Stanganelli Proposes Help for Families to Save for College

AMESBURY, Mass. - Sept. 11, 2014 - PRLog -- Citing the outrageous cost of college, Steve Stanganelli, a Certified Financial Planner (tm) professional, owner of an independent financial planning firm and independent candidate for state representative for Newburyport, Amesbury and Salisbury, noted his support for initiatives to help working families to save more for college.

"We need to do more to help families save for college," the Amesbury-based college financial planner said. "In my financial planning practice I see how families of every income level struggle to pay for college. We can help provide tools that will help families and businesses save for college," he added.

Stanganelli unveiled his support of a package of initiatives to help make college a more attainable goal for all families.

These include:

* 529 Plan enrollment through state income tax forms and the ability to use a state refund to help fund an account with access to all fifty-two 529 Plans available
* Tax credits for businesses to offer automatic enrollment and employer matching in much the same way that employers offer retirement savings programs
* Changing the rules to exempt 529 Plan account balances from the formulas used for determining needs-based financial aid
* Exempt assets held in 529 Plan accounts from state eligibility for public assistance programs including Medicaid or Supplemental Nutrition Assistance.

"These are common sense proposals to help people have an incentive to save for college," Stanganelli said.

Adding that "these are low-cost ways" that government can help people without costing taxpayers an "arm or a leg," he added that "there are more things we can do to help save ON the cost of college, but these steps will go a long way to help families better save FOR the cost of college."

For more information on Stanganelli's common sense proposals for education, taxes and economic development, please visit www.TeamSteveStang.com

Outline of State Policy Options
Low Cost State Policy Options for College Savings (http://www.newamerica.net/sites/newamerica.net/files/poli...)