How to set your kids up for savings success with a 529 plan

What is a 529 plan?

Originally, 529 plans were just for college degrees, but in 2017, they were expanded to include K-12 education, and in 2019, apprenticeship programs. This absolutely broadens the opportunities for these tax-deferred savings accounts to be useful before college happens. Basically, you can put money away for educational expenses later without taxation now. And when a 529’s beneficiary removes funds for an approved expense, there’s no penalty or fees.

Turn data into insights with Excel

Make better decisions backed by data and insights

Learn more

These 529 plans are usually started by a child’s parents or grandparents, with the child as the beneficiary. But even, if you’re a distant relative or a generous family friend, you can open a 529 account for a child—just make sure their parents know. Savings accounts for children are a gift that can keep on giving, and the earlier they’re opened, often the better. But you can even open a 529 account for yourself, invest in your future education and enjoy a little bit of a tax reward as you save in the present.

Most states have 529 plans and offer you state tax breaks for putting money into these accounts. While there are certain advantages to using your state’s plan—including a potential tax break—you may be able to set up a 529 account in another state if it makes more sense for your family and future scholar. Rules and offers may vary. Check and see if opening an out-of-state plan requires the involvement of a broker, as some will, and check specific requirements of the plan, such as a beneficiary being under a certain age at account opening.

Be prepared to pay a fee to begin the account, along with depositing an initial investment.

Two kinds of 529s

The two kinds of 529 plans you’ll encounter are education savings and prepaid tuition plans.

• Education savings are more common and more for general use, as they can be applied to a wider range of educational expenses.
• Prepaid tuition plans are often tied to in-state or public schools, and they allow you to “pre-pay” college tuition at today’s presumably less expensive rates rather than the rates in effect when the beneficiary enters school.

Pre-paid tuition may help your money go further but comes with far more restrictions—still, it may make sense for your family.

What both plans have in common is that the account holder—whomever opens the account—controls the money. In most circumstances, there will be penalties and taxes if you withdraw money early or for reasons other than qualified educational expenses. In an education savings 529, those expenses can themselves be broad, though, encompassing not just tuition but room and board, fees, books, and even technology like laptops, which would be considered “peripheral equipment.”

Remember that education savings 529s aren’t just for college-related tuition and expenses, but for other kinds of educational tuition, such as private K-12 schools. Plus, should your initial intended beneficiary become a high school billionaire who either doesn’t need a degree or generously offers to pay for their own with their newfound riches, you’re able to transfer the account to their sibling or other family member for their use instead.

Why choose a 529 account for college savings?

Given that 529 plans are run by states, they can be a hassle-free way to invest money for future education. You decide how much you want to put into the account each year and the state plan will automatically invest your money to reap rewards or minimize risk. Those calculations might depend on a child’s age when the account is first opened, but they’re a calculation and risk assessment you personally don’t have to make.

There’s also no specific contribution limit to 529s, although if you’re depositing amounts in excess of $16,000 into an account, you may find yourself subject to gift tax. Nor is there an income limit or requirement, which can encourage everyone of all backgrounds. And finally, you can open as many 529s as you like in either the same or different states, to get a mix of benefits and diversify your investments.

While 529s can be a part of student or parental obligation or income when it comes time for FAFSA filing to acquire financial aid eligibility, typically they’re calculated at a small percentage if the student is a dependent. And the benefit of their existence often outweighs the cost of this impact. Finally, should your student earn any scholarships that enable them to pay their own way, that money can be deducted from the 529 penalty-free, as a nice bonus for a job well done, or perhaps stored away for even more semesters.

529 plans can be a commitment to your child’s future that you can make today with minimal effort. And while you may not be able to entirely defray the costs of college, you can at least make a good start, and show your family that you invest in them in ways beyond your time, effort, and love.

Sources/Inspiration:

https://www.investopedia.com/terms/1/529plan.asp

https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/investing/529-plan-rules

https://money.howstuffworks.com/personal-finance/college-planning/financial-aid/529.htm