How to Money · Friday, September 18, 2026
An article suggests that individuals should prioritize saving for their own retirement over aggressively funding 529 college savings plans for their children. The hosts agree, emphasizing the principle of 'putting the oxygen mask on yourself first.' They explain that a secure retirement provides a stable foundation, allowing individuals to better support their children's future without jeopardizing their own financial well-being. Starting retirement savings early is crucial to leverage the power of compounding.
“People need to stop prioritizing 529s and instead they need to be looking towards retirement accounts.”
“There's so many other more important things to take care of before you get there. So just it's, I mean, the same analogy, Matt, that we've used before, putting the oxygen mask on yourself before you put it on somebody else.”
“It is all about that. And to that end, I would say that folks should probably start sooner than you think, not saving for your kid's college, but for your own retirement, right?”