Q. My husband and I have $350k in a brokerage account earmarked for retirement. It is not in an IRA or 401(k), even though it is intended for retirement. Do we need to report that...

Here's what you can do to avoid them.

Putting if off could cost you thousands of dollars in scholarship aid.

The rules are changing this year, but the schools you list and the order you put them in can still affect your financial aid.

The key is knowing what’s reportable and what isn’t.

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid is the ticket to federal money for college and many other types of scholarships as well.