?
Should we save for college or for retirement first?
Why "us too" is part of "kids first," and a simple order many families follow.
Guide · Chapter 8, page 10
Family Planning
A little something for your family
Your Family's Future Deserves a Plan.
As proud supporters of our community, we've put together a free Family Financial Planning Guide to help you work through the money decisions that come with raising a family, from protecting the people you love to paying for school and keeping your own future on track.
College
Career
Family
Retirement
We hold ourselves to a fiduciary standard
CFP®- and CRPC™-led team
Free, no obligation
$20,000
New in 2026: 529 plans can now cover up to $20,000 a year per student in private K–12 costs, not just tuition. The guide explains what changed and what to check first (page 8).
Your guide is ready.
Thank you for trusting us with a little about your family. Your guide is ready to download below.
Download Your Family Guide (PDF)Opens in a new tab so you can save or print it.
Where to start reading
These page suggestions are based on your answers. They're general education, not personalized advice.
A member of our team will reach out soon to see if you'd like a complimentary conversation about your family's plan. Prefer to pick a time now?
Book a Complimentary ConversationOr call Blaine directly at (970) 212-5254
BREAKAWAYWEALTH MANAGEMENT
Family Financial Planning Guide · 2026
Your Family's Future Deserves a Plan.
What's inside the guide
Fourteen calm, plain-English pages for busy parents.
No jargon and no sales pitch. Just the decisions most families face, the 2026 rules worth knowing, and a checklist for every stage, from expecting to launching.
Family
Protect the people who count on you
Emergency savings, life and disability coverage, and the documents every parent should have, including naming a guardian.
College
What school really costs, and how to save
529 plans, the new Trump Accounts, private K–12 tuition under the 2026 rules, and how grandparents can help.
Career
Your paycheck is your biggest asset
A family benefits checklist, plus the 2026 limits for the Child Tax Credit, dependent care FSAs, HSAs, and more.
Retirement
Don't put your own future last
Balancing college and retirement, and planning through the "sandwich" years with aging parents.
Send the Guide My Way
Free to download as soon as you finish the short form.
The questions parents ask us most
If you've wondered about these, you're in good company.
There's rarely one right answer. The guide gives you a clear way to think each one through.
?
How much protection does our family really need?
What life and disability insurance are meant to do, and the gaps families often miss.
Guide · Chapter 2, page 4
?
Who would raise our kids if something happened to us?
Wills, guardians, beneficiaries, and the conversation most couples put off.
Guide · Chapter 3, page 5
?
Can our 529 help with private school tuition?
What changed on January 1, 2026, and the state-level questions to check first.
Guide · Chapter 6, page 8
Why it matters now
Most families are doing a lot right. The gaps show up in the same places.
50%
of parents have no estate planning documents, including the one that names a guardian for their children.
Trust & Will, 2026 Estate Planning Report38%
of American adults say they need life insurance, or more of it, than they have today.
LIMRA & Life Happens, 2026 Insurance Barometer Study$34,019
is what families spent, on average, on one year of college in 2025–26, up 10% from the year before.
Sallie Mae & Ipsos, How America Pays for College 2026New for families in 2026
Several rules changed this year, and most families haven't heard.
Each one is explained in the guide, along with the questions to ask before acting on it.
$20,000
Per student for K–12 from a 529
The yearly federal limit for K–12 withdrawals doubled, and now covers more than tuition. State rules vary.
$1,000
Federal deposit in a Trump Account
For eligible children born 2025 through 2028. Families must open the account and make the election.
$7,500
Dependent care FSA limit
The household limit for pre-tax childcare dollars rose from $5,000, its first increase in decades.
$65,000
New cap on Parent PLUS loans
New federal parent loans are now limited to $20,000 a year and $65,000 per student.
Sources: One Big Beautiful Bill Act (2025); IRS and U.S. Treasury guidance. Federal limits shown; eligibility rules and state tax treatment vary. See the guide for details and sources.
A plan that grows with your family
Every stage brings its own checklist.
The guide includes the full stage-by-stage checklist. Here's a preview of what tends to matter most, and when.
Ages 0–1
Expecting or a new baby
- Wills and a named guardian
- Life coverage for both parents
- Open a 529; look at a Trump Account
Ages 1–5
The little years
- Dependent care FSA and Child Tax Credit
- Rebuild the emergency fund
- Automate savings for both goals
Ages 6–12
The school years
- Private school and the 2026 529 rules
- A first savings account together
- Refresh insurance and wills
Ages 13–18
The teen years
- The honest college-cost talk
- FAFSA timing and net price
- A Roth IRA for a working teen
Age 18+
Launching
- Healthcare proxy and HIPAA release
- Options for unused 529 money
- Refocus on your own retirement
Who you'll be talking with
Real people who care about your family's future.
Every request is read by our advisors, not a call center. We'll listen first, then help you decide what, if anything, should change.
RR
Roger Relucio, CFP®, CRPC™
Managing Partner, Financial Advisor
Leads Breakaway's wealth management practice with a focus on straightforward, actionable planning.
PR
Pasqualino Ruffa, CFP®, CRPC™
Partner, Financial Advisor
Helps families organize their finances and build investment plans around their real goals.
DK
David M. Kraus, CRPC™
Partner, Financial Advisor
Focused on simplifying complex financial decisions so families can move forward with confidence.
BT
Blaine Tucker
Financial Advisor
Works with families to build a clear picture of their goals, from college savings to retirement.
We hold ourselves to a fiduciary standard.
Before we offer any advice, we look at where your family stands today: your savings, your benefits, your goals. Only then do we help build a plan around the future you want. Securities and advisory services offered through LPL Financial, a registered investment advisor.
Before you ask
A few things parents wonder
Yes. The guide is our gift to the families in our community, and there's no cost or obligation to work with us.
Two reasons. Your answers let us point you to the pages of the guide that fit your situation, and if you choose to talk with us, they help us make that conversation about your family instead of a generic pitch. Your answers aren't used to calculate anything or generate a recommendation.
A member of our team may reach out by phone, text, or email to see if you'd like a complimentary conversation. There's no pressure, and you can opt out at any time. You're also welcome to book a time directly.
No. It's general education to help you think through the big decisions. A personalized plan comes from a conversation with an advisor who looks at your full picture, using professional planning software.
No. Many families come to us when they're just getting started, after a new baby, a new job, or when college starts to feel close. That's often the best time to plan.
Your family's future deserves a plan.
Start with the guide. It's free, it takes about two minutes to request, and it's yours to keep.
