Whether you child is 17 months or 17 years, chances are you’ve heard other parents talking about whether or not they use a 529 plan, and if so, how much they have saved in it for college. But a lot of parents and caregivers only have a foggy idea of how they work. 

The big advantage of 529 plans is that they allow families to save for future college expenses while also getting some tax breaks. We’ve got a breakdown of the basics you need to select, open, and begin funding a 529 plan for your future college student.