Skip to content

Setting up a 529 Plan in Colorado

by kelly on May 24th, 2009

We had a baby in January and I’ve been procrastinating setting up her 529 plan.

“A 529 Plan is an education savings plan operated by a state or educational institution designed to help families set aside funds for future college costs. It is named after Section 529 of the Internal Revenue Code which created these types of savings plans in 1996.”

Source: savingforcollege.com

I’ve skimmed articles and listened to podcasts about the subject, here are some highlights:

1. You have to research and choose a State offered 529 Plan

I chose Colorado’s 529 Plan, my home state, mainly because I just love Colorado..and I wanted the tax benefits their 529 Plan gave me for being a resident. I then choose the Direct Portfolio Savings Plan because it was managed by Vanguard and I have an IRA with them.

2. Once you’ve decided on a 529 Plan, you have to signup and choose options

The Direct Portfolio Savings Plan 529 Plan that I chose offered 4 options, each based on level of risk. Of course, I have no idea what I’m doing so I just choose the first option, “Age-based”, it adjusts your level of risk over time beginning at high risk and moving to low risk as it gets closer to the beginning of college. This is the option the Obama’s chose for their kids.

3. Now you can start contributing

The maximum the 529 Plan can have in it is $280,000. You can contribute whatever you want each year until you reach that maximum.

4. When you are ready to pull money out:

Distributions from the Plan that go towards tuition costs come out tax-free. This makes sense because the money has already been taxed when it goes in but then comes out without being taxed. So, you are not double taxed on this money or it’s gains by the IRS. Read this FAQ page for more info

I also enjoyed listening to Marketplace’s Story on choosing 529 Plans.

From → Work Life

4,052 Comments
  1. Of course, what a magnificent website and illuminating posts, I definitely will bookmark your site.Best Regards!. My sis advised me about your site and how great it is. She’s right, I’m really impressed with the writing and slick design. tremendous terrific :) .

  2. Then yet again, the opposite could possibly be true. – Strive not to be a success, but rather to be of value. Albert Einstein

  3. This design is spectacular! You obviously know how to keep a reader entertained. Between your wit and your videos, I was almost moved to start my own blog (well, almost…HaHa!) Wonderful job. I really enjoyed what you had to say, and more than that, how you presented it. Too cool!

  4. Your websites are speedily turning out to be one among my favorite features.

  5. I don’t usually reply to posts but I will in this case. WoW. Great articles & Nice a site. more please :) outstanding.

  6. Of course, what a magnificent website and illuminating posts, I definitely will bookmark your site.Best Regards!. Hey, I just hopped over to your site via StumbleUpon. Not somthing I would usually browse, but I appreciated your views none the less. Thanks for creating something worthy of reading. fantastic terrific ;) .

  7. I think you may be right in what you have said in this article. Whoever there will be many people will not agree with you.

  8. Hi, i believe that i noticed you visited my weblog thus i got here to “go back the want”.I’m attempting to to find things to improve my site!I assume its good enough to make use of a few of your ideas!!

  9. Noticed your site on delicious right now and genuinely enjoyed it.. Great articles & Nice a site. tremendous tremendous :) .

  10. Spectacular, I’ve been scouring for something this good. Playing with RSS- I can keep up to date with your site now- cool feature.

  11. Thanks! Will probably be nice to anyone who usess it, including myself. Sustain the nice work for positive i’ll take a look at extra posts.. Love the post, thanks keep up the good work! Bookmarked! :) :) awesome.

  12. You should write a suggestion of other posts for people like me. I discovered your blog two days ago when I was searching, but I am not really into the blog thing. Not because I don’t like blogs, but just because I’m slightly behind to them.

  13. haha the one who is posting the comments. Interesting article. Were did you got all the information from… more please tremendous outstanding.

  14. This is probably one of the best mentions of this topic I’ve seen in quite a while. It’s obvious that your knowledge of the subject is deep and this made for a very interesting read.. :O So mush Info :O THis Is he MOst AMAzing SIte DUDe great tremendous ;) .

  15. That is the appropriate blog for anybody who desires to search out out about this topic. You realize a lot its virtually hard to argue with you (not that I actually would need…HaHa). You definitely put a brand new spin on a subject thats been written about for years. Nice stuff, simply great!

  16. It’s appropriate time to make some plans for the long run and it is time to be happy. I have read this submit and if I may I want to counsel you few fascinating things or tips. Perhaps you could write next articles referring to this article. I desire to read more issues approximately it!

  17. I Really enjoyed your blog. I just bookmarked it. I am a regular visitor of your website I will share It with Yep. I lurk there often. You guys have a wonderful blog. Keep up the good work.. It’s hard to find knowledgeable individuals on this matter, but you sound like you already know what you’re talking about! Thanks tremendous great :) .

  18. dashiell lungfish kuo hannelore Maxie hestenes Katina Beulah prato

  19. you said it my friend. Don’t leave us hanging I want to hear more please. Thanks.. TY a ton for posting, it was very informative and helped tons. fantastic fantastic fantastic.

  20. Thanks for finding the time and keep this web site kept up to date, I operate a site personally and it is hard work to locate enough time to keep it running!

