The College Savings Podcast with Fexingo: 529 Plans, Education Funding, and Student Costs

In this episode of The College Savings Podcast, Lucas and Luna explore a frequently overlooked use of 529 plans: paying for trade school tuition. With the rising cost of four-year degrees and a growing demand for skilled trades like electricians, plumbers, and HVAC technicians, many families don't realize that 529 funds can cover these programs. Lucas breaks down the specific IRS rules, including...

Episode 81 of The College Savings Podcast explores a less-known but powerful use of 529 plans: funding apprenticeship programs. Lucas and Luna discuss how apprenticeships in trades like electrician, plumbing, and HVAC qualify as eligible expenses under federal tax law, as long as the program is registered with the U.S. Department of Labor. They walk through specific requirements, including the nee...

Episode 80 of The College Savings Podcast explores a lesser-known but powerful use of 529 plans: paying for specialized tutoring and educational therapy for children with learning differences. Lucas and Luna walk through the IRS rules that allow 529 funds to cover one-on-one instruction, speech therapy, and diagnostic testing — as long as the provider is accredited and the services support K-12 or...

In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore how a 529 plan can cover the costs of a language immersion program, using the example of a student studying Mandarin in Taipei for a summer. They break down the IRS rules around qualified expenses, including tuition, room and board, travel, and supplies, and share tips on documentation and program selection. The hosts discuss how immersion programs differ fr...

In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore a lesser-known use of 529 plans: funding medical school. They discuss how the rising cost of medical education—often exceeding $250,000 for tuition alone—can be offset with tax-advantaged savings. Lucas breaks down the key rule: 529 funds can cover qualified medical school expenses like tuition, fees, books, and even room and board, as long as the student is...

Episode 77 of The College Savings Podcast explores an often-overlooked qualified expense: transportation to and from school. Lucas and Luna break down the IRS rules for using 529 plan funds to pay for flights, trains, buses, and even a car—if you structure it right. They discuss real-world examples like a student commuting to community college and another flying cross-country for a semester abroad...

When you think 529 plans, tuition usually comes to mind. But did you know you can use your 529 savings to pay for your child's dorm room, off-campus apartment, or even a fraternity house? In this episode, Lucas and Luna break down the IRS rules for qualified room and board expenses, the difference between on-campus and off-campus limits, and the tricky paperwork required if your child lives off ca...

In Episode 75 of The College Savings Podcast, Lucas and Luna explore an often-overlooked 529 plan expense: flight school. Federal rules allow 529 funds to pay for FAA-certified pilot training programs at eligible institutions, including Part 141 and Part 61 schools. Lucas breaks down the key distinction between recreational flying lessons and professional pilot certificates, and what documentation...

Lucas and Luna dive into how 529 plans can cover graduate school costs, from law school to medical school, with a focus on the $10,000 lifetime limit and tax implications. They discuss a real case: a family using 529 funds for an MBA, including how qualified expenses differ from undergraduate rules. Learn about room and board limits, the impact of scholarships on withdrawals, and strategies to avo...

Episode 73 dives into a little-known 529 plan strategy: using funds to cover your child's living expenses during an unpaid internship. Lucas and Luna explore the IRS rules, the 2026 cost-of-living adjustments that make this an increasingly popular move, and a concrete example from a University of Texas student who saved $6,000 in taxes. They discuss how to document the internship as a qualified ed...

In this episode of The College Savings Podcast, hosts Lucas and Luna dive into one of the most powerful yet underused features of 529 plans: using them to pay for K-12 private school tuition. Since the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 expanded 529 plans to cover up to $10,000 per year per beneficiary in K-12 expenses, many families haven't taken full advantage. Lucas breaks down the rules, the tax im...

Episode 71 of The College Savings Podcast explores a lesser-known qualified expense: culinary school tuition. Lucas breaks down how 529 plans can cover programs at institutions like the Culinary Institute of America, as long as the school is eligible for federal student aid. He explains the difference between a degree program and a vocational certificate, and highlights the annual contribution lim...

