Rolling a 529 Into Something Else
529 accounts provide families with a tax-advantaged way to save for college education expenses; but what happens if one or more beneficiaries decides against college studies, or they receive scholarships that relieve them from needing the funds?
Under new rules established by the Secure 2.0 Act, savers can convert unused 529 funds directly to their beneficiary’s Roth IRA without incurring income taxes or an additional 10% penalty.
Your state’s 529 plan
A 529 account is a tax-advantaged investment account designed to enable individuals and institutions to save for education expenses tax-deferred, and withdrawals made to pay qualifying educational expenses are free from state and federal taxes – such as tuition fees, books, school supplies and room and board costs; also eligible expenses include graduate school and apprenticeship programs.
These plans offer a range of investment options for you and your family, and state-specific details may differ, so always consult a CPA or fiduciary financial advisor in order to select the most appropriate plan for you and your family. In some states, your state’s plan may offer extra tax benefits such as deductions on contributions to its plan; others allow funds from out-of-state plans to rollover. When making this decision, compare fees and investment options before committing yourself; also be sure it qualifies for deductions provided by your state plan before committing.
A Roth IRA
Investment in a 529 plan can be an excellent way to save for college, but it is essential that you consider how this investment may impact eligibility for need-based financial aid and any associated fees or risks.
Education savings plans offer many advantages, including tax breaks, deductions and credits. They’re usually used to cover tuition for two and four-year colleges/universities as well as vocational-technical schools based within the US as well as certain foreign institutions as well as covering expenses such as room and board, books/supplies etc related to your studies.
529 plans offer several investment options that are both straightforward and accessible, such as tax benefits. Investments typically are managed using pre-set portfolios of different size and risk levels; families can make changes twice annually. A brokerage account, on the other hand, typically gives greater freedom when selecting investments; this can make it more liquid than 529 accounts.
A brokerage account
529 plans may be the go-to way of college savings, but they’re not your only option. Consider opening up a taxable brokerage account instead, which provides more flexibility – though do be wary when investing as some brokers specialize more heavily than others in mutual funds or provide other specialized investments; depending on your investment knowledge it may be worthwhile speaking to a financial planner before making a final decision where to place your money.
Keep in mind that each beneficiary can only roll over a 529 plan once annually without incurring penalties. If moving out of state, make sure your new provider outlines their rules regarding rollovers before initiating one yourself.
If you need to withdraw from a 529 plan, any income tax penalty is waived if used for noneducation expenses and transferred directly into a Roth IRA account.
A savings account
Though people use savings accounts for different reasons, their primary purpose should not be competing with higher-yield investments in terms of yield. Instead, these low-rate accounts aim to teach kids the value of saving for future expenses and offer low rates that promote saving habits.
A 529 plan can provide greater investment flexibility. These education-savings accounts are sponsored by states and managed by mutual fund companies; their funds may be used for qualifying college expenses as well as graduate school tuition or K-12 education costs, with less of an impactful effect on federal financial aid formulas compared to assets held directly in someone’s name.
Parents and grandparents can open 529 accounts on behalf of children or adults at brokerages, banks, credit unions or other financial institutions. Most plans offer age-based or target enrollment series that de-risk investments over time; any earnings are tax-free as long as they’re used for qualifying college expenses such as tuition fees, books and room and board; withdrawals can even cover certain medical and dental expenses.
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