How to Save For College

In 18 years a public college education is estimated to cost over $100,000 and a private college education will be over $200,000!

There are a lot of ways to save up for college: dumping all your one-dollar bills and coins into a savings account, using reusable cotton diapers instead of disposables, buying secondhand clothes and toys and saving half the money that your kids get for birthdays and holidays.

But no matter how many pennies you pinch, you need to invest them wisely. Here are a few ways to do this:

State 529 Savings Plans allow you to invest the money you contribute in a mutual fund or other investment and the growth is tax deferred. When you take the money out you don’t have to pay federal taxes. Each state has their own 529 Plan but you don’t have to choose a college based on the state that you have your 529 Plan in.

Mutual Funds and IRAs can also be effective ways to accumulate money for your child’s future education. The tax-deferred earnings of a Roth IRA can be withdrawn before you are 59 ½ without a tax penalty if it is used for education.

Life Insurance - perhaps you have family members who depend on you for financial support like your children or grandchildren that are attending college, life insurance could be an additional approach if you need protection for a certain number of years.

Al Aglialoro is an agent with Farm Bureau Financial Services. He is opening an office in Los Alamos and can set you up with the investment plan that fits your personal needs. Email him at Al.Aglialoro@fbfs.com.