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Q&A with our experts
Our experts offer answers on questions you have asked about 529 Plans.
- Two kids, two 529 plans? (March 7, 2018)
- Coverdell ESA vs. 529 Plan: Which to choose? (Script) (March 7, 2018)
- Top 529 Plan Withdrawal Tips. (Script) (March 30, 2017)
- Top 529 Plan Withdrawal Tips. (Video) (March 30, 2017)
- What are the 3 biggest 529 plan myths? (Video) (March 17, 2017)
- What are the 3 biggest 529 plan myths? (Script) (March 17, 2017)
- Does a 529 plan affect financial aid? (Video) (March 16, 2017)
- Does a 529 plan affect financial aid? (Script) (March 16, 2017)
- How much does college cost? (Video) (March 15, 2017)
- How much does college cost? (Script) (March 15, 2017)
- What Are The Top 7 Benefits Of 529 Plans? (Video) (March 14, 2017)
- What Are The Top 7 Benefits Of 529 Plans? (Script) (March 14, 2017)
- 529s and Financial Aid (Video) (November 19, 2014)
- 529s and Financial Aid (Script) (November 19, 2014)
- What are the best ways to maximize the savings in my 529 plan? (Video) (October 14, 2014)
- What are the steps involved in setting up a 529 account? (Script) (September 15, 2014)
- What are the steps involved in setting up a 529 account? (Video) (September 15, 2014)
- What is the first step in getting started with a 529 plan? (Script) (September 5, 2014)
- What is the first step in getting started with a 529 plan? (Video) (September 5, 2014)
- Coverdell ESA vs. 529 Plan: Which to choose? (Video) (July 15, 2013)
- What is the best 529 plan for me? (Video) (July 10, 2013)
- What is the best 529 plan for me? (Script) (July 10, 2013)
- What happens to my 529 if my child gets a scholarship? (Video) (July 2, 2013)
- What happens to my 529 if my child gets a scholarship? (Script) (July 2, 2013)
- Can grandparents open a 529? (Video) (June 20, 2013)
- Can grandparents open a 529? (Script) (June 20, 2013)
- Do I have to use my own state's 529 plan? (Video) (June 12, 2013)
- Do I have to use my own state's 529 plan? (Script) (June 12, 2013)
- 529 Plans: Tax Benefits of a 529 Plan (Video) (June 7, 2013)
- 529 Plans: Tax Benefits of a 529 Plan (Script) (June 7, 2013)
- What are the Pros & Cons of 529 plans? (Video) (May 30, 2013)
- What are the Pros & Cons of 529 plans? (Script) (May 30, 2013)
- What is a 529 College Savings Plan? (Video) (May 21, 2013)
- What is a 529 College Savings Plan? (Script) (May 21, 2013)
- Expected addition to the the family (April 16, 2013)
- Naming a successor to your 529 account (Video) (May 11, 2012)
- Naming a successor to your 529 account (Script) (May 11, 2012)
- Finding the Right Coverdell ESA (Video) (September 16, 2011)
- Finding the Right Coverdell ESA (Script) (September 16, 2011)
- 3 ways to make a 529 plan withdrawal (Video) (August 26, 2011)
- A 529 plan is great for grad school, too (Video) (August 24, 2011)
- A 529 plan is great for grad school, too (Script) (August 24, 2011)
- Trickle down: Granddad's 529 goes to son (Script) (August 23, 2011)
- Trickle down: Granddad's 529 goes to son (Video) (August 23, 2011)
- Diverting retirement cash to a 529 plan (Video) (August 22, 2011)
- Diverting retirement cash to a 529 plan (Script) (August 22, 2011)
- 529 Plans: Which Expenses are Qualified? (Video) (August 1, 2011)
- 529 Plans: Which Expenses are Qualified? (Script) (August 1, 2011)
- Diverting retirement cash to a 529 plan (May 10, 2010)
- As adults, children own their 529 plans (March 27, 2010)
- Coverdell accounts to lose K-12 feature (March 17, 2010)
- Can you pay a mortgage with a 529 plan? (February 17, 2010)
- A 529 plan is great for grad school, too (February 8, 2010)
- Naming successor of grandparent's 529 plans (January 15, 2010)
- Keep paying 529, even with kid in college (January 4, 2010)
- Need-based financial aid strategies (December 23, 2009)
- Granny's gift: a savings bond at Christmas (December 7, 2009)
- Tips for tapping needs-based financial aid (November 15, 2009)
- Health insurance not qualified 529 expense (November 1, 2009)
- New GI Bill pays children's college (October 23, 2009)
- 3 ways to take a 529 plan distribution (October 15, 2009)
- Spending your IRA on child's college (September 23, 2009)
- Moving UGMA money into a 529 plan (August 26, 2009)
- College bonds: a taxing Catch-22 (August 11, 2009)
- Combine 529 plan with other credits (July 27, 2009)
- College saving options: Roth IRA vs. 529 (July 16, 2009)
- Parent, not the child, controls 529 plan (June 30, 2009)
- Finding financial aid as a married student (June 17, 2009)
- Protecting grandchildren's 529 plans (June 10, 2009)
- Coverdells not as flexible as 529 plans (May 18, 2009)
- Keep paying 529, even with kid in college (May 4, 2009)
- Poor 529 planning opens door to taxes (April 20, 2009)
