WA529

The Gift of Education: “The Best Gifts Come in Small Packages”

Let’s be honest—holiday shopping can feel like an Olympic sport. You sprint through malls, dodge crowds, and try to decide if you should get toys, books, or clothes for your nieces and nephews. Holiday shopping lists often feel overwhelming. Imagine giving a meaningful gift this year that won’t require you to wait in another long line to buy it. Consider giving the gift of education. It is a meaningful and long-lasting investment in a child’s life.

Danger: embarrassing Halloween wordplay lurks ahead

Fall is my favorite time of the year, and one of the biggest reasons is Halloween. I love the crisp air, the creative decorations in the neighborhood, and of course the kids in costumes. While fall brings pumpkins, parties, and candy, it also brings a new school year. That can serve as a chilling reminder of something truly scary: the looming specter of future higher education costs.

(Don’t say you weren’t warned about the wordplay. We’re just getting started…)

Memories of planning family road trips always come to my mind in the summer. Preparing for an exciting adventure is a rewarding experience. I planned several fun-filled road trips when our kids were young – creating special memories our family will never forget. Recently, it occurred to me that saving for higher education may seem like a completely different task, but honestly, the two tasks are more alike than you might think.

When my nephew was born, I knew I wanted to do something meaningful for him—something that would matter years down the line. I didn’t want to give him another cute onesie or a toy that would end up in a donation bin. I wanted to give him a future. That’s why I opened a 529 prepaid tuition plan the week he was born.

It wasn’t flashy, and no one cheered when I signed up. But it was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.

Thinking long-term from day one

Recently, parents saving for college woke up to seven new executive orders on education signed by President Donald Trump. Three of these may have an impact on 529 planning and usage.

Read the full description and potential impacts on the Saving for College website.

Children’s dreams are limitless and often full of imagination and wonder. Many children dream of becoming firefighters, teachers, veterinarians, artists, writers, or astronauts. Some children never waver from their dreams, while other kids’ dreams evolve as they grow up. Either way, the path to achieving their dream will likely require hard work, a higher education path, and a plan to cover the costs associated with it.

Navigating life with a newborn can be exhausting, even all-consuming at times. It’s also filled with more awe and joy than ever imagined. Time flies by as clothes are quickly outgrown and motor skills are developed, including discovering the ability to create ear-piercing screeches. Most exciting is their unique personality breaking through, shaping their outlook on the world.

In December of 2022, the federal government enacted SECURE 2.0 of 2022, which delivers dozens of retirement-related provisions. Among them is the ability to make tax- and penalty-free rollovers from your 529 plan into a Roth IRA. You may take advantage of the Roth rollover provision with your WA529 GET or DreamAhead account as of January 1, 2024.

(November 26, 2024) - Traditions are often sentimental, full of fun, and build lasting memories with family and friends. One of my favorite holiday traditions occurs on Thanksgiving Day. I ask my kids to sit down and create a holiday wish list - complete with colorful holiday art decorating the margins. It started when my kids were little and decorated their wish list for Santa with holiday-themed pictures. I loved it so much that I asked them to keep up with the tradition of hand-written wish lists with hand-drawn art as they got older.