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    Flight #60: Fighter Pilot Stories and College Savings Planning with 529s

    enJuly 07, 2023

    About this Episode

    Questions From The Flight Deck:

    Introducing: Andy Christopher – F18 Navy Fighter Pilot and Investment Advisor

    • Background
      • How’d you get interested in flying?
      • Why the Navy?
      • Navy flight experience.
        • Ejection story – first flight!?!

     

    Meat of the Mission – 529s

    Common Questions:

    • What if my kid gets a scholarship?
    • Do I need to invest in my state’s 529? No!
    • What if I overfund the 529?
    • Can I give my 529 to my child?
    • How does the 529 affect financial aid?
    • Can I use the 529 for United, Delta, SWA feeder schools – aka career development programs.
      • United Aviate
      • Delta Propel Program 
      • SWA Destination 225
    • Should I just use the Roth IRA? Roth 401k?
    • The major difference between Roth IRA withdrawals and Roth 401k withdrawals:
    • Why save for college?
    • 529 basics 
      • Similar to Roth IRA: After-tax money in, tax-free money out when used for qualifying tuition expenses
      • FAFSA: Does a 529 plan affect financial aid? - Savingforcollege.com 
        • Any parental assets beyond that amount ($10,000) will reduce a student’s aid package by up to a maximum of 5.64% of the asset’s value.
        • So, if a parent’s 529 account exceeds the Asset Protection Allowance by $10,000, his child’s financial aid award could be reduced by as much as $564.
    • Which plan to pick?
      • What Is a 529 Plan? - Savingforcollege.com
      • Don’t have to use your state’s plan, but may be reasons to use in-house plan
      • Unique plan rules for transfer of ownership, total account value limits for contributions
      • State tax benefits (OH)
        • E.g., Virginia residents – tax deduction PER ACCOUNT, age 70 rule and tax deductions carry forward...
      • Low-cost plans (Utah my529, W VA, etc.) 
    • How much to save? 
    • How to invest the contributions?
      • Low-cost/index approach
      • Target-enrollment date (works like a 401(k) target-date fund)
    • What if you don’t use the funds?
    • Veteran Benefits
      • GI Bill Transfer
      • State Specific Benefits (CalVets, etc.)
        • Hazlewood Act - Through the state’s Hazlewood Act, originally approved in 1943, Texas promises its veterans or their survivors 150 free credit hours at any of the state’s public universities or community colleges, once their federal benefits have been exhausted. And vets may transfer hours they don't use to their children.
          • Hazlewood benefits are available to veterans who currently reside in Texas and who lived in Texas or had Texas as their home of record at the time of enlistment, or who simply enlisted in Texas.

     

    1. Vanguard college funding calculators 

    2. Leading Edge 529 video

    3. Morningstar College report, comparison.

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