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  • How 529 Plans Can Pay for Your Child's Entrepreneurship Program

    How 529 Plans Can Pay for Your Child's Entrepreneurship Program
    2026/06/08
    In this episode of The College Savings Podcast, Lucas and Luna explore a growing education trend: using 529 plan funds to cover entrepreneurship programs for kids and teens. They break down the IRS rules around qualified expenses, look at real-world examples like startup incubators for high school students and summer business camps, and discuss how parents can document costs to stay compliant. They also touch on the broader shift toward non-traditional education paths and why 529 plans are evolving to match. Plus, the hosts explain how listeners can support the show's ad-free mission at buy me a coffee dot com slash fexingo. #529Plan #EntrepreneurshipEducation #CollegeSavings #QualifiedExpenses #IRS #EducationFunding #YouthEntrepreneurship #StartupCamp #BusinessCamp #NonTraditionalEducation #TaxAdvantaged #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #Finance #CollegeSavingsPodcast #Parenting #SummerProgram #Incubator Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
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    10 分
  • Using 529 Plans for Independent Study and Credit-by-Exam Fees

    Using 529 Plans for Independent Study and Credit-by-Exam Fees
    2026/06/08
    Episode 38 of The College Savings Podcast explores how families can use 529 plan funds to cover costs associated with independent study programs and credit-by-examination fees, like those for the College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) and Advanced Placement (AP) exams. Lucas and Luna discuss the IRS rules that allow these expenses to qualify as qualified higher education expenses (QHEEs) when the exams are taken for college credit at an eligible institution. They walk through a concrete example: a student pays $100 for a CLEP exam and $50 for a proctoring fee — both can be covered by a 529 plan. They compare this to the cost of a three-credit college course, potentially saving thousands. The hosts also caution about tax implications if the exam doesn't lead to credit, and highlight a 2022 IRS Private Letter ruling that clarifies the rules. This episode is a practical guide for parents and students looking to minimize college costs using existing 529 funds. #529Plan #CreditByExam #CLEP #APExam #IndependentStudy #CollegeSavings #QualifiedHigherEducationExpenses #IRS #PrivateLetterRuling #TaxAdvantaged #CollegeCosts #EducationFunding #StudentCosts #Finance #PersonalFinance #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #CollegeSavingsPodcast Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
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    7 分
  • 529 Plans and Student Loan Refinancing Strategies

    529 Plans and Student Loan Refinancing Strategies
    2026/06/07
    In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore how 529 plans can be used strategically for student loan refinancing, a topic that many families overlook. They discuss the SECURE Act 2.0 provisions that allow up to $10,000 in penalty-free 529 withdrawals for qualified student loan repayments, including refinanced loans. Lucas explains the nuance of refinancing private loans versus federal loans, noting that refinancing federal loans means losing income-driven repayment options. Luna brings up the case of a listener who used a 529 to refinance her daughter's private law school loans, saving over $3,000 in interest. They also cover the state tax implications, as some states treat 529 withdrawals for loan repayment as non-qualified. Finally, they touch on the 2026 Roth IRA rollover option as an alternative for unused 529 funds. The episode is anchored by a specific example: a family with $25,000 in leftover 529 assets after a child graduates, weighing whether to save on state taxes now or roll into a Roth IRA for retirement. #529Plans #StudentLoans #Refinancing #SECUREAct2 #RothIRARollover #EducationFunding #Finance #CollegeSavings #StudentDebt #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #LucasAndLuna #TaxPlanning #LoanRepayment #PrivateLoans #FederalLoans #InterestSavings #PodcastEpisode Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
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    10 分
  • Using a 529 Plan for Your Child's Gap Year Program

    Using a 529 Plan for Your Child's Gap Year Program
    2026/06/07
    In Episode 36 of The College Savings Podcast, Lucas and Luna explore whether a 529 plan can cover expenses for a gap year program — think structured travel, volunteer work, or internships between high school and college. They break down IRS rules on qualified withdrawals, the difference between a legitimate educational program and a personal vacation, and how to document expenses to avoid penalties. Featuring a real example from a family using a 529 for a 10-week cultural exchange in Costa Rica, they explain what counts as 'room and board' when the student isn't enrolled at an eligible institution. They also touch on the 2026 rule allowing 529-to-Roth rollovers and how a gap year might affect that timeline. If you're considering a gap year for your teen, this episode gives you the concrete guidelines you need to avoid a tax surprise. #529Plan #GapYear #CollegeSavings #EducationFunding #Finance #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #QualifiedExpenses #IRS #RoomAndBoard #StudyAbroad #CostaRica #StudentCosts #TaxFreeWithdrawals #RothIRA #2026 #Podcast #CollegeSavingsPodcast Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
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    8 分
  • How 529 Plans Cover Trade School and Apprenticeship Costs

