Who Pays for College? Strategies for Divorcing and Divorced Parents

Clear strategies for tuition, savings, and student loans when divorce complicates college planning. Financial Planner and CDFA® Lars Lambrecht shares practical ways to handle college costs during divorce: agreement language, 529s vs. Roths, federal vs. private loans, repayment/forgiveness, and small steps that add up.

Divorce + college costs = overwhelm. In this episode of Dishing on Divorce, we’re joined by Lars Lambrecht, CFP®, CDFA® — financial planner, program manager of Vesta’s Southern MA & RI Hub, and founder of Island Time Financial Services. With over 30 years of experience, Lars brings both professional expertise and personal perspective, having navigated divorce as both a parent and child.

What we cover in this episode:

• What to include in your divorce agreement about tuition and why “ability to pay” language matters
• The pros and cons of 529 plans, Roth IRAs, and UTMA accounts
• When to rely on federal vs. private student loans
• Repayment and forgiveness programs every parent should know
• Why life insurance is often overlooked in college planning
• Lars’ mantra: small changes add up over time

About Lars
Lars Lambrecht, CFP®, CDFA®, is the founder of Island Time Financial Services and program manager for Vesta’s Southern Massachusetts and Rhode Island Hub. He helps clients reduce stress, simplify their financial lives, and move forward with confidence.

Contact Lars: https://www.islandtimefinancialservices.com/

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