Author Archives

  • 529 Plan Uses – Part II

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    By Mary Anne Busse
    Managing Director, Great Disclosure LLC
    April 15, 2013

    In an earlier post, we talked generally about uses for your 529 Plan account. In this post, we’ll break down what is included in room and board expenses. First, a refresher:

    If you use the funds in your 529 Plan account for Qualified Higher Education Expenses (as defined in Section 529 of the Internal Revenue Code), you will not be taxed on any of the income earned on your account. According to Section 529, Qualified Higher Education Expenses include, among other things, expenses for room and board incurred by students who are enrolled at least half-time.

  • The Final Four is now set!

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    By Mitch Seabaugh, Director, Georgia’s Path2College 529 Plan (P2C)
    April 5, 2013

    How have you faired with your bracket? Many probably had Louisville in their Final Four. Maybe Michigan or Syracuse too. But, what about Wichita State? How many people, when they sat down and looked at the 68 teams, actually had Wichita State advancing to the Final Four? They were a ninth seed in the West Region and finished second in the Missouri Valley Conference. Guaranteed, the players and staff at Wichita State did!

  • March Madness

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    By Renée Hicks, Marketing Specialist for Georgia’s Path2College 529 Plan (P2C)
    March 29, 2013

    It’s that time of year again.MARCH MADNESS!! There is nothing like some good old friendly competition along with rival schools going head-to-head.

    Not only are thoughts about our favorite college team and whether they will make it to the Final Four running through our minds, but many will also begin thinking about their loved one possibly attending one of these colleges one of these days.

  • Your job is to work hard in school so you can get a scholarship.

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    By Gina Rae Smith
    Assistant to Alabama State Treasurer Young Boozer
    March 26, 2013

    These are the words my mom told me when I asked if I needed to get an afternoon job during my high school years. She and my dad hadn’t saved money for my college tuition. We were a middle class family, both my parents were employed and both believed there was value in higher education. However, having grown up in small-town Alabama in the 1960s, my parents didn’t see going to college as the most common path to take after high school graduation. They both entered the work force and didn’t look back.

  • Data Indicates More Families Saving for College

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    By the College Savings Plans Network
    March 13, 2013

    The College Savings Plans Network recently published its 2012 Year-End 529 Report and found that the total amount invested by American families in the plans has reached a record high of $190.7 billion. In 2012, total assets in the plans grew by $25.86 billion dollars, more than three times as much as the $7.43 billion increase in 2011. Additionally, the total number of accounts increased 3.7% over the past 12 months, going from 10.7 million in December 2011 to 11.1 million as of December 2012.

  • Reducing Your Out of Pocket College Costs

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    By Steve Dombrower, CFA
    Vice President, College Savings Plans
    OppenheimerFunds, Inc., Program Manager for Numerous 529 Plans
    March 7, 2013

    In my January 4th posting titled “You Can Afford College”, I talked about how with a little knowledge, planning, and the right tools, paying for college can be within reach. Specifically, we explored how savings is only one of several sources of funding you will use when the time comes to send your loved one off to college. In this entry, we will discuss how saving today can potentially reduce your overall out of pocket college costs.

  • Put Your Refund to Good Use this Spring

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    By Hon. Michael L. Fitzgerald
    State Treasurer, State of Iowa
    March 1, 2013

    Still trying to figure out the best way to spend your tax refund this year? Instead of splurging it on something that will be gone before you know it, why not invest it in something that will last a lifetime, such as a loved one’s 529 college savings account. While their college years may seem a long ways off for some, the time to save for those higher education expenses is now. By starting early, saving a little at a time and making smart investment choices, families can make their 529 plans work for them and get the most out of these precious years.

  • Time is Money

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    By Lauren Shipley
    Public Relations and Marketing Manager College Savings Plans of Maryland
    February 20, 2013

    That age old saying, “time is money,” really is true—especially when it comes to saving for college. The projected costs of tuition can be shocking; but while some figures may seem unattainable, every dollar saved today could be a dollar less borrowed later. Each family has its own unique situations and goals when it comes to saving for a child’s future college education. Each State has a 529 plan that can help, regardless of how little or how much you can afford. Many offer initial monthly contribution amounts around $25 – for many families that is just one less pizza night a month.

  • Valentine’s Day is the single busiest day for florists.

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    By Betty Lochner
    Director, Guaranteed Education Tuition (GET)
    February 12, 2013

    valentine

    What if it were the single busiest day for 529 plans nationwide? What an amazing statement that would make. 529 plans make it so easy to share. While most plans are opened by parents, all it takes for grandparents, aunts, uncles and friends to contribute to an existing account is the child’s name and account number.

  • 529 Plan Uses?

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    By Mary Anne Busse
    Managing Director, Great Disclosure LLC
    February 8, 2013

    So, you want to save for college and you’re trying to figure out the right way to do it. You’ve learned about 529 Plans and want to have a better understanding of what you can use the funds in your account for. Look no further. In this post, we’ll give you the 411 on what to do with all that money in your 529 Plan account.