College Planning: Education IRA or 529 Plan? By Frank Rodriguez

With the costs of college rising at a rate that is twice the rate of inflation, college planning has become more critical than any time in the past. Whether you plan to have your kids go to a community college, and then transfer to a four-year college or go directly to a four-year college it's going to be costly. Thankfully, there have been resent plans set up, so that you can save for the rising costs associated with college. Both the Education IRA (Coverdell ESA) and the 529 plans offer good ways to save for college.

The Education IRA, or Coverdell ESA, is one of the simplest ways to save and find a child's education. The Education IRA acts similarly to a basic IRA, in that you are limited in the amount of contribution you can make within a given year. Also, there are income restrictions, so if you make over a certain amount of money each year (currently $110,000) you are not eligible for Education IRA contributions. The Coverdell Education IRA is a great tool when saving for college over time. Obviously, contributing $2000 a year for four years isn't going to fund your child's complete education. This is why starting in Education IRA as early as possible makes all the difference in the world. We know that from financial planning basics that time is the most important factor in achieving our financial goals, investment return is secondary. When it comes to selecting investments within an Education IRA, you can choose just about any investment style or asset allocation, these IRA's offer little investment restriction.

Much like the Education IRA, the 529 plan is designed to help with the rising tuition costs associated with a college education. When you set up a 529 plan, its ownership is set up in your name, and not that of the beneficiary. This can be particularly attractive, and that the beneficiary can be changed in the future. You may have a child that does not end up attending college, for what ever reason. This puts the control in your hands, where it belongs. When it comes to setting up a 529 plan, you will have to check with your specific state, as these are state driven plans. You are, however, required to set up a 529 plan with your specific state. You can search the different states to find the most attractive 529 plan. It is important to note, however, that some states offer tax incentives for contributions. Unfortunately, not all states offer this at this time. Regardless of state, withdrawals for qualified education are completely free from tax. This isn't just limited to fancy qualified colleges, many trade schools qualify as well.

The 529 plan offers a few more bells and whistles that the Education IRA does not. Most notably, the amount of money you can contribute to a 529 plan is quite a bit greater than that of Coverdell individual retirement accounts. This can be rather important if you start saving for college late. Current limits are set at
Adversely, you'll have less investment selection within a 529 plan, though, most 529 plans offer an adequate selection of mutual funds to choose from.

Choosing between the Education IRA and the 529 plan may seem complicated. If you're starting early and don't.can't afford to put large amounts away, the Education IRA may be the logical choice, as the 529 plan typically comes with a higher cost to operate. If you're getting a late start and would like to contribute larger amounts the 529 plan may be a good fit. The important thing to remember here, is to do something, indecision will just cost you the most valuable key to saving-- time. When selecting a 529 plan. It is always advisable to go over it with your financial advisor, he/she should be up to date on state specific information and 529 plan choices.

Resource: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=268366&ca=Education

Stressed For College Success? Seven Key Sources of Stress For Students By Elisabeth Kuhn

It's tough being a student. You're busy learning to live on your own, balancing the demands of friends and relationships and on top of that – you're expected to study! Learning how to balance these various demands is vital to your academic performance, so take the time to learn how to manage stress effectively. The following are some of the key sources of stress that students have identified in recent studies of students attending colleges and universities around the nation:

1. Time Management

Time management was frequently rated as the biggest stress factor for students involved in post secondary education. Many students just aren’t equipped with the skills it takes to manage their various responsibilities. If you're someone who spends too little time studying – or someone who's often distracted by extracurricular activities – look for programs on campus designed to teach you better time management skills.

2. Setting Priorities

Balancing all the various obligations that college life entails and setting good priorities is another source of stress identified by many of students involved in the studies. With all the clubs, activities and athletic events going on, it can be hard for many students to balance the things they want to do with the things they need to do – like studying and working part-time. Many students in the studies commented that they felt like they were always “on the run” between different activities.

3. Financial Stability

Worrying about money and financial stability was identified as another key source of stress for students. And it makes sense – college tuition bills are constantly increasing and extra expenses like books and materials add up quickly. Students with homes and families to support are most likely to feel the pinch, but even students with no financial obligations can find it difficult to balance all the monetary obligations without stress.

4. Family Expectations

Family – you can't live with them and you can't live without them. Many students are surprised to find that the stress from family expectations follows them, even after they leave the nest to attend college. Some students are only attending school to please individuals in their family, while others may be attending school to prepare for a career that their families aren’t pleased with. Either of these situations – as well as many others – can be stressful for students who are already dealing with heavy coursework, and financial and social responsibilities.

5. Personal relationships

Finding yourself wrapped up in a college romance can be exciting, but intimate relationships can take a toll on already stressed out college students. Many students interviewed in these studies expressed concerns over how difficult it is to maintain their academic performance while in a serious relationship. On the other hand, many students claimed that having a significant other that appreciated the hard work and dedication involved in going to school was a net positive – your success really depends on how committed you are to balancing these different responsibilities.

6. Campus Crime

Being away from home for the first time can be scary – so it's perfectly reasonable that campus crime would be another source of stress for students. Crime statistics can be especially daunting if your campus has recently experienced a series of attacks or burglaries. If you live in an unsafe neighborhood or attend a college with a poor safety record, take appropriate precautions like not walking alone at night and locking up your room when you leave. You may also want to consider renters insurance if break-ins are a problem in your area.

7. Future Uncertainty

Anyone who's attended college has heard the dreaded question at least one hundred times – 'So what are you going to do when you graduate?' The scary thing is, no one really knows what they're going to do, unless they're one of the lucky few with job offers lined up and waiting for them. If you're feeling anxiety over your future plans, take a deep breath and try to let go of some of your stress. Uncertainty is a part of life, so worry less and try to enjoy the ride.

