[{"_1":2,"_3":-5,"_4":-5},"loaderData",{"_5":6},"actionData","errors","routes/calculators/$slug",{"_7":8},"calculator",{"_9":10,"_11":12,"_13":14,"_15":16,"_17":18,"_19":20,"_21":22,"_23":24,"_25":26,"_27":-5,"_28":-5,"_29":-5,"_30":31,"_32":33,"_34":35},"id","d6ae82a0-3d5d-48e4-89cc-d49b2c2636ab","slug","application-assets","title","Assets Calculator for Applications","type","application_assets","description","Work out what to enter on the investment lines of the FAFSA and the CSS Profile — the two applications want different totals.","html","\n\n

What to report on the investment lines

\n FAFSA and the CSS Profile ask about investments in almost the same words, but they do not\n want the same number. Fill this in once and you get the right figure for each application.\n Use balances and values as of the day you file, and keep a statement or PDF for every one.\n

\n\n

Investment accounts

Counted by both applications.

\n Investment accounts\n

\n Total investment accounts\n $0\n

\n Leave these out — neither application counts them here:\n

\n\n

Education savings accounts

\n 529 plans, and Coverdell or pre-paid accounts under the same rules — for a pre-paid account\n report its cash value. Where a plan lands depends on whose it is and, for a sibling's plan,\n how old they are.\n

\n\n

The student's plan

\n \n Balance of the student's 529\n \n Counted by both applications whether the student or a parent owns it — for a\n dependent student it is a parent asset either way.\n \n \n \n \n \n

\n\n

\n \n\n

\n Education savings counted on FAFSA\n $0\n

\n Education savings counted on the CSS Profile\n $0\n

\n\n

Second properties

\n Property and land other than the home you live in. FAFSA wants the equity — market value\n less what is owed against it. Use the most conservative market value you can support. The\n CSS Profile asks about second properties in its own section, so these do not belong on its\n investment line.\n

\n \n

\n Total second property equity\n $0\n

\n\n

What to enter on each application

FAFSA

\n Parent Financials → Parent Assets: “—”\n

CSS Profile

\n Parent Asset Details: “—”\n

\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n

Where it comes from	FAFSA	CSS Profile
Investment accounts	$0	$0
Education savings accounts	$0	$0
Second property equity	$0	reported elsewhere
Total to report	$0	$0

\n\n

Why the two numbers differ

\n A sibling's 529 is never a parent investment on FAFSA. On the CSS Profile it usually is —\n unless the sibling owns it themselves and is 19 or older, at which point it has become their\n own asset rather than the family's.\n

\n Second properties go the other way: FAFSA folds their equity into the investment line, while\n the CSS Profile collects them in a separate section, so adding them to its investment total\n would count them twice.\n

Nothing you type here leaves your browser.

\n\n\n\n\n","deps","","config",{"_36":37,"_38":39,"_40":41,"_42":43,"_44":45},"embed_allowed_origins",[],"documentation","meta_title","meta_description","status","published","created_at","2026-08-23T15:11:57.860038Z","updated_at","2026-08-24T11:17:10.333978Z","award_year","2023-24","css_question","Current market value of investments","fafsa_question","As of today, what is the net worth of your investments, including real estate (not your home)?","excluded_categories",[63,64,65,66],"investment_categories",[46,47,48,49,50,51],{"_52":61,"_54":62},{"_52":22,"_54":60},{"_52":22,"_54":59},{"_52":57,"_54":58},{"_52":22,"_54":56},{"_52":53,"_54":55},"note","Rare.","label","Installment and land sale contracts","Commodities and precious metals","The current value of any trust a parent is a beneficiary of, whether or not they can draw on it today.","Trust funds","Non-retirement annuities","CDs","Non-retirement accounts holding stocks, stock options, savings bonds, bonds, mutual funds or money market funds.","Brokerage accounts",{"_54":70},{"_54":69},{"_54":68},{"_54":67},"Personal possessions — cars, furniture, jewellery","Life insurance cash value","The home you live in","Retirement accounts — 401(k), 403(b), IRA, Roth IRA, pension, SEP"]