The simple act of sending a birthday card has the power to alter completely your relationship.

This approach does not work with Christmas cards, or other major holiday cards. Everybody knows it's Christmas, but not enough people know it's your birthday.

Grandparents want to set-up 529-plans for their four grandchildren. What is the maximum they can contribute in one year (2026) without making it a taxable gift?

1. $160,000
2. $320,000
3. $480,000
4. $760,000
5. $1,280,000
6. No limit

Answer = Choice 4: $760,000

In 2026, the annual gift tax exclusion is $19,000 per recipient for an individual donor, or $38,000 per recipient for a married couple filing jointly who elect to split gifts. Since the grandparents are setting up 529 plans for their four grandchildren, they can take advantage of this exclusion for each grandchild. Additionally, 529 plans offer a unique option called "5-year gift-tax averaging," which allows them to front-load up to five years' worth of gifts in a single year without incurring gift tax, as long as they don’t make additional gifts to the same beneficiary during the next four years.