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For 529 Plans in a Bear Market Timing Is Everything

If your child is close to college age and their college fund has taken a hit in the market, there's one thing you should think about doing. (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab) Newsletter sign up Newsletter (Image credit: Getty Images) By T. Eric Reich, CIMA®, CFP®, CLU®, ChFC® published 10 October 2022 Nobody likes a down market, though most investors probably should. Down markets are where most of the big future gains come from when you are contributing to your investments on a regular basis. Dollar-cost averaging your investments when markets are low is no different than buying anything else when it's on sale. This is a great way to build wealth for retirement.

When Choosing Funds for Your College 529 Plan, Don't Make This Mistake But what about when you're investing to save for college? How do down markets affect those with 529 college savings plans? One way could involve changing the timing of when you decide to tap into the funds you've saved.

Saving for College Like You Save for Retirement

Many college savers, like many retirement savers, use the age-based portfolio models for their investments. Age-based 529 investment funds are similar to target date retirement funds. The theory is that as your child ages, the 529 college savings investment portfolio becomes less aggressive, with the goal of reducing the risk the closer you get to needing the money.

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Profit and prosper with the best of Kiplinger's expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail. Profit and prosper with the best of Kiplinger's expert advice - straight to your e-mail. Sign up That isn't to say that once your child is ready for college that all the risk is gone from the portfolio. Depending on which investment provider's plan you are using for your 529 plan, the amount of risk still in the portfolio can vary widely. So, this means that even when your child is ready to go to school, a down market can still have a substantial effect on your account values.

Advice Consider Holding Off on Tapping Your 529 Plan

It's important to remember that you do not have to take money out of a 529 college savings account just because your child is about to start college. If the market is down at the time your child enters college, then you could consider waiting until future years to use the funds inside of the 529 college savings accounts. Doing this would give the accounts time to recover from the market declines, especially if you are still contributing to them via dollar-cost averaging. This could give your investments up to three additional years to grow.

Grandparents: Now is the Time to Contribute to Your Grandkid's 529 Plans So how do I pay for college if I'm waiting to use my 529s? Tap into your home: Home equity could be an option, especially with the inflated home prices we've seen over the past few years. We often suggest clients have a home equity line of credit (HELOC) for a variety of reasons. Paying for college is a potential use of that HELOC. Just be mindful of interest rates, especially if we continue to see rates climb. Tap into your savings: Some clients are using savings or current earnings to fund the first year or two. While we don't suggest tapping into your emergency fund, many investors have additional savings that are earning low rates of interest, so redirecting those low performing savings to help pay for college, particularly in your student's early years, can help allow the 529 balances time to recover. Take out a loan: Lastly, loans for early years may be an option. Both subsidized and unsubsidized federal loans are a great place to start because they can later be consolidated after graduation with favorable repayment options. Parents and students can explore both Parent PLUS and private loans as well. Some states have their own loan programs, which may have favorable interest rates. Thanks to the SECURE Act of 2019, you can now use 529 funds to repay student loans up to $10,000 per student. (Note that the $10,000 limit is a lifetime limit, not per year.) We have even had clients use a loan against their portfolio, known as a securities-backed line of credit, to pay for a year or two of college before tapping into the 529s. Colleges may even be willing to work with you given the current state of the market. It doesn't hurt to ask for additional financial aid, although don't expect all schools to be receptive to your request.

The Bottom Line When Markets Fall

As we have seen so far in 2022, markets go down and sometimes by a lot. While this certainly isn't ideal, just remember that markets are up far more often than they are down, typically by a margin of more than 3-1.

