Professional Articles

Many borrowers are turning to a financial advisor for help with managing their student loan debt. Learn how you can add value to your clients.

Each quarter Savingforcollege.com analyzes the investment performance figures for thousands of 529 portfolios and ranks the 529 savings plans from best to worst for investment performance. These rankings include direct-sold and advisor-sold plans.

If your clients' children are heading to college soon, it's time to start considering 529 withdrawal strategies. Here are some important tips to make sure your distribution is tax-free and penalty-free.

If you don’t use the money in a 529 college savings plan to pay for college, you’ll have to pay a penalty. Should the prospect of paying a penalty dissuade you from using a 529 plan?

The highly-anticipated Savingforcollege.com 529 plan rankings are here! This slideshow provides information on the top 10 direct-sold 529 plans, including performance score, program manager and how to enroll. *Three-year performance rankings as of 03/31/2018

With an age-based 529 plan, risk is automatically reduced at specific age or years-until-enrollment intervals, from equities to fixed income securities to money market type portfolios. But some clients aren't satisfied with the amount of equity exposure in age-based portfolios. Here's what you can recommend.

Is your client's home state's 529 plan always the best option? It depends, since each state has different 529 program parameters relative to potential state tax deductions or credits offered, if one is offered at all. Learn how to evaluate the options to find the best 529 for your clients.

The Kiddie Tax applies to income a child ear. 529 savings plans have been replacing UGMA/UTMA accounts, because savings grow tax-deferred, and can be withdrawn tax-free when to pay for qualified education expenses, avoiding the Kiddie Tax entirely.

When asked why they aren't saving for college in a 529 plan, clients will typically give one of these 10 excuses. Here are some ways financial advisors can address their concerns and stress the importance of planning for future education costs.