Education Planning for Today

Paying for a child's college education is an expensive proposition - but not an impossible one. With the right strategies, you can go a long way to meeting this challenge whether your child is still in preschool or already in high school.

An Early Start

If your child is young, establishing a savings plan now can put time on your side. Consider alternatives to the traditional savings account.

Mutual Funds. Setting up a custodial account in your child's name with a mutual fund company and making regular contributions to that account can help you reach your college finance goals. Choose investments with a potential for long-term returns.

Coverdell Education Savings Account (formerly Education IRAs). If your income isn't too high you can contribute up to $2,000 a year to an Education Savings Account for each of your children or grandchildren under age 18. All withdrawals - including investment earnings - that are used to pay the child's qualified education expenses are income-tax free. The $2,000 contribution limit is phased out with income between $95,000 and $110,000 (individuals) or between $190,000 and $220,000 (married couples filing jointly).

Qualified Tuition Programs: Section 529 of the Internal Revenue Code authorizes two types of tax-favored qualified tuition programs.

Pre-paid Tuition Plans. Many states and individual colleges offer tuition prepayment plans. With these plans, you make a series of payments or pay a lump sum now for your child's education. In return, the plan guarantees that your investment will cover a specified amount or percentage of the child's expenses when he or she is ready to attend. Some plans lock in the cost of future education at today's prices. Both states and private educational institutions can create tax-favored plans. Before choosing this route, though, be sure to find out what will happen to your investment if your child doesn't attend the sponsoring college.

Education Savings Plans. This is the more commonly used type of qualified tuition plan. Unlike pre-paid tuition accounts, only states may sponsor education savings accounts. State-sponsored accounts provide you with a way to invest for a child's college education that is federally income tax-free upon withdrawal until 12/31/10 unless extended by Congress. Non-qualified withdrawals may be subject to taxes and an additional 10% federal income tax on any earnings. Investing in a 529 plan outside your domicile state may deny you the opportunity to take advantage of favorable state tax treatment. Funds withdrawn and used to pay qualified higher education expenses are currently exempt from federal income tax. Unlike pre-paid tuition plans, funds in these plans generally can be used for expenses at any qualified school nationwide. However, it is important to note that there is no guarantee that funds in an education savings account will be enough to cover the cost of tuition. If a contribution to a beneficiary's account, in one year, exceeds the $12,000 annual exclusion, you may elect to take the aggregate contribution into account ratably over five years beginning with the year of the contribution. Therefore, a maximum of $60,000 may be contributed free of gift tax under this election. If you die before the end of this five-year period, the contributions allocable to periods after death are included in your estate. Other than this exception, a 529 education savings plan should not be included in the donor's estate.

Never Too Late

The chart below provides an understanding of average undergraduate budgets for 2004-2005, which gives you a good overview of the many expenses involved in financing a child's education.

Sample Undergraduate Budgets (average), 2004- 2005

*The sample was too small to provide meaningful information.

**Average total expenses include room and board cost for commute students, which are average estimated living expenses for students living off campus but not with parents. These are estimated average expenses as reported by institutions in the Annual Survey of Colleges

These are enrollment-weighted averages, intended to reflect the average costs that full-time undergraduate students face in various types of institutions. Tuition and fees are weighted by the number of full-time undergraduate students; room and board charges are weighted by the number of students residing on campus or off campus.

If your child will be starting college within the next couple of years or has already started, there are still financing methods available for you to consider.

Financial Aid. Most schools have a limited pool of funds, so you should file financial aid forms as soon as possible. Generally, the school will calculate how much aid your child will receive based on your financial situation. Also, your child should apply for all available governmental or private grants and scholarships.

Loans. Your child's aid package may include loans from the federal or state government, the college or a commercial lender. The loan offers may vary considerably, depending on the program, so be sure to carefully check the interest rates and terms of each. Home equity loans, retirement plan withdrawals, and the cash value of your life insurance are other possible loan sources you might consider.

Tax Incentives. If you do take out a qualified higher education loan, up to $2,500 of the interest paid is tax deductible this year. (Certain restrictions may apply.) You also may be eligible for the Hope Scholarship Credit and the Lifetime Learning Credit. The Hope Scholarship Credit is currently worth up to $1,500 a year for each student's first two years of eligible post-secondary education expenses. The Lifetime Learning Credit is available for up to $2,000 of qualifying expenses paid for each additional year of education. Both of these credits are phased out at higher income levels, however.

New Above-the-Line Deduction for Higher Education Expenses. Eligible taxpayers can claim on above-the-line deduction for qualified higher education expenses. The maximum allowable deduction is $4,000 in 2004 and 2005. The deduction is, however, subject to certain income limitations. The deduction may also be unavailable or limited if other education tax benefits are utilized for the tax year.

While it's best to get an early start, it is never too late to plan for the cost of your child's education. For assistance, call your professional financial advisor. He or she can help you plan today for your child's education tomorrow.

Mutual funds are offered by prospectus, 529 Education Savings Plans that are offered by an offering circular. An investor should carefully consider the investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses of an investment before investing. Read a mutual fund prospectus or a 529 offering circular carefully before you invest. The investment return and principal value of an investment will fluctuate with changes in market conditions so that an investor's shares when redeemed may be worth more or less than the original amount.

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