Have you ever wondered how your college savings accounts could serve your retirement needs? Well, wonder no more!
Starting this year, a new door has opened under the federal law known as Secure 2.0, allowing a portion of the money in 529 college savings accounts to be utilized for retirement purposes if it's not required for education expenses.
Here's how it works: under these new rules, up to $35,000 from a 529 account can be rolled over to a Roth individual retirement account (IRA) for the beneficiary of the 529 account, provided certain conditions are met.
The aim of this innovative option is to address the concerns of parents who may hesitate to save in a 529 due to fears of facing income taxes and penalties if the funds are not needed for college.
Vivian Tsai, chair emeritus of the College Savings Foundation, highlighted that this new Roth option offers a solution to the top objection parents have when considering 529 accounts.
With college costs steadily rising, the average 529 account balance may fall short of covering expenses, making this Roth rollover a welcome feature for families facing leftover funds due to various circumstances.
But what are the requirements to be eligible for this Roth rollover option? The 529 account must have been open for a minimum of 15 years, and no contributions or earnings made in the past five years can be transferred.
The maximum transfer allowed is $35,000 in total, limited by the maximum annual Roth contribution, currently set at $7,000 for individuals under 50 years old in 2024.
Ms. Peg Creonte, president of government savings at Ascensus, emphasized the reduction in barriers to opening a 529 account with this new Roth rollover provision.
However, while this option presents a unique opportunity, certain rules and guidelines are still in the works. The federal government is yet to provide formal directives, leaving some queries unanswered.
Stay tuned as the landscape of college savings accounts and retirement planning evolves, offering new possibilities for families to navigate the financial journey from education to retirement effortlessly.
