The MEFA Podcast

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.