Ninety-five thousand dollars. That’s no small sum, and it just happens to be the amount needed for a baby born today in order to pay for four-year’s worth of college at a public institution in 18 years from now. That number jumps to more than $323,000 for a private school. But the expense appears to be worth it as college graduates continue to earn more and have better employment prospects than non-graduates.
Increasingly, parents and grandparents have taken the challenge of defraying these costs for their children by saving. And luckily, there are many avenues to do just that. But the best could be the humble 529 plan.
Set up by state governments, 529 plans could be the best way for parents and others to save for higher education. The plan offers a host of benefits for savers, including tax savings and estate planning. For those saving for college, a 529 plan should definitely have a place on your list.
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What Are 529 Plans?
Currently, more than $300 billion sits in 529 plans today. The reason is simple: It’s absolutely one of the best ways to save for education. The easiest way to think of it is like a 401(k) or health savings account (HSA). Each of these investment vehicles allows savers to put away money for a specific purpose, in these cases retirement and health expenses. While savings are tucked away in these accounts, investors get tax-deferred growth. The same can be had in a 529 plan. The best part is that qualified withdrawals for higher education expenses – such as tuition, housing, books and required supplies – are free from federal income tax.
The plan is sponsored by various states and comes in two flavors: investment accounts and pre-paid or guaranteed tuition plans. Guaranteed plans allow for investors to buy a future dollars’ worth of tuition expense for less money today, while investment plans function more like a retirement account and own various ETFs and mutual funds in their various subaccounts.
Click here to learn more about 529 savings plan.
Benefits of the 529 Plan
The real beauty of why the 529 plan has surged in popularity comes down to its many tangential benefits. In addition to just being able to help pay a tuition bill, you can use it in a variety of ways.
Taxes
As we said in the opening, qualified withdrawals can be made tax-free and investment gains/dividends are allowed to compound tax-deferred.
But there is an added tax benefit. Over 30 states currently offer a full or partial tax deduction or credit for 529 plan contributions. By contributing to a plan – typically, your own state’s plan – savers can reduce what they owe each year in state taxes. And, in some states, the reduction is significant, often dollar for dollar. Moreover, recent changes have allowed parents to use the 529 plan for kindergarten through 12th-grade tuition at private schools – up to $10,000 per year.
Check out our state plans section here to learn more about the rules and regulations pertaining to each U.S. state.
Flexibility
One of the chief benefits of the 529 plan comes down to the fact that the donor/account owner controls the assets. Because of this, account owners are allowed to switch beneficiaries of the plan at will. For example, if you’re saving for child A and they decide not to go to college or there’s left over money in the account after paying for school expenses, you can change the remainder to child B or even yourself.
Secondly, because the owner is in control of the assets, they get to make the decisions on ultimately what to do with those funds. If you really want to buy a boat and raid your grandson’s college fund, you’re free to do so. Although we wouldn’t recommend that as non-qualified withdrawals will incur income tax and an additional 10% penalty tax.
Estate Planning
This flexibility and ability to switch beneficiaries play into another major benefit of the 529 plan with regards to estate planning. Contributions to a 529 plan are considered “completed gifts” that remove assets from a taxable estate. Thanks to a provision in the tax code, savers are able to contribute five times the annual gift tax exclusion – $150,000 for couples filing jointly, $75,000 for an individual – per beneficiary. While you should consult your own tax advisor, this huge sum can significantly reduce your taxable estate.
But the estate planning aspects get even better. Given that investors are able to change beneficiaries as well as name successors of the account in the event of a death, families can create a legacy of tax-deferred college savings for future generations. Additionally, investors can place unneeded but required minimum distributions (RMDs) from retirement accounts in a 529 plan in order to continue to shield assets from taxes.
Better Than the Alternatives
Finally, the 529 plan wins on the eligibility/financial aid front as well. Currently, only 5.64% of the assets in a parent-owned 529 plan is factored into the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). This allows students to still qualify for grants, work study programs and low-cost student loans. This is unlike Uniform Gift to Minors Account (UGMA) and Uniform Transfer to Minors Account (UTMA) accounts, which are counted as the student’s assets and directly impact FAFSA calculations. The same can be said for regular brokerage accounts, which come with the added hassle of taxes.
Meanwhile, UGMA, UTMA and Coverdell Education Savings Accounts have distribution timelines, and because they are “owned” by the beneficiaries there’s no guarantee that your child will use the money for education. However, with a 529 plan, you can be rest assured that the money will go towards tuition, off-campus housing up to limits, books, computers/required software, internet services and even special-needs equipment.
The Bottom Line
The reason why the 529 plan has become so popular isn’t just because college is getting so expensive, it’s also because it offers a ton of benefits for savers. From reducing taxes today and potentially creating a legacy for tomorrow to flexibility of use, the 529 plan really does have it all. In the end, the accounts are one of the best options for savers on a variety of fronts.
Be sure to check 529 Insights section here to learn more about the 529 plan.
