Finances

  • Building Your College Savings Game Plan

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    By Luke Minor, Marketing & Communications Manager
    Washington’s Guaranteed Education Tuition (GET) program
    Nov. 3, 2014

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    It’s the middle of football season, and no matter whether you’re a fan or not, there are some valuable lessons that can be learned from the top caliber NFL teams when it comes to getting ahead of college expenses. Like executing a winning game plan, saving for college takes thoughtful preparation, dedication and commitment. Here are some tips to get you started:

  • Lower Prices: Florida Prepaid Plan

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    By Kevin Thompson
    Executive Director, Florida Prepaid College Board
    October 20, 2014

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    Halloween is looming, and families across the country are investing in new costumes for their young superheroes, princesses and vampires. As scary as the tab for those Halloween costumes and trick-or-treat candy can be, it’s not nearly as jarring as the price tag might be on their college education.

  • Take the Scare Out of Paying For College: Saving vs. Borrowing Can Have a Fiendish Impact!

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    By Lauren Shipley
    Public relations and marketing manager, College Savings Plans of Maryland
    October 6, 2014

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    I hear one frightening theme as I travel in October: “I have been meaning to start a 529 plan for a while.”  I believe many families understand the need to save for college, but often misunderstand the true benefit of saving.

    It may sound bewitching, but each family has the power to cut their child’s future college costs in half. The power lies in saving now versus borrowing later.  To cover $25,000 in college costs, a family could put away $92 a month into a 529 plan for 15 years—a total investment of $17,000.

    1. A family choosing to borrow the $25,000 instead would have to repay roughly $35,000 (or approximately $300 a month over the next ten years)

    2. Their total debt would be double the amount spent by the family who saved. Ghoulish, right?!

  • The One: Finding and Affording Your Top Choice School

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    By Lael Oldmixon, Education Trust of Alaska
    Sept. 29, 2014
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    During the college search process, many parents and their college-ready young adults pile into the trusty family wagon and drive from school to school comparing campuses for the right fit. You know the right fit…it’s the right program of study, the perfect location, or just that magical feeling in the pit of the tummy that says this college is “THE ONE.” 

  • And That’s a Wrap to College Savings Month!

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    By Betty Lochner
    Chair of the College Savings Plans Network and director of Washington’s Guaranteed Education Tuition (GET) program
    September 25, 2014
    Charlie Davenport

    Well it’s been another eventful and all-together successful College Savings Month!

    In case you missed it, throughout the month of September, eight-year-old CSPN correspondent Charlie Davenport was busy investigating the inner-workings of the 529 world in a four-part series titled “College Savings Uncovered.” 

  • College Savings Discussed During NAST Annual Conference

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    By Alabama State Treasurer Young Boozer
    September 23, 2014

    Grand Hotel - ariel viewwebFrom September 6-10, the NAST* Annual Conference was held at the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island, Michigan. It was my first visit there and I know exactly why they call it the Grand Hotel. It is massive, impressive and unique. The weather was spectacular while we were there. Even though it may be a bit difficult to travel to the island, the entire experience is well worth the effort.

  • Americans Continue to Show Their Resolve to Save for College

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    By: Betty Lochner
    Chair of the College Savings Plans Network & Director of Washington’s Guaranteed Education Tuition (GET) Program
    Sept. 9, 2014

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    Education is the key to unlocking the door to opportunity. Throughout the past several years, new research continues to provide supportive evidence that a college degree not only increases the economic earning power of both individuals and our national economy, but it is also proven to contribute to improved health, homeownership, voting rates, community volunteerism and other social benefits.  While there is no doubt the cost of a college education has increased dramatically in the past two decades, Americans continue to display their growing value of a college degree by saving more of their hard-earned dollars for the future higher education expenses of their children.

  • Don’t Let Scholarship Prospects Derail 529 Savings

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    By Lisa Groen
    Senior Writer, Utah Educational Savings Plan (UESP)
    August 28, 2014

    Andres, a junior at University of Nebraska Omaha, played soccer from the time he could walk, eventually earning his way onto a soccer club’s premier team. His father shuttled him to and from games around their home state of Utah, and to summer tournaments in California, Arizona, Colorado, and Nevada.

  • Reaping the Rewards of Saving in a 529 Plan

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    By Joan Marshall
    Executive Director, College Savings Plans of Maryland

    August 4, 2014

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    In running two 529 plans for our state, this time of year is always busy, yet rewarding, as we help thousands of account holders pay for qualified expenses on their beneficiaries’ college bills for the fall semester. In our office, we directly manage our 529 prepaid tuition program, so I really enjoy seeing the checks that we produce on a daily basis for thousands of students who are getting ready for college life in Maryland or across the country, many of them for the first time.

  • How do You Decide When to Use the Money in Your 529 Plan?

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    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.

  • Are You a 529 Newbie? 3 Free CSPN Resources to Help You Find the Right Plan

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    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.

  • Summer Enrichment: Money Matters provide Teachable Moments

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    By Patricia Roberts, Managing Director
    AllianceBernstein L.P.
    July 21, 2014

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    The welcomed and relaxed pace of summer provides a unique opportunity for us to catch our breath and address issues (big and small) that have been pushed to the side during the hustle and bustle of the school year. Even more importantly, with a bit less on our collective plates, the summer season also presents the opportunity to connect in meaningful ways with our families and particularly, with the children in our lives.