Terms of Participation

What this is

A referral partnership. You introduce a family to Genesis College Strategies (GCS); if that family enrolls in a paid program, GCS pays you a referral fee — or, if your association doesn't permit that, GCS instead gives the family a discount (see Section 2).

Referral fee — or family discount

$350 per enrolled student, and $175 for each additional sibling from the same family enrolled while the first student's plan is still active. Paid after the family's enrollment and payment to GCS are confirmed.

If your professional association doesn't allow you to accept referral commissions (e.g. IECA members), this works differently for you: instead of a fee paid to you, GCS gives your referred family a personal discount code worth the same amount — $350 off enrollment, $175 off per additional sibling. No fee is paid to you in this case, and the W-9/1099 steps in Section 4 don't apply.

No cost, no commitment

There's no fee to join, no minimum number of referrals, and no exclusivity. You're free to refer as many or as few families as makes sense, and to work with other partners at the same time.

Tax reporting

If you're receiving referral fees and your total from GCS reaches $600 or more in a calendar year, IRS rules require GCS to issue a 1099-NEC. Before any payment goes out, GCS will ask you to complete a simple W-9 — standard, one-time paperwork. This doesn't apply if you're using the family discount option in Section 2, since no fee is paid to you.

What GCS does — and doesn't do

GCS operates strictly on the financial side: FAFSA/CSS Profile strategy, asset positioning, aid optimization. GCS does not provide admissions counseling, college list strategy, essay support, or application review. That stays entirely your role with the family — always.

What counts as a referral

A referral is credited when you introduce a family to GCS by name — email, call, warm intro, or forwarded materials — before that family has independently contacted GCS on their own.

Ending the partnership

Either side can step away at any time, for any reason, no penalty. Any referral fees or active discount codes already earned/issued before that point are still honored in full.