By Hon. Michael L. Fitzgerald
State Treasurer, State of Iowa
June 27, 2013
Recent Congressional action seems to indicate that the Senate will be unable to reach a compromise that will keep student loan interest rates from doubling before the July 1 deadline. “If I were a betting person, I’d say that’s something we’ll come back and attempt to fix retroactively,” Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., told ABC News.
By Mary Anne Busse
Managing Director, Great Disclosure LLC
June 20, 2013
I know one young student, let’s call him Sam, who wants to attend college but he just hasn’t focused enough on his grades. Smart kid, but hasn’t applied himself. Now that he’s about to be a senior in high school he’s realized that he needs to step it up. He even thinks it may be too late. I also hear many students say that college won’t work for them because they don’t know what they want to do. Others think they have too many financial responsibilities. Still others may think college costs too much.
By Lucas Minor
Marketing & Communications Coordinator, Guaranteed Education Tuition
June 13, 2013
You may have heard someone say, “My grandmother left me some money for college.” It’s clear how much that grandparent valued higher education, and it shows her belief in that student’s future success. That kind of confidence is an inspiring gift with many intangible qualities.
By Hon. Michael L. Fitzgerald
State Treasurer, State of Iowa
June 5, 2013
May 29th marked 529 College Savings Day, a day to raise awareness about the importance of saving for college with 529 plans. With over 30 states across the U.S. are celebrating 529 Day during the month of May, families across the country had the opportunity to participate in some exciting events from discount zoo admissions to 529 plan scholarships giveaways. We at the College Savings Plans Network (CSPN) led the way with our first ever 529 Day 529 plan scholarship giveaway. We awarded 10 different $529 scholarships to the lucky winners who “Liked” our Facebook page. People from 42 states and the District of Columbia entered the contest and the winners represented states from Washington to Kentucky!
By Hon. Michael L. Fitzgerald
State Treasurer, State of Iowa
May 23, 2013
May 29th marks 529 College Savings Day, a day to raise awareness about the importance of saving for college with 529 plans. This year more than 30 states across the U.S. are celebrating 529 Day during the month of May. States are hosting 529 education sessions, waiving enrollment fees, discount admissions to zoos, offering 529 plan scholarships and more. Today, we at The College Savings Plans Network(CSPN), the nation’s leading objective source about Section 529 College Savings Plans and Prepaid Tuition Plans, have released an infographic detailing these great events. The full infographic is available online.
By Mary Anne Busse
Managing Director, Great Disclosure LLC
May 15, 2013
The College Savings Plans Network (CSPN) is meeting this week in Pittsburgh for the annual National Association of State Treasurers Treasury Management Symposium. 529 Plan representatives from all over the country are discussing ways to make 529 Plans available to every college saver in the country. This morning, state representatives had a chance to share significant program initiatives, marketing strategies, insights and innovations for their plans. Here are some highlights:
By Patricia Roberts
Managing Director & Senior 529 Product Manager, AllianceBernstein L.P.
May 11, 2013
As Mother’s Day approaches and with graduation season just around the corner, it is an ideal time to honor the women in our lives who have offered support and encouragement with respect to educational pursuits.
For reading to us at night, for patiently holding up flashcards in our early days of mastering multiplication and division, for sitting attentively as our “audience” for book reports and presentations, for showing such interest in projects large and small along the way, we thank you. We also thank you for encouraging us to follow our dreams and for helping us to make them a reality with some careful planning and sacrifice.
By Joan Marshall, Executive Director, College Savings Plans of Maryland & Mary Morris, Chief Executive Officer, Virginia529
May 7, 2013
May is a month of celebrations, as youth across the country graduate from kindergarten thru college. CSPN and its members also celebrate in May – on the 29thfor National 5-29 Day by holding events across the country to raise awareness of the need to save for higher education. National 5-29 Day also helps families learn about 529 college savings plans and how they can help families achieve their dreams of higher education for their children and grandchildren.
By Hon. Michael L. Fitzgerald
State Treasurer, State of Iowa
April 30, 2013
Whether they are graduating from kindergarten, elementary school or high school, there is no better way to celebrate a child’s education than with a contribution to their 529 Plan college savings account. This graduation season, in order to encourage families and friends to give the gift of higher education, the College Savings Plans Network has compiled information and tips for people looking to give the gift of education.
10 Important Questions to Ask Before you Decide<
By Joan Marshall,
Executive Director, College Savings Plans of Maryland
April 23, 2013
For those of us who manage 529 college savings plans, this is a question that we hear from time to time – primarily when families see an ad (usually on TV) that promotes life insurance as a way to save for college.
In Maryland, we have responded to this question by creating a chart that compares our 529 prepaid tuition plan and our 529 savings plan with one of the popular life insurance products.