Over the years, you have contributed to the account, watching it grow to $25,000. When your daughter applies for college aid, that $25,000 in her name will add $5,000 (20% of $25,000) to your family’s EFC. On the other hand, if you had kept that $25,000 in your own name, it would add only $1,410 (or 5.64% of $25,000) to the family’s “expected contributionâ€. In this example, your EFC is $3,590 lower, by investing in your own name, and your daughter might begin her freshman year with $3,590 more in financial aid.
Saving and investing in your own name makes sense if you have young children who are many years from college. But what can you do if you have teens or pre-teens who already have substantial assets in their own name? One tactic is to take cash from savings and investment accounts and put it into a 529 college savings plan, Hurley advises. These plans, offered by every state, allow you to earn investment income, tax-free. Withdrawals are also tax-free, as long as the money is spent on college bills. “Assets in a 529 plan are assessed for financial aid at the parent’s rate, up to 5.64%†says Hurley, “not the student’s 20% rate.†You’ll wind up with fewer student assets, more parent assets, and a greater chance for increased financial aid.
The Costs of College (Tuition, Fees, Room & Board)
2009-2010 Academic Year
Private College
Total: $35,636
Increase from ’08 to ’09: 4.3%
Public College (In-State Student)
Total: $15,213
Increase from ’08 to ’09: 5.9%
Public College (Out-of-state student)
Total: $26,741
Increase from ’08 to ’09: 6.0%
Source: College Board
This article will appear in the June 2010 issue of Black Enterprise.