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May 23, 2012
Tony Pugh: More private colleges offering tuition discounts
Mary Beth Franklin: How to Choose the Right Annuity for You
Tina Susman: The wig wasn't enough: Man gets 13 years for posing as his dead mom
The Kosher Gourmet by Emma Christensen:A simple way to do fish right
May 22, 2012
Warren Richey: Can US group challenge overseas surveillance act? Supreme Court to decide
Thomas M. Anderson: Walking Away From a Mortgage
The Kosher Gourmet by Megan Gordon: Enjoy a celebration of the most rich and layered flavors: Black bean, sweet potato and quinoa chili
May 21, 2012
Mark Clayton: Cybersecurity: How US utilities passed up chance to protect their networks
Howard LaFranchi: NATO summit: Who will foot the bill for long-term Afghanistan security?
Chris Farrell : Earn Dividends in Emerging Markets with This WisdomTree ETF
Stephen Whiteside, Ph.D. : Mayo Clinic Medical Edge: Social anxiety disorder --- or just shy?
Guy Jackson : Victim's father regrets death of Lockerbie bomber
The Kosher Gourmet by Mario Batali: Famed chef's veal shoulder farsumagru: A festive meat course for late spring
May 18, 2012
Rabbi Berel Wein: Striving: The People of the Book's Book for (All of) the People
Steven Goldberg: 5 Great Stock Picks and the Exchange-Traded Fund that Owns Them
Mary Pickett, M.D.: Ask the Harvard Experts: Don't be forced into gluten-free lifestyle based merely on a doctor's false-positive test
The Kosher Gourmet by Carolyn Malcoun: DIY healthy lunchbox treats: HOMEMADE FRUIT BARS for kids and brown-bagging adults alike
May 17, 2012
Warren Richey: Teacher fired for being unwed and pregnant can sue religious school, court rules
Josh Mitnick: Netanyahu's 'centrist' coalition is already proving it's anything but
Steven Goldberg: Earn Dividends in Emerging Markets with This WisdomTree ETF
Amina Khan: Research links coffee to lower death rates
The Kosher Gourmet by Faith Duran : Cheesy Potato Breakfast Casserole with Cheddar and Sun-Dried Tomatoes
May 16, 2012
Carmen Terzic, M.D., Ph.D. : Mayo Clinic Medical Edge: A variety of exercises can help improve balance
Melissa Healy: National strategy on Alzheimer's disease aims to halt it by 2025
The Kosher Gourmet by Joyce White : GOODNESS GRACIOUS: GREENS! 4 winning recipes that are no longer just for down-home folks (Includes expert tips & techniques)
May 15, 2012
Kristen Chick: Obama administration resumes arms sales to Bahrain despite serious unresolved human rights issues. Activists feel abandoned
Pat Mertz Esswein: Homes are now affordable again and mortgage rates are low. What you need to know before you buy
Kathy Kristof: Our Practical Investor Fights Inflation with These 6 Investments
Sue Hubbard, M.D.: The Kid's Doctor: Lactose intolerant young child? Check again
The Kosher Gourmet by Kathy Hunt: Spread a Little Excitement with EXOTIC CONDIMENTS (4 RECIPES)
May 14, 2012
Lisa Gerstner: How to Protect Your Identity, Finances If You Lose Your Phone
Harvard Health Letters: Heart disease and dementia
The Kosher Gourmet by Megan Gordon: MANGO COCONUT OAT MORNING MUFFINS are a bright but hearty delight
May 11, 2012
Jessica L. Anderson: Get the Best Deal on a Used Car
Jett Stone: Forget face-lifts and fake knees. Scientists have seen the fountain of youth --- and it's broccoli
The Kosher Gourmet by Chef Mario Batali: The famed chef's vegetable dish that tastes true to the season: FAVAS AND SUGAR SNAP PEAS WITH POTATOES AND TARRAGON
May 10, 2012
Sergei L. Loiko: Putin sends warning to U.S., NATO in Victory Day speech at Red Square
Mary Rourke: How being a 'mentch' got Vidal Sasoon his start and fighting in Israel's War of Independence provided him with confidence and a strong sense of his own identity
Jeff Bertolucci: Get Home Phone Service for Less Than $10 a Month
The Kosher Gourmet by Betty Rosbottom: Gleaming with its golden, crimson, and snowy white hues, this silken smooth and creamy STRAWBERRY ORANGE TRIFLE looks impressive, but is easy to prepare
May 9, 2012
Sharon Palmer, R.D. How you can reduce your risk -- or delay -- chronic diseases associated with aging
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Jewish World Review
May 6, 2010
Pick up the pieces of 529 college-savings plans
By
Gail Marks Jarvis
http://www.JewishWorldReview.com | (MCT)
You've said yes to the college your child will attend next fall, but the hard part remains. How to pay?
The uncertainty is especially painful for parents who expected college savings to be tucked away in 529 savings plans by the time the bills started to arrive. But the financial crisis brutalized those intentions.
According to a survey of parents with 529 savings plans by scholarship-search provider FastWeb, more than half lost money as stocks took a beating and bond losses far exceeded the norm in 2008. As they tried to hold on to what money remained, many parents solidified their losses by selling off and gaining little or nothing when stocks soared after hitting bottom in March 2009, said Mark Kantrowitz, publisher of FinAid.org and FastWeb.com.
