Saving Archives - College Countdown

Affording College Using Your 529

Celebrating the Many Rewards of Saving with a 529 Plan

By way of background, when our now recent grad was born, his father and I were still repaying a significant amount of student loan debt that we had accumulated to…

Patricia A. Roberts, J.D.October 20, 2025

Senior Student Using Your 529 Videos

Smart Savers Know Fees Add Up

Investment fees are easy to ignore because the jargon is confusing or they’re hidden in the fine print. So, it’s important to know how and how much. Learn more about…

ScholarShare 529October 7, 2025

Senior Student Using Your 529 Videos

How Flexible is a 529 Plan?

A 529 plan is a flexible way to save for college. Your college savings can be used for all kinds of qualified expenses like tuition, books, supplies, and equipment. Computers…

ScholarShare 529October 2, 2025

Senior Student Using Your 529 Videos

529 Tax Benefits Explained

How will your kid pay for college when the time comes? Unsurpassed tax benefits for families using a 529 plan can make a real difference. Learn more about the benefits…

ScholarShare 529October 1, 2025

Affording College Junior Student Parenting

5 Reasons to Talk With Your Kid About College Financing Now

As a parent of a high school student, however, there’s no time like the present to have a candid conversation about college costs and the resources you have available to…

Patricia A. Roberts, J.D.September 24, 2025

Affording College

The Importance of Late-Stage College Savings

Between your child’s packed schedule plus the daily demands of your family’s life, it can feel like there aren’t enough hours in the day or enough dollars to cover today’s…

Patricia A. Roberts, J.D.September 14, 2025

Using Your 529

529 Withdrawals: Avoid the Pitfalls

Withdrawing funds is straightforward, but these tips can help you avoid common mistakes.* 1. Stick to qualified expenses To avoid federal income taxes and the 10% penalty on earnings, withdraw…

ScholarShare 529September 12, 2025

Affording College Using Your 529

The Power of the First Step: Open a 529 and Build Your Future

It sounds simple. That’s because it is. And that’s exactly why so many families wait. We wait for a raise. For the “right” account. For the moment when everything else…

David Q. Hao, MA, JDAugust 17, 2025

Using Your 529

Reflecting on the Impact of Your 529 Investments

With college in the not-so-distant future, it’s a perfect time to stop and reflect on the positive effects your 529 investments have had -- and will continue to have --…

Patricia A. Roberts, J.D.August 1, 2025

Parenting

Love is Saving for the Long-haul

This was the outcome I had been planning for. It took nearly two decades of saving up, and a relatively few short years of spending, but my sons are now…

Vivian M. Tsai, CIMA®July 8, 2025

Affording College

4 College-Saving Tips from a Seasoned Pro

Developed from more than two decades of experience in the higher education financial aid space, these tips may make paying for college more bearable. Start Saving Early. Higher education is…

Anna PetersJuly 1, 2025

Affording College

Preparing for the Unanticipated Costs of Freshman Year

If you’re like many families, you spent a significant amount of money this past school year on college applications and senior year events. And when thinking about the upcoming cost…

Patricia A. Roberts, J.D.May 31, 2025

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