A: I don’t really have a rule, or percentage, for how much you should save toward a college fund. If you’re following the Baby Steps, I recommend getting 15% of your income going toward retirement before saving for college.
Then, what is the best college fund for a child?
A 529 plan is one of the best, tax-advantaged ways to save for higher education costs. Traditional and Roth IRAs can be used to pay for college expenses, but parents should be sure their retirement needs are covered. Coverdell ESAs allow you to set aside $2,000 per beneficiary per year.
Accordingly, what happens to 529 if child does not go to college?
If assets in a 529 are used for something other than qualified education expenses, you’ll have to pay both federal income taxes and a 10 percent penalty on the earnings. (An interesting side note is that if the beneficiary gets a full scholarship to college, the penalty for taking the cash is waived.)
What happens to a 529 if not used?
If the funds aren’t used for qualified higher education expenses, a 10% penalty tax on earnings (as well as federal and state income taxes) may apply. Non-qualified withdrawals may also be subject to an additional 2.5% California tax on earnings.
Are 529s worth it?
Benefits of a 529 plan
529 plans typically offer you unsurpassed tax breaks. Earnings in a 529 plan grow tax-free and are not taxed when they’re withdrawn. This means that however much your money grows in a 529, you’ll never have to pay taxes on it.
Is it better for a parent or grandparent to own a 529 plan?
Answer: Grandparent-owned 529 plans are treated differently than parent-owned 529 plans when completing the FAFSA (Free Application for Student Aid). … Because of this distinction, grandparent-owned 529 plans can reduce the amount of financial aid that a student is able to receive.
What’s the best account to open for my child?
- Best overall savings account for kids: Capital One. …
- Best savings account for college savings: Citizens Bank. …
- Best savings account for a young child: PNC Bank. …
- Best savings account for teens: Alliant Credit Union. …
- Best APY for a kid’s savings account: Spectrum Credit Union.
What is the best investment for a child?
A Roth IRA in particular is ideal for children: The contributions your child makes to the account will grow tax-free. Those contributions can be pulled out at any time, and the investment growth can be tapped for retirement, but also for a first-home purchase and education.
Is Roth IRA better than 529?
Advantages of Roth IRAs for College
Like the 529, there is no income tax deduction when you contribute to a Roth IRA. Instead, your contributions and earnings grow tax-free. And because you’ve already paid your taxes, you can withdraw contributions at any time, for any reason, tax-free.
Do I need 529 for each child?
While it’s technically possible to use one 529 plan for multiple children, rather than making things simpler, it actually makes them more complicated. From beneficiary rules to investment strategies to ultimate fairness, having a separate 529 account for each child is the preferred way to go.
What’s better than a 529 plan?
Custodial UGMA and UTMA accounts can be used for purposes other than education. Roth IRAs have tax advantages similar to 529 plans and they don’t count as assets for financial aid purposes.
Can you lose money in a 529 plan?
False. You don’t lose unused money in a 529 plan. The money can still be used for post-secondary education, for another beneficiary who is a qualified family member such as younger siblings, nieces, nephews, or grandchildren, or even for yourself.
What can you do with leftover 529 money?
Use it for your continuing education — or your family’s repayment. Even you can benefit from the leftover money in a 529 plan. The 529 plan penalty doesn’t apply if you become the beneficiary and use the money for qualified educational expenses.
Does having a 529 hurt financial aid?
In most cases, your 529 plan will have a minimal effect on the amount of aid you receive and will end up helping you more than hurting you. There are also several steps you can take to increase your child’s eligibility for student financial aid.