08/14/2026
“How do I give my little one a head start without locking the money away?” a young parent asked me this morning.
Their child already has a 529 plan, but they wondered if combining everything would be simpler.
We walked through the trade-offs: keep the 529 focused on education, and open a modest custodial account so the child can watch real investments grow. That second bucket offers flexibility—no tuition-only rules, and even the option to move into a Roth down the road—while the college fund stays on track.
We also reviewed a brand-new workplace retirement plan and talked about steering clear of “hot” assets that lack fundamentals.
The result? A balanced, confident strategy with every goal in its own lane.
If you’re building wealth for the next generation, make sure flexibility and purpose walk hand-in-hand.