Resource: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=267551&ca=Education

Golf Get Away Vacations a Dream Vacation For Golf Lovers By Smiley Webb

Most of America’s more popular golf resorts reside in the Sun Belt, where weather is accommodating for outdoor activities for most months throughout the year. More adults are planning their vacations to destinations that cater to some serious golf. These resorts are geared toward providing a great vacation experience for everyone, from the advanced golfer to the weekender to families.

Most golf resorts include hotels with great amenities such as swimming pools, day spas and fine dining. Resorts that do not have a golf course on the premises normally provide free travel to and from the popular golf courses in the area. At many of these resorts, special golf packages can be purchased which will include room, green fees and sometimes dining packages similar to the Las Vegas get away gambling packages offered all the time. Golf get away vacations are becoming the vacation of choice.

Florida is America’s most popular golf vacation destination. In addition to more than 1,000 golf courses available for public play, Florida’s beaches and popular vacation attractions, such as Disney World, make the state a very attractive option. Among the most popular courses available for play in Florida are Bay Hill, Championsgate, the TPC at Sawgrass and the many Disney courses.

Because of sunshine and warm weather nearly year around, Arizona has also become a popular destination for golf vacations. Golfers are also attracted to the many desert courses in Arizona that give them a different course perspective than they can get back home. Some of the more popular courses to play in Arizona are the TPC of Scottsdale, Sedona Golf Resort, The Legacy Golf Resort and Camelback Golf Club.

Both Northern and Southern California offer golf destinations that provide an enjoyable round of golf in some of the world’s most beautiful locales. In Northern California, only an hour from San Francisco, the Monterey Peninsula is home to the world famous Pebble Beach Golf Links and Spyglass Hill. In Southern California, the San Diego has many courses to choose from, including La Jolla, Palm Springs and Ranch Bernardo.

Southern Charm comes alive in South Carolina, and this state has also become a very popular destination for golfers. The city of Charleston offers several nice courses including Wild Dunes Resort and River Towne Country Club. Hilton Head, SC is home to Harbour Town and Ocean Sea Pines. Myrtle Beach, SC includes Pawley’s Island, Legends, the TPC of Myrtle Beach and Tidewater.

Finally, Hawaii is one of America’s favorite vacation spots, with its tropical beaches and majestic volcanoes. Hawaii is also home to some of the best and most beautiful golf courses in the world. On the island of Oahu, you can find popular courses such as Ko'Olina, Coral Creek and the Hawaii Prince Golf Club at Ewa Beach. On the popular and beautiful tropical paradise of Maui, you can find two of the most popular courses anywhere: the Kapalua Plantation Course and Pukalani.

Resource: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=268339&ca=Education

How a Good Study Guide Helps By Gene Grzywacz

Today there are a plethora of resources for students preparing to take a particular exam. The question then becomes how to choose the right study guide and how they can help. Some students discount the fact that study guides are proven to increase grades, promote concentration and give tips for test taking. Not all study guides are made equally though and the student should strive to find the best one possible.

Depending on the type of exam will determine the type of study guide that the student needs. If it is a particular exam such the SAT or other college entrance exam there are several to choose from. One of the important factors that students should keep in mind is the fact that the test material must be covered, but the study guide must prepare the individual as well. Several of the study guides only address the information on the test, not the actual preparation of the student. Granted the content of the test is important, but the mental preparation of the student is equally important.

A good study guide will walk a student through the information and also give them some test taking hints that can help them have a positive experience. Tips such as rest before the test, proper nourishment, and concentration should all be addressed. Though many of us believe that we already know some of this information it is important to have those little tips and tricks with us when taking a test. After all many of these tests carry large price tags for us!

The most frequently asked question about testing is what to expect and what type of information is on the test. The unknown seems to be the most anxiety causing factor when taking a test. The student doesn’t know whether the test is difficult, tricky or not too bad. Though a study guide will not give detailed information about the test, there are practice questions and other information that will help the student understand what’s in store for them on the big day.

Practice tests are a great way to determine whether or not a student is ready for an exam. Some students assume that they are ready and go in to bomb the test, while others feel that they need tons more preparation, yet ace the test. This is a good way to get a feel for the test and address the areas that the student needs to work harder. For example, if a student is taking a multi-part exam they may test and find that only one area needs more preparation. This saves time and allows the student to focus on the weak areas of the test.

One of the least favorites of a study guide is the practice reading. This part may not be fun, but it is very effective and here is why. Students have a habit of speed reading or skimming the surface of the paragraph, book or excerpt. This is a bad habit because not only is critical information missed, but also the student is likely to score poorly on the questions about the reading. This part of the study guide helps the student slow down their reading and helps them practice their skills of identifying what is important in the reading. Practice makes perfect and the more we read, the more that we get out of it.

The writing practice of the study guide is another great way to prepare for an upcoming exam. Taking a topic and building an outline and essay around it is a good way to be prepared for what ever the test may throw your way. Not only do practicing writing skills help beef up the old skills, it also helps the student put their thoughts on paper. Sometimes with computers, word processors and other technological advances in society individuals come to rely on them, therefore allowing their skills to slip. This can be seen with employees, students, workers and the general populations writing skills. When we do not use our writing skills our grammar, spelling and punctuation suffer. So the practice does us good and helps us prepare for the writing portion of any test.

A good study guide helps the student prepare in every way for the exam. It is important that a student take advantage of any opportunity to improve themselves or their grades. Study guides are meant to be used as tools, help set goals and improve the confidence level of the student. Without all of these things students will not perform as well as they possibly could have. Take an opportunity to find a great study guide and start studying early.

Resource: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=267643&ca=Education