The Wandering Mind: 529 College Saving Plans Provide A World of Options

When Kelly Davidson¹ decided she wanted to transition from a career as a high school teacher, she knew she’d have to go back to school to achieve her goal—and it would be costly. She also knew that pursuing a graduate degree would potentially impact her ability to save for retirement, so she met with her Morgan Stanley Smith Barney Financial Advisor to develop a strategy that would help enable her to return to school in five years.

With time being a key factor, the Advisor suggested that a 529 College Savings Plan—named after the section of the IRS code that authorized their creation—would be the best way to meet Kelly’s education-funding goals. Using the proceeds from a settlement, Kelly set up a 529 plan for herself and launched a systematic investment plan to help her potentially maximize the account’s value. Kelly’s Five Year Plan was well under way, but there was one thing she hadn’t planned for: right before she was slated to return to school, Kelly’s husband, an executive at a multi-national corporation, received a lucrative job offer—in London. Unfortunately, Kelly’s qualifications were not easily transferable, so even if she wanted to continue teaching, she would have to take additional certification courses in England.

Luckily, Kelly had saved for her graduate degree in a 529 account, so she could use the funds at any accredited university in the world. She decided to forgo the additional teachers’ certification courses and apply to business schools instead. Kelly is now pursuing her MBA at the London Business School—one of the top three MBA programs in the world²—and using her 529 plan assets to pay for her tuition and related expenses.

In today’s rapidly globalizing economy, Kelly’s situation is not unique. Each year, thousands of American students either participate in study abroad programs, or enroll full-time in colleges and universities outside of the United States. In fact, according to a recent poll of college-bound students, 55 percent indicated that they are certain or fairly certain they will participate in a study abroad program, and another 26 percent indicated a strong desire to study abroad.³

In response to the high demand, many higher education institutions now offer a number of international learning programs, ranging from semesters at sea to cultural immersion and multi-city programs. However, despite the myriad of international programs available, many students (38 percent) still cite high costs as the top reason for lack of participation in study abroad programs.³ In addition, using financial aid for international studies presents its own challenges: additional eligibility requirements—residency, grades, credit hours, and age, to name a few—must be met, and foreign and US semester schedules differ which can delay loans and other federal aid.

Still, there are options for those who want to finance an education abroad, including 529 College Savings Plans. The plans allow tax-free accumulation of assets and federal tax-free withdrawals for qualified higher education expenses, and the features (flexibility, control, and multiple investment options) which make 529 plans attractive for funding stateside education are also available when the plans are used with accredited foreign institutions.⁴ 

How It Works

Over 400⁵ foreign higher education institutions are eligible under the rules permitting federal tax-free withdrawals from a 529 plan. A list of eligible foreign institutions is available in the Federal School Code Lookup database on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) website.

“The test for any particular school's inclusion is its eligibility to participate in Title IV federal financial aid programs,” says Joseph Hurley, founder of SavingforCollege.com. “Most degree-granting four-year schools, junior and community colleges, and graduate schools will qualify, as will many proprietary and vocational schools.”

Searching for Eligible Foreign Institutions

Anyone can conduct a search for a particular school, or view a list of all eligible foreign institutions by querying the Federal School Lookup database:
• Visit http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/FOTWWebApp/FSLookupServlet
• Select the school year from the drop down box, and select “Search” from the options available
• In the state drop-down box, select "Foreign Country" to view all eligible schools in other countries, or if the school is located in Canada, Mexico or any U.S. territory, you can narrow your search by selecting the appropriate country

Is A 529 Plan Right For You?

A 529 savings plan is one of the best tax-advantaged ways to save for higher education—whether you plan to study  in the US or abroad. Most plans offer several asset allocation options, and also allow you to contribute via lump sum or through a systematic investment plan such as a payroll deduction. You should consider investing in a 529 plan if you are:

·        A parent concerned about the rising costs of college,

·        A grandparent who wants to help save for your grandchildren’s future education expenses

·        A retiree who would like to develop an existing hobby into a serious, full-time interest

·        An “Empty Nester” who is still active in the workforce, but needs to return to school to remain competitive

·        A professional who is considering going back to school to pursue a second degree, change careers, or to enhance your professional skills

·        An adult who wants to help a child in your life— a niece, nephew, or godchild—save for future college expenses

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