Bedel Blog

Get financial clarity, insight, and analysis delivered straight to your inbox.
Subscribe to our weekly blog.

Image for What To Do With a 529 Plan for a Disabled Child

Oct 21, 2024

What To Do With a 529 Plan for a Disabled Child

With TCJA expiring on 12/31/2025, tax-free rollovers are also set to expire. There is, however, a bill called the ENABLE Act that would make tax-free rollovers permanent. The ENABLE Act becoming law seems promising, as it passed the United States Senate in September 2024.

Image for Family Gifting Strategies

Jul 15, 2024

Family Gifting Strategies

Awareness of gift tax rules is imperative when structuring a strategy. Whether gifting to adult family members or children, there are many ways to find a balanced approach to transferring assets.

Image for 529 Plan: Owner & Beneficiary Strategies

Jan 16, 2023

529 Plan: Owner & Beneficiary Strategies

The SECURE Act 2.0 was signed into law on December 29, 2022. While this bill has many provisions, one that has gained a lot of attention is the 529 Plan to Roth IRA Transfer starting in 2024. Keep in mind that a few conditions must be met for this transfer to occur.

Image for Student Loan Forgiveness – What to Do With Extra Money

Sep 12, 2022

Student Loan Forgiveness – What to Do With Extra Money

While it will sound boring to some, paying off loans or adding to your savings are two approaches that can help you now and grow your nest egg for when you need the money later.

Image for Indiana 529 Plan: 5 Common Questions

Aug 29, 2022

Indiana 529 Plan: 5 Common Questions

A 529 plan is an investment account mainly for post-secondary education expenses. Money contributed is not deductible, but all earnings accumulate tax-deferred and are distributed tax-free if used for qualified education expenses.

Image for The 529A Savings Plan for those with Disabilities

Mar 22, 2022

The 529A Savings Plan for those with Disabilities

Caring and helping with financial support for individuals with special needs can be complex. The 529A plan is a good savings vehicle to enhance the financial wellbeing of those with disabilities.

Image for Completing a FAFSA? These Easy Steps Can Save You Time and Money

Oct 18, 2021

Completing a FAFSA? These Easy Steps Can Save You Time and Money

Following these four steps will take some time, but probably not as much time as you think. And, when you follow these steps, the likelihood of qualifying for financial aid increases incalculably.

Image for Tempus Fugit – Time Flies

Aug 9, 2021

Tempus Fugit – Time Flies

The most important thing about college savings was to begin. I do not know about other parents, but for me, one of my first thoughts after regaining my senses was about the cost of college.

Image for The Private College 529 Plan – an Alternative for College Savings

Jun 21, 2021

The Private College 529 Plan – an Alternative for College Savings

While Private 529s allow you to buy certificates to lock in current tuition rates for participating colleges, they don't allow you to invest your savings in marketable securities.

Image for Grandparent Owned 529 Plans: What You Need to Know

Mar 15, 2021

Grandparent Owned 529 Plans: What You Need to Know

Helping a grandchild with their college expenses by putting money in their 529 is great! But do you know if contributions count as a gift or if the grandchild is a "skip person," or if it can hurt financial aid eligibility?

Image for Excess 529 Money…hmmm, what to do?

Jul 27, 2020

Excess 529 Money…hmmm, what to do?

Having money left over in a 529 account may be viewed as a problem, but it is a problem most of us would love to have.

Image for 529 Savings Plans: Use for K-12

Aug 27, 2018

529 Savings Plans: Use for K-12

Can you pay for k-12 tuition with a 529 plan? You can now! While this could have a nice tax advantage for families that save, there is some very important information to understand first. We’ve broken down the benefits, the potential traps and ways to get around them.

Image for 529 College Savings Accounts - Does This Expense Qualify?

Aug 10, 2018

529 College Savings Accounts - Does This Expense Qualify?

Do you know what post-high school educational expenses qualify for tax-free reimbursement from your child’s 529 account? It’s important to know what expenses do qualify in order to avoid paying taxes and a penalty for those expenses that don’t.

Image for College Costs: What’s a Parent to Do?

Aug 9, 2018

College Costs: What’s a Parent to Do?

Anyone with children knows the cost of a college education is steadily on the rise, and that money has to come from somewhere. So what's a parent to do? We discuss ways to 1) determine how much to save and 2) ways to save for your children's education.

Image for When College Planning Goes Awry

Apr 9, 2018

When College Planning Goes Awry

Not all education paths after high school look the same…so what should you do about that 529 if your child decides to take a different path than traditional college? The good news is you do have options. Whether it’s attending a vocational school, going into the military or immediately joining the work force, your 529 savings aren’t lost. We break down just what your choices are and how those will affect you.

Image for New 529 Plan Changes

Feb 19, 2018

New 529 Plan Changes

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act bill has many Americans wondering just how they’ll be affected by the first major tax overhaul in nearly thirty years. If you own a 529 account, you’ll want to be sure to stay abreast of the changes to your plan in order to take full advantage of any new benefits that are coming. We’ve highlighted the main changes to 529 plans and how they might impact your education savings!

Image for New 529 Savings Plan for Disabled Individuals

Apr 4, 2016

New 529 Savings Plan for Disabled Individuals

On March 21, Governor Pence signed legislation allowing Indiana to create the ABLE savings account for people with disabilities. These accounts have favorable tax benefits, but also some drawbacks. Regardless, this could be a game-changer for special needs individuals!

Image for Do 529 Plans Jeopardize Financial Aid?

Aug 24, 2015

Do 529 Plans Jeopardize Financial Aid?

Saving for college is important. However, maximizing financial aid may be the difference between going to college and sitting out. The funding of a 529 College Savings Plan has many benefits, but what’s the impact on a student’s financial aid calculation?

AUTHORS