Author Archives

  • Does a 529 hurt or help when it comes to financial aid?

    by Comments are off

    By Jodi Golden,
    Director, CollegeChoice 529 Savings Plans
    January 25, 2013

    What’s one of the most important steps you can take in preparing for college? Filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The FAFSA is your first step in applying for over $150 billion in federal financial aid dollars. The FAFSA is an important document that requires personal and financial information. Be prepared to list everything from social security numbers of your students and parents to information on cash, bank accounts or investments the family may hold.

  • CSPN Executive Board

    by Comments are off

    January 11, 2013
    In case you ever wondered about the leadership behind the College Savings Plans Network, here’s your opportunity to see who they are and how long they have served.The CSPN Executive Board meets monthly to conduct business on behalf of the membership.

  • You Can Afford College!!

    by 1 Comment

    By Steve Dombrower, CFA<
    Vice President, College Savings Plans
    OppenheimerFunds, Inc., Program Manager for Numerous 529 Plans
    January 4, 2013

    I’ll bet “You Can Afford College” is something you don’t hear very often. More likely than not what you’ve heard about paying for your child’s higher education includes things like continuously rising tuition inflation and adjectives like astronomical or impossible. Perhaps you’ve seen or have been presented with six figure numbers in terms of what you need to save making you feel like you just won’t be able to get there.

  • Give the Gift of College this Holiday Season:

    by 1 Comment

    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.

  • Thoughts on Participation in 529 Plans

    by 3 Comments

    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.

  • Holiday Savings?

    by Comments are off

    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?

  • Best of Both Worlds: How 529 College Savings Plans Complement 529 Prepaid Tuition Plans

    by Comments are off

    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.

  • College on Your Wish List?

    by 14 Comments

    Smart Gift Giving this Holiday Season

    By Patricia Roberts
    Managing Director & Senior 529 Product Manager, AllianceBernstein L.P.

    November 20, 2012

    With Thanksgiving upon us and Black Friday and Cyber Monday soon to follow, gift giving is on the minds of many.  This is an ideal time to talk turkey about gifts for the children in your life.  

     

    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!

    blog 10 diploma-2

    Why put college on your holiday wish list?

  • THE STATE OF FINANCIAL AID

    by Comments are off

    (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.