529 plans

For the first time in a long time, I contributed money to my daughters' college funds this week. In case my action inspires anyone, I thought I'd tell my little tale. Besides, it's a fitting time to discuss saving money: As you'll hopefully hear quite a few times over the next several days, if you...

Some states are cutting back on promised funding for their prepaid tuition plans, leaving parents and grandparents footing the bill for uncovered costs. Many states offer prepaid tuition plans, sometimes called 529 plans, as a way for parents and grandparents to save up for tuition costs. The...

With Christmas and New Year's just days away, WalletPop hopes to spread some holiday cheer. Here are answers to some of your questions to help usher in 2010 on the right financial footing. Question: We're retirees age 70 and older holding an IRA rollover. In 2010, will we have to take money/stock...

The recession may be over, but many families are still feeling the effects. Unemployment is at a record 10.2% and wages are flat. The cost of gas is taking a bigger bite out of paychecks, and home foreclosures were one fifth of home sales in September. To help, WalletPop is launching an...

My first daughter won't be going to college for another 11 years, and I'm already feeling ill when I wonder how I'm going to pay for it. Not to mention my second daughter, who will be ready for college in 13 years.So I'm always interested in learning about different ways to pay for college, and one...

Parents put less money into college savings plans during the past year, according to new data released this week, perhaps learning the lesson that it's best to take care of yourself first before saving for your child's college expenses.Assets in college savings plans were an estimated $85.9 billion...

Ask not what your bank can do for you; ask what your bank can do for your country's sullen consumers. Next week, when Bank of America Corp. takes over the Upromise credit card from Citigroup Inc., it plans to eliminate a $300 annual limit on cash-back loyalty-rewards bonuses that Citigroup had...

As college costs continue to soar, Americans who had been smart and fortunate enough to put aside money to cover college expenses have seen the value of that 529 Plan fall by $23.4 billion over the past year -- a decline of some 21%. This comes as college tuition prices rose another 5.6% over the...

Want to save for college, but not sure what type of account to use? State-sponsored 529 plans should definitely be your first choice. You don't have to pick one from your own state, but tax incentives might encourage you to do so. If your state doesn't off good tax incentives for colleges savings,...