Your Year-End Financial Plan Checklist - Part 8 | Connected Wealth Management

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Your Year-End Financial Plan Checklist - Part 8

Paul Brown | Dec 22, 2025

Whether you’re celebrating the arrival of a newborn or supporting a young adult already in college, helping your children pursue their education is almost always a top priority. Having the right planning pieces in place can make all the difference—helping them launch into adulthood without unnecessary student loan debt while keeping your own retirement strategy on track.

Life moves quickly, and year-end is an ideal time to step back, review your education goals, and assess whether your current approach still aligns with each child’s needs. A few minutes of planning now can help you stay confident and proactive. Here are some key areas to review:

• Revisit your goals

Each child has their own personality, strengths, and aspirations. Is a small private college, a large public university, or a technical program the best fit? Do you prefer private or prep school over local public options during the earlier years? Ongoing conversations with your spouse—and even with your child—can help you refine the path you’re planning and the resources needed.

• Establish or adjust your savings

Once you confirm or clarify your goals, take time to evaluate the accounts you’re using and how much you’ve contributed this year. Update your savings approach if your goals have shifted and look for opportunities to maximize state tax benefits before year-end. Even small, steady contributions can compound into meaningful support over time.

• Review investment allocations

Ensure each child’s 529 or education account is invested appropriately for their age and time horizon. As college nears, shifting to a more conservative mix may help protect savings.

• Plan for upcoming expenses

If your child is already in school, review next semester’s costs—including tuition, housing, and books—and confirm which expenses qualify for tax-advantaged withdrawals. The recent tax bill also allows for tax-free distributions for private primary school tuition.

• Coordinate family contributions

Grandparents or other family members may want to help. Consider whether direct gifts to a 529 plan or donor-directed contributions can support your broader strategy.

• Reassess gifting with other goals

If you’re balancing education funding with retirement or other major goals, review whether your current savings rate is still realistic and aligned with long-term priorities.

A little attention now can allow you to support your children’s future.

If you’d like help reviewing your education savings strategy or planning for future costs, our team can provide clarity and practical tools to guide the way. https://www.connected-wealth.com/next-steps

Connected Wealth Management

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Suite 540,
Charlotte, NC 28210

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Text: 704-686-8445
Fax: 980-972-0787
Email: paul@connected-wealth.com

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