TAX2609. 529 Plans and Trump Accounts: Expanding the Playbook for the Next Generation

This session reframes education and early wealth planning in light of two meaningful shifts: the continued expansion of 529 plans beyond traditional college funding, and the introduction of Trump Accounts as a way to jump start long-term retirement savings for the next generation.

529 plans are no longer confined to tuition. With expanded uses that now reach into K–12 education, apprenticeships, credentialing programs, and even pathways that can ultimately support retirement funding, these accounts are becoming far more flexible planning tools. At the same time, Trump Accounts introduce a different kind of opportunity. They allow advisors and families to begin building retirement-oriented assets for children and grandchildren at an earlier stage, creating a longer runway for compounding and a new dimension to intergenerational planning.

The discussion centers on how these vehicles should be used together, not in isolation. Advisors will explore how to balance education funding with long-term wealth building, how to avoid overcommitting dollars to one path too early, and how to position these strategies in a way that aligns with family priorities across generations.

Learning Objectives:

• Understand how recent changes have expanded the practical uses of 529 plans beyond traditional college expenses
• Evaluate how Trump Accounts can be used to introduce early-stage retirement planning for children and grandchildren
• Compare the roles these vehicles play within a broader intergenerational planning strategy
• Identify when to prioritize flexibility versus long-term compounding when allocating dollars across multiple goals