Upcoming Courses:
Course Overview:
- 529 Distributions and Contributions – 1 hr credit
Covers additional details including third party contributions, federal tax provisions, state tax advantages, withdrawal basics, unused plan assets, and the effects on financial aid. Accredited for CPA, CFP, and Insurance professionals. - 529s and Estate and Gift Tax Planning – 1 hr credit
Learn ways that 529s can assist in minimizing estate and gift taxes, the specific tax benefits for grandparents, and how certain trusts interact and are affected by 529s. Accredited for CPA, CFP, Insurance professionals, and Estate Planners (CLE). - 529s and Financial Aid Implications – 1 hr credit
Understand how 529s can affect financial aid, and learn strategies for both contributions and distributions. Accredited for CPA, CFP, and Insurance professionals.
- Why 529s? – 1 hr credit
Covers 529 basics including plan types, general and state tax benefits, qualified and non-qualified distributions, and an overview of the underlying plan investments. Accredited for CPA, CFP, and Insurance professionals.
- 529s and Family Dynamics – 1 hr credit
Goes into greater detail on beneficiary changes, gifting and generation-skipping tax implications, and ownership issues such as death and account transfers. Accredited for CPA, CFP, and Insurance professionals. - 529 CE Summit – Financial Advisors, 2hrs credit
Topics covered will include estate planning, corporate plans, and financial aid. CollegeInvest will share business-building techniques for using 529s with your clients and prospects. Real world examples will allow attendees to learn from the questions, problems and opportunities other financial advisors in attendance have encountered, and see how 529s fit into the larger financial planning picture for your clients. Accredited for CFP, Insurance, CIMA, and CPA professionals. - 529 CE Summit – Tax Professionals, 2hrs credit
Topics covered will include 529s and forward gifting (estate and gift tax planning technique) federal as well as state-specific tax details and incentives, financial aid, and family dynamics. Real world examples will allow attendees to learn from the questions, problems and opportunities that other tax professionals have encountered and lead to stronger conversations with clients and prospects. Accredited for CPA, Insurance, CFP, CIMA, and JD (for 1hr CLE) professionals.
This CPE program is approved by the Colorado Division of Insurance for Continuing Insurance Education Credit. This program has been accepted by the CFP Board.
“For financial professionals, we provide expert information, unbiased sales strategies, and free continuing education credits to help you better connect with the families you work with.”
FROM THE BLOG:
Everything you always wanted to know about 529s…
And then some! Listen to Brennan Hannon, Advisor Relations Manager at CollegeInvest. Click to...
read more
Frequently Asked Questions from Financial Professionals
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 expanded the qualified use of 529 savings accounts by allowing withdrawals for K-12 tuition expenses. Section 529 of the federal tax code sets the general rules of qualified tuition programs, which authorizes each state to administer its own program and determine its unique state tax treatment and other policies.
In Colorado, the intent of the state’s 529 college savings plan, CollegeInvest, is to encourage savings for higher education. Colorado tax law remains unchanged and CollegeInvest 529 plans can only be used for qualified higher education expenses. Any other use, including K-12 tuition expenses, are considered non-qualified withdrawals and subject to penalties.
Depending on the plan your client participates in you have a couple of different options. For Direct Portfolio accounts, you will need to make sure you have client viewing privileges and can find the authorization form.
To view SCHOLARS CHOICE accounts
Sign-up or login
529 Quickview to view DIRECT PORTFOLIO accounts
Sign-up or login
We are a not-for-profit division within the Colorado Department of Higher Education, here to help everyone who wants to get a college education achieve that goal through the use of tax advantaged 529 college savings plans. For financial professionals we provide expert information, unbiased sales strategies and free continuing education credits to help you better connect with the families you work with. We currently provide 4 different savings plans to meet the varying needs of Colorado families. And, our Matching Grant Program is designed to help qualifying middle to lower income families save for higher education. The Colorado Department of Higher Education (DHE) has oversight and management responsibilities over the division. In addition, there is an Advisory Board of Directors appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the State Senate. CollegeInvest is a self-supporting state enterprise and does not receive taxpayer funding.
For additional information click here
To access SCHOLARS CHOICE forms click here
To access DIRECT PORTFOLIO forms, click here
To order SCHOLARS CHOICE materials –
– Log onto www.myleggmason.com and order the materials that are right for you.
– Or call CollegeInvest at 800-448-2424.
– Printable pdfs can also be found here