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The devil\\u2019s in the details, and it\\u2019s easy to get lost in them where money is concerned. Post\\u2013high school education is no exception, and it\\u2019s rarely made easy. From saving to taking out loans \\u2014 and paying off said loans \\u2014 the cycle seems downright Sisyphean.\\xa0

Patricia Roberts, founder and COO of Gift of College and author of Route 529: A Parent\\u2019s Guide for Saving for College, gets it. And, with her expertise with education savings plans, she\\u2019s here to help you make the details and devil within work for you. Her company makes it easy for anyone to open an education savings plan online in a matter of minutes. Plus friends and family can contribute $25 to $200, and the funds don\\u2019t expire!

As a first-generation college student herself, Roberts knows the struggles many face when thinking about post\\u2013high school education. For Roberts (who\\u2019s also an attorney), specializing in the intricacies of 529 education savings plans was personal \\u2014 she and her husband wanted to provide their son with choices not readily available to them.\\xa0

Some myth-busting about 529 education savings plans:\\xa0
Did you know they pay for a myriad of education-related expenses, such as K\\u201312, trade schools, and college?
Many 529 plans have tax benefits \\u2014 check your state.
The owner of the 529 plan can change the beneficiary to another family member \\u2014 or use it for themselves.

Roberts also discusses diversity in the workplace and how far it\\u2019s come along since the 90s \\u2014 but acknowledges it still has a ways to go, especially in traditionally male-dominated industries like financial services.\\xa0

Save time sifting through different 529 resources and find the information you need in one fell swoop with Roberts\\u2019 insight. Learn about Roberts\\u2019 recent pursuits on LinkedIn and Instagram, and check out the hashtag #radicalgenerosity on Twitter for inspiration!

Find out who benefits from a 529, what can be done with the money, and more on this episode of SheVentures!\\xa0

• Roberts discusses the lessons learned from her late mother and how crucial self-care is to long-term health. \\xa0
• As a first-generation college student herself, Roberts reflects on the social and financial roadblocks she faced \\u2014 and how she\\u2019s striving to ensure her son avoids the same pitfalls.
• From working in financial services to attending law school at night, Roberts\\u2019 early career and personal motivations led her to working with 529 savings plans (tax-advantaged education savings plans).\\xa0
• How diversity in the workplace has evolved since the 90s, according to Roberts\\xa0
• Corporate ladder climbing tips: Understand your motivation and your gifts, cultivate a community that supports you, and highlight your accomplishments when appropriate.\\xa0
• How 529 plans are underutilized \\u2014 plus Roberts\\u2019 tips for ensuring you reap the most benefit
• Through Gift of College (a college-savings platform started by Roberts), setting up a 529 plan can be as easy as buying a gift card.
• The differences and similarities between the 529 and the ABLE plan \\u2014 and how each can best serve you \\xa0
• Roberts debunks the biggest misconceptions surrounding 529 plans.\\xa0
• Three skills that eased Roberts\\u2019 transition from the corporate world to entrepreneurship\\xa0
• Roberts is active on LinkedIn and can be found on Instagram and Facebook at @route529mom. More information about Gift of College can be found at giftofcollege.com.