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With the rising cost of education, securing a child's academic future has never been more crucial for parents and
            grandparents. One of the most powerful tools at their disposal is the 529 Plan—a tax-advantaged savings vehicle
            tailored for educational purposes. With the modi cations to the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and
            the new provision allowing unused 529 Plan savings to be transferred to a Roth IRA, the 529 Plans are becoming an
            even more attractive option for long-term planning.



                                                                             Rollover to Roth IRA: A New Advantage


                                                                             A signi cant update in the 529 Plan landscape is the ability to roll
                                                                             over funds to a Roth IRA. Traditionally, the 529 Plan was a
                                                                             commitment to educational savings since distributions could only
                                                                             be used for educational purposes. The SECURE 2.0 legislation,
                                                                             however, is a game-changer. From the 2024, surplus funds in 529
             FAFSA's New Take on Grandparent-529 Plans                       Plans can be transferred to Roth IRAs, giving greater  exibility to
                                                                             families and eliminating concerns of over-contributing. It's
             Historically, there was concern that contributions from grandparents   important to note that rollovers are subject to Roth IRA annual
             through 529 Plans could reduce a student's eligibility for  nancial aid.   contribution limits. With a lifetime cap of $35,000 on transfers
             The updated FAFSA, implemented this school year, addresses this   to a Roth IRA, strategic contributions to the 529 Plan can
             issue by no longer including questions about  nancial contributions   optimize this bene t. Additionally, the 529 account must be
             from grandparents. Consequently, grandparents can fund their    more than 15 years old. This is to ensure that these Plans,
             grandchild's 529 Plan without risking their aid eligibility. These   primarily created for educational purposes, are indeed used for
             changes not only make it more appealing for grandparents to start a   such before considering them for retirement savings.
             529 Plan but also offer assurance that accumulated savings will not
             jeopardize the student's future  nancial aid opportunities.    Conclusion
                                                                            The world of 529 Plans is evolving, offering more  exibility and
             Before these changes, distributions from grandparent-owned 529
             Plans were treated as untaxed student income on the FAFSA, thereby   options for a family to secure their child's future. At Moran
             reducing aid eligibility. With the new FAFSA rules, students' income   Wealth Management®, we're here to guide you through these
             and tax details will be directly sourced from federal tax returns,   changes and ensure your  nancial strategies are optimized for
             eliminating manual reporting of cash support from grandparents. This   your family's unique needs. Considering a 529 Plan or looking to
             change ensures more accurate reporting and better  nancial aid   maximize your Roth IRA rollover opportunities? Act now! Call us
             prospects.                                                     today at (239) 920-4440 to schedule your consultation.

             That said, grandparents must remain cognizant of the CSS Pro le—an
             alternate  nancial aid form employed by around 200 private colleges.
             It's yet to be seen if the FAFSA updates will in uence the CSS Pro le
             and associated aid at different institutions. Staying informed is
             paramount.
                                                               Tom Moran, AIF®
                                                           Chairman, CEO and CIO
                                                          Moran Wealth Management®
                 P: (239) 920-4440 | Thomas.Moran@MoranWM.com | www.MoranWM.com | 5801 Pelican Bay Boulevard, Suite 110, Naples, FL 34108
                                Moran Wealth Management, LLC is a registered investment adviser. Registration does not imply
                                 a certain level of skill or training. For additional information about Moran Wealth Management,
                                 LLC, including its services and fees, request the  rm’s disclosure brochure using the contact
                            information above or visit adviserinfo.sec.gov. Moran Wealth Management, LLC is a separate entity and not
                                           af liated with any other entity or practice that uses the same name.                   23
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