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Planning for Private School and Protecting Your Legacy

Invest in Your Child's Education While Protecting Your Retirement

A private education is a powerful investment — but it shouldn’t come at the expense of your financial future. Whether you're planning ahead or already managing tuition payments, we coach families on how  to fund private school while protecting retirement savings, developing a cost management strategy, and maintaining a healthy cash flow to reach your goals. With the right financial coach, you don’t have to choose between your child’s future and your own.

Private School Is Possible—Without Sacrificing Your Lifestyle

Funding private school shouldn't mean putting your own future on hold. For many families, tuition payments come during peak saving years — a time when building retirement wealth is critical. Without a clear strategy, it’s easy to unintentionally dip into retirement savings or scale back contributions, creating setbacks that compound over time.

That’s why having a plan—and a coach—matters.

We work closely with families to create customized retirement strategies that remain strong and steady, even during high-expense years. From coordinating tuition timelines with your retirement savings goals, to optimizing your contributions across employer plans, IRAs, and other investment vehicles — we help ensure every financial decision supports both your child’s education and your long-term future.

We don’t just plan for the school years ahead — we plan for the decades that follow.

Whether you're just beginning to explore private school or already deep into tuition payments, we’ll help you stay on track with a retirement plan that adapts to your life, protects your priorities and lifestyle, and empowers you to give your children the best — without sacrificing your own financial security.

We guide families in 3 areas to make private school achievable and sustainable. A Holistic Strategy for Private School Planning Includes:

Retirement Savings

Funding private school shouldn't mean sacrificing your retirement security. We work with families to create customized retirement strategies that remain strong and steady — even during high-expense years. By coordinating your tuition timeline with long-term savings goals, we help ensure that your future remains just as important as your child’s. Let’s build a retirement plan that stays on track, no matter what season of life you're in.

Cost Management Strategies

Paying for tuition doesn’t have to mean permanently parting with your savings. With thoughtful planning, we help families manage education expenses through cash flow strategies, and strategic coaching. The goal isn’t just to pay for school — it’s to do so in a way that preserves your overall wealth and protect your family's legacy. 

Cash Flow Planning

Private school tuition is just one part of your financial picture — and it shouldn't disrupt the rest or college planning. We help families build personalized cash flow plans that supports tuition payments and life’s other priorities, from daily living expenses to future goals. Through intentional and strategic income planning and protection of assets, you can maintain stability,  and continue making progress towards planning for the day you stop working. 

Building a Financial Plan That Supports Private Education

If a private education is the right choice — now it’s time to implement a holistic strategy to make sure your finances support that decision.

  1. Create a strategic plan that aligns tuition costs with your income and goals
  2. Protect your retirement savings so your future stays intact
  3. Use tax-efficient accounts and optimized investment strategies
  4. Manage costs through smart savings, budget planning, and cash flow realignment
  5. Prioritize your financial goals without sacrificing quality education
  6. Provide ongoing coaching so you can adjust as life changes

Common Questions Parents Ask

  • Can we afford private school without tapping into our retirement?
  • Will tuition take away from other goals like college savings or a new home?
  • Are there smarter ways to pay than just writing a check each year?
  • What if one of us loses income — would we still be okay financially?
  • Is there a way to make tuition part of a bigger financial plan?
  • How can we pay for private school without feeling constant financial pressure?

1. Define Your Educational Goals

Define what type of education experience you want for your child — including school choice, timeline, and any additional costs (activities, uniforms, transportation). Knowing your goals helps shape the right financial strategy.

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2. Evaluate Your Financial Picture

Take stock of your current income, savings, retirement plans, and monthly cash flow. This is the foundation for determining what’s realistic, where adjustments can be made, and what opportunities may exist for cost recovery. 

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3. Meet with a C&A Financial Coach

Schedule a personalized planning session to explore funding strategies that protect your long-term goals — including retirement and cost recovery. Together, we’ll build a plan that helps you afford private school without sacrificing your future.

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Connect with an advisor to Start Your Private School Plan

Richard "phil" Lewis

Richard "phil" Lewis

Richard “Phil” Lewis is a graduate of the Savannah College of Art and Design, where he began his professional journey in Creative Problem Solving through Industrial Design and Architecture. With a strong foundation in design, planning and a passion for helping people live their best life, Phil later expanded his expertise into real estate and, most recently, joined C&A Financial Group in July 2024 as a financial professional.

Phil’s passion for financial coaching was inspired by his grandmother, whose tenacity and foresight enabled her to build lasting wealth and care for herself and her family. Her example motivated him to help others do the same—empowering individuals and families to take control of their future. His own family’s thoughtful financial decisions, including the management of a beach house property, further fuel his belief in the value of sound financial guidance is essential for a fulfilling life after retirement.

Phil is especially committed to helping people plan for a fulfilling life so they can live well—no matter what life brings. He enjoys educating young people about money and believes it’s never too early to plan ahead.

Outside of work, Phil is an active supporter of charitable organizations such as Tunnel to Towers and Aerial Recovery. In his free time, he enjoys spending time with his family on the beach, surfing, golfing, and playing volleyball. He lives in Manasquan, NJ with his wife and daughter.

David Suckey, Partner

David Suckey, Partner


Dave has been recognized for his holistic approach to financial planning that came as a result of a passion for helping families and individuals achieve financial confidence. He emphasizes cash flow management and comprehensive financial strategies over asset accumulation. His dedication and unique perspective have earned him a place on the President’s Council, representing the top professionals in his field. His why is “helping families and helping people feel confident and certain around finances and the path they are on.” In 2025, he was recognized on the Forbes Best-in-State Financial Security Professionals list – a prestigious recognition that reflects his exceptional commitment to his clients. 

Beyond his professional achievements, Dave is deeply committed to his community. He has coached youth sports teams in baseball, basketball, and soccer in Wall, New Jersey, drawing parallels between coaching in sports and finance. He has been on the board for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes as an active member for over 20 years. In addition to his financial advisory career, Dave is a franchisee owner with Jersey Mike's.

Dave enjoys spending quality time with his wife, Toni, and their three children at the beach and playing golf. Their home, known for its welcoming atmosphere with a backyard bar and cabana, is a hub for family gatherings and entertainment.

The annual Forbes ranking of Top Financial Security Professionals List 2025 is based on criteria developed and obtained by SHOOK Research, LLC.  No compensation was provided in connection with obtaining this rating; however, advisors may choose to pay fees to Forbes and Shook for premium listing features; including, usage rights of the ranking logo. Past performance is not an indication of future results.

 

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