By Hon. Michael L. Fitzgerald
State Treasurer, State of Iowa
December 30, 2012
The New Year is just around the corner, which means it is a great time to start thinking about saving for your child’s future education. Rather than having friends and family purchase toys that will soon be forgotten or broken, invite them to give one of the most meaningful gifts a child may ever receive – help toward paying for a college education.
By Mary Morris
Virginia529
December 18, 2012
Last week, the US Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a report about participation in 529 plans across the country. We appreciate the focus on 529 plans and attempts by the GAO to understand the industry by talking to 529 sponsors and partners. The Report contains some interesting findings and food for thought. But, there also are data points in the Report that merit additional context and attention.
By Mary Anne Busse
Managing Director, Great Disclosure LLC
December 7, 2012
During this season of spend, spend, spend, why don’t you focus on a crazy alternative – save, save, save? I know this is advice I could benefit from. Sometimes the focus on my daughter this time of year turns to obsession and I feel like Arnold Schwarzenegger in Jingle All the Way, desperate to get this year’s hottest toy. My 4 year old changes her letter to Santa every day. So, why do I race from store to store to get that thing she says she desperately needs when she’ll forget about it tomorrow?
By Lynne N. Ward
Executive Director, Utah Educational Savings Plan (UESP)
November 28, 2012
One size doesn’t fit all when it comes to saving for college. Your family has unique needs, means, and goals, and your family needs a unique college savings blueprint.
Fortunately, you have lots of options, especially among 529 plans. Two of those options are 529 Prepaid Tuition Plans and 529 College Savings Plans.
Smart Gift Giving this Holiday Season
November 20, 2012
Many college savings programs have tools in place that make it easy for account owners to invite friends and family to contribute to already-established accounts. Account owners should check with their 529 plan to determine what tools exist to invite others to contribute, such as deposit coupons that can be printed and shared. A few plans even have paperless tools enabling gifts to be made electronically!
(Part 2 in a Series on the College Board’s 2012 Trends in College Pricing & Trends in Student Aid)
By Joan Marshall
Executive Director, College Savings Plans of Maryland
November 9, 2012
I am often asked by parents about whether their college savings will reduce their children’s future financial aid. My initial response is that – with student loan debt today surpassing credit card debt – it is generally in a family’s best interests to save whatever amount they can afford for college in order to reduce or maybe even eliminate the need to take on burdensome levels of future student loan debt.
(Part 1 in a Series on the College Board’s 2012)
By Mary Anne Busse
Managing Director, Great Disclosure LLC
November 2, 2012
The College Board recently came out with its 2012 Trends in College Pricing and it’s chock full of great information – some good news and some not so good news. According to the report, published prices for tuition and fees at public four-year colleges and universities increased 4.8%, the smallest since 2000‑01. For prospective college students, that’s great news! Unfortunately, the report also found that “the growth in published prices at public four-year institutions has been higher over the past decade (averaging 5.2% per year beyond inflation) than over either of the two preceding decades.”1
By Jodi Golden
Director, CollegeChoice 529 Savings Plans
October 25, 2012
It’s October so you know what that means – pumpkins, trick or treating, costumes and scary activities! For children, haunted houses and ghost stories from the past may scare them. Mom and Dad however, may be scared of the “what ifs” of the future: how will we save for retirement? Or for our children’s education? There are some scary tidbits out there:
(Part 3 in a blog series focusing on prepaid tuition plans)
By Betty Lochner
Director, Guaranteed Education Tuition (GET)
October 19, 2012
Last week, we took a look at some unique features of Prepaid Tuition Plans. In this last part of our Prepaid Tuition Plan series, we’ll take a final look at some additional features of this type of 529 plan.
(Part 2 in a blog series focusing on prepaid tuition plans)
By Betty Lochner
Director, Guaranteed Education Tuition (GET)
October 15, 2012
Last week, we introduced you to Prepaid Tuition Plans and gave you some Fun Prepaid Facts. For the next two weeks, we’ll take a closer look at some unique feature of prepaid plans. If your state offers a prepaid tuition plan*, make sure you check out the special features that are offered. If you consider an analogy to retirement plans, Prepaid plans are designed to be a “defined benefit”, as opposed to 529 savings or investment plans which are more like “defined contribution” plans. The defined benefit of a Prepaid plan (which varies by state) may prove to be better or worse than a similar investment in a 529 savings plan, depending upon investment performance and tuition increases during that time.