Education Planning Services
Fund Education Without Disrupting Your Plan
McCabe & Associates helps you pay for education with tax-efficient strategies that fit the rest of your financial picture, so one goal does not come at the cost of another.
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The Real Risk
Where Education Funding Goes Sideways
Paying for school is rarely the problem for families at this level. Paying for it without creating tax drag, gift-tax issues, or aid surprises is where planning earns its keep.
Saving Without a Strategy
Money set aside in the wrong account can mean lost tax benefits and unnecessary complications when it is time to spend it.
Overlooking Gift and Estate Angles
Education funding can double as a tax-efficient way to transfer wealth, but only when it is planned with your estate in view.
Funding That Strains the Plan
Pulling from the wrong assets to pay tuition can trigger taxes or shortchange other goals. The source of the money matters as much as the amount.
What We Do
Education Planning Services
A funding plan that pays for education efficiently while keeping the rest of your goals on track.
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Tax-Efficient Funding Strategy
We help you fund education by reviewing state-sponsored programs and analyzing the potential tax benefit you can get from using them.
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529 and Account Selection
We weigh 529 plans against other options for your situation, such as UTMAs or Trump Accounts, so the structure fits how and when you will spend.
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Gift and Estate Coordination
We plan education funding so it can double as a tax-efficient transfer of wealth. Strategies such as paying schools directly for education needs can help grandparents gift more than the annual gifting limits to grandchildren.
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Tuition Payment and Coordination
When your kids hit college, we work closely with you to create a seamless process where tuition bills can be paid directly from your investment accounts and confirm they are paid on time.
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Multi-Generational Education Planning
We help build flexibility into your plan by knowing that excess 529 funds can be used by the next generation or start to fund a Roth IRA for the original beneficiary.
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Let's Discuss Your Education Planning Needs
Using our virtual family office, you can meet with our advisors from the comfort of your own home while receiving the same level of service you deserve.
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The McCabe Difference
What Makes Our Firm Stand Out
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We analyze state-sponsored plans to see if the tax benefits outweigh any cost savings you might qualify for with a third-party program.
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We coordinate education funding with your estate and gift strategy by coordinating with your accountant and your attorney.
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We don't default to 529s. We consider UTMAs, Roth IRAs, and Trump Accounts as alternatives to see which account type fits your priorities.
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We work closely with you when your child enters college to make sure tuition is paid directly from your education account on time and in an efficient manner.
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We build flexibility into your education plan so that we have options if there is money left over after your kids graduate.
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Our clients trust us to handle $1.15B in assets (as of 6/30/2026)
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Education Planning Resources
Articles to help you fund education without disrupting the rest of your plan.
Featured Resource
The Interactive Wealth Bridge
See how education funding fits into a coordinated, lifetime financial plan.
Explore the Wealth Bridge
Education Planning Articles
Saving for Education
How to think through funding education as part of your broader plan.
Read articlePros and Cons of 529 Accounts
What a 529 does well, where it falls short, and when it fits.
Read articleThe Great Wealth Transfer
How education funding can play a role in transferring wealth across generations.
Read articleAudience Playbooks
The 5M Family Wealth Playbook
A planning roadmap for families managing wealth in the multimillion-dollar range.
View playbookThe Great Wealth Transfer
What the coming transfer of wealth between generations means for your family.
View playbookThe Business Owner's Exit Playbook
Succession, liquidity, and transfer planning for families whose wealth is tied to a business.
View playbookQuestions
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a 529 plan the best way to save for education?
Often, but not always. A 529 carries real tax benefits, though it is not the only tool. We weigh it against other options based on how much you plan to fund and how you expect to spend it.
Can education funding help with estate planning?
Yes. Funding education can double as a tax-efficient way to transfer wealth to children and grandchildren. We plan it with your estate in view so it serves both goals.
Which assets should I use to pay tuition?
The source matters. Pulling from the wrong account can trigger taxes or shortchange other goals. We help you plan where the money comes from, not just how much.
Can you help plan for grandchildren's education?
Yes. We help you plan across generations, so education funding becomes part of your long-term legacy rather than a series of one-off decisions.
Can you work with me if my family lives across the country?
Yes. Through our virtual family office, we plan and meet with you wherever you are, with the same level of service as meeting in person.
Is education planning the only service you provide?
No. Education planning is one part of a coordinated plan. We also handle tax planning, estate planning, investment management, and more, so the pieces work together instead of in isolation.
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