How valuable are the tax advantages associated with 529 plans? And how do they work? By Michael Frerichs, Illinois State Treasurer & Chair of the College Savings Plans Network April 13, 2021 Although most 529 account holders are aware that their college savings plan is tax-advantaged, it’s often confusing how valuable the tax benefits may […]
April 7, 2021 The College Savings Plans Network (CSPN) is about to launch the go-to research tool for college savers. Later this month, CSPN will be launching a powerful new research tool powered by a partnership between the network and Invite Education (IE). CSPN will replace the following 529 comparison tools; My State’s 529 Plan, […]
By Hon. Curtis Loftis, State Treasurer of South Carolina March 23, 2021 Where did you learn about personal finance? Did a patient parent explain the difference between spending for what you need versus what you want? Or perhaps a dedicated teacher helped you understand the complexities of saving and investing in the modern world. If […]
By the Honorable Michael L. Fitzgerald, Iowa State Treasurer March 16, 2021 In the Midwest, we look forward to spring as the days are longer and brighter, the snow is melting and the weather is warmer. It’s a great opportunity for families to start cleaning up and organizing after a long winter bundled up at […]
By Jørn Earl Otte, Strategic Marketing Consultant, Hartford Funds SMART529 March 9, 2021 Welcome to March! (I think we’ve had enough madness for one year, don’t you?) 529 plans have been around since the 1990s; however, there are still misconceptions regarding what 529 plans are and how they can be used. In the spirit of […]
By Mary Nickeson, Senior Vice President, Invite Education February 