The best way to save for college for your children and grandchildren is a 529 College Savings plan. And, the recent Secure 2.0 legislation created some improvements on this great product. The tax advantages make 529 plans the clear winner for college planning and saving.

Tax Benefits
Money saved in a 529 College Savings Plan can be invested to grow tax-free over the years, and then be withdrawn and used tax-free to pay for any college in any state. Qualified educational expenses include tuition, room and board (if attending at least half-time), books, and fees paid in the same year as the withdrawal is made.

When it comes to financial aid, money in a 529 plan has a far lower impact in the aid formula than assets held in a custodial account for the child. A separate account must be opened for each child, although money can later be used to pay for other children in the family, if one gets a scholarship or does not attend college.

Choosing a Plan
Each state has set up its own 529 program, but you can participate in your own state’s plan – or in any state’s plan. You might base that decision on the performance of the investments within the plan. Check out those performance ratings at www.SavingforCollege.com or www.Morningstar.com. (Those links take you directly to the 529 plan comparison portion of the sites.) Or you might choose the state plan where you reside, because it may offer a tax deduction for some of your contributions.

Some states offer both an “investment” plan and a prepaid tuition plan. Stick with the investment type plan, since prepaid tuition plans typically limit choices to in-state schools or offer reduced payouts if an out-of-state college is chosen. Even worse, ultimate payouts may depend on availability of state funds.

Most states offer investment-type plans that are sold directly on their website, or through financial services firms. The latter can have higher up-front and ongoing fees for essentially the same investments. Go directly to the plan website to open your account.

Plan Investments
The 529 investment plans offer choices – typically an age-based plan that invests more aggressively for younger children, moving to more conservative choices as college nears. Or you may have a choice of mutual funds. But you are limited by law to two investment changes each year. The value of the account goes up and down with market performance of the investments.

Contribution Limits
There is no maximum annual contribution (although states set maximums for their plans), but gifts over the annual gift tax exclusion amount ($17,000) can trigger the need to file a gift tax return. One exception allows a combination of 5 years of the allowable gift at one time – so a total of $85,000 in 2023 — allowing wealthy grandparents to get money out of their taxable estate!

But you can easily start small. Most state plans allow you to set up an account with as little as $25.00 and subsequent contributions of $15. They also help you set up automatic withdrawal plans from your checking account to keep the fund growing. And anyone – parent, grandparent, or friends — can make contributions to the plan for birthday and holiday gifts.

Who Should Start the Plan
The new tax law changes mean a parent or grandparent can open the account with the same impact on financial aid. (In the past, withdrawals from grandparent-owned accounts impacted aid more heavily). In fact, each could open separate accounts for the same child.

If Money Isn’t Used
Until now the only choice for excess funds was to share the fund with another qualifying child (or let the money grow for a future grandchild!) If the money is withdrawn for non-college purposes, it is subject to a 10% penalty and ordinary income taxes on the gains.
But under the Secure Act 2.0, starting in 2024, accounts that have been held at least 15 years can be rolled over to a Roth IRA for the beneficiary, subject to the annual contribution limits as well as income equivalent to the amount rolled over. A maximum of $35,000 in total can be rolled, over several years because of the annual limits. However, you cannot roll over any contributions made in the last 5 years.

Start saving for college now in a 529 plan. Time is money. And that’s The Savage Truth.