By David Lawhorn, Program Administrator
Kentucky Education Savings Plan Trust (KESPT)
Kentucky Affordable Prepaid Tuition (KAPT)
July 7, 2014
I have worked at a state agency for 14 years administering our state’s 529 college savings plan, and this is a question I get all the time: Why should I save for college? I usually try to answer this basic question by pointing out the below reasons on why it’s important to save for college:
By Luke Minor, Marketing & Communications Manager
Washington’s Guaranteed Education Tuition (GET) program
June 30, 2014
As much as those of us in the 529 world wish otherwise, starting a college savings plan is not always an easy decision for families to make. The benefits of saving for college may seem obvious, and most of us know that we “should be doing it,” but connecting these thoughts to action is not always easy. To help provide a little encouragement, we’ve planned a little pep talk to help you take your college savings game to the next level. To guide our discussion, we’ll look at a few inspirational quotes from some of the most outstanding leaders in sports history. So, let’s get our game faces on and go win one for your kids!
By Stuart Ritter, CFP®
T. Rowe Price Senior Financial Planner
If you’re like 28% of American parents, you find yourself losing sleep over the thought of saving for college. This is according to a recent survey we at T. Rowe Price conducted that aimed to understand the basic financial knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors of parents and their kids ages eight to 14.
By John Perdue, West Virginia State Treasurer
College Savings Plans Network Executive Board Member
As a parent, I know how proud I am to see my children reach important milestones in life, like graduations. As a state treasurer, I also know how important it is to keep planning and saving for my children’s next milestone.
With the school year coming to a close, many of you may be experiencing this sense of pride and excitement as your little one graduates from pre-school, high school or college. With graduation comes parties and celebrations, and from there, summer fun takes center stage.
By Robin Lott
Executive Director, Michigan Education Trust
June 2, 2014
Summer is finally here and it’s graduation time once again! Families are busy preparing to honor students and to celebrate many facets of milestone graduates. Pre-school children are being recognized for graduating to kindergarten. Elementary and middle school students are graduating to the next level and high school seniors are on their way to college. Many families are also thinking, “Wow, where did the time go?” Now is a good time to conduct a mid-year review of your college savings strategy. Gifts into your 529 prepaid or investment plan can further reduce future college debt.
By Young Boozer, Alabama State Treasurer
Vice Chairman of the College Savings Plans Network
April 21, 2014
It’s time to spring clean your finances. You won’t need a mop, bucket or soap. You don’t need to get down on your knees and scrub. But you will need to gather some tools and some supplies. And you will need to get busy.
By Ryan Betz, Associate Director of Marketing & Communications, Washington Guaranteed Education Tuition (GET) program
April 8, 2014
Since I was a young boy, I was told by my parents that college would be a part of my future. It was an opportunity my parents never had and they knew how important a college education was to my future success as a person and as a professional. At an early age, my parents began saving for my higher education and they told me about the funds that were set aside to help with tuition, books and other costs. I got a part time job in high school and the dollars I earned were also set aside to help pay for school.
By Joan Marshall, executive director, College Savings Plans of Maryland
April 4, 2014
I’m excited about a new bill that was introduced last week in the House of Representatives (HR 4333) because it is designed to help those who are currently investing in 529 plans and encourage even more families to save for college with these great tax-advantaged, convenient and affordable plans. The main enhancements this bill would provide for college savers include:
By Paul Paeglis Executive Director, Ohio Tuition Trust Authority March 31, 2014 According to a recent survey by the financial services firm Edward Jones, only 8% of respondents said they […]
By Betty Lochner, Chair, College Savings Plans Network March 11, 2014 Today, the College Savings Plans Network published its 2013 Year-End 529 Report, which features aggregated data from the 103 savings […]
By Sheila Salehian
Senior Deputy Treasurer, Office of
Nevada State Treasurer
Kate Marshall
March 3, 2014
Contributing to a prepaid tuition plan and a traditional 529 college savings plan simultaneously….really?
If you’re like most parents, the thought of paying for your children’s college education sends you to the mall shopping for gourmet chocolates or other ‘comfort food’. You’re not alone. According to a recent survey, only 50% of families with children under the age of 18 have actually started to save for their children’s higher education needs.* However, these families have realized that even if they cannot save for the entirety of their child’s college education cost, they are still better off borrowing less… essentially ‘paying themselves’ with tax free interest earnings when paying for qualified higher education expenses. Paying significantly more in the future for what you can’t afford to pay for today is a scary feeling.
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 […]