The U.S. Department of Education calculates Expected Family Contribution (EFC) to determine federal financial aid eligibility. To find your estimated EFC, go to the box where your income intersects with your assets (excluding retirement savings and primary home). For example, a couple with $150,000 in combined income and $200,000 in savings would have an estimated EFC of $43,693. Key takeaway: Don’t let financial aid stop you from investing. Income has a much bigger impact on eligibility than investments.