If I Have a Gi Bill How Much Should I Put Back With 529

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Veterans GI Bill And 529 Plans Cover College Costs

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Veterans: GI Bill & 529 Plans Cover College Costs

We owe much to our country's military. On this Veterans Day, let's express our gratitude to all those who have served and are serving our great nation. There are currently over 19 million veterans in the United States today and over 2 million men and women actively serving in U.S. armed forces, National Guard and reserve armed forces. Many of the freedoms our country enjoys would not be possible without their willingness to serve for the greater good.

GI Bill

One of the well-earned and well-deserved benefits for the fighting men and women of our country is the Post-9/11 GI Bill. Administered by U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), this federal program assists in transitioning our veterans back to civilian life by paying their higher education expenses—whether undergraduate or graduate school, vocational/training programs, apprenticeships, and flight training. The GI Bill includes 36 months of education benefits: full in-state public school tuition and fees (there is a national maximum rate cap for tuition and fees for attending a private college), monthly housing allowance if a veteran is in school more than half time, and an annual books and supplies stipend.

If service members choose not to use all of these benefits for their own higher education, they can transfer unused GI bill benefits to their dependents, either their spouses or children, to pay for their college or vocational training.

There are many other GI Bill programs to support our veterans' pursuit of a higher education such as the Montgomery GI Bill Active Duty or Selected Reserve, Yellow Ribbon Program and Tuition Assistance Top-Up. The VA also offers Tutorial Assistance for veterans to cover extra educational coaching.

529 plans work with GI Bill benefits

What are 529 plans? These specialized accounts are a tax-advantaged way to save for college with tax-free earnings and tax-free withdrawals. Some states offer state income tax deductions or credits for 529 contributions. With Ohio's 529 Plan, CollegeAdvantage, Ohio residents can currently deduct 529 contributions up to $4,000 per beneficiary, per year, from their state income tax. However, with unlimited carry forward, Ohioans can continue to deduct a large 529 plan contribution from their state income tax until all of it has been deducted.

A 529 plan can supplement these service-earned education benefits. If you split your Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits among multiple dependents, then a 529 plan can help cover the remaining qualified higher education expenses associated with attending a two-year or four-year college, trade or vocational school. Eligible expenses range from tuition; mandatory fees; computer equipment and related technology and services; books; supplies, and equipment required for enrollment or attendance; room and board costs or off campus housing during any academic period the beneficiary is enrolled at least half-time; and certain expenses for a special-needs student. Room and board costs can also include rent for off-campus residency and groceries (non-taxable items), provided these costs are equal or less than the same room and board allowances from the accredited education institution

Military academy attendance and 529 plans

What if you've been saving for college in a 529 plan and your child is selected to attend an U.S. military academy? You still have access to the college savings funds. While considered a non-qualified withdrawal, the parents can ask for a 529 plan disbursement up to the estimated cost of attending the military academy without incurring a 10% federal tax penalty. The earnings portion only of the withdrawal may be subject to federal, state, and local taxes.

Why save in Ohio's 529 Plan?

Morningstar, a trusted investment research and management company, has given Ohio's CollegeAdvantage Direct 529 Plan retained its silver rating. In addition, BlackRock CollegeAdvantage , Ohio's Advisor 529 Plan retained its bronze ranking. This makes Ohio one of only four state programs that have both their Direct and Advisor 529 Plans ranked as medal class investment options by Morningstar. The high ranking for both CollegeAdvantage 529 Plans highlights the strength of these two college savings plans as well as the industry's regard for Ohio's 529 Plan as one of the best in the nation.

Savingforcollege.com  is another trusted and independent college-savings industry resource. In its most recent quarterly analysis  of 529 plan investment performances, Ohio's 529 Plan has topped three out of four of the long-term performance charts.49 states and the District of Columbia offer 529 plans. As of June 30, 2019, CollegeAdvantage Direct 529 Plan ranks first in the nation for the best investment performance in three different categories:one-year,five-year, andten-year. Ohio's 529 Plan was also ranked fifth nationwide for the best performance in thethree-year category.

Savingforcollege.com consistently recognizes Ohio's Direct 529 Plan as one of thebest plans in the nation for both Ohio residents and non-Ohio residents by giving the program a5-Cap Rating. This designation is dependent on criteria that shows the college savings plan "offers outstanding flexibility, attractive investment, and additional economic benefits (such as generous state tax incentives) that for some people, at least, will provide a substantial boost to their savings. There are few, if any, weaknesses noted in the program."

Ohio's Direct 529 Plan is the only 529 college savings plans nationwide to earn a 5-Cap rating for both residents and non-residents, as of Oct. 24, 2019. Ohio's Direct 529 Saving Plan has received this recognition multiple times for the plan's attractiveness for Ohioans and across the nation.

Other honors include being named CollegeAdvantage as the best-rated 529 plan in the nation byReal Wealth Network . According toBankrate, Ohio's 529 Plan is at the top of the list for the fivebest529 plans in the country. Money expert and New York Times best-selling author Clark Howard  has placed Ohio's 529 Plan on his Dean's List as one of the very best 529 plans nationwide. Only 529 plans that have management fees less than 0.20% annually were named to the Dean's List.

A 529 plan works well with the Post-9/11 GI Bill. Visit VA.gov for more information about the GI Bill education benefits.

On this Veterans Day, let us take pause and express our gratitude to all those who have served and are serving our great nation, for the many blessings of freedom we enjoy would not be possible without their willingness to answer the call to service.

Tim Gorrell is the executive director of Ohio Tuition Trust Authority. Previously, he served as the director of the Ohio Department of Veteran Services. Colonel Gorrell, who retired from the U.S. Army after serving 31 years, is a highly awarded and decorated military leader. For 30 years, Ohio Tuition Trust Authority has sponsored and administered Ohio's 529 College Savings Program, CollegeAdvantage. Ohio's 529 Plan oversees more than 638,000 accounts and over $12.3 billion in assets as of Sept. 30, 2019. Visit CollegeAdvantage.com or call 1-800-AFFORD-IT (233-6734) for more information.

Posted on November 08, 2019

If I Have a Gi Bill How Much Should I Put Back With 529

Source: https://www.collegeadvantage.com/blog/blog-detail/posts/2019/11/08/veterans-gi-bill-529-plans-cover-college-costs

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