College is worth planning for.
So is everything else.
Education funding works best when it's coordinated with retirement, cash flow, taxes, and estate goals. We help you figure out how much to save, where to save it, and how to make sure one goal doesn't undermine another.
Our Approach
Education funding shouldn't cost you your retirement.
There's no loan for retirement. That's the guardrail that keeps education planning honest. The goal is always to find the most efficient path to funding education — without overcommitting in a way that puts your long-term security at risk.
We start by understanding how education fits into the full picture: your timeline, your other goals, your tax situation, and what level of contribution actually makes sense for your family. Then we help you build a plan that's realistic, tax-efficient, and structured to grow.
- Who is the education for, and what's the timeline?
- How much of the cost do you want to cover?
- How does this goal interact with retirement savings?
- Which funding vehicle fits your tax situation?
- Could family members contribute in a structured way?
Education planning in practice
The questions behind education planning are simpler than people think. We work through each one with you.
529 Plan Strategy
529 plans are the most common education savings vehicle — but the choice of plan, contribution timing, and ownership structure all affect both the outcome and the financial aid picture. We help you set one up correctly and integrate contributions into your annual cash flow.
Illinois residents may be eligible for a state income tax deduction on contributions to the Bright Start and Bright Directions 529 plans.
Financial Aid Awareness
How 529 assets are titled, in a parent's name, a grandparent's, or the student's, affects the FAFSA calculation in ways that matter. We help you understand how your savings structure interacts with potential aid eligibility before it's too late to adjust.
Funding Vehicle Comparison
529 plans aren't the only option. Custodial accounts (UTMA/UGMA), Roth IRAs, and taxable brokerage accounts each have trade-offs depending on your timeline, your tax situation, and your flexibility needs. We walk through the options so you choose the right structure for your family.
Tax-Efficient Gifting for Education
Grandparents and other family members can contribute directly to a 529 or make tuition payments directly to the school. Direct tuition payments are not considered gifts for gift tax purposes. We help you coordinate family contributions in a way that's structured, efficient, and doesn't create unintended complications.
See our estate planning approach →Balancing Education vs. Other Goals
Education funding competes with retirement savings, a mortgage, cash reserves, and a dozen other demands. We help you think through the trade-offs honestly — including what level of contribution is appropriate given your overall financial picture.
Our retirement planning approach →Progress Reviews
Education planning isn't a one-time decision. As your children get older, laws change, and your income evolves, the plan should be reviewed and adjusted. SECURE 2.0 expanded 529-to-Roth rollover options, for example — that's worth revisiting for many families. We cover this as part of your regular planning conversations.
A good education plan doesn't sacrifice the rest of the picture.
The families who struggle with education funding usually didn't make bad decisions — they made education decisions in isolation, without seeing how they interacted with retirement savings, taxes, or estate planning. We see the whole picture, which means we can tell you when a plan is efficient and when it's quietly working against you.
There's also no obligation to fund 100% of education costs. Having an honest conversation about expectations — and what makes sense for your family financially — is part of the planning too.
Education planning fits different situations differently
The right approach depends on how much time you have, how education fits with your other goals, and how much certainty you want to build in.
Early-Stage Families
Starting early, even with small contributions, gives compound growth time to work. Setting up the right vehicle and ownership structure before the child starts school avoids costly fixes later.
Get in touch →Business Owners
Variable income makes education funding decisions more complex, both in terms of how much to commit and how to structure contributions. We coordinate education savings with business cash flow, retirement plan contributions, and the tax picture.
Who we help: Business Owners →Grandparents & Extended Family
Gifting for education can be a meaningful part of an estate plan. Direct tuition payments and 529 superfunding are two strategies worth understanding before writing checks.
Estate planning & gifting →Let's make education funding part of the plan — not a distraction from it.
Ready when you are. No preparation needed.