Capstone Wealth Partners

It’s 5/29, and you know what that means…

Happy 529 Day! 🎉 College 529 Day, that is.

The College 529 Plan is hands down one of the best savings vehicles and financial tools for your child’s education and your family’s future. And we have a GREAT one right here in Ohio with CollegeAdvantage Ohio's 529 Plan. (Give them a follow!)

Here are the top 3 reasons to love the 529:

💵 Major Tax Benefits: For Ohio residents, you can get up to a $4,000 state income tax deduction per beneficiary, per year! Plus, your money grows tax-deferred, and all withdrawals are 100% tax-free when used for qualifying education expenses.

💪 Extreme Flexibility: Getting money in is easy—anyone can contribute (grandparents, aunts, uncles), and you can start with as little as $25. Getting money out is just as flexible. It’s not just for standard college anymore; it covers K-12, graduate school, apprenticeships, tuition, room & board, and books at any federally accredited institution nationwide.

🪤 No "Unused Money" Trap: Worried your kid won't use all the plan money? You can easily change the beneficiary. Even better, you can now use up to $10,000 to pay off student loans or roll over up to $35,000 into a Roth IRA to give them a massive head start on retirement!

Investing in your child’s future starts with a plan… a 529 Plan!

Millions of graduate students are about to hit a financial wall this summer.

The Department of Education has finalized massive new federal borrowing caps for graduate school, and nearly 30% of all graduate students will run up against these new limits.

The government’s plan? Cut back federal lending to force colleges to lower prices, and let private banks fill in the gaps.

A new report from the Student Borrower Protection Center reveals a flaw in that logic: Over 40% of Americans cannot qualify for a traditional private student loan.

But when you slash federal safety nets and force students into a private market that rejects nearly half of them, you don't lower college costs. You just slam the door on higher education for millions.

What are your thoughts on the new student loan caps and how they will affect funding higher education? Sound off in the comments.

Click the link in our comments to read more about the July 1st deadline and what it entails.

This is one of my FAVORITE strategies to unlock more free money for college! 🎓💰

Here it is: open a College 529 plan in a grandparent’s name.

While financial aid forms (FAFSA) look closely at parent and student assets, grandparent-owned accounts are currently NOT assessed on the FAFSA.

This means you get all the classic benefits of a 529 — like tax-deferred growth and tax-free withdrawals for qualified expenses — without it counting against your student’s aid eligibility.

Here’s why it’s a win-win-win:

🔐 Financial Aid Protection: Assets aren't assessed on the FAFSA.
🏡 Family Contributions: Aunts, uncles, and parents can still contribute to the account for birthdays and holidays!
💪 Flexibility: You still get the same tax-free growth and investment options.

Use this tip to make your college savings work harder for your family!

Is your student’s major on the chopping block? 😰

When a university loses millions in funding — like the $8 million drop recently seen at Case Western from the NIH — budgets get tight. Before you commit to a school, now more than ever, you need to ensure the program you're paying for will actually be there in four years.

With some schools dropping 15 to 30 different programs recently, college shopping requires more than just a campus tour. Programs in the humanities and language arts are often the first to go if they aren't producing "positive dollars" for the university.

Before you sign that enrollment agreement, ask these critical questions:

🧑‍🏫 Check the Faculty: How many professors have they recently hired for this specific major?
📊 Track the Data: How many students have successfully graduated with this degree from this college?
🤝 Verify Commitment: Speak directly to professors and deans to understand how committed the university is to the program’s future.
💰 Follow the Money: What does the endowment look like, and is it supporting your specific field of study?

Don't just assume a major is safe because it’s in the brochure. Do your homework now so your student isn't left without a department mid-degree.

For more information on the Great Higher Ed Reset, click the blog link in the comments.