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Grandparents

529 plans offer unique benefits for grandparents:

  • Reducing estate tax exposure
  • Ability to retain control of the assets throughout the life of the account
  • Ease of management and flexibility
  • Potential state tax deduction or credit for contributions
  • The opportunity to leave an enduring educational legacy for grandchildren

Historically, one of the major concerns about grandparent-owned 529 plans was their impact on federal financial aid when withdrawn to pay for a grandchild's education. The FAFSA simplification implemented starting with the 2024-2025 award year no longer requires their financial support to be reported.

2024 — 2025 EditionPDF

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Saving For College is an unbiased, independent resource for parents and financial professionals, providing them with information and tools to understand the benefits of 529 college savings plans and how to meet the challenge of increasing college costs.

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