Our Most Popular Articles on 529 College Savings Plans in 2019

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Kristen Kuchar

By Kristen Kuchar

December 24, 2019

From how to open a 529 college savings plan to how to change the beneficiary, we answered all of your questions. These were the most popular articles on 529 college savings plans this year. 

How to Withdraw Money from Your 529 Plan

Here are four steps to help you navigate the 529 plan withdrawal process and avoid paying taxes and penalties on your savings. 

Reporting 529 Plan Withdrawals on Your Federal Tax Return

Form 1099-Q and Form 1098-T will list the amount of the 529 plan distribution and how much was used to pay for college tuition and fees, but it is up to the 529 plan account owner to calculate the taxable portion.

How to Open a 529 Plan

This step-by-step guide to opening a 529 college savings plan makes the process easier for parents and grandparents to save for college.

The best 529 plans: 5-Cap Ratings

The 5-cap ratings, updated quarterly, help consumers consider their college savings options and choose the best 529 plans. We are pleased to share the top rated plans from our latest quarterly analysis.

Who is a Member of the Family of a 529 Plan Beneficiary?

A 529 plan account owner may change the beneficiary at any time without tax consequences when the new beneficiary is a family member of the current beneficiary.

How to Change the Beneficiary on Your 529 Plan

529 plans are designed to help save for the future education costs of a single beneficiary. However, the 529 plan account owner may change the beneficiary to a qualifying family member of the current beneficiary at any time without tax consequences by completing a form on the 529 plan’s website.

Does a Sibling’s 529 Plan Assets Hurt Financial Aid Eligibility?

Parents with more than one child should consider having a separate 529 plan for each sibling. This has an impact on investment strategy, state income-tax benefits and tax-free distributions.

Using a 529 Plan to Pay for Continuing Education

529 plans aren’t just for children. Adults returning to college can use a 529 plan to pay for continuing education, undergraduate courses or graduate courses offered at an eligible college or university.

A good place to start:

See the best 529 plans, personalized for you

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