Money Well Studio

About This Episode

How much should parents actually save for college? Is a 529 always the smartest place to put the money? And in a world being reshaped by artificial intelligence, how should families think about what a degree is actually worth?

In this episode of Money Well Studio, Jennifer Lowry and Julie Black are joined by Javid Jamae, entrepreneur, software engineer, growth engineering leader and father of five, for a wide-ranging conversation about the economics of college and the choices families face long before the first tuition bill arrives.

Javid shares how he financed his own education through student loans, internships, co-ops, work and a creative townhouse rental arrangement, and why he is approaching college funding differently with his own children.

The conversation moves from 529 plans and taxable investment accounts to college budgets, career experience, generational wealth and the increasingly difficult question of how much families should invest in a traditional four-year degree when technology is changing the labor market so quickly.

There is no single formula for paying for college. But there are a lot of trade-offs worth understanding before deciding where to put the money.

In This Episode

• How 529 plans can offer tax advantages when funds are used for qualified education expenses
• Why flexibility, investment options, timing and family circumstances can affect whether a 529 is the preferred savings vehicle
• How age-based 529 portfolios generally become more conservative as a beneficiary approaches college
• Why families starting later may have less time to benefit from long-term equity growth
• How 529 plans compare with regular taxable brokerage accounts
• Why some families may choose to set a college budget instead of writing a blank check
• How students can weigh choices involving school, housing, scholarships, loans and work within a defined budget
• How financial support can expand opportunities while still giving young adults ownership over their choices, careers and financial lives
• Why AI and a changing labor market may affect the future value of different degrees, skills and career paths

Meet Javid Jamae

Javid Jamae joins Money Well Studio to bring both a personal and professional perspective to the college conversation.

Javid is an entrepreneur, software engineer and growth engineering leader whose work focuses on experimentation, product growth and helping companies make better decisions with data. His career has included leadership work in software and growth engineering, and his perspective on technology gives the conversation an especially relevant angle as families try to understand how AI and a changing labor market may affect the future value of different degrees, skills and career paths.

A huge thank-you to Javid for joining us and sharing such a candid perspective on college, money, work, parenting, technology and what it means to prepare kids for an economy that may look very different from the one their parents entered.