Patricia Roberts

Patricia A. Roberts, J.D., is a nationally recognized authority on 529 college savings plans with over 25 years of professional experience helping tens of thousands of families prepare for higher education costs and avoid student loan debt. As Chief Operating Officer of Gift of College, Inc., she leads innovations in education savings and workplace financial wellness benefits, bringing 529 college savings and disability savings plans to employees across the U.S. through payroll deduction and employer matching programs. Patricia is the author of 'Route 529: A Parent's Guide to Saving for College and Career Training with 529 Plans,' which became an Amazon bestseller upon its Fall 2020 release and maintains a 4.73/5 star rating on Goodreads. Her book combines professional expertise with personal experience—as a first-generation college graduate, Patricia accumulated and repaid over $100,000 in undergraduate and law school student loan debt while working multiple jobs and sending money home to help her mom and brother. Determined to provide a less financially stressful academic experience for her son, she began saving through 529 plans via payroll deduction immediately after maternity leave and, after 18 years of consistent contributions, proudly celebrated her son Ben graduating debt-free from college in 2021 and from graduate school in 2022.

Patricia's career has spanned leadership roles at premier financial services organizations including Merrill Lynch and Citigroup, as well as Founding Director of Strategies and Programs at NYC Kids RISE, New York City's universal children's savings account initiative through which more than 250,000 students have received seed money for college. In 2022, she was named the inaugural Distinguished Contributor for the College Countdown site of ScholarShare 529, California's official college savings plan, where her monthly expert articles reach tens of thousands of parents. In 2024, she was named Host of the College Countdown site and was recognized as a Finance Catalyst by the Council of Urban Professionals for her leadership in financial empowerment.

Since the launch of 529 ABLE plans for individuals with disabilities in 2014, she has worked extensively with the disability community and others to raise awareness of these savings tools. Patricia is a sought-after speaker and has been featured on national TV programs such as Good Morning America, as well as major financial podcasts, including Farnoosh Torabi's 'So Money,' 'Taming the High Cost of College,' 'Profit Boss Radio,' and numerous other education and financial wellness platforms. Her insights have appeared in hundreds of articles in publications including Barron's, Business Insider, Forbes, Fortune, Money, New York Times, Newsweek, Parents, USA Today, U.S. News & World Report and many more.

Living in Brooklyn Heights, New York, she continues her mission to make education affordable and accessible for all families through practical guidance, workplace innovations, and the encouraging message that small, consistent steps can eliminate the burden of education debt.