Education Planning (Beyond 529s)
Make confident choices about college savings — while staying on track with your own goals.
There’s no one-size-fits-all strategy for paying for college. Whether you’re just starting to save or reevaluating as high school graduation looms, we’ll look at the full range of options — from 529s to other tax-advantaged accounts — and balance education planning with your family’s bigger financial picture.
What We’ll Cover
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How 529 plans work — and when they do (or don’t) make sense
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How much to save (and how to weigh trade-offs with other priorities like retirement)
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Alternatives like custodial accounts or Roth IRAs
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Coordinating contributions with grandparents or extended family
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Options if you’ve overfunded, or if your child earns scholarships
Why it Matters
College costs continue to rise — and so does the pressure on parents to “get it right.” A thoughtful education plan helps you maximize tax benefits, avoid unnecessary debt, and feel confident that you’re supporting your kids without sidelining your own financial independence.
A Personal Example
As a parent of two young kids, my wife and I have spent plenty of time weighing how best to support their education. We ultimately chose 529 plans — but only after considering trade-offs with our own retirement savings and factoring in potential family contributions. That same balanced, real-world approach is what I bring to every client conversation.
Planning Topics
Core Building Blocks
- Income and Cash Flow Management
- Aligning Your Money with Your Life Goals
- Student Loans & Debt Repayment Strategy
- Investment Review & Asset Allocation
- Tax Planning Opportunities
- Insurance and Risk Management
- Retirement Savings and Account Optimization
- Estate Planning Essentials
- Emergency Fund Planning
Planning Through Transitions
Special Topics
Related Blogs
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Want an education savings strategy that works for both your kids and your future?
Education planning is a common part of the Financial Empowerment Plan and can be revisited in the Ongoing Planning Relationship as your goals evolve. If you simply want clarity on your next move — like how much to contribute this year — we can also tackle it in a Targeted Planning Session.