A Legacy of Love and Opportunity: How Grandparents Can Help Save for Education

published April 24, 2026

Grandparents have always been the storytellers, wisdom keepers, and steady hands encouraging younger generations to reach for the future. Many of today’s grandparents are helping their grandchildren prepare for one of life’s most important milestones: education after high school. Through an Edvest 529 College Savings Plan, grandparents can play a meaningful role in supporting grandchildren through their educational journeys.

Why Grandparents Are Stepping In

Education after high school, whether college, a skilled trade, or specialized training, can be one of life’s most important investments. With rising tuition and growing student debt, students may be discouraged from pursuing their educational dreams. Grandparents may be in the position to save, and even small contributions can help reduce what grandchildren may need to borrow in the future. For many grandparents, helping save for education is about more than finances. It’s a way to provide encouragement, create opportunities, and leave a legacy rooted in love and belief.

Start Early: The Power of Time

Saving early can make a big difference. Like planting a tree, the sooner you begin, the stronger it could grow over time.

A 529 college savings plan allows contributions to grow tax-deferred, and withdrawals used for qualified education expenses, such as tuition, books, and housing, are tax-free. Starting when your grandchild is young helps maximize the possibility of long-term growth.

For Wisconsin taxpayers, the Edvest 529 College Savings Plan offers a powerful, triple tax-advantaged way to save:

• Wisconsin state tax deduction on contributions, for each beneficiary.
• Tax-deferred investment growth.
• Tax-free withdrawals for qualified education expenses.

Flexible Ways to Give

Grandparents can support their grandchildren’s education in ways that fit their family and financial goals:

1. Open your own Edvest 529 account to maintain control over contributions, investments, and withdrawals.
2. Contribute to an already-established Edvest 529 account perfect for birthdays, holidays, or milestone gifts. Wisconsin taxpayers may still claim the state tax deduction when contributing to an Edvest 529 plan, even if they don’t own the account.

Tax Benefits & Estate Planning

Education savings can also support estate planning goals. Contributions to a 529 plan are considered “completed gifts” for federal tax purposes and may help reduce your taxable estate.

Under current federal guidelines:

• A single grandparent can gift up to $19,000 per beneficiary per year without triggering gift taxes.
• Couples can gift up to $38,000 per beneficiary per year.
• Accelerated gifting allows up to five years’ worth of contributions at once to jump-start savings.

Financial Aid Considerations

Recent FAFSA changes mean withdrawals from grandparent-owned 529 plans no longer impact a student’s financial aid eligibility. Grandparents can now contribute with confidence, knowing their support won’t reduce potential aid.

Real Stories, Real Impact

When grandparents invest in Edvest 529, they’re investing in their grandchildren’s dreams. For Sherry from De Pere, Wisconsin, saving with Edvest 529 is about creating choice:

“Edvest 529 will give our grandchild a wonderful opportunity to pursue an education of their choosing and build a great life.”

— Sherry Y., De Pere, WI

Her words capture what so many grandparents feel, saving today can mean opening doors tomorrow.

Ready to Create a Legacy of Learning?

Edvest 529 gives grandparents the flexibility to support many education paths, college, skilled trades, or specialized certifications. Contributions grow tax-advantaged and can help make a lasting impact on your grandchild’s future.

Learn more at Edvest.com and discover how your gift today can help open doors tomorrow.

Watch our video, How Grandparents Can Help with College Costs, to explore how grandparents can play a meaningful role in supporting their grandchild’s future education.

Key Takeaways

• Grandparents can make a meaningful, long‑lasting impact by helping save for their grandchildren’s education through an Edvest 529 College Savings Plan.
• Starting early allows contributions to grow tax‑advantaged, helping to reduce future student debt and to expand educational opportunities.
• Wisconsin taxpayers benefit from triple tax advantages: a state tax deduction on contributions, tax‑deferred growth, and tax‑free withdrawals for qualified expenses.
• Grandparents can open their own Edvest 529 account or contribute to an established account—both flexible ways to give.
• 529 contributions may support estate‑planning goals, including annual gifting allowances and accelerated gifting options.
• Recent FAFSA changes mean withdrawals from grandparent‑owned 529 plans no longer affect a student’s financial aid eligibility.

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To learn more about Wisconsin's Edvest 529 College Savings Plan, its investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses see the Plan Description at Edvest.com before investing. Read it carefully. Prior to investing, check with your home state to learn if it offers tax or other benefits such as financial aid, scholarship funds or protection from creditors for investing in its own 529 plan. Investments in the Plan are neither insured nor guaranteed and there is the risk of investment loss. TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC, Member FINRA, distributor for the Edvest 529 College Savings Plan.

This testimonial was provided by an Edvest 529 account owner(s), and no direct or indirect compensation was given in return. No material conflicts of interest exist on the part of the account owner(s) giving the testimonial, resulting from their relationship with TIAA-CREF Tuition Financing, Inc. Results experienced by the account owner(s) may not be representative of the experience of another/other account owner(s), and there is no guarantee of future performance or success.

The treatment of investments in a 529 savings plan varies by school. Assets are typically treated as the account holder’s and not the student’s. (Student assets are generally assessed at 20% whereas parental assets are generally assessed at 5.6%.) Any investments, including those in 529 accounts, may affect the student’s eligibility to get financial aid based on need. You should check with the schools you are considering regarding this issue.

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