The Best Way to Save for College: A Complete Guide to 529 Plans, 2002/2003 [Paperback]

Joseph F. Hurley (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0967032261 | ISBN-13: 978-0967032269 | Publication Date: March 1, 2002 | Edition: 4th

They go by many names, but they all represent the same thing: a REVOLUTION in the way families with children are investing for the future.

In THE BEST WAY TO SAVE FOR COLLEGE – A Complete Guide to 529 Plans, Joseph F. Hurley CPA describes how 529 Plans work: the tax rules, planning strategies, impact on college financial aid. He compares them to other alternatives such as the Coverdell education savings accounts, savings bonds, and mutual funds. And he describes the features of each state’s plan. The various state plans are not created equal. Learn which ones are best for you!

You’ve heard about them. Now it’s time to learn about them. Whether you are a professional planner, a college financial aid officer, or a careful investor, you need to have all the facts.

Editorial Reviews

Review

- A must read for anyone who is thinking of using one of these plans. It has my highest recommendation. -- Kaye A Thomas, Fairmark Press Tax Guide for Investors

A must read for anyone who is thinking of using one of these plans .. It has my highest recommendation. -- Kaye Thomas, Fairmark Press Tax Guide for Investors

Fortunately, this book is exactly what its title states: a comprehensive and clearly written guide to saving for college. -- The CPA Journal, September 2001

Fortunately, this book is exactly what the title states: a comprehensive and clearly written guide to saving for college. -- The CPA Journal, September 2001

The leading book on 529s. -- Philadelphia Inquirer, September 2001

About the Author

Joseph Hurley is founder and CEO of Savingforcollege.com LLC, an Internet-focused consulting and publishing company in Pittsford, New York providing information and services relating to section 529 qualified tuition programs ("529 plans"). He has worked for over 20 years providing tax planning services to individuals, business, and tax-exempt organizations as tax partner with Bonadio & Co. LLP, a 100-person CPA firm in Rochester, New York. Hurley is a member of American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants, and the Upstate New York chapter of the Financial Planning Association.

Hurley has written the first comprehensive book on 529 plans, "The Best Way To Save For College – A Complete Guide to 529 Plans", and he produces a newsletter for professionals called "The Hurley Report on College Investing". His web site at savingforcollege.com is considered by many to be the best source of information about this type of investment. Hurley has been widely quoted in the media, including The Wall Street Journal, TIME, Business Week, and USA Today and he has appeared at hearings in Washington to comment on the IRS proposed regulations under section 529.

Hurley graduated from Williams College in 1978 and lives with his wife and two children in Penfield, New York. Together they have college savings accounts with 529 plans in twenty different states.

Product Details

• Paperback: 292 pages
• Publisher: Bonacom Pubns; 4th edition (March 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0967032261
• ISBN-13: 978-0967032269
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,150,757 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best Way to Save for College 529 Plans, April 23, 2002

By A Customer

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Best Way to Save for College: A Complete Guide to 529 Plans, 2002/2003 (Paperback)

A very comprehensive look at saving vehicles for college
education for your children or grandkids. Well written
and a very balanced discussion of the adv/disadv of each
type of investment consideration to include the 529s for
various States but also Roth IRAs, Saving Bonds, etc.

The author's web site is also of much value.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Comprehensive and reader-friendly guide to 529 plans, October 10, 2002

By 

debvh (New Jersey) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Best Way to Save for College: A Complete Guide to 529 Plans, 2002/2003 (Paperback)

Saving for their children's higher education is a daunting task for most American families. State-sponsored savings programs referred to as "529 plans" provide Federal (and often State) tax advantages to many savers, but parents need to evaluate all the options. Furthermore, a burgeoning array of 529 plans makes the decision of how to save for college more confusing than ever. Enter author Joseph Hurley, who presents all the key issues in deciding whether and how to choose a 529 account in a straightforward, reasonably easy-to-read style. He lets you know what questions to ask, and then provides the answers when possible.

The first section of the book provides an explanation of 529 plans, including their history and benefits; an overview of how they work and what to look for in a 529 plan; comparison with other means of saving for higher education; and income tax, financial aid, and estate planning issues. The second section of the book provides a description of each state's plans, using a common format that answers the most basic of his "what to look for in a 529 plan" checklist. Contacts to get further information from each state are also included.

Much of this information is available on the author's excellent "saving for college" web site. This book will be most helpful to you if you want to learn a lot about 529 plans without scrolling through screen after screen of information (i.e., if you'd rather curl up with a book than stare at a screen). For looking up specific bits of information, the web site may be all you need.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This guy is the master, February 22, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: The Best Way to Save for College: A Complete Guide to 529 Plans, 2002/2003 (Paperback)

If you are planning to open a 529, you need to get this book. I found it well worth the price, and after using it was comfortable with opening a 529, and which one to use. He also has a great website at savingforcollege.com