6 Things to Consider Before Opening a 529-Plan

Paying for college is perhaps a more formidable challenge today than ever. Over the last five years, tuition prices at public four-year colleges have risen by 27% above overall inflation, according to a recent College Board survey.

Section 529 plans -- special tax-advantaged vehicles designed to aid college savings -- are one option for tackling these growing costs. Still, these plans may not be right for every situation. Here are six key considerations that can determine whether a 529 plan is right for you and your family.

1. Time till college

Earnings on 529 plans are not subject to taxes. However, unlike a traditional IRA or 401(k), contributions to these plans are not tax-deductible. This means that there is no immediate tax advantage to starting a 529 plan, but the tax advantage will increase over time as earnings accumulate. Thus, the longer time there is until you expect to draw from the plan, the more that tax advantage is worth.

2. Likelihood of pursuing postsecondary education

The earlier you start saving, the easier it will be to pay for college. However, it's difficult to predict what educational needs a small child will have 10 or 15 years down the road. You should only start a 529 plan if there is a strong likelihood of your child pursuing postsecondary education. However, a wide variety of educational options are covered by 529 plans, including vocational schools, so there is a pretty strong chance your child could benefit from some education beyond high school.

3. Estimated cost of education

To avoid being penalized, you do not want to have money left over in the 529 plan when the beneficiary's education is completed. So, the more you expect to have to pay for college or vocational school, the more comfortable you can feel with contributing to a 529 plan.

4. Family size

While 529 plans must be set up for a specific beneficiary, there is some flexibility in allowing that money to be transferred without penalty from one beneficiary's 529 plan to another. If you have multiple children, it should reduce the risk of having money left over in a plan, because if that happens, you can just roll that money over to the next child in line.

5. Plan fees

While some 529 plans are offered by states, you are not limited to choosing the plan offered by your state. So be aware that there are competitive alternatives, and fees should be one of the foremost considerations in deciding on one of these plans. If the fees exceed the likely tax benefits, it isn't worth investing in that 529 plan.

6. Investment approach

Again, the tax benefit is derived from how much the plan earns. Given the low level of savings and money market rates these days, you may not get much tax benefit if you plan to invest very conservatively, but more aggressive, long-term investment approaches could benefit significantly from the tax treatment.

One goal with a 529 plan should be to avoid putting more in than the beneficiary is likely to need. For this reason, it may be wise to make a 529 plan the foundation for college financing, but not the way you fund the entire expense. Not only will this reduce the chance that you will be left with unused money in a 529 plan, but it will also allow you to use a 529 plan as an allocation to more aggressive investments that could benefit most from the tax exemption on earnings.

The original article can be found at Money-Rates.com:6 things to consider before opening a 529 plan