Diane K. Taylor, 40, of Springfield is doing all the right things in saving for her son's college education.

She started early, she's investing regularly and she's not neglecting her retirement savings.

All this is not surprising because she's a fee-only Certified Financial Planner and president of the Financial Planning Association of New Jersey.

Taylor, who is divorced, has invested in a Massachusetts 529 plan, run by Fidelity. She chose that plan mainly because of the unusually high maximum when she started investing, when her son, Brennan, was 4. He's now 8.

She has $25,000 invested and contributes $250 a month; the money is automatically swept from her checking account into the 529.

She's working part-time now, but when she was working full-time, she targeted $500 a month into the 529.

Taylor's goal: To be able afford to send her son to the most expensive, best school in the country. If it happens to be situated in New Jersey (Princeton?), that would be icing on the cake.

But she will let her son decide. The most important thing, she believes, is that her son and his school be a best fit.

There's a chance that Brennan will win a scholarship, of course. He's into karate and soccer; he's a Cub Scout; and he's on the swim team of his school, Walton.

In investing for her son, Taylor is making sure that "It's not to the detriment of her own retirement."

She is careful to put money into her retirement plans.

Does she prefer a public or private college for her son?

Private. "I went to a private, small liberal-arts school, Moravian in Bethlehem, Pa., and it was a wonderful experience. I'd be pleased if he attended such a school."

What if Brennan, at 18, decides he won't go to college?

"He knows that I'm investing for his education. I keep him informed. He knows that not going to college is not an option."