Blog & Newsroom

9 Keys to Education Planning

9 Keys to Education Planning

by | 8 Oct | , , , , ,

 

Whether your children (or grandchildren) are 2 or 20, there’s one big thing probably weighing on your mind: How to pay for college. You’re not alone. According to recent studies, 42% of parents surveyed say their top money concern is paying for their child’s education.education planning

The figures are daunting. Estimates project the cost of yearly tuition at a private college will be over $130,000 per year by the time today’s grade schoolers reach college. The key to tackling these overwhelming figures is to have a strategy and long-term approach to saving for higher education. read more…

Get Schooled Before Filing Your FAFSA

Get Schooled Before Filing Your FAFSA

by | 31 Oct |

If you are a parent of a soon-to-be college student or perhaps thinking of attending or completing your education, you will want to fill out a Free Application for Federal Student Aid, also known as a FAFSA. 

But where to start? As they say, knowledge is power! For many, the FAFSA, and the process of completing a FAFSA, can be confusing. graduation girl holding her diploma with pride.jpeg

Lessening the confusion
First, take time to navigate through the FAFSA website. Unfortunately, a simple Google search with the terms FAFSA will return sites that may or may not be accurate.

read more…
When Sallie Mae is on Your Personal Payroll

When Sallie Mae is on Your Personal Payroll

by | 25 May | ,

Now that income tax filing season is behind us, it is not too early to plan and prepare for 2018. For many taxpayers, the idea of an income tax refund of any amount is welcome, anticipated, and often needed. Cleveland CPAs Zinner Co tax refund.jpg

Few people think that they have “too much” money, and as taxpayers continue to receive their IRS income tax refund, folks begin to consider paying off credit cards or making a large purchase. Sadly, however, when Sallie Mae is on one’s personal payroll, that shopping spree or big screen TV may be just a virtual reality.  Sallie Mae is the nation’s saving, planning, and paying for college company. Their mission is to help American students and families make the dream of higher education a reality through borrowing.

According to a recent article in Time Magazine, about 8 million (education loan) borrowers have given up paying on more than $137 billion in education debts. 

What does this mean? If a taxpayer has defaulted on their federal student loans, their refund may not be issued and instead, applied to what is called a tax refund offset.

read more…
Knowledge Before College: Navigating the FAFSA

Knowledge Before College: Navigating the FAFSA

by | 8 Mar | ,

Beginning this week, we will kick off a series of FAFSA-related articles that will visit topics and scenarios related to financial aid, navigating the FAFSA process, how your income or your taxes play into the FAFSA and important dates for timely form filing. Piggy_bank_FAFSA.jpg

Piggy_bank_FAFSA.jpgFrom divorced parents, to income variances, to which college savings plan is right for your family, we’ll address these topics and much more. This series is a great resource for parents preparing to send their child to college or degree-seeking adults entering the education marketplace.

FAFSA: The Nitty and the Gritty
First in a series

We all have our favorite seasons – spring, summer, baseball, football. As a CPA, I have tax season, and, if you are parent of a college-bound student, you know all too well, it is FAFSA season. Why should an event that seems invasive, confusing, and stressful be given such a lofty ranking?  How about a chance at free money?

read more…

About Us

Since 1938, Zinner has counseled individuals and businesses from start-up to succession. At Zinner, we strive to ensure we understand your business and recognize threats that could impact your financial situation.

Recent Blog Posts

Important Changes to the Deductibility of Employer-Provided Meals

May 13, 2026 at 1:21 PM

On Jan. 1, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) significantly tightened the rules on the tax deductibility of employer-provided meals. If your business has historically relied on deductions for meals and food-related benefits, these changes require immediate...

Trump Accounts: The Future of Tax-Efficient Retirement Savings

May 11, 2026 at 8:31 AM

Trump Accounts are a new type of tax-advantaged retirement account for minors, established under the One Big Beautiful Bill signed into law on July 4, 2025. With contributions of up to $5,000 per year and a potential $1,000 government seed contribution for eligible...

DOL Proposes New Independent Contractor Rule

March 11, 2026 at 1:56 PM

What Employers and Workers Should Know The U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division announced a proposed rule intended to clarify when a worker is an employee and when the worker may be classified as an independent contractor under the Fair Labor Standards...

USPS Postmark Changes

March 5, 2026 at 9:06 AM

A Tax Filing Risk Alert for Taxpayers For decades, many taxpayers have relied on a simple rule of thumb: if it is in the mail by the deadline, you are fine. However, recent U.S. Postal Service (USPS) clarification makes that assumption riskier. On Dec. 24, 2025, the...

Have Nagging Financial Questions?

Ask The Expert

Send us your questions and we’ll share our insights with you on our blog!

Categories

Share Your Idea For 
A Zinner Blog Article

Submit Your Idea