College Funding: Investing Versus Borrowing

If something is worth $1, would you rather pay $1.46 for it, or would you prefer a price of $0.66? That, in a nutshell, is a choice that families must make as they prepare to pay for the cost of college education for their children. Saving and investing for college seems a daunting task, because the goals are so enormous. But the alternative to saving is borrowing, which is by far the more expensive approach.

Even small savings can have a significant impact over time. Every dollar saved offsets a dollar that otherwise would have to be borrowed. More importantly, every dollar saved can earn additional income, which brings down the total cost.

Don’t look to your 401(k) plan or IRA. These accounts are great ways to save for retirement, and they do permit penalty-free withdrawals to pay the costs of higher education. However, these are not good choices for building a college fund. There are potential tax and opportunity costs for tapping your retirement resources early.

Uncle Sam to the rescue

By far the better course is to have independent savings earmarked for education. Happily, the federal government, in the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001 (EGTRRA), enhanced two admirable vehicles for accomplishing that goal.

The education IRA, now more fittingly titled the Coverdell Education Savings Account (ESA), has allowed tax-free withdrawals to cover education costs since its introduction in 1997. Its previous low $500 per student per year limit has risen to a far more adequate $2,000.

Over the course of 18 years, that change can make a huge difference in the amount available to defray the high cost of higher education. Assuming investments made at the
beginning of each year and earnings compounding at 8%, you can build an $80,893 fund rather than just $20,223 under the previous rule. Obviously, that will go a lot farther in paying college costs. (You also can use an ESA to pay primary and secondary school costs, but that choice shortens the time that your contributions have to grow and compound.)

Unfortunately, not everyone can fund an ESA. Individuals’ ability to contribute the full amount phases out between modified adjusted gross income (AGI) of $95,000 and $110,000. For joint-filing couples the phase-out range is now double those amounts, $190,000 to $220,000.

No such limits apply to another college savings provision enhanced by the tax act. State-sponsored “529” plans permit much higher contributions without regard to the donor’s income. Previously, withdrawals of account earnings to cover qualifying education expenses were taxed at the student’s tax rate, presumably lower than that of the parents. Today, withdrawals to cover college costs may be entirely exempt from federal taxes. In addition, educational institutions are able to offer their own prepaid tuition plans under Section 529.

Most states now offer a 529 plan to both residents and nonresidents. However, residents may gain state tax deductions and/or exemptions with their home state’s plan. Investment options vary from plan to plan. We’ll be pleased to help you select the plan that best meets your objectives.

The importance of starting early

The table that follows illustrates the monthly savings needed to accumulate $100,000 over different time periods at various representative rates of return. For example, a monthly investment of $547 dollars for ten years earning an 8% return will do the job. In contrast, the monthly debt service on a $100,000 ten-year loan at 8% interest comes to $1,213.

Higher projected returns reduce the amount of needed savings—if, for example, that 8% is boosted to 12% on the ten-year saving plan, the monthly payment drops by over 20%, to $435. But an even more dramatic reduction can be accomplished by saving at 8% for 15 years instead of ten—the payment falls to a much more manageable $289.

Two things happen when the saving period is extended. First, each payment is smaller because there are many more of them. Just as important, the early payments have much longer to compound, to grow to meet the financial need. To illustrate the true impact of each different saving plan, the table also includes the total of the payments during the period. Doubling the payment period from five to ten years reduces the payment total by roughly 20% to 30%.

Strategic considerations

If you will be eligible for the Hope and Lifetime Learning Credits, you’ll want to plan carefully. These credits may be taken in the same year that withdrawals from an ESA or 529 plan are used, but they may not cover the same expenses. Therefore, you’ll need to have enough saved outside the plans to cover the expenses required to earn the credits—$2,000 for the Hope Credit in each of the first two years and $10,000 to qualify for a full Lifetime Learning Credit.

Getting your kids through college is one of the three largest financial challenges that you’re likely to face—along with buying a house and securing your retirement. It’s good to know that the federal government is committed to helping you meet the challenge, and that we are here to help guide you to the plan that will best fill your needs.