College Savings Planning: Future Cost, Monthly Savings & Tax-Advantaged Accounts
Project the future cost of college with education inflation, turn it into a lump sum or monthly saving (PV, PMT, FV), build an age-based glide path, compare tax-free and taxable growth, plan for several children, add gifts and employer matches, run a simplified aid-style contribution and chart a four-year withdrawal plan. 8 hands-on labs, every cell checked. Illustrative, not financial or tax advice.
The first lesson is free — no account needed.
About this course
A college savings planning course that plans the education fund of one fictional family for their daughter Zoe in a spreadsheet, for parents, grandparents, financial planning students and advisers who want to show the math. You project each college year's cost with education inflation, turn the four-year bill into a lump sum today or a monthly saving with PV, PMT and FV, build an age-based glide path and its expected return, compare tax-advantaged and taxable growth and the cost of a non-qualified withdrawal, plan for three children on staggered timelines, add grandparent gifts and a capped employer match, run a simplified aid-style expected contribution, and chart a four-year withdrawal plan with any shortfall. Illustrative figures and simplified rules, with no affiliation with any plan provider or government agency. Not financial or tax advice. The first lab is free.
Lessons
- The Future Cost of College: Education InflationFree
- How Much to Save: Lump Sum Today vs Monthly (PV, PMT, FV) Pro
- Age-Based Glide Path: Allocation & Expected Return (Chart) Pro
- Tax-Free Growth vs a Taxable Account Pro
- Multiple Children & Staggered Timelines Pro
- Gifts, Grandparents & Employer Matches Pro
- Financial-Aid Style Expected Contribution (Simplified) Pro
- Four-Year Withdrawal Plan: Shortfall or Surplus (Chart) Pro