Saving for College: Measure Twice, Cut Once

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Saving for College: Measure Twice, Cut Once

Written by John Bonynge

I just opened a 529 College Savings account for my 7 week-old son while bouncing him on my knee. I had been thinking of doing this for a long time and I’m glad I can check it off my list of things to do. I was very surprised by how reluctant I was to finally pull the trigger and do it.

I have a very low tolerance for new financial decisions. I felt almost sick as I clicked my way through the application form. I wonder how many others have this same paralyzing fear when it comes to investing. I would imagine that there is a certain percentage of the population who just ignore their financial health because they are afraid of not knowing what to do. Now that I have recently made a new financial decision myself, I’ve thought of a couple things that might help others shake off the paralysis that often comes with these decisions.

1. Measure Twice, Cut Once- do your research thoroughly, as this will help boost your confidence.
2. Don’t let the myriad choices make you dizzy- think of them like shoes and you are just finding the pair that fits you.
3. Chip away at big decisions- don’t make them all while staying up one late night.
4. Start with a plan, then find the investment products that fit your plan.
5. Realize that you may not make the perfect decision every time, but a good decision is often better than no decision at all.

Disclosure: I found the California 529 ScholarShare College Savings Plan on Fidelity.com to be a good fit for me. I liked the low fees and age based index fund options they offered. I also chose the monthly automatic investment option. This may not be the best fit for you. Do your own homework and enjoy the process.