Financial stress is on the rise as more and more families find maintaining a yearly salary to cover the cost of living difficult. Finding the money to pay your regular monthly bills probably seems hard enough without worrying about putting money into savings. While years ago many parents were able to invest in their child\u2019s future, most millennial parents simply feel that they can\u2019t find the means to invest for their children.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Raising a child is expensive today. It can be stressful to try to navigate life as you try to provide for your young ones. But what happens when your children are old enough to support themselves? How can you ensure your child sets out on their own on the right foot? Is there a way to invest in your child\u2019s future in today\u2019s society? You may have heard of things like 529 plans and Roth IRAs, but what is the right road to invest<\/p>\r\n
While you want to give your child everything, it\u2019s important to find a balance. Can you afford to invest in your child\u2019s future and still worry about your own? You\u2019ve taken out a college loan, but can you afford to take out a retirement loan? Before you jump into the world of investing for your child\u2019s future, make sure your plans work for your own future goals as well.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
It is normal for parents to want to do anything for their children. But the truth is that you aren\u2019t doing your kids any favors if you don\u2019t plan for your own future. The great news is that there are ways to prioritize yourself, keep up with your current finances, and create financial objectives that support your child’s future. Here\u2019s how!<\/p>\r\n
If your goal is to save for your child\u2019s college, the most popular option is a 529 college savings plan. These plans are set in place for higher-education expenses and must be specifically used to fund those or K-12 private school expenses. The benefits of 529 plans are great but it\u2019s important to know that once invested, these funds must be used for these educational needs.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
529 plans are state-sponsored. They allow for tax-free growth and distributions and can be added to by friends and family wishing to help your children by building future financial funds when they are young. While using the 529 plan for anything but education costs can result in tax fees and a 10% penalty fee, these funds can be transferred to another family member if your child doesn\u2019t need it for school.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Pre-paid tuition plans are another great option for college savings plans. An amazing advantage is that they lock in the costs of college tuition. Since we don\u2019t know what way things may go in the financial future of education, pre-paid tuitions can actually save you money. One important point to remember when it comes to college savings plans is that it may hurt your child\u2019s chances to obtain financial-aid or scholarships in the future.<\/p>\r\n
Custodial accounts are brokerage accounts that must be opened in your child\u2019s name. They are not required to be used for educational reasons but you cannot get money out of them when you put it in. The most popular custodial accounts are Uniform Gifts to Minors Act Accounts, known as UGMAs, and Uniform Transfers to Minor Act accounts, known as UTMAs. They both have no contribution limits but are subject to Kiddies Taxes<\/a> and will be listed on income tax returns.<\/p>\r\n\r\n Trusts should be reserved if you have a considerable amount of money to invest for your child. They should be considered if you want to save a large sum of money and put it aside for your child. If you choose a trust, you should always meet with an attorney and talk to a tax advisor first. Your attorney will draft all necessary documents needed to ensure the trust is distributed according to your wishes. Your tax advisor will consult with you overall tax considerations before you make the investment. Trusts give parents control over their children\u2019s money by allowing flexible decisions to be made as to the time of distribution and circumstances.<\/p>\r\n While you should definitely be sure you have the right investments in place for your financial future with your retirement accounts, it is never too early to start saving for your child\u2019s future. The earlier the better! And believe it or not, you can start planning for your child\u2019s retirement even if they are just a teenager.<\/p>\r\n\r\n Talk to your financial advisor about a Roth IRA. As long as its only contributions put into these accounts, withdrawals can be done tax-free if they are not earnings. As soon as your child gets their own job, they can begin contributing to their Roth IRA.<\/p>\r\n\r\n If you find yourself stressed about being able to save for your child\u2019s future, don\u2019t be too hard on yourself. Above are some great options to help lock in savings for your children, but there are also options if you can\u2019t afford to put aside anything at all. Educating your child is the best investment you can make when it comes to their future. Financial literacy<\/a> is the give that keeps on giving. It is a subject they won\u2019t learn in school but something you can teach them.<\/p>\r\n\r\n Educate your children on budgeting, financial planning, and building their future goals. Even if it seems your children are too young to learn about money handling, there are great lessons that can be taught from grocery store games at a young age. Make believe grocery store games can teach your children how to understand the cost of things, how to budget, and how to handle their finances as they grow.<\/p>\r\n\r\n Investing in your child\u2019s financial future can give you a sense of pride knowing you\u2019ve helped your children long beyond your years of raising them. While putting aside money can be helpful, it\u2019s the overall commitment to teaching your children about their future finances that can be the best help of all. When you create a solid foundation for your child\u2019s financial future and prepare them to make the right decisions as they go off on their own, you will get the most of your money and help your child become a successful adult.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Financial stress is on the rise as more and more families find maintaining a yearly salary to cover the cost of living difficult. Finding the money to pay your regular monthly bills probably seems hard enough without worrying about putting money into savings. While years ago many parents were able to invest in their child\u2019s … <\/p>\nRetirement Accounts<\/h2>\r\n