This spring, we talked to hundreds of college-bound seniors and their families about getting ready to pay for college. So many families have found that they didn’t receive as much financial aid as they had been hoping for, and many are now wishing that they had started saving sooner and saved more. And many of those families who do have savings set aside are uncertain about how and when to use their savings for college costs.
By Terry Crockett
Marketing Analyst, Virginia529 College Savings Plan
July 28, 2014
Finding the right college savings plan can often be tricky. Does your state offer tax advantages to residents? What about a prepaid tuition plan? We won’t even get started on advisor sold plans vs. direct sold plans. Let’s face it–the average consumer just doesn’t have the industry knowledge to make a well informed decision when opening a 529 account.
By Patricia Roberts
Managing Director, AllianceBernstein Investments
May 26, 2014
Thursday, May 29, marks 529 College Savings Day, a day to raise awareness about the value of planning ahead for college expenses with 529 plans. This year, 529 plans across the U.S. are celebrating 529 Day in a variety of informative and creative ways.
By Joan Marshall
Executive Director, College Savings Plans of MarylandMay 22, 2014
A couple of months ago in this space, we talked about the benefits of HR 4333, a relatively new bill in Congress that would add several new features to 529 plans to make them easier to use and more flexible, including expanding the number of investment changes from one to four times per year; adding computers as a qualified higher education expense, etc.
By Mary G. Morris,
CEO, Virginia529
May 5, 2014
After deciding on a 529 plan for their college savings, one of the first questions asked by many families is “savings plan or prepaid tuition plan?” (For a basic overview of the two, read “What is a 529 Plan?” on this website.) While savings programs are relatively straightforward, prepaid tuition programs suffer from many misconceptions, perpetuated by people who don’t fully understand their benefits.
The 13 prepaid tuition programs available in the U.S. offer customers a hedge against future tuition inflation that can’t be realized through savings programs.
By Lisa S. Cleveland Director of Communications, National Association of State Treasurers Mark Twain once quipped that “actions speak louder than words, but not nearly as often.” While […]
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.
New Survey by College Savings Plans Network Offers Insights On Who is Saving for College and How The College Savings Plans Network (CSPN)—the nation’s leading objective source about Section 529 College Savings and Prepaid Tuition Plans— today released results of its nationwide 529 investor survey, presenting an analysis of the demographics and saving habits of American 529 plan investors
By Hon. Michael L. Fitzgerald>State Treasurer, State of Iowa
September 18, 2013
Data collected as part of our 2013 Mid-Year 529 Report indicates that families are increasingly using 529 plans to pay for their children’s college education. 529 plan assets reached record amounts as of June 30, 2013 with more than $205 billion invested nationally. This is a 7.98% increase during the first half of 2013.
By Mary G. Morris
CEO, Virginia529
August 15, 2013
It really is easy – and inexpensive – to get started with a 529 college savings account.
I talk to hundreds of people about higher education in the course of a year – about how important it is, plans to attend and how to pay for it. Many conversations are at Virginia529-sponsored events and some are with people I meet in the course of a day at the grocery store, a restaurant or at the dentist’s office. The reality is that most people are interested in college and its costs and once they know that I work at a 529 plan, the questions come quickly.
The College Savings Plans Network—the national non-profit association and the leading, objective source of information about Section 529 College Savings Plans and Prepaid Tuition Plans—is collecting information from 529 investors in each state to learn more about the habits of people who are saving for college. This will help us better understand investors’ patterns. No individual’s specific data will be shared – we are only looking for overall numbers and trends. Please take a moment to fill out this brief survey here
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.