re: I want to start saving money for my children

Someone gave you bad information. It is only an asset of the child if the child is the account owner (and they can't be the owner until age 18). If a parent or grandparent is the account owner it is excluded from the FAFSA.

One thing I forgot to mention is you can change the beneficiary on the Louisiana START 529 and the CESA... there's no constructive receipt by the child.

The UTMA is a completed gift to the child, therefore it WOULD be included on the FAFSA.