Wondering what to do with the cash locked away in your 529 plan? You may not be alone. As of 2026, 529 college savings plans remain a dominant, tax-advantaged education savings tool. As of June 2024 (the most recently available data), there were 16.8 million active 529 college savings plan accounts in the U.S., according to the College Savings Plans Network. Some other sources put that number at 17 million.
However, like some people, perhaps your child has changed their mind about attending college, or you have saved more than needed for their education. Or maybe you've been putting off opening a 529 plan altogether because you're worried about tying up money in an account you were afraid you couldn't access. Well, as a result of provisions in the SECURE 2.0 Act, you can roll over funds from your 529 plan into a Roth IRA, as long as certain conditions are met.
