529 allocation for HS junior

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just stop the 529 already. It's not a miracle account with fees, bad customer service, rules and possible penalties. You can do better in a hysa.

I think you are confused. Good investments, no need for customer service, fees are fine if you go to the right options, and what penalties? Our average return for kids now in college was 9% a year (tax free). No hysa pays that.

[Anonymous]

I would move it all to a target date— maybe depending on what that fund’s allocation is— some of them might be 1/3 stocks still, some might be 10% stocks.

[Anonymous]

Imagine there is a 40% drop in the stock market tomorrow— will you wish you weren’t 100% stocks?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Imagine there is a 40% drop in the stock market tomorrow— will you wish you weren’t 100% stocks?

I did all stocks and paid for our oldest's oop for the first two years because market was down, which paid off massively. But, even paying tuition I'd watch the market daily because it was up $8-10K a day, which is a lot of cash, but I also had to pay by the deadline. It also paid off, but now youngest is in school and in Feb I put his remaining years in a money market fund because I didn't want to have to pay out of pocket again and I figured it was going to be a wild ride.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If your kids graduate near the top do well in APs and SAT they will get some scholarship.

Alternatively college is not the only path to success your son or daughter may opt for a shorter technical formation.

Folks don't take pride I having $200k+ saved for college it's so ridiculous in this country we have come to accept as normal that's it's okay to spend 1/4 millions for a college education.

I agree you look at where your child is likely to go. Our DD went to a T25. No scholarship money despite top grades and top ACT score.

Your quarter of a million is cheap. Top 25 with no aid will cost closer to 400k all in.

I didn't go to college in the US. Why is college so expensive here and why are parents willing to pay this much?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If your kids graduate near the top do well in APs and SAT they will get some scholarship.

Alternatively college is not the only path to success your son or daughter may opt for a shorter technical formation.

Folks don't take pride I having $200k+ saved for college it's so ridiculous in this country we have come to accept as normal that's it's okay to spend 1/4 millions for a college education.

I agree you look at where your child is likely to go. Our DD went to a T25. No scholarship money despite top grades and top ACT score.

Your quarter of a million is cheap. Top 25 with no aid will cost closer to 400k all in.

I didn't go to college in the US. Why is college so expensive here and why are parents willing to pay this much?

Because parents are willing to pay.

[Anonymous]

Given the timing, you really need to lock in some of your gains to protect your assets. The economy is in increasingly poor shape, and that has a way of showing up in the market in unexpected bursts. Time is not on your side in that regard.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If your kids graduate near the top do well in APs and SAT they will get some scholarship.

Alternatively college is not the only path to success your son or daughter may opt for a shorter technical formation.

Folks don't take pride I having $200k+ saved for college it's so ridiculous in this country we have come to accept as normal that's it's okay to spend 1/4 millions for a college education.

I agree you look at where your child is likely to go. Our DD went to a T25. No scholarship money despite top grades and top ACT score.

Your quarter of a million is cheap. Top 25 with no aid will cost closer to 400k all in.

I didn't go to college in the US. Why is college so expensive here and why are parents willing to pay this much?

Because parents are willing to pay.

And colleges know how much you have saved. There is no incentive for them to lower cost.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Given the timing, you really need to lock in some of your gains to protect your assets. The economy is in increasingly poor shape, and that has a way of showing up in the market in unexpected bursts. Time is not on your side in that regard.

I agree completely with this PP and the one saying that you've fulfilled the goals of a 529. Don't get greedy and treat this like an investment account unless you can make up the difference out of pocket and have another child or family member who can spend the 529 later.