FAFSA questions?

1. My former employer has not sent me a W-2 yet. They are postmarking it by Jan 31. I want to maximize my chances of getting aid. Is it better to wait for the W-2 or submit now using the calculations I have done myself and revise later, if necessary, once I receive my W-2? Or will a couple of weeks not make much of a difference?

2. I have some money in a savings account. I am planning on moving some of it into the stock market. Is it more beneficial to report the money as liquid assets (cash in a savings acct) or as a mix of cash and investments?

3. I have a much higher income from 2009 due to working full-time than I will have in 2010–2011 when I will be a full-time student and probably not working at all. Does the FAFSA take this into account at all? (I don’t think it does)

4. Does anyone know exactly how they calculate your “expected family contribution”?