Between December 2004 and January 2005, I wrote ten posts to discuss how I draw my roadmap for college saving. This post serves as a "Table of Contents" of the whole series:
Part 1: Parents' Responsibility Who do I think as parents' responsibility in paying my kid's college expenses.
Part 2: The Goal The plan starts with a numeric goal of saving.
Part 3: What's Financial Need? To play the game, parents need to understand how your family's financial need is perceived by colleges and the government.
Part 4: The EFC Calculation The detailed math toward calculating a family's financial need when it comes to college education.
Part 5: 529 Savings Plan Why 529 Savings Plan is often claimed as the best tool for college saving, and its drawbacks.
Part 6: 529 Prepaid Tuition Plan Though bearing the same 529 title, 529 Prepaid Tuition Plan is a completely different tool and brings some unfavorable consequences.
Part 7: Coverdell Education Savings Account Want a Roth-IRA-like tool for your kid's college expenses? Try Coverdell ESA.
Part 8: UGMA/UTMA Custodial Account Want to divert funds now to accounts under your kids' names for their future college expenses? Think twice.
Part 9: Alternative Tools You don't need to use college saving accounts for college saving purposes.
Part 10: My Action Plan Our family's action plan after the research.