GuidesEducation savings
The target is fixed; the runway is what changes
Saving for a Child's Education: How Far Ahead Should You Be?
Education saving has a deadline most goals lack: the child turns eighteen on schedule whether the fund is ready or not. That makes progress measurable — current savings against target, divided by the runway left.
Two findings cover most households: a fund that exists but is behind pace for the years remaining, and a fund that has not started yet.
Measuring the shortfall
Divide current savings by the target, then weigh the percentage against years remaining. A fund at half its target is comfortable with fifteen years left and urgent with five — the same balance, opposite readings. Runway is the variable that decides which.
With five years or fewer remaining and savings below half the target, the contribution rate required to close the gap climbs quickly — which is why the check matters more than the balance.
Not started yet
Zero saved with years still on the clock is the most common position. The compound-growth math favours starting over waiting: a small monthly contribution begun early can outrun a larger one begun late, because the early contributions spend more years growing.
Tax-advantaged education savings vehicles exist in most countries and are worth researching — the specifics differ by jurisdiction, and a qualified financial professional can advise on what applies to your household.
How Keel checks this
For each child in a family's profile, Keel compares current education savings against the target and the years remaining — flagging funds below half-target inside five years, and funds not started for children under sixteen, so the runway shrinks visibly rather than silently.
Common questions
How much should I save for my child's education?
Work backward from the target cost and the years remaining — the same balance means very different things at different runways. A financial advisor can help set a target and a monthly contribution that fits your household.
What if I have not started saving yet?
The runway still works in your favour — early contributions compound for more years, so starting small now usually beats starting large later. Research the education savings options available in your country.
Should education savings come before retirement?
Most guidance treats retirement as the harder constraint — education has loans, scholarships, and timing flexibility that retirement does not. The right ordering depends on your household; a qualified professional can weigh it.
Are education savings projections guaranteed?
No — they are estimates based on contribution, growth, and time assumptions. Review them periodically, especially as the deadline approaches.
Put your family on the chart — free to start, no credit card — and see which of these areas look light for your household.
Start freeThis guide is general information, not financial advice. Product and provider choices are individual — a licensed professional can evaluate your household's situation.