College

The Coronavirus pandemic has impacted us more than we could ever have imagined in the beginning of 2020. Students and teachers had to quickly transition to online learning. Many people were laid off and furloughed with no financial backup plan. And now we’re facing the tough decision of whether to send our kids back to school in the fall. 

Started in 1996, 529 plans provide tax incentives for those saving for post-secondary education. The plan allows funds saved to be used at any eligible education institution, which typically includes colleges, universities, vocational schools or any post-secondary educational institute that is currently eligible to participate in U.S. Department of Education student aid programs. Operating much like a 401(k) or IRA, funds deposited into a 529 plan are not taxed, either by the federal government or the state in which the participant resides.

You’re 25 and feeling alive. You’re settling into life after university, paying off your debts and slowly figuring how to “adult”. But with the responsibility of bills, rent, and even keeping up social appearances, prioritizing financial planning is something far too often pushed to the side.