🎓 How will a 529 plan from a relative affect financial aid?
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Reviews of How will a 529 plan from a relative affect financial aid?

Finn
This calculator is a handy tool for relatives looking to help fund a student's education without accidentally reducing their financial aid. It clearly breaks down the FAFSA penalties for holding the money in your name versus transferring it to the student or their parents. Keep in mind that the tool assumes you will spend down the contribution evenly over the student's college years, which is a reasonable baseline for estimating the cumulative FAFSA impact. It's a great starting point for navigating the updated FAFSA rules regarding third-party 529 plans.
Reviewed v26.9.0
Sep 18, 2026
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