The Flyer:

We often see bad financial advice on the internet and social media. Sometimes the advice is just plain wrong. Let’s walk through an example. A recent financial advice column in The Cut, “I’m Getting Married and Having a Baby. How Should I Plan?”, illustrates some of the dangers of relying on free advice. The column does offer some decent information about joint finances for those engaged to be married. When it comes to her take on 529 accounts, however, we see some questionable advice mixed in with clearly incorrect information.

As financial advisors we spend a lot of time talking about retirement planning, but we can also help you navigate a college savings plan that’s best for your family’s situation. Those who make a plan save, on average, twice as much as those who don’t. First, I want to stress that your priority should always be your own retirement savings. There are no loans available for retirement like there are for college. Being a financial burden on your future children is not a legacy you want to leave.