Episode 70 of The College Savings Podcast explores how 529 plans cover online college courses from accredited universities, even if your child isn't enrolled full-time. Lucas and Luna break down the IRS rules, a real-world example from Arizona State University's online program (tuition $10,800/year), and how this flexibility helps students save on costs while earning credits. Plus, a quick look at...

In episode 69 of The College Savings Podcast, Lucas and Luna dive into a specific and underused angle of 529 plans: paying for study abroad programs. They break down the IRS rules on qualified expenses abroad, including tuition, room and board, airfare, and even health insurance. Lucas highlights a real-world example of a family who used their 529 to fund a semester in Barcelona for $18,500, savin...

Episode 68 of The College Savings Podcast explores using 529 plans to pay for homeschooling expenses. Lucas and Luna break down the IRS rules, including which curriculum materials qualify (books, supplies, online subscriptions), and how the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act expanded 529 usage to K-12 education. They discuss a real example: a family in Texas spending $3,200 per year on a classical homeschool c...

In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore how 529 plans can be used to fund your child's participation in a robotics competition. They break down the specific qualifying expenses — from registration fees and travel costs to equipment and materials — and walk through a concrete example of a FIRST Robotics team. Lucas explains the IRS rules that allow 529 funds for educational enrichment activities ti...

In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the often-overlooked option of using a 529 plan for K-12 private school tuition. They break down the $10,000 annual limit per beneficiary, how it interacts with state tax deductions, and the strategy of front-loading contributions to maximize growth before withdrawal. The hosts also discuss the trade-off between using 529 funds for private school versus savi...

In this episode of The College Savings Podcast with Fexingo, Lucas and Luna explore how 529 plan funds can be used for music education expenses. Many parents don't realize that qualified expenses include musical instruments, private lessons, and even music theory books, as long as the instruction is part of an eligible educational program. Lucas breaks down the IRS rules with a concrete example: a...

Episode 64 of The College Savings Podcast: Lucas and Luna explore how 529 plans can cover K-12 tuition at private boarding schools, including room and board. They break down the $10,000 annual limit per beneficiary, discuss state tax implications, and compare boarding school costs to college savings goals. Using real numbers from a typical New England boarding school tuition of $65,000 per year, t...

Lucas and Luna explore how 529 plans can cover tuition at U.S. military academies like West Point, Annapolis, and the Air Force Academy. They walk through the rules: tuition waivers don't reduce eligible expenses for room, board, and uniforms. Specific example: a midshipman at the Naval Academy pays about $12,000 a year in non-tuition costs, and 529 funds can cover those plus a laptop and travel....

In this episode of The College Savings Podcast, Lucas and Luna explore a lesser-known 529 plan strategy: using leftover funds to pay down a beneficiary's student loans after graduation. They break down the $10,000 lifetime limit per beneficiary, explain the tax implications, and walk through a concrete example of how a family could maximize this benefit. The hosts also compare this approach to oth...

In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore a lesser-known but powerful use of 529 plan funds: covering expenses for your child's independent study or self-designed curriculum. With the rise of personalized learning paths, many parents are creating tailored educational experiences outside traditional school settings. The hosts walk through what qualifies as an independent study under IRS guidelines, u...

Episode 60 of The College Savings Podcast with Fexingo: Lucas and Luna explore how 529 plans can cover trade school tuition and related expenses. They break down the specific eligible costs at accredited trade and technical schools, including equipment fees and living expenses. Lucas shares a concrete example of a plumbing apprenticeship program that qualifies, while Luna highlights the growing de...

Lucas and Luna dive into a little-known 529 plan provision: using funds for special needs therapies like speech, occupational, and behavioral therapy. With specific examples from the IRS rules and a real-world case of a family using a 529 for autism-related expenses, they explain what qualifies, what doesn't, and the key documentation you need. If you're a parent or grandparent planning for a chil...

In this episode of The College Savings Podcast, Lucas and Luna dive into the often-overlooked flexibility of 529 plans: paying for K-12 private school tuition. They explain the $10,000 annual limit per beneficiary, how the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 made this possible, and the strategic considerations for parents. Using a real-world example, they show how a family in Ohio could save on state in...