proven plan of action and accountability. Last year our clients with seniors averaged over $5,412 in free money for each of the next four years."

With a background in financial services and an extensive knowledge of the financial aid process and its strategies, Mark provides educational clinics to show parents how to take a proactive approach to reducing their out of pocket costs.

He has teamed with WHSV TV3 in Harrisonburg on their College 101 project, been featured in the Northern Augusta Journal, the Shenandoah Journal, and interviewed on Christian radio station WLTK and Charlottesville's #1 talk show WINA.  

Mark is a member of the National Institute of Certified College Planners and the National Association of College Funding Advisors.

Parents needing his services or for him to speak at their next event, can call him at 540-433-8444, fax a note to him at 1-888-296-5261, or email him at mark@collegefundingadvisors.net