  21. Hey there this is kind of of off topic but I was wondering if blogs use WYSIWYG editors or if you have to manually code with HTML. I’m starting a blog soon but have no coding expertise so I wanted to get guidance from someone with experience. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

  22. Thanks for your article. It so greate

  23. I am speechless. It is a superb weblog and really enticing too. Nice work! That’s not in point of fact a lot coming from an newbie publisher like me, but it’s all I could say after diving into your posts. Great grammar and vocabulary. Not like other blogs. You in reality understand what you?re talking about too. Such a lot that you made me need to discover more. Your weblog has transform a stepping stone for me, my friend.

  24. I discovered your blog site on google and check a few of your early posts. Continue to keep up the very good operate. I just additional up your RSS feed to my MSN News Reader. Seeking forward to reading more from you later on!… Welcome You to my site. This is one article of mine. toy story 3d comforter twin

  25. Intresting aricles you determine here.It will likely be useful to find some thing concerning this topic.Thank you for tell that information.With best regards!

  26. Hey, I just hopped over to your site via StumbleUpon. Not somthing I would usually browse, but I appreciated your views none the less. Thanks for creating something worthy of reading.. you said it my friend. Don’t leave us hanging I want to hear more please. Thanks. :) outstanding ;) .

  27. Hello! This is my 1st comment here so I just wanted to give a quick shout out and tell you I truly enjoy reading your articles. Can you recommend any other blogs/websites/forums that cover the same topics? Appreciate it!

  28. There’s obviously rather a lot to learn about this. I feel you made a few good points in Features also.

  29. haha the one who is posting the comments. I usually don’t post in Blogs but your blog forced me to, amazing work.. beautiful outstanding terrific awesome.

  30. That is the fitting blog for anyone who desires to search out out about this topic. You notice so much its virtually exhausting to argue with you (not that I truly would need…HaHa). You undoubtedly put a brand new spin on a topic thats been written about for years. Great stuff, simply nice!

  31. Thanks for this post. I really love this blog and I will come back.

  32. I like what you guys are usually up too. This type of clever work and reporting! Keep up the excellent works guys I’ve added you guys to blogroll.

  33. I really wanted to type a brief note so as to say thanks to you for those precious hints you are sharing on this site. My extensive internet lookup has at the end been recognized with pleasant concept to talk about with my classmates and friends. I ‘d assume that many of us site visitors are rather lucky to be in a fantastic place with very many perfect professionals with good ideas. I feel somewhat happy to have discovered your entire website page and look forward to so many more excellent times reading here. Thanks a lot once more for all the details.

  34. Hey very nice blog!!. Hello webmaster I like your post. great fantastic great.

  35. piixJX97dZCu7P1IkN

  36. I required to produce you 1 bit of phrase to finally say thank you the minute again with the unique suggestions you have contributed at this time. This is simply seriously generous with you to create unhampered what the majority of us might have marketed for an e guide in making some profit for themselves, primarily seeing you just could have carried out it in the occasion you desired. The ideas in includeition labored to turn out to be very good approach to recognize that other individuals have similar keenness similar to my private personal to understand really a lot far more linked to this produce a difference.

  37. Even though I really like this post, I think there was an spelling error near to the end with the 3rd sentence.

  38. A splendid weblog publish, I just given this onto a workfellow who was doing a little investigation on this. And he in reality purchased me breakfast simply simply because I discovered it for him? . So allow me to rephrase that: Thnkx for the deal with! But yeah Thankx for taking the time to speak about this, I really feel strongly about it and really like discovering added on this leadingic. If possible, when you gain expertise, would you mind updating your weblog with much more details? It is extremely useful for me. Big thumb up for this weblog!

  39. I agree along with your post. Nonetheless, do you’ve got any sources I can cite for my paper? http://dot5hostingcouponcode.com/astounding-discounts-with-dotster-coupons/

  40. I so enjoyed every bit of this site and I’ve bookmarked your blog to keep up with the new topics you will post in the future.

  41. Heya superb website! Does running a blog such as this take a large amount of work? I have absolutely no knowledge of coding but I was hoping to start my own blog in the near future. Anyhow, if you have any suggestions or techniques for new blog owners please share. I know this is off subject however I simply needed to ask. Thanks!

  42. I can see which you are putting a lots of efforts into your blog site. Preserve posting the great work.Some really helpful details in there. Bookmarked. Nice to see your internet site. Thanks!

  43. Is it fine to put a portion of this in my web site if perhaps I post a reference to this website?

  44. I don’t usually reply to posts but I will in this case. WoW. Hey, I just hopped over to your site via StumbleUpon. Not somthing I would usually browse, but I appreciated your views none the less. Thanks for creating something worthy of reading. terrific awesome great.

  45. Why can’t most people recognize something which is put forth right in front of their face? It never ceases to amaze me exactly why society has a great number of problems with these problems.

  46. one of the best system I use thank you coz you make me know it

  47. Of course, what a magnificent website and illuminating posts, I definitely will bookmark your site.Best Regards!. some times its a pain in the ass to read what blog owners wrote but this website is really user friendly ! . great terrific outstanding.

  48. I really like your writing style, fantastic info , regards for putting up : D.. I don’t usually reply to posts but I will in this case. WoW pleasing pleasing :) .

  49. cant stop read it over again, it change my mined about how to trade , thank you .

Leave a Reply

Note: XHTML is allowed. Your email address will never be published.

Subscribe to this comment feed via RSS