What is the Effect of Retirement Savings on Financial Aid? (2024)

FAQs

What is the Effect of Retirement Savings on Financial Aid? ›

But any funds in a traditional retirement savings plan will not be reported on the FAFSA. So whether you have $5 or $5,000,000 in a 401(k), it will not affect the amount of financial aid you receive.

Retirement accounts (e.g., IRAs and 401(k)s), whether yours or your child's, are not counted at all in determining the EFC for federal financial aid. Be careful, however, about taking money out of your IRA (or any retirement account) to pay for college.

Some Assets Are Not Counted but Still Affect Financial Aid

The FAFSA does not ask about the value of retirement accounts, such as traditional and Roth IRAs, 401(k) plans, and pensions. But the untaxed contributions to and withdrawals from these accounts must be reported on the FAFSA as income.

Maximize Contributions: Consider increasing your 401(k) contributions if your budget allows. Not only does this help secure your retirement, but it can also lower your EFC, increasing your chances of receiving more financial aid for your college-bound student.

Assets don't include

retirement plans (401[k] plans, pension funds, annuities, non-education IRAs, Keogh plans, etc.).

Assets considered for the FAFSA include: Money, which includes current balances of any cash, savings, and checking accounts. Non-retirement investments, like brokerage accounts, real estate (other than your primary residence), CDs, and stock options. Trust funds.

Qualified retirement plan accounts, such as a 401(k), Roth 401(k), IRA, Roth IRA, pension, qualified annuity, SEP, SIMPLE or Keogh plan, are not reported as assets on the FAFSA. Excluded assets. The net worth of the family home, including one that is located on a family farm, is not reported as an asset on the FAFSA.

Students selected for verification of their FAFSA form may wonder, “Does FAFSA check your bank accounts?” FAFSA does not directly view the student's or parent's bank accounts.

The student should keep no cash or cash equivalents saved in their name. Students are punished by the FAFSA for saving any cash. The FAFSA will specifically ask “As of today what is the cash balance of checking, savings…” accounts for the student.

(Note, however, that you may be able to qualify for a discount on computer equipment once you enroll in college.) Cars, computers, furniture, books, boats, appliances, clothing, and other personal property are not reported as assets on the FAFSA.

Does FAFSA check 401k? ›

Investments to Exclude

Do not include the home you live in, the value of life insurance and retirement plans as investments (401k plans, pension funds, annuities, non-education IRAs, Keogh plans) or cash, savings and checking accounts already reported in questions 41 and 90.

A 401(k) can count as savings in a 50/30/20 budget plan. But if 401(k) contributions are automatically deducted from your paycheck, they're not included in your take-home pay calculation.

Distributions from a Roth IRA, even a tax-free return of contributions, will count as income on a subsequent FAFSA. Regardless of whether the distribution is included in AGI or counted as untaxed income, it may reduce eligibility for need-based aid by as much as half of the distribution amount.

The FAFSA does consider retirement income in its calculations. However, it's important to note that while retirement account distributions count as income, the balance of these accounts is not reported as an asset on the FAFSA.

Yes. The value of your 401(k) account is a part of your net worth and should be included in your net worth. Like anything else of financial value, the vested balance of your 401(k) account — or any retirement account, for that matter — is considered an asset.

Empty Your Accounts

If you have college cash stashed in a checking or savings account in your name, get it out—immediately. For every dollar stored in an account held in a student's name (excluding 529 accounts), the government will subtract 50 cents from your financial aid package.

At most, only 5.6% of the total amount of college savings could have an impact on financial aid eligibility.

No. Retirement accounts are set up expressly to help people reach their goals of having enough money in their post-work years. Savings accounts are far simpler and meant for short-term and emergency needs.

The FAFSA will only use tax return data, so any untaxed income that's on your tax return will still be added back. That includes: Traditional IRA contributions. Contributions to self-employed retirement plans including SEP and SIMPLE IRAs.