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

In episode 57 of The College Savings Podcast with Fexingo, Lucas and Luna explore a trend that's gaining traction: using 529 plan funds for a gap year before college. They break down the IRS rules that make structured gap year programs — like those offered by City Year, Outward Bound, and the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) — qualified education expenses. The hosts discuss the 'less than...

Lucas and Luna explore how parents can use a 529 plan to fund a child's technology startup, covering eligible expenses like prototype development, software licensing, and legal fees. They discuss the IRS's 'course of study' test, real-world examples of student entrepreneurs, and tips for documenting expenses to avoid penalties. Tune in to learn how to support your young founder's education and bus...

Episode 55 of The College Savings Podcast explores a little-known 529 strategy: using tax-advantaged funds to cover costs during medical residency. Lucas explains the IRS rules behind qualified medical residency expenses, including licensing fees, travel for interviews, and relocation costs. Luna questions the eligibility of residency stipends and whether the plan can be used for board exam fees....

Episode 54 of The College Savings Podcast explores how 529 plans can cover costs for registered apprenticeship programs, a growing alternative to traditional college. Lucas and Luna break down the 2026 rule changes that expanded qualified expenses to include tools, equipment, and living stipends for apprentices. They discuss real-world examples like a plumbing apprenticeship in Ohio and a software...

In this episode of The College Savings Podcast, Lucas and Luna explore how 529 plans can cover certification exam fees for professional credentials like the CPA, CFA, PMP, and nursing or IT certifications. They walk through the specific IRS rules that define qualified expenses for exams, highlight the difference between prep courses and the test itself, and discuss how this flexibility helps stude...

In this episode of The College Savings Podcast, Lucas and Luna explore an often-overlooked 529 plan expense: driver education. They walk through IRS rules for qualified expenses, the difference between a high school driver's ed course and a commercial driving school, and how a teen's behind-the-wheel training can qualify if part of an eligible educational program. Using a real family scenario from...

Lucas and Luna dive into a specific 529 plan use that many families overlook: summer enrichment programs. From academic camps at private high schools and colleges to specialized programs like the Center for Talented Youth at Johns Hopkins or the Summer Science Program, Lucas explains the qualified expense rules under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. They break down what counts—tuition, fees, room and bo...

In this episode of The College Savings Podcast, Lucas and Luna explore how 529 plan funds can be used for coding bootcamps and other non-degree technology training programs. With a 2026 rule clarification from the IRS-qualified expenses now include registered apprenticeship programs and certain certification costs, we drill into what counts, what doesn't, and how to navigate the fine print. Using...

Many parents don't realize that 529 plan funds can be used for certain sports-related educational expenses, not just traditional college tuition. In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore how the IRS classifies athletic training—like private coaching, sports camps, and specialized equipment—when tied to an eligible educational institution. They break down the key distinction between recreational spo...

In this episode of The College Savings Podcast with Fexingo, Lucas and Luna explore how 529 plans can be used to cover study abroad program costs in 2026. They walk through the specific IRS rules for qualified expenses abroad, including tuition, room and board, airfare, and even health insurance. The hosts highlight the key requirement that the program must be sponsored by an eligible educational...

Lucas and Luna explore how 529 plans can cover internship-related costs in 2026. They discuss the IRS rules on qualified expenses, including travel, housing, and equipment, using the example of a student interning in San Francisco. They explain how to document expenses, the importance of the university's co-op or internship program, and the limits on room and board. A practical guide for parents a...

Episode 46 of The College Savings Podcast explores a powerful but often overlooked 529 strategy: grandparents opening and managing accounts for grandchildren. Hosts Lucas and Luna break down the financial aid implications, the new Secure Act 2.0 rules for treating grandparent-owned 529s as beneficiary income, and the control advantages for grandparents who want to maintain ownership. They walk thr...

In this episode of The College Savings Podcast, Lucas and Luna explore a powerful yet often overlooked use for 529 plans: funding apprenticeship programs. As of June 2026, apprenticeships are booming across industries like construction, healthcare, IT, and advanced manufacturing. Lucas explains how the SECURE 2.0 Act expanded 529 eligibility to include registered apprenticeship costs, including fe...

