<p>For the affluent members of this board whose family strong work ethic
have dictated that saving for college is the only appropriate method
for paying ones child to attend college as opposed to seeking government
hand-outs, how many here have contemplated liquidating their 529 college
savings account prior to the end of this year as permitted by IRS statute ?
Financial conflict in the EU nations appear to be spilling into the US markets
and this may adversely effect your 529 college accounts.</p>
<p>“For the affluent members of this board whose family strong work ethic
have dictated that saving for college is the only appropriate method
for paying one’s child to attend college as opposed to seeking government
hand-outs…”</p>
<p>What a statement. Do you realize that “family strong work ethic” savings is not arrived at solely by the work of the family? If not for opportunities, provided by others’ dollars, “government hand-outs” as your derogatorily call them, that such a family would be given, that these savings would never be possible? Public education through primary and secondary school, roads, public safety…all these things that are nicely provided for you? In this way, no one person’s wealth is ever solely their own, and such a statement sounds highly arrogant and foolish.</p>
<p>I grew up with a single parent, my mother who was not able to receive an education because she put her children’s priorities over her own. She consistently held jobs that payed little over minimum wage for years and years before being layed off, always living paycheck to paycheck. Her work ethic was as strong as any, she was just not as fortunate as some others in the type of work she was able to hold.</p>
<p>You have to realize that a person’s financial situation is not necessarily indicative of their work ethic, or absence of one for that matter. There are many others who work hard as anyone else but who cannot get themselves out of poverty. Many are not able to become better educated and attain higher education because they cannot afford to take the loss of wages, even if they were to receive government grants to do so. A person’s financial situation is just as likely to reflect the opportunities they were or were not given, or many other factors.</p>
<p>I took offense when you seemed to resentfully say that those who get government “hand-outs” are not hard working, and wanted to point this out to you.
Though it may be the case that some who get assistance do less work then they are able, this does not mean it is the rule; and such a statement is likely to be taken in a pejorative and offensive sense to some, as well as not being a very logical conclusion to make about certain people or families based on the first part of this sentence.</p>
<p>Myself- I happen to have an EFC of 0- that is, my family is expected to contribute absolutely nothing to my education and I am eligible for the highest amount of aid. Without this I never would have been able to attend college.
I am doing very well and have plans to obtain an M.S. or (more likely) phD…
Hard work runs in the family 
Good day.</p>