529 underperforming. Where should we be saving for college?

[Anonymous]

I just looked at our kids’ DC 529s. The balances aren’t all that high anyway because, until recently, we only earned enough to save about 150/month/kid. But we’ve been up to 400/kid for a couple of years now. Anyway, we’re down 7 percent for the year, and up only a little bit over 1 percent for the past five years! Yikes. That’s much lower than my 401k performance, so I’m wondering if we ought to be saving for them in some other way. (I did just learn about I-bonds here, and we have about 10k there dedicated to college.)

As is probably obvious from this, we aren’t high earners. We do make enough now that our kids can’t count on any kind of financial aid, though. We’ve been saving in their 529s since they were in preschool and, at 7th/9th grades, have about enough to pay for about a semester each. 🙄

[Anonymous]

What are your investment options for the 529? You will be giving up tax benefits of the 529 if you invest outside of the 529, so probably not a smart move.

[Anonymous]

Everyone knows that the best 529s are VA and UT!

[Anonymous]

529s aren't always the best investment vehicle. Balances are down because of market conditions. Our education money is currently in paid off real estate that provides 'mailbox money' every month. A 529 is the last place we would put money. The tax savings aren't significant enough to outweigh other returns on assets held. I am in the market but only with a small percent of my net worth.

[Anonymous]

Crypto.

[Anonymous]

Don't ask here for financial advice. Go to bogleheads or a fee-ONLY advisor. This advice is all bad here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:529s aren't always the best investment vehicle. Balances are down because of market conditions. Our education money is currently in paid off real estate that provides 'mailbox money' every month. A 529 is the last place we would put money. The tax savings aren't significant enough to outweigh other returns on assets held. I am in the market but only with a small percent of my net worth.

Brilliant. Running out now to buy real estate and follow your flawless lead 🙄

[Anonymous]

I don’t get it. You can invest in the same things through your 529 as you do through your 401k. If you pick the same funds, your returns will be the same.

[Anonymous]

Apple stock, bought before marriage and kids.

It's sad that college is quasi-out of reach for so many these days.

[Anonymous]

it's not just your 529 op. all funds are not doing well. just be patient and keep saving

[Anonymous]

Recently I was looking at the fees associated with the MD 529 plans. They are high for the target funds! So I have started transferring $ from the target fund I was contributing to into lower fee the index funds and bond funds that are offered.

[Anonymous]

You can buy ibonds for your kid and then if you spend the money on college you don't have to pay taxes on the interest that has accumulated.

[Anonymous]

Individual stocks. 529s are for the companies to make money.
Ofcourse they are down. everything is down. This is the time to buy not time to see what it has done the last 5 years.
Last time we had a crash, I happened to put last $3k into market (s and P) 8 years later, the returned showed over 1000%.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Individual stocks. 529s are for the companies to make money.
Ofcourse they are down. everything is down. This is the time to buy not time to see what it has done the last 5 years.
Last time we had a crash, I happened to put last $3k into market (s and P) 8 years later, the returned showed over 1000%.

Yep. I upped my 401k to the current max. Now is a good time to buy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Everyone knows that the best 529s are VA and UT!

You only get the tax deduction if you participate in your in-state 529, right?