On The College Savings Podcast with Fexingo, Lucas and Luna explore a specific and growing use of 529 plan funds: covering expenses for your child's robotics competition team. They break down the IRS's broad 'educational enrichment' qualification, using the FIRST Robotics Competition as a concrete example. Lucas walks through allowable costs—registration fees, travel to regionals, robot parts, and...

In this episode of The College Savings Podcast with Fexingo, hosts Lucas and Luna explore how 529 plans can be used to cover homeschooling expenses, a flexible option many families overlook. Lucas breaks down the specific qualified expenses under current IRS rules, including curriculum materials, tutoring, educational software, and even certain extracurriculars tied to homeschooling. He cites a 20...

Lucas and Luna explore how 529 plans can be used to pay for qualified music lessons, art classes, and other arts education expenses beyond traditional college costs. They break down the IRS rules on what counts as a qualified expense, highlight the SECURE Act expansions that include certain extracurricular programs, and share real-world examples of families using 529 funds for private music instru...

In this episode of The College Savings Podcast, Lucas and Luna dive into using 529 plans for study abroad programs. With more students than ever pursuing international education, the hosts clarify what expenses qualify — tuition, room and board, even airfare — and what doesn't. They walk through a concrete example: a University of Michigan student spending a semester in Madrid, and how a 529 plan...

In Episode 40 of The College Savings Podcast, Lucas and Luna explore a little-known but powerful use of 529 plans: covering the costs of attending a U.S. military service academy like West Point, the Naval Academy, or the Air Force Academy. While tuition is free at these institutions, there are still significant expenses for uniforms, equipment, travel, and supplies that can add up to thousands of...

In this episode of The College Savings Podcast, Lucas and Luna explore a growing education trend: using 529 plan funds to cover entrepreneurship programs for kids and teens. They break down the IRS rules around qualified expenses, look at real-world examples like startup incubators for high school students and summer business camps, and discuss how parents can document costs to stay compliant. The...

Episode 38 of The College Savings Podcast explores how families can use 529 plan funds to cover costs associated with independent study programs and credit-by-examination fees, like those for the College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) and Advanced Placement (AP) exams. Lucas and Luna discuss the IRS rules that allow these expenses to qualify as qualified higher education expenses (QHEEs) when th...

In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore how 529 plans can be used strategically for student loan refinancing, a topic that many families overlook. They discuss the SECURE Act 2.0 provisions that allow up to $10,000 in penalty-free 529 withdrawals for qualified student loan repayments, including refinanced loans. Lucas explains the nuance of refinancing private loans versus federal loans, noting th...

In Episode 36 of The College Savings Podcast, Lucas and Luna explore whether a 529 plan can cover expenses for a gap year program — think structured travel, volunteer work, or internships between high school and college. They break down IRS rules on qualified withdrawals, the difference between a legitimate educational program and a personal vacation, and how to document expenses to avoid penaltie...

Episode 35 of The College Savings Podcast with Fexingo dives into an often-overlooked use of 529 plans: funding trade school, apprenticeship programs, and vocational certifications. Lucas and Luna explore the IRS rules that make these expenses qualified, walk through a concrete example of a welding apprenticeship costing $8,200 per year, and compare the flexibility of 529 funds against other educa...

Millions of families with children who have special needs face a unique college savings challenge: how to save without jeopardizing eligibility for means-tested benefits like SSI and Medicaid. In this episode of The College Savings Podcast, Lucas and Luna break down the lesser-known intersection of 529 plans and disability planning. They explore why a traditional 529 can trigger asset limits, how...

In this episode, Lucas and Luna unpack the SECURE 2.0 provision that allows unused 529 plan funds to roll over into a Roth IRA for the beneficiary, effective 2024. They walk through the key limits: the 15-year account rule, the $35,000 lifetime cap, the annual Roth contribution limit, and the requirement that the 529 account be at least 15 years old. Using a concrete example of a family with $40,0...