- Generous tax credit on tuition (April 6, 2009)
- College R.A.s aren't taxed on room, board (March 23, 2009)
- Move money from loser 529 to new plan (March 9, 2009)
- With multiple 529s, which to spend first? (February 23, 2009)
- Delay use of 529 plan (February 2, 2009)
- 529 offers low-risk investment options (January 12, 2009)
- School closure won't erase loan debt (January 1, 2009)
- 529 in grandparent's name can be risky (December 22, 2008)
- Poor 529 planning opens door to taxes (December 8, 2008)
- Closing 529 plan triggers tax headaches (November 24, 2008)
- 529 plan contribution escapes gift tax (November 10, 2008)
- Texas 529 plan offers key advantage (September 29, 2008)
- Bear market shouldn't scare 529 savers (September 15, 2008)
- Tax code squishy on 529 plan withdrawal (August 11, 2008)
- Hiring adviser may increase 529 expense (July 28, 2008)
- Redeem bonds for education tax break (July 14, 2008)
- Top ways to trim college costs (June 23, 2008)
- Use home equity to pay off student debt (June 12, 2008)
- Dual education plans raise tax issues (June 2, 2008)
- Tapping IRA for college may reduce aid (May 19, 2008)
- 4 options for leftover 529 plan money (May 12, 2008)
- 'Safe' 529 options may lag inflation (April 28, 2008)
- 529 beats Roth IRA for college savings (April 14, 2008)
- Use home equity to pay off student debt (March 31, 2008)
- Excessive 529 contributions easily fixed (March 17, 2008)
- Tuition tax 'double dip' may be legal (March 3, 2008)
- Which college plan should you tap first? (February 25, 2008)
- Don't dwell on college savings options (February 4, 2008)
- Multiple donors can boost 529 savings (January 28, 2008)
- Rival state's 529 often a better choice (January 8, 2008)
- 8 smart college money moves in '08 (January 3, 2008)
- 529 rules apply to many foreign schools (December 31, 2007)
- 529 tax exemption to become permanent (December 22, 2007)
- 529 plans not always best option (December 22, 2007)
- Plans help fund grandchildren's college (December 10, 2007)
- Grandparents, 529 plans are great match (November 12, 2007)
- Custodian can invest in 529 plan (October 15, 2007)
- Buy college plan through bank or broker? (October 1, 2007)
- Added burdens for trustee (September 17, 2007)
- Keep education money in parents' name (September 4, 2007)
- Using own state's 529 plan is fine (August 20, 2007)
- Different states, different 529 plan rules (August 6, 2007)
- Decide where to distribute 529 funds. (July 16, 2007)
- Can I claim a deduction on college loan? (July 2, 2007)
- When to have more than one 529 plan (June 11, 2007)
- Benefits of college 529 plan vary by state (May 21, 2007)
- No tax perk if 529 money pays student loan (May 14, 2007)
- 529 money may buy college housing, but ... (April 30, 2007)
- Setting up a college fund for a friend's child (April 16, 2007)
- Using out-of-state 529 plans (April 2, 2007)
- 7 steps to saving for college (December 26, 2006)
- Pension bill makes 529 tax exemption permanent (August 14, 2006)
- 529 plan for older, 'iffy' students (July 31, 2006)
- Useful jargon: UGMA or UTMA in a 529 (July 17, 2006)
- Do I really have to consolidate? (June 29, 2006)
- Can I consolidate while in school? (June 29, 2006)
- Can I consolidate again? (June 26, 2006)
- Dodging contribution limits on 529 plans (June 19, 2006)
- Prepaid college tuition pros and cons (June 12, 2006)
- Hunting scholarships online? Guard your privacy (June 5, 2006)
- How to evaluate 529 plans (May 22, 2006)
- Early, penalty-free tapping of IRA for college (May 15, 2006)
- Rules for money left over from college 529 plan (May 8, 2006)
- Avoiding tax penalty due to disability (May 1, 2006)
- Student loan consolidation deadlines loom (April 17, 2006)
- Despite uncertainties, stick with 529 plan (April 3, 2006)
- Turning grandparents' gift into a college fund (April 1, 2006)
- Rules unclear for grandparents' 529 plan (March 27, 2006)
- Dodge gift-tax limits with 2nd 529 plan (March 6, 2006)
- Choosing a college fund rewards card (February 21, 2006)
- Will saving more hurt chances for college aid? (February 6, 2006)
- Pros and cons of gifting college money (January 23, 2006)
- Power-fund a 529 plan via '5-year election' (January 12, 2006)
- Contingency plans for 529-plan funds (December 19, 2005)
- Paying off debt versus a 529 plan (December 5, 2005)
- Ex's in-laws can pull plug on 529 plan (November 22, 2005)
- Savings bonds vs. 529 plans for college finance (November 14, 2005)
- A late start on saving for college (November 7, 2005)
- Using Roth IRA to pay college expenses (October 24, 2005)
- Coordinating multiple college savings plans (October 17, 2005)
- Frequently asked questions about 529 plans (March 12, 2005)
- Best ways to boost godchild's college fund (January 3, 2005)