By: Betty Lochner, Director of Washington’s Guaranteed Education Tuition (GET) program & CSPN Chair
January 6, 2014
Happy New Year! The holiday season has come to a close, but I love this time of year, because no matter how trying the past 12 months have been, you can focus on looking forward to what’s ahead. This year, I’m especially excited and honored to take on a new role as the CSPN Chair.
By Hon. Michael L. Fitzgerald
State Treasurer, State of Iowa
With the New Year quickly approaching, there is no better time than the present to start thinking about putting the finishing touches on 2013. Why not end 2013 with a bang by donating to a child’s future college fund? You can remember 2013 by possibly giving yourself multiple tax benefits at the same time.
December 23, 2013
Well it’s a condensed week for many of us as we enter the holiday homestretch. As we wrap up the year, we’d like to wish you and yours a joyous remainder of the holiday season and a happy and healthy New Year! We’d also like to challenge you to take a moment, hit pause and consider the following:
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 Robin Lott
Executive Director for Michigan Education Trust
December 10, 2013
With Thanksgiving now a new memory, we are now smack in the middle of the holiday season. While you are busy decking the halls with bows and holly and searching for the perfect gift for the loved ones in your life consider this: why not give the gift of education? Higher education is a gift that keeps on giving and your state’s college savings program can help.
By Hon. Michael L. Fitzgerald
State Treasurer, State of Iowa
While you are looking for the perfect gift on-line Cyber Monday, make sure you visit www.CollegeSavings.org to find the perfect 529 plan. Rather than fight the crowds in the mall to find a gift that will be forgotten by next year, give the gift of college savings that will last a lifetime. State-sponsored 529 plans provide investors the opportunity to save for a loved one’s higher education costs and get a tax benefit for themselves at the same time. With some plans having an initial investment as low as $25 to open an account, it makes the perfect gift for almost anyone to give.
By Hon. Michael L. Fitzgerald
State Treasurer, State of Iowa
November 27, 2013
With Thanksgiving only a few days away, many people are sharing with others what they are thankful for. Like many, I have a lot to be thankful for. In June, we welcomed my first grandchild, Michael John to the family.
By Jodi Golden
Director of the Indiana Education Savings Authority<
November 22, 2013
In today’s hustle and bustle of life, it seems more and more families are having a harder time saving for their most valuable expense of all, a college education . For families with children it seems like there’s another expense around every corner, from trendy new clothes to the newest video game to the never ending list of sports equipment, games and travel. With these expenses and a plethora of others, I find families question how anyone can expect them to put away enough money to cover the cost of a future post-secondary education?
Part II of a Two Part Series on 529 Prepaid Plans
By Sheila Salehian
Senior Deputy Treasurer for the State of Nevada
November 12, 2013
Last week, I shared a bit of my personal college savings story.The following lessons I’ve learned will hopefully help you firm up your college savings plans, understand more about 529 Prepaid Tuition programs, and avoid costly mistakes!
Part I of a Two Part Series on 529 Prepaid Plans
By Sheila Salehian
Senior Deputy Treasurer for the State of Nevada
November 7, 2013
I often get asked this question when providing community outreach support. Like most Deputy Treasurers who serve the public by helping families save for college, that question is a difficult and somewhat tricky one to answer. Since most of us are not a certified professional financial planner, we can only share our experiences and the facts of what a prepaid tuition program offers. In addition to sharing facts from Bloomberg and other financial experts, which I’ll discuss in Part II of this posting, my typical response is to share my very real and personal story.
Mary Anne Busse
Managing Director, Great Disclosure LLC
October 23, 2013
The College Board just came out with their annual review of college prices. Trends in College Pricing 2013, the College Board noted that in-state tuition and fees at public four-year institutions increased just 2.9% in 2013-14 compared to 2012-2013 prices. This “followed increases of 4.5% in 2012‑13 and 8.5% in 2011-12 and was the smallest percentage increase in over 30 years”. That is some promising news for college savers. If this trend continues, it means your college savings may go much further than you may have originally planned.
By Betty Lochner
Executive Director, Washington’s Guaranteed Education Tuition program
October 15, 2013
Last week I attended the National Association of State Treasurers’ (NAST) annual conference in beautiful Asheville, North Carolina. This event brings together state treasury departments from across the nation to discuss public finance issues, share policy ideas and elect new NAST officers for the upcoming year. For me, the conference was a valuable and informative three days of networking and gaining more insight into the complex financial issues throughout our nation and how those issues are affecting individual states and 529 plans.