Become a Patron! A lot of financial planning and advice can start to seem pretty routine over time: maximize contributions to tax-advantaged savings vehicles, invest in a basket of diversified, low-cost assets, and periodically (but not too often!) rebalance. I'm always interested in identifying places where that kind of routine advice breaks down, and the other day, I … [Read more...] about Are there 529 plans so bad they aren’t worth their state’s income tax benefits?
Search Results for: 529
Why I just changed my 529 asset allocation
Become a Patron! I've written before about what I consider the two best 529 college savings plans: the Nevada-sponsored Vanguard 529 plan and the Utah-sponsored my529 (formerly UESP). In general, most people making contributions in excess of their in-state tax deduction for 529 plan contributions (if any) should consider using one of those two plans, thanks to their broad … [Read more...] about Why I just changed my 529 asset allocation
The SECURE backdoor into 529 assets
Become a Patron! I've written extensively in the past about 529 College Savings Plans, an extremely tax-advantaged method of saving for higher education expenses. Contributions are made after federal and state taxes (although many states offer in-state tax deductions for contributions), compound internally tax-free, and are withdrawn tax-free for "qualified higher education … [Read more...] about The SECURE backdoor into 529 assets
The least-understood benefit of the 529 scam
I have written a lot about 529 college savings plans, the grotesque transfer of millions of dollars of additional wealth to the richest people in the country, which were expanded and made even more valuable in the Smash-and-Grab Tax Act of 2017 when qualified "higher education" expenses were expanded to include up to $10,000 per year in tuition at private elementary and … [Read more...] about The least-understood benefit of the 529 scam
How to think about prepaid tuition plans: Virginia Prepaid529
Yesterday I described the best prepaid tuition plan I know of, Washington state's Guaranteed Education Tuition plan, which allows you to place a tax-free bet on the trajectory of tuition inflation at Washington public universities. It's a weird investment vehicle, but you could see how it might play a speculative role in the portfolio of a sufficiently wealthy person, … [Read more...] about How to think about prepaid tuition plans: Virginia Prepaid529