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How to Choose the Best 529 Plan
By
Gabriel Jimenez-Ekman
Gabriel Jimenez-Ekman is a content editor and writer at Scholarships360. He has managed communications and written content for a diverse array of organizations, including a farmer’s market, a concert venue, a student farm, an environmental NGO, and a PR agency. Gabriel graduated from Kenyon College with a degree in sociology.
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Maria Geiger is Director of Content at Scholarships360. She is a former online educational technology instructor and adjunct writing instructor. In addition to education reform, Maria’s interests include viewpoint diversity, blended/flipped learning, digital communication, and integrating media/web tools into the curriculum to better facilitate student engagement. Maria earned both a B.A. and an M.A. in English Literature from Monmouth University, an M. Ed. in Education from Monmouth University, and a Virtual Online Teaching Certificate (VOLT) from the University of Pennsylvania.
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With so many options out there, you might need some information about how to choose a 529 plan for your financial situation. 529 Plans yield a wide range of savings opportunities, and each plan tends to favor some benefits over others.
To find the best 529 Plan for you, you’ll have to sort out which features benefit you most. Are you looking to optimize your state income tax breaks, or your plan’s investment portfolio? Are you looking for short-term, medium-term, or long-term investments? We’ll help you determine the answers to these questions and establish criteria to find the best plan.
Don’t miss: Scholarships360’s free scholarship search tool
529 Plans explained
A 529 Plan is a type of savings plan that students, their family, and family friends can use to help save for college. The 529 Plan has special educational tax advantages. Withdrawals are not subject to federal, and usually state, taxes. This means that your investment can grow over time without being taxed. If you are saving for college for yourself or for someone else, 529 Plans are typically the best way to do it. Their benefits are magnified the earlier you start saving.
State income tax breaks
Perhaps the biggest advantage of 529 Plans is their exemption from income taxes. If your state offers a plan that is exempt from state income tax, this can yield huge savings. You can deduct your 529 Plan contributions from your state income taxes at the end of the year. Afterwards, the state will return all of the income tax you paid on that sum of money.
Read more: How much is the 529 deduction worth?
Direct-sold 529 Plans vs. advisor-sold
Direct-sold and advisor-sold 529 Plans each have their own benefits and drawbacks. Direct-sold plans typically have lower fees and can be opened by the account owner online. Advisor-sold plans typically have higher fees and are opened through a licensed financial advisor.
Although they come with higher fees, advisor-sold 529 Plans can have a host of advantages. If you need help coming up with a comprehensive plan to finance your child’s education, an advisor can be invaluable. If you already feel confident in your planning, an advisor-sold plan may not be worth the added fees. But if you’re unsure of how much to deposit into your 529 Plan per year, consider an advisor-sold plan. You can also consider hiring a financial advisor independent of your 529 Plan.
Minimum contribution requirements
Some 529 Plans have minimum contribution requirements. That means you’ll have to deposit a certain amount annually or per month. You should be confident in your ability to satisfy your plan’s minimum requirement. If the minimum contribution will cause you to struggle to pay your other expenses, it’s probably not a good fit.
Related: What are the 529 Plan rules?
Investment risk options
Most 529 Plans will allow you to choose an investment portfolio based on its risk level. There are typically a spread of investment options that range from conservative to risky. Some 529 Plans don’t have this option, and some may only give you a choice from a few different risk levels. If you want to have more control over your portfolio, seek out a 529 Plan with many risk options.
Weighing return on investment and fees
Oftentimes, plans with a higher return on investment also have higher fees. Choosing a plan with high fees and a high return on investment is usually more worthwhile if your timeframe is long. This allows your money to grow for a longer period of time, and you will see compounding gains.
So, if you start investing early, you may find that high fees are worthwhile for the added return on investment. However, if you start your 529 Plan later, you may opt for lower fees and lower return on investment.
Related: Does a 529 Plan impact financial aid, including FAFSA?
When to choose an out-of-state plan
Every state offers its own 529 Plan, but people are not constrained to the plan their state offers. You can open a 529 Plan from any state if you decide to. More often than not, people choose to open a plan in their state because of the tax benefits it provides. Most states offer 529 Plans that are exempt from their state income taxes.
However, for people who live in states with no exemption, there is less reason to choose a plan in your state. Additionally, some states allow their residents to deduct their state income taxes even if their 529 is in another state. If you are in either of these situations, there’s a good chance that your best 529 option will be in another state. Try shopping around, and prioritize your return on investment and lowering your fees.
Key Takeaways
Read more: How much can I contribute to a 529 Plan?
Additional resources
When it comes to planning your child’s financial future, we’ve got you covered. Let us help you through every step of the savings and application process. You can start off with our guide to how much to save for college. We’ll go into detail on amounts, when to start saving, and where to keep your savings. Another way to help your financial future in college is to encourage your child to start applying for scholarships – regardless of their age, we have opportunities for them! That includes middle school scholarships and high school full ride scholarships, as well.
Aside from saving money for college, it’s also important to make wise academic choices so that your child has the best options when it comes time to apply. Our comparison of private vs public schools can help you make an educated decision as to where you send your child. Once they’re in high school, it’s important to ensure that they are on a good track to create a good impression on admissions officers. Our high school checklist and guides to internships and extracurricular activities can help you keep your finger on the pulse. You can also check out our guide to GPAs to get an idea of what GPA you want to shoot for. Good luck and make sure to check back as you move through the admissions process! Remember, it’s never too soon to apply for “free money” scholarships!