    How 529 Plans Cover Trade School and Apprenticeship Costs
    2026/06/06
    Episode 35 of The College Savings Podcast with Fexingo dives into an often-overlooked use of 529 plans: funding trade school, apprenticeship programs, and vocational certifications. Lucas and Luna explore the IRS rules that make these expenses qualified, walk through a concrete example of a welding apprenticeship costing $8,200 per year, and compare the flexibility of 529 funds against other education savings vehicles. They also discuss how recent SECURE Act 2.0 changes expanded the definition of qualified apprenticeships, including the $1,000 annual credit for employers. This episode also includes a brief note on why the show remains ad-free and how listeners can support it. Perfect for parents considering non-traditional paths for their kids or anyone wondering if 529 plans can pay for skilled trades training. #529Plans #TradeSchool #Apprenticeships #VocationalTraining #CollegeSavings #SECUREAct2 #SkilledTrades #Welding #Electrician #Plumbing #HVAC #QualifiedExpenses #EducationFunding #Finance #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #Podcast #TheCollegeSavingsPodcast Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
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    11 分
  • 529 Plans for Children with Special Needs

    529 Plans for Children with Special Needs
    2026/06/06
    Millions of families with children who have special needs face a unique college savings challenge: how to save without jeopardizing eligibility for means-tested benefits like SSI and Medicaid. In this episode of The College Savings Podcast, Lucas and Luna break down the lesser-known intersection of 529 plans and disability planning. They explore why a traditional 529 can trigger asset limits, how an ABLE account offers a parallel savings vehicle with key tax advantages, and the strategic trade-offs between the two. Referring to the SECURE Act 2.0 and recent IRS clarifications, the hosts explain a planning strategy that lets families use both accounts together — what planners call 'dual-account stacking.' They walk through a concrete example: a family contributing to both a 529 and an ABLE account to maximize education savings while preserving benefit eligibility. Whether your child has Down syndrome, autism, or another qualifying condition, this episode provides actionable guidance for a safer, smarter savings approach. #529Plan #ABLEAccount #SpecialNeeds #CollegeSavings #SSI #Medicaid #SECUREAct2 #DisabilityPlanning #SpecialNeedsTrust #EducationFunding #TaxAdvantaged #IRS #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #Finance #PersonalFinance #FamilyFinance #EstatePlanning Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
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    11 分
  • Why 529 Plans Are a Roth IRA Rollover Option in 2026

    Why 529 Plans Are a Roth IRA Rollover Option in 2026
    2026/06/05
    In this episode, Lucas and Luna unpack the SECURE 2.0 provision that allows unused 529 plan funds to roll over into a Roth IRA for the beneficiary, effective 2024. They walk through the key limits: the 15-year account rule, the $35,000 lifetime cap, the annual Roth contribution limit, and the requirement that the 529 account be at least 15 years old. Using a concrete example of a family with $40,000 left after their child graduates college debt-free, they explain how to maximize the rollover without triggering taxes or penalties. They also cover pitfalls, like failing to meet the 5-year holding period for the rollover amount. The episode closes with a practical checklist for parents and grandparents managing overfunded 529 plans. This is a must-listen for anyone with a 529 balance that exceeds projected education costs. #529Plan #RothIRA #SECURE2.0 #CollegeSavings #RetirementPlanning #EducationFunding #RolloverStrategy #TaxAdvantaged #Finance #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #LucasAndLuna #Overfunded529 #529ToRoth #CustodialAccount #FinancialPlanning #WealthTransfer #StudentDebt Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
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    12 分
  • Using a 529 Plan for Your Child's Medical School Costs

    Using a 529 Plan for Your Child's Medical School Costs
    2026/06/05
    Episode 32 of The College Savings Podcast tackles a lesser-known 529 strategy: funding graduate medical education. Lucas and Luna break down how medical school's unique cost structure—long duration, clinical rotations, residency expenses—can make a 529 plan a surprisingly effective tool. They walk through a concrete example: a family saving $400 a month from birth, projected to cover nearly half the cost of four years of medical school at a public university. The hosts also address the risk of overfunding and what happens if the beneficiary doesn't pursue medicine. A practical episode for parents eyeing a high-cost, long-training-degree path. #529Plan #MedicalSchool #GraduateEducation #CollegeSavings #EducationFunding #StudentCosts #MedSchool #Residency #PhysicianTraining #CostOfMedicine #Finance #PersonalFinance #Investing #Fexingo #TheCollegeSavingsPodcast #LongTermSavings #TaxAdvantaged #FexingoBusiness Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
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    10 分