Establishing a Higher Education Fund for Your Newborn

There are various approaches to establish a college savings account for your little one. You can choose from 529 savings accounts, Coverdell ESAs, or more general savings and investment accounts like Individual Retirement Accounts. Investing in your child’s college education is an excellent way to secure their future. Graduates tend to have better job prospects and higher salaries compared to non-graduates. However, the increasing cost of college limits access to higher education. Setting up a college savings account is a proactive way to prepare for this expense.

For individuals who are ready to open a college savings account, it's advisable to consider the best 529 plan options available today. Financing your child's education can be an enormous investment. Often, students finance it themselves, but this pulls their focus from their studies, jeopardizing their investment. Additionally, college expenses have surged higher than wage growth over the years, making college incredibly expensive for students and their families.

Taking out a student loan is not financially viable as it comes with the burden of debt and added expenses, and the total amount of federal aid has witnessed a sharp decline over the past decade. The better alternative is to establish a tax-advantaged college savings account as early as possible.

Irrespective of the college, tuition expenses can increase by substantial amounts, making it incredibly expensive. Since different schools have varied tuition fees, a four-year degree can cost a student over $100,000 in tuition fees, room, board, supplies, and other fees.

Besides, institutional fees, room, board, and other expenses linked to higher education are enormous, further increasing the load on parents. The costs of education are expected to increase over time, much greater than the inflation rate.

To ease the financial load on parents, it is best to establish a college savings account for children as early as possible, allowing for compound interest and tax benefits to work toward reducing the overall cost of college.

Different types of accounts cater to college savings, such as education-specific accounts like 529 savings plans and Coverdell ESA plans. Additionally, IRA and savings accounts work too; however, each account has distinct benefits and advantages. Parents must weigh the pros and cons of each option based on their family’s requirements.