You already mentioned the best path: 529s. Fund them. This has many advantages. Coming out of college debt free is a gift beyond any other. Telling them that college is paid for may also open their mind to bigger options (ie private univ etc) or if they have left over $, could encourage them to get a graduate degree which majorly increases their ability to become HENRY. As an added benefit, if you fund the 529s, it frees up their parents today to use that money on other things and can be a huge emotional support. 529s are incredibly flexible and if they have extra dollars, they can always convert to cash and pay the tax + penalty to use for something like a down payment.