The folks are Morningstar released their updated rankings of the best §529 college savings plans. As with all analysis the garbage in/out theory applies so a fair amount of healthy skepticism is recommended. After all the “best” §529 plan for one family’s situation is not always the “best” for another’s.

Although §529 programs are by no means perfect and surely not the most appropriate strategy in all situations they nonetheless remain an excellent tool for college savings and, indirectly, estate planning. Curiously they remain under-utilized. Maybe a brief primer on what they are, how they work and their pros/cons is what’s needed.