Between October 2007 and March 2009, stocks fell about 57 percent, and some bond funds dropped 30 percent from exposure to mortgage-related securities. Nearly a quarter of parents in the FastWeb survey said their 529 plans lost at least 30 percent in 2008, and those with the greatest losses were twice as likely to move their money to safety. So, they missed out when stocks climbed, Kantrowitz said.
The survey found that a third of parents with losses stopped contributing to 529 plans, and two-thirds of those with losses of more than 30 percent stashed away no additional money. On top of market losses, about 10 percent said they yanked money from 529 plans. If those withdrawals included prior gains, they would have owed the IRS penalties and taxes.
To amass tax-free savings in state-operated 529 plans, the money must be used for college. Kantrowitz is urging Congress to allow parents to leave money in 529 plans through college and withdraw it afterward without tax penalties. Such action, he said, would help parents whose money is intact let it grow and pay off loans with it in the future. Three-quarters of parents in the survey said they favored the idea, but there is not a bill before Congress yet.
Still, parents could consider other options:
BUYING TIME: Those still waiting for their savings to rebuild could borrow money for a year or two of college and use 529 savings for the remaining years or graduate school. Contributions are limited to $26,000 per child per year for a couple; half that for an individual.
Be aware that you cannot count on the stock market to keep rising and restore your money quickly. Conservative 529 plans, and many financial planners, do not recommend stocks in savings programs for students age 17 or 18.
Families trying to regain losses should evaluate their 529 plans and make sure investments are appropriate for the age of their children at tinyurl.com/3ysoo79. Select a 529 plan with low fees, one with an expense ratio of 0.50 percent or less. Compare plans at Savingforcollege.com. You can switch to a plan in another state every 12 months.
SHIFTING GEARS: Financial planner Raymond Loewe suggests that people close to retirement use 529 plans for their own college studies, perhaps a course that includes foreign travel.
You could change the beneficiary from your child's name to your own and amass money until you study in retirement. Be aware, however, that to use a 529 appropriately without being taxed or penalized, the course must be recognized by a legitimate educational institution and 529 money must pay for tuition, said Joe Hurley, founder of Savingforcollege.com.
GET TAX MONEY BACK: If you lost money in a 529 and bailed out in the downturn, you might be able to claim the loss as a miscellaneous tax deduction if it amounted to at least 2 percent of your income, Hurley said. For a previous year, file an amended return. And, despite the condition of your 529, you can take student-loan interest deductions and a tax credit of up to $2,500 a year for college tuition.
Every weekday JewishWorldReview.com publishes what many in the media and Washington consider "must-reading". Sign up for the daily JWR update. It's free. Just click here.
Gail Marks Jarvis is a personal finance columnist for the Chicago Tribune and author of "Saving for Retirement without Living Like a Pauper or Winning the Lottery." Comment by clicking here.
Previously:
03/25/10: No matter your age, there's an investment strategy for you
03/01/10: IRS tax credit rewards savers with low incomes
02/16/10: Your tax refund is a waste of money
02/06/10: Changes to credit card rules won't perfectly protect consumers
09/24/09: Recession's end doesn't make stock picking any easier
08/25/09: Weigh risks of being overly conservative with investments
07/06/09: Fear can force better investment planning
06/10/09: Best stock buys passed quickly, even for pros
05/12/09: On Wall Street, signs plant a seed of hope
04/08/09: Analysts debate the future of the rally
03/19/09: Gold unlikely to pan out as cure-all
02/29/09: Housing credit could provide sizable boost
02/19/09: Rebalancing being put in different light
02/04/09: Diversification doesn't always offer insulation
01/27/09: Taking steps can help regain some control
01/20/09: How to save for college during a recession
01/12/09: Bonds still risky option to stocks
12/24/08: Some predict mid-2009 for return to investing joy
12/09/08: A small dose of short funds may be useful
11/11/08: Mutual funds can get caught in downward spiral
10/27/08: Investors can bounce back from even the worst of times
10/20/08: Want to sell? Look at 401(k), but don't leap
10/16/08: Want to be like Buffett? There are ways
09/29/08: Money protection only goes so far, so know the risks
08/26/08: Retail stocks may not be best fit for investors
08/20/08: Rear-view mirror investing can be dangerous to a portfolio
07/01/08: What do we do? My daughter didn't get a scholarship
02/25/08: Before abandoning your mutual fund
02/14/08: Dirty little secret of some funds may be haunting
01/29/08: Sorting out the stock market
01/03/08: One word for 2008 crystal-ball gazers: Caution
12/11/07: Buy and hold isn't necessarily tried and true
11/26/07: Translating the falling dollar's implications for investors
11/13/07: Gradual retirement may not be key to happiness
11/05/07: Rate cut won't offer immunity to investors
10/29/07: Employers set to help workers save in 401(k) accounts
10/22/07: Playing bounce may be costly to stock investors
10/10/07: Investors find boring often can be fruitful
10/01/07: Make up lost time with swift, smart action
09/24/07: Balance is key for investing by retirees
09/18/07: Homeowners who wait see options fade
09/04/07: Easy matter to rate fund's performance
08/27/07: Mortgage mess could be good for savers
08/17/07: Small stocks are coming with large caveats
© 2007, Chicago Tribune Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services
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