Thoughts Before Funding a 529 College Savings Plan Most times it makes sense to stay the course. If your children are still in grade school or just entering their freshman year of high school, then there is no need yet to start making their 529 college savings portfolio more conservative. You should have ample time to recover any market declines. Dollar-cost averaging does not assure a profit and does not protect against a loss in declining markets. This strategy involves continuous investing; you should consider your financial ability to continue purchases no matter how prices fluctuate. Securities offered through Kestra Investment Services LLC (Kestra IS), member FINRA/SIPC. Investment advisory services offered through Kestra Advisory Services LLC (Kestra AS), an affiliate of Kestra IS. Reich Asset Management LLC is not affiliated with Kestra IS or Kestra AS. The opinions expressed in this commentary are those of the author and may not necessarily reflect those held by Kestra Investment Services or Kestra Advisory Services. This is for general information only and is not intended to provide specific investment advice or recommendations for any individual. It is suggested that you consult your financial professional, attorney, or tax adviser with regard to your individual situation. To view form CRS visit https://bit.ly/KF-Disclosures (opens in new tab). This article was written by and presents the views of our contributing adviser, not the Kiplinger editorial staff. You can check adviser records with the SEC or with FINRA. Explore More Building Wealth T. Eric Reich, CIMA®, CFP®, CLU®, ChFC®President and Founder, Reich Asset Management, LLC T. Eric Reich, President of Reich Asset Management, LLC (opens in new tab), is a Certified Financial Planner™ professional, holds his Certified Investment Management Analyst certification, and holds Chartered Life Underwriter® and Chartered Financial Consultant® designations. Latest 4 Ways You Can Take Advantage of a Down Market With markets down for the year, it may seem that all the news is bad. But now could be a good time to make some profitable moves. By Adam Grealish • Published 11 November 22 New, Used or Leased: Is Now the Time to Buy an Electric Vehicle? The Inflation Reduction Act created new tax breaks for electric vehicles. Here's a guide to which EVs count and the best time to buy. By Rivan V. Stinson • Published 11 November 22 You might also like 4 Ways You Can Take Advantage of a Down Market With markets down for the year, it may seem that all the news is bad. But now could be a good time to make some profitable moves. By Adam Grealish • Published 11 November 22 Finding Peace of Mind With Your Retirement Income Even in tough times, you can secure retirement income that lets you maintain your lifestyle, lasts a lifetime, adjusts for life events and leaves a legacy for the kids. By Jerry Golden, Investment Adviser Representative • Published 10 November 22 What to Do When an Unhappy Customer Threatens to Ruin Your Rep Some customers go too far when they feel they haven't been treated well, demanding unreasonable make-goods and even resorting to extortion. An attorney offers some advice. By H. Dennis Beaver, Esq. • Published 10 November 22 Rising Interest Rates Change the Math on Pensions for Some Would-Be Retirees Now is a good time to think about when and if to take a lump sum on your pension and what to do with it. Let's explore the pros and cons. By Michael Aloi, CFP® • Published 9 November 22 Counterattack: Tips for Thwarting a Will Contest From contentious relatives to scam artists, wills are not immune to the threat of a contest. If you have an inkling such a fight could be in your estate's future, here are some ways to limit the risk. By Linda Kotis, Esq. • Last updated 10 November 22 5 Steps to a Stronger Financial Plan It's impossible to be right all the time, but a strong plan and constantly assessing where you are can help you pivot when bad things inevitably happen. By Eric Roberge, Certified Financial Planner (CFP) and Investment Adviser • Published 8 November 22 Safe Harbor 401(k)s Can Help Small-Business Owners Keep Happy Employees Immediate vesting and contributions by the employer regardless of the employee's participation pump up workers. Employers get lower costs and tax benefits. By Mike Piershale, ChFC • Published 8 November 22 5 Survival Tips for the Bear Market It's been a painful year for investors, but focusing on the long term and implementing constructive actions can help weather the turbulence. By Daniel Kern, CFA®, CFP® • Last updated 8 November 22 View More ▸ kiplinger About Us (opens in new tab) Terms and Conditions (opens in new tab) Privacy Policy (opens in new tab) Cookie Policy (opens in new tab) Kiplinger is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.
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