Your Questions…
- Will a bachelor’s degree really cost us $100k-$300k for each child?
- How can we afford to pay for college?
- How can we afford to pay for college and save for retirement?
- Do we make too much money to qualify for financial aid?
There are plenty of financial questions in the college planning process and you need real answers…right now! We can help answer your questions and more.
Our Mission…
QUALITY EDUCATION
We're focused on sending your kids to great schools that support their future success and well being.
BIG SAVINGS
Our aim is to save you money and time, while reducing the stress and emotional toll on your family.
SECURE FUTURE
We prioritize maintaining your financial wellness and long term financial security.
Here are ways you can work with and benefit from College Money Smart
Work with us one-on-one to develop your College Funding Plan – we can help you determine the true four-year, out-of-pocket costs for your list of schools, determine what you can afford to pay from your savings and cash flow, and calculate costs and repayment schedules if you decide to use student loans.

If you are a family with college bound kids, take control of the college funding process; become a savvier college consumer by getting informed and getting organized – so that you can map out your path to college funding success and a brighter financial future.
Taren Coleman founded College Money Smart to help families save money and time in planning for and paying for college.
With more than 20 years of experience in financial services and with a specialty in Retirement Planning, Taren has been helping people improve their financial lives so they can enjoy their lives.
In varying roles whether as a relationship manager, financial advisor, speaker, business owner or volunteer, Taren has been educating, advising on and implementing savings, investing and protection strategies that drive long term financial security for individuals and families.
Taren holds the Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CPRC®) designation, maintains a life/health insurance license in Maryland and has previously held the securities industry Series 7 (2001 to 2012.)
Taren’s work experiences include roles at NEA Member Benefits, Coleman Financial Group, The Nasdaq Stock Market and the IBM Corporation.
Taren is also passionate about financial literacy and investor education for young people, and has taught money management and entrepreneurship classes through the Financial Literacy Foundation, Junior Achievement and other organizations.
LESS STRESS AND MORE SUCCESS...
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