<prompt> Human: I cant get into too much of what I do but Ill be working in chemistry for the pharmasutical industry no, I wont be making meth lol.I got a big paycheck for some drug patents I did. Basically, I get a full time job right around 90k a year and get a lump sum big enough to pay off my student loans and my credit card debt. That much, Ive learned from you guys, should be my priority. From there I was planning on getting as close as I can to maximizing the 401k they offer and have taken out a life insurance policy of about a million in case something happens to me it was a benefit from work so it comes out of my pre tax income.But Im lost when it comes to my kids.I have 4, the eldest is 12 and the youngest is 12 months. I want to put money aside for them to either pay for school or spend on them when they become adults car, house down payment, dowry, etc.. Ive looked into 529 plans but I worry that I wont have that much flexibility if the kids are like me and take forever to finish school.Do I start 4 seperate funds or lump them together so they grow faster? Do I invest in mutual funds or another kind of etf? Is there a more efficient way to minimize my tax burden.All of this is new to me and Id appreciate some ideas on where to get started.TL:DR - I got my first real job, now now can I efficiently put money away for 4 kids of various ages?  <response>: Since you are starting so late, you have to take care of yourself first. Kids will always have the option to take loans for college, but if you run out of money in retirement, nobody will loan you money. 