Money Watch: Pay loans or save for kid's college?

— -- Money Watch, a personal finance column that runs every Saturday, features a financial planner from the National Association of Personal Financial Advisorsanswering reader questions about saving, protecting and growing your money. To submit a question, e-mail USA TODAY personal finance reporter Christine Dugas at: cdugas@usatoday.com.

Q: My wife and I have remaining federal student loans of $26,000, with a 3.9% interest rate. Is it best for us to increase our monthly payment from $175 to $300 to pay it down more quickly? Or should we put $125 a month into a 529 plan for the children we plan to have in the next two years?

A: The decision to pay down your student loans or to save money in a 529 plan should include both the financial and emotional aspects.

First consider your overall financial situation. For example, setting up an emergency fund and getting your full 401(k) employer match may be more beneficial uses for the extra cash.

Then compare the advantages of paying off a student loan against what you would gain by putting money in a 529 plan:

A 529 plan is federally tax free and many states also offer tax breaks. But remember that the investment return is not guaranteed. You will be comparing an uncertain investment return on the 529 plan for a child you plan on having to a guaranteed interest rate on your own student loans.

With federal student loans you can deduct up to $2,500 in interest. And you can take it without itemizing on your 1040 tax form. The deduction is phased out for taxpayers with adjusted gross incomes of $60,000 to $75,000 (single filers) and $120,000 to $150,000 (married filing jointly).

Once the loan is paid off, you will have extra monthly cash flow that you could use to save for college. Sometimes the emotional satisfaction of paying off the loan trumps other financial considerations.

Since your children are "planned," you can set up a 529 plan and name yourself as the beneficiary, and change the beneficiary later. The downside of a 529 plan is that withdrawals that are not used for qualified college expenses are subject to tax and a penalty.

Since you are still planning for a family, keeping your options flexible is a good approach. You can now save money in a taxable account and make a lump sum initial contribution to a 529 plan after your child is born.

But keep in mind that saving for retirement is usually a higher priority than saving for college.

Tim Kober, NAPFA-registered financial adviser

Cedar Financial Advisors, Beaverton, Ore.

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