100% S&P growth over 5 years
Money invested in the S&P 500 over the last 5 years would have doubled, versus earning roughly 4% in a high-yield savings account.
Where this was said
Caller: CJ's 529 Question — Is It Too Late for a 7th Grader?
At 51:25 · chapter starts 49:20
CJ is on track to finish debt payoff in September and his emergency fund by November, and now turns his attention to Baby Step 5 for college savings. His 7th grader still has roughly 6 years of market exposure, and Rachel notes that with recent years of 20%+ S&P returns, meaningful growth is still possible. Dave clarifies the mechanics: the 529 plan's sole benefit is that investment growth is tax-free when used for qualified education expenses; the critical move is simply to get money into the market, whether through a 529 or a brokerage account with good mutual funds. He specifically advises against a high-yield savings account, which would have returned only about 4% compared to the market's near-doubling over five years. The pair recommend consulting a SmartVestor Pro to set the accounts up correctly.
529 only benefit: tax-free growth
The sole advantage of a 529 college savings plan is tax-free growth; the main goal should be getting money invested and growing, not the account type.
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