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Should you worry about overfunding your 529 plan?
Yahoo Finance· 2025-12-23 00:04
Core Insights - 529 education savings plans are effective for managing education costs, but concerns about oversaving exist [1] - The Secure 2.0 Act allows for the rollover of unused 529 funds to a Roth IRA, with specific rules in place to prevent misuse [2][5] Group 1: 529 Plans Overview - 529 plans are often opened at birth, creating uncertainty about future education needs [2] - Parents can change the beneficiary of a 529 plan if they have multiple children [2] Group 2: Rollover Rules - The Roth IRA receiving 529 funds must be in the name of the 529 plan beneficiary and the 529 plan must be open for at least 15 years [3] - Contributions made within the last five years cannot be converted, and the rollover counts toward the IRA annual contribution limit [3][4] Group 3: Conversion Limits - A maximum of $35,000 can be rolled over from a 529 plan to a Roth IRA during a lifetime [4] - The conversion must be made directly to a Roth IRA, and the beneficiary must have eligible earnings at the time of conversion [4] Group 4: Implications of Rollover - The rollover option alleviates concerns about oversaving for education but should not be relied upon for retirement savings [5] - The rules ensure that 529 plans are used primarily for educational purposes, maintaining the integrity of the savings plan [5] Group 5: 529 Rollovers to ABLE Accounts - Families with a child with disabilities can roll over 529 accounts into ABLE accounts, which offer tax advantages while preserving eligibility for government assistance [6] - ABLE accounts operate similarly to 529 plans, with after-tax contributions and tax-free withdrawals for qualified expenses [6]
Trump accounts explained: How they work, who qualifies
Yahoo Finance· 2025-12-04 20:57
Core Insights - The introduction of Trump accounts aims to provide a tax-deferred savings vehicle for families, particularly targeting children under 18, with a government-funded initial deposit of $1,000 for eligible newborns [1][8] Summary by Sections Overview of Trump Accounts - Trump accounts are defined as individual retirement accounts funded with after-tax dollars, available to U.S. citizens under 18 with a Social Security number [4] - The accounts are designed to be invested in low-cost index funds, primarily mirroring the S&P 500 or other American stock indices [9] Contributions and Projections - Annual contributions are capped at $5,000, which can include up to $2,500 from employers without affecting the employee's taxable income [5] - Projections indicate that a child born in 2026 could accumulate significant savings, with maximum contributions potentially leading to a balance of $303,800 by age 18 and $1,091,900 by age 28 [6] Eligibility and Enrollment - Eligibility for Trump accounts extends to anyone under 18 by the end of the calendar year in which the account is established, requiring a Social Security number [7] - The enrollment process is currently in development, with a draft form available for establishing accounts [12] Tax Implications - Contributions to Trump accounts are not considered income while the beneficiary is under 18, and certain contributions do not create a basis in the account [14] - Withdrawals made before age 59½ may incur a 10% additional tax unless for specific qualified expenses [11] Comparison with Other Accounts - Experts express skepticism regarding the advantages of Trump accounts compared to traditional IRAs, Roth IRAs, or 529 education savings plans, noting that 529 plans offer tax-free growth for education expenses [15][16] - The structure of Trump accounts, which allows both after-tax and pre-tax contributions, is seen as potentially confusing and less advantageous than existing options [17]