Author Archives

  • Financial Literacy & Consumer Focused Legislation Highlight Treasurers’ Conference

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    By Betty Lochner, Chair of College Savings Plans Network
    March 24, 2014

    Capitol in the springtime

    There are two things I really enjoy in life. One is visiting our nation’s capital. The other is watching Saturday Night Live. For years, I have been a lucky person because it seems like these two things always seem to find each other in funny satire political skits. Whether it’s Will Ferrell impersonating President George W. Bush or Jay Pharoah taking on the persona of President Barack Obama, you never have to look too hard to find humor in American politics.

  • Create Your Own Pot O’ Gold this St. Patrick’s Day

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    By Iowa State Treasurer Michael Fitzgerald
    March 17, 2014

    Fitzgerald and Grandson

    As State Treasurer of Iowa and administrator of College Savings Iowa, I frequently have the opportunity to talk to grandparents about saving for their grandchildren’s future education costs. As a grandparent, you want to help prepare the next generation to succeed. One way to accomplish this is to start saving for those future costs. Since I am still in my first year as a grandparent, this has never been more of a reality as it is now.

  • Saving for College — Two Plans are Better Than One!

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    By Sheila Salehian
    Senior Deputy Treasurer, Office of
    Nevada State Treasurer
    Kate Marshall
    March 3, 2014

    Contributing to a prepaid tuition plan and a traditional 529 college savings plan simultaneously….really?

    collegemoney

    If you’re like most parents, the thought of paying for your children’s college education sends you to the mall shopping for gourmet chocolates or other ‘comfort food’.  You’re not alone. According to a recent survey, only 50% of families with children under the age of 18 have actually started to save for their children’s higher education needs.*   However, these families have realized that even if they cannot save for the entirety of their child’s college education cost, they are still better off borrowing less… essentially ‘paying themselves’ with tax free interest earnings when paying for qualified higher education expenses. Paying significantly more in the future for what you can’t afford to pay for today is a scary feeling.

  • Kids Remind Us of What’s Important: Technology Brings Us Together

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    By:  Betty Lochner, Director of Washington’s Guaranteed Education Tuition (GET) program & CSPN Chair

    Kid President

    You may or may not be aware of a young man named Robby, better known as Kid President, who has become an Internet sensation for his inspiring videos about how we can make the world a better place.  Robby reminds us of the simple truth that kids want nothing more than to leave the world better than they found it. In Robby’s most famous video titled “Pep Talk” he says, “If there are two paths, I want to be on the one that leads to awesome.”

  • Happy Presidents Day!

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      President's Day

     

    We celebrate Presidents Day each February, and it gives us a chance to reflect on our country’s history and leaders.  There has been a long tradition of higher education support and action from White House occupants.  Almost all had higher education in their background, and many initiated or supported expanded opportunities for education and research before, during, or after their time in office.  I like historical trivia, so here are some presidential facts you may not know, along with some lesser known features of 529 college savings plans.  Pay attention—there’s a quiz at the end.

  • So what is a prepaid plan exactly?

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    By Claire Whittington Director, Mississippi Prepaid Affordable College Tuition (MPACT) Program As parenting fears go, starting a college fund is right up there with sending your child to their first […]

  • White House Initiative – College Savings

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    graduates

    January 28, 2014

    Recently, President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama issued a call to action, requesting colleges and universities, foundations, businesses, non-profits, government officials, other leaders and individuals to make commitments to help assure that college becomes a reality for more young people. The objective is to help an increased number of students afford college and graduate with the skills they need to succeed. The call to action along with some of the commitments made in response to it can be viewed here:

  • 529 Plans and the FAFSA

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    By: Jodi Golden
    Director of the Indiana Education Savings Authority
    January 27, 2014

     

    FAFSA? What in the world does that mean, you ask? Well, for those families that have a child nearing college, you’re probably familiar with this infamous acronym. FAFSA stands for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. This is one of the most important documents a prospective college student may ever have to submit. This document helps determine your eligibility for federal and state student financial aid.