FALLBROOK – A recent Wall Street Journal article* outlined a report issued by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York that analyzes the status of people under 30 who have student loans. Of this group, 35 percent have loans that are at least 90 days late, up from 21 percent in 2004.

"It’s quite a problem" said Ken Finster, a local, certified college-planning specialist and owner of Cyan Retirement Strategies. "Students and parents need to take a hard look at how these loan programs work, who will be making the payments, and just how much money is ‘reasonable’ to borrow for college."

Finster also said, "By planning ahead, and knowing how the system works, Advertisement

[ Murrieta Volkswagen ] it’s possible to pay far less than the "sticker price" that a college quotes." In addition, college costs will be put in the context of other family financial goals, such as retirement savings.

To provide information on this, Finster will hold a free workshop on Thursday, March 14 from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the community room at Fallbrook Library, 124 S. Mission Rd.

Additional workshop dates are available for families that are unable to attend this event. For more information, call Ken Finster at (760) 501-0293 or email Ken@CyanRetirement.com.

*Reference: Wall Street Journal, Feb. 28, 2013, "Student-Loan Delinquencies Among the Young Soar," by Ruth Simon and Rachel Louis Ensign.