Funding college without derailing retirement.
Most parents want to help with education without sabotaging their own retirement. I help Houston families balance both — choosing the right account types, sizing contributions sensibly, and coordinating with grandparent gifts and financial-aid considerations.
At a glance
- Best for
- Parents and grandparents funding college; ages 0–18 of beneficiary
- Format
- In-person Houston · Virtual where licensed
- First step
- Complimentary intro call · 5–45 min
- Coordinates with
- Your CPA, attorney, plan administrator
Situations I see most often.
- You have young children and want to start saving systematically.
- You're a grandparent considering a 529 in your name vs. the parent's name.
- You have a child entering high school and need to ramp up.
- You're balancing 529 funding against retirement savings and need guidance on tradeoffs.
- You have leftover 529 funds and want to understand the new SECURE 2.0 Roth rollover provisions.
What the engagement covers.
- Plan selection — Texas plans, out-of-state plans, age-based vs. static portfolios.
- Contribution sizing relative to retirement priorities.
- Grandparent-owned vs. parent-owned 529 strategy.
- Coordination with custodial (UTMA/UGMA) accounts.
- Financial-aid impact awareness.
- Distribution planning — qualified expenses, K-12 use, leftover-funds strategy.
A measured approach, in clear steps.
Goal setting
How much, for whom, public or private, in what state. The plan starts from the goal.
Account choice
529 vs. UTMA vs. brokerage in your name — each has tradeoffs in control, taxes, and aid.
Contribution plan
Monthly contributions sized so retirement isn't compromised.
Distribution coordination
When the time comes, qualified-expense matching, plan-distribution timing, and tax-form review.
Texas note.
Texas does not offer a state income tax deduction for 529 contributions because Texas has no state income tax. That means Texans have flexibility to choose among state plans on the merits — investment menu, expense ratio, and platform — rather than being anchored to an in-state deduction.
Plain-English answers.
Which 529 plan is best?
What if my child doesn't go to college?
Should I prioritize 529 or retirement?
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Let's talk about your situation,
not a generic plan.
The first conversation is complimentary — anywhere from 5 to 45 minutes, your call. No pitch, no pressure. We'll cover what you have, what concerns you, and whether working together makes sense.