EDUCATION
SPECIAL SECTION:
Engineering majors are in high demand and related jobs rank
among the highest paying in the U.S. Applying science to real-
life problems makes this an appealing career area.
(as little as $15) and both plans can be used at most post-
secondary schools, including colleges, universities, technical and
professional schools, or even elementary or secondary public,
private, or religious schools. Another benefit is that neither of
these plans is limited to in-state tuition.
The biggest difference between the two plans is the way your
money is invested and how it’s managed. The GSP allows you
to choose the type of school or tuition level to save toward,
then the PA Treasury manages your investments from there.
The benefit is that your savings continues to grow with tuition
inflation. The IP gives you more freedom to invest your savings
into a variety of 17 different investment options, but your money
is more fluid, allowing you to lose or gain depending on market
conditions.
There are several other options available when starting to
save for a minor, including educational savings account (ES),
Uniform Transfer/Gift to Minors Act, custodial accounts, or
simply putting money under your mattress. No matter what
route you choose, it’s never too early to start saving.
10. Biology
Studying biology means studying the world
around us. From plants to animals to humans,
and the environments in which they live,
biology majors can find themselves in the
genetics or biotechnology industry, going on to medical school,
or becoming an environmentalist, to name a few.
START SAVING FOR COLLEGE WHEN YOUR
KIDS ARE BORN
There is no time better to start saving for college than when
your child is born, or even earlier! There are many options
available for parents who want to get a jump-start on saving for
college, and some plans even allow for savings to be used at the
child’s discretion (for education or something else) when they
reach a certain age.
Parents wishing to save specifically for education purposes
can open a 529 college savings plan. The name comes from
Section 529 of the IRS tax code, which encourages saving for
future educational purposes through a tax-advantaged plan.
In Pennsylvania, there are two options available: the PA 529
Guaranteed Savings Plan (GSP) or the PA 529 Investment
Plan (IP). Each plan requires a certain amount of money down
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TRADE SCHOOLS
Over the past 30 years, the cost to attend a four-year college
has increased by 213 percent, leaving many college graduates
searching for ways to repay their student loans. Some high
school seniors are looking to avoid the hefty price tag of a four-
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