College Planning

529 Plans vs UTMA: Making Smart Choices for Education Savings

Choosing between a 529 plan and a UTMA account can shape your child’s financial future. 529s offer tax-free growth for qualified education expenses, while UTMAs provide flexibility for any use benefiting the child. A balanced approach—starting with a UTMA and shifting to a 529—can mix tax benefits and preserve eligibility for education tax credits. Saving just $166 per month from birth can grow to $65,000–$100,000 by age 18, giving your child a strong start in life.

WMWM College Planning Update: September 2025: A Season for Smart College Planning

September signals a new school year and, for parents of high school seniors, an important crossroads: preparing your student for college without sabotaging your own financial future.

WMWM College Planning Update: June 2024

Along with the final high school transcript sent to the college committed to, students who have been placed on wait-lists might send a...

WMWM College Planning Update: March 2024

Not only does March bring green drinks, foul weather, and March Madness, it's also supposed to be the time college acceptances arrive...

How to Stay Ahead of the Game: College Planning Update for December 2023

If a student is accepted by their first-choice college and that college uses the College Board's CSS Profile, a financial aid offer will...