Articles

Coming soon to a state near you: tax-free investment accounts for those with disabilities.

Posted: 2013-09-25. By: Joseph Hurley

The ABLE Act would permit states to establish 529-ABLE programs to accept and invest contributions for individuals with disabilities, and to make federally tax-free distributions when used for a broad category of expenses incurred by an eligible beneficiary.

UGMA/UTMA conversions to 529: When do they make sense?

Posted: 2013-09-12. By: Joseph Hurley

Guidelines and examples consider the "kiddie tax" when determining whether to convert an existing UGMA/UTMA custodial account to a 529 plan.

529s for aunts and uncles

Posted: 2013-08-28. By: Joseph Hurley

A Pennsylvania financial planner increases tax savings for a client by directing funds to 529 plans for nieces and nephews.

529s on a roll

Posted: 2013-07-25. By: Joseph Hurley

Sallie Mae and Ispsos Public Affairs' annual survey "How America Pays for College 2013" revealed encouraging news in regards to 529 plans, including a dramatic increase in 529 plan use over the past year.

Q & A on 5-Cap Ratings

Posted: 2013-07-17. By: Joseph Hurley

Savingforcollege.com's 5-Cap Ratings of 529 plans have been one of our website's most visible, enduring and unique features.

Financial Cool-Aid

Posted: 2013-07-10. By: Joseph Hurley

In light of the recent student loan interest rate hike, here are some things to know when talking to your clients about how the change will affect them and what they can do to minimize taking on massive debt.

What's on the 529 horizon?

Posted: 2013-06-19. By: Joseph Hurley

Joe Hurley offers thoughts on federal legislative developments that may, or may not, impact 529 plans.

10 reasons why Obama won't touch your 529

Posted: 2013-04-18. By: Joseph Hurley

College savings versus retirement savings

Posted: 2013-04-03. By: Joseph Hurley

Some parents will choose to fund their children's college accounts even when they are not making full use of 401(k) plans and IRAs, and for these parents that decision may be the right one.

The impact of 529 plans on claiming a dependent

Posted: 2013-03-20. By: Joseph Hurley

How does taking a distribution from a 529 plan affect a client's ability to claim a child as a dependent? No one really knows the answer to that question, at least not with any certainty. A tax preparer's stance could determine whether the client is able to take advantage of the dependency exemption, the American Opportunity credit, the Lifetime Learning credit, and the tuition and fees deduction.

A checking account is a checking account

Posted: 2013-03-06. By: Joseph Hurley

I appreciate a good survey as much as anyone. The results can provide useful insights and uncover trends, either positive or negative. However, there is usually much more to be found in the survey details than the headlines and executive summaries might suggest.

Maximizing your 529 savings opportunities in 2013

Posted: 2013-01-18. By: Joseph Hurley

If you are the parent or grandparent of a child under the age of 18, be sure your list of resolutions for this year includes efforts to increase your college savings fund.

Education incentives survive fiscal cliff

Posted: 2013-01-03. By: Joseph Hurley

President Obama has just signed the 2012 American Taxpayer Relief Act (ATRA), saving many of the education tax incentives scheduled to expire on December 31, 2012, and even resuscitating incentives that had expired at the end of 2011.

Use a 529 to avoid the 2013 tax increases

Posted: 2012-07-26. By: Joseph Hurley

The message to your higher-income clients trying to save up for future college expenses is this: Use a 529 plan and avoid increased taxes for 2013.

Are you worth your commissions?

Posted: 2012-05-22. By: Joseph Hurley

Are you really worth your commissions? Do you provide enough extra value to your clients to justify the sales load of an advisor-sold 529 plan?

A College-Savings Enigma (Squared)

Posted: 2012-04-26. By: Joseph Hurley

23 is the square root of 529. Depending on your predilection to numerology, something known as "the 23 enigma" could be a big deal.

The anti-529ers

Posted: 2012-04-11. By: Joseph Hurley

Financial advisers who do not like 529 plans may have their reasons, and I respect their opinions, but I suspect that many of their anti-529 comments come more from a lack of knowledge and experience than from objective data.

3 reasons why 529 plans are cutting fees

Posted: 2010-12-03. By: Margarette Burnette

College savings plans across the country are becoming more affordable as 529 expenses are being reduced. Here are three reasons why 529 plan companies are reducing plan fees and how participants can take advantage.

4 ways to boost your 529 without going broke

Posted: 2010-11-12. By: Lori Johnston

If your financial picture has improved or if you've decided to cut back to put more into 529 plan, here are three ways you could boost your college savings contributions by 15 to 20 percent in a year.

529 distributions: 4 approaches to take

Posted: 2010-11-05. By: Amy E. Buttell

Spending the money you've saved for college is more complicated than you might think, especially if you've got the money invested in different assets. Here are four options to think about when taking 529 plan distributions.