The MEFA Podcast

Episode #55. Host Jonathan Hughes and co-host Julie Shields-Rutyna discuss some upcoming changes to 529 college savings plans in light of College Savings Month. Then, they go to the MEFA Mailbag and answer a question about how parents should report taxes paid on the FAFSA. Finally, Jonathan has a conversation with the BabySteps Director of Program Evaluation Daphna Gluck on what the BabySteps Program is, its success so far, program improvements, and a brand new initiative, SNAP into BabySteps. If you enjoy the MEFA Podcast, please leave us a review.

Episode #47. Host Jonathan Hughes and co-host Julie Shields-Rutyna first interview Community Outreach Manager for MEFA Savings Programs, Adam Hartwell, about 529 Day and the Attainable Savings Plan. Then they go to the MEFA Mailbag to discuss financial aid and early decision. Finally, Jonathan talks with the Program Director of Veterans Upward Bound at Suffolk University, Nick Charrette. They discuss the program, their new tutoring aspect, as well as Nick’s journey with college and the Army. If you enjoy the MEFA Podcast, please leave us a review.

Episode #32. In this rebroadcast for National Able to Save Month, host Jonathan Hughes is joined by Sarah Lazare, Director of the Banacos Academic Center at Westfield State University. Sarah explains how students with disabilities can prepare for college success and what specific programs Westfield State University offers to help students with disabilities navigate college. If you enjoy the MEFA Podcast, please leave us a review.

Episode #28. Saving for college may seem like an overwhelming task, but with the U.Fund 529 College Investing Plan, you can save in an account that offers affordability, flexibility, and powerful tax advantages. Host Jonathan Hughes speaks with Massachusetts guidance counselor and U.Fund account owner Kate Ryder about how she selected the U.Fund, her experience opening her account, how she’s able to save on a regular basis, and why saving for college is important to her. Jonathan is also joined by Julie Shields-Rutyna, MEFA’s Director of College Planning, who discusses how she used funds from her U.Fund account to pay the college bill for her two children and how families can begin saving for college with the BabySteps College Savings Plan. If you enjoy the MEFA Podcast, please leave us a review.

Episode #27. Host Jonathan Hughes is joined by Chris Peterson, Founder and Director of Penny Forward, who discusses growing up with a disability, how he got involved in the personal finance community, and how people with disabilities can save for expenses and plan for the future with ABLE accounts. Jonathan is also joined by MEFA’s Director of College Planning, Education, and Training, Julie Shields-Rutyna, and Attainable expert Mary Rubenis, who discuss what Attainable accounts are and the benefits of saving in one. If you enjoy the MEFA Podcast, please leave us a review.

Episode #21. Host Jonathan Hughes is joined by Shaun Connolly, Communications Associate at MEFA, and Julie Shields-Rutyna, Director of College Planning, Education, and Training at MEFA. Shaun discusses how he opened a U.Fund 529 College Investing Plan account for his son, how he saves for college, and how he created a college gifting page to encourage friends and family members to contribute to his college savings account. Jonathan and Julie answer listeners’ questions about saving for college and discuss the two Massachusetts college savings plans, the U.Fund College Investing Plan and the U.Plan Prepaid Tuition Program. If you enjoy the MEFA Podcast, please leave us a review.

Episode #14. Host Jonathan Hughes is joined by Paul Curley, CFA, Director of 529 & ABLE Research at ISS Market Intelligence, and Julie Shields-Rutyna, Director of College Planning, Education, and Training at MEFA. Paul Curley explains all you need to know about 529 accounts, including their history, how they work, what studies show about opening an account, and why it’s important to start saving for college. Jonathan and Julie discuss everything MEFA has planned to celebrate 529 Day and the benefits to having both a U.Fund and U.Plan. If you enjoy the MEFA Podcast, please leave us a review.

Episode #10. The BabySteps Savings Plan is Massachusetts’ first statewide seeded college savings account program. BabySteps jumpstarts families into saving for their children’s future college and vocational costs as soon as they enroll. On this episode of The MEFA Podcast, MEFA's Associate Director of College Planning Jonathan Hughes discusses the first year of the BabySteps Savings Plan, what was learned in the pilot program, how to program makes saving for college more accessible, the work done with community-based organizations, and why it’s important to start saving for college early. Jonathan also discusses changes to the SAT, including the discontinuation of subject tests and the optional essay, and answers listener’s questions about finding an academic fit for college and applying for fall semester student loans. Jonathan is joined by MEFA's Director of College Planning, Julie Shields-Rutyna, and Deputy Treasurer and Executive Director for the Office of Economic Empowerment, Alayna Van Tassel. If you enjoy the MEFA Podcast, please leave us a review.

Episode #6. College is an investment, and it's important to start saving for it as soon as you can. On this episode of The MEFA Podcast, MEFA's Associate Director of College Planning Jonathan Hughes breaks down everything you need to know about saving for college, including the two Massachusetts's college saving plans, The U.Fund and The U.Plan, as well as the BabySteps Savings Plan. Jonathan is joined by MEFA's Director of College Planning, Julie Shields-Rutyna, and interviews Yiming Shuang and Christine Jauregui of Inversant. If you enjoy the MEFA Podcast, please leave us a review.

Episode #4. Saving for college may seem like an overwhelming task, but with the U.Plan Prepaid Tuition Program, you can get a head start on paying for your child's college costs by locking in current rates for tuition and mandatory fees. On this episode of The MEFA Podcast, MEFA's Associate Directors of College Planning Jonathan Hughes and Jonathan Sparling explain how the U.Plan works and interview a real life saver who used the U.Plan to pay for her child's college. They also provide an update on college's plans for reopening in the fall and discuss the new MEFA Loan rates. If you enjoy the MEFA Podcast, please leave us a review.