Navigating College Costs: Tips for Students & Support for Schools

Navigating the Financial Journey to College: Tips and Support for Students and Schools

In pursuit of college

College is a perfect opportunity for students to expand their knowledge, development, and independence, all while embracing the freedom to explore their passions. But attending college can come with a prohibitive cost. Sometimes, high tuition can create a significant burden for both families and students. A student's probability of succeeding academically declines with the amount of anxiety they experience. This demonstrates why it is so important that as parents and communities, we mentor our children early on to take on the financial responsibility of managing money, such as through a Cash Back Checking account, to prepare them for future success which will minimize this burden. Maintaining transparency and having an honest dialogue about money with our children as they mature is a valuable way to educate them about financial responsibility.

Education and economic commitment

In my leadership role, I have held numerous rich discussions about financial matters through my collaboration with schools. We focus on developing strategic plans that address the financial needs of these institutions and foster partnerships within the local community. With my resources and experience, I believe that discussing finances can greatly improve the financial health of schools, allowing them to enable students to pave the way for a more hopeful future. By actively participating in conversations about economic strength, we can provide ongoing peace of mind and bolster financial confidence of both the educational institutions and the students who attend them.

Inspiration

I am proud to be the mother of my only child who has grown into an incredible young man and is now starting his new chapter at Seton Hall University as a college freshman. Like other families, I had a range of emotions, financial concerns, and worries as a single parent, but I still felt secure enough to send my son to school in pursuit of his aspirations. I was fortunate to have the opportunity to help my son set financial goals and achieve academic success. I was determined to concentrate on helping my son achieve his goals despite any economic challenges that may arise. While we navigated our financial journey during his final year of high school, my son's enthusiasm and passion for his upcoming college adventure was immense. Together, we strategically planned for his college choices while assessing our financial situation.

Preparing for college involves various emotional aspects such as deciding on the child's academic path, school partnership, selecting a college, making a final decision, considering affordability, and other factors. It is so important to begin your financial wellness journey early on, even if you have a busy schedule and money isn't your focus. It is never too early, or too late, to start this process.

Banking partnership with schools

As the Education Relationship Officer, I offer a broad range of services to all public and private schools throughout New Jersey and New York to support them in reaching their financial objectives and in achieving economic stability. Additionally, we collaborate with our schools and host financial literacy workshops to help students get ready for success in the financial world throughout their lives which benefits both the schools and their families.

If your educational institution is looking for support in meeting its financial goals and helping students realize their dreams, please contact me; I’d love to connect and speak with you.

Written by Frances Montagnino | Vice President/Education Relationship Officer

About Frances:

Frances Montagnino is a Vice President, Education Relationship Officer at Kearny Bank. In this role, she’s responsible for establishing and fostering client relationships with public and private schools and school districts.

Montagnino has spent more than two decades in the financial services sector, beginning her career as a financial broker and then expanded into retail banking. She also has experience in commercial lending. Frances has the background to provide business clients with expert counsel that can lead to enhanced financial success.

A Cum Laude graduate of Kaplan University, with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration, Montagnino has taken a wide range of professional training and leadership courses, including recently completing Harvard Business School “Leading in the Digital Era” Executive Education course.

Along with membership in the Fort Lee Chamber of Commerce and New Jersey’s Statewide Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, she also provides volunteer support to a range of charitable and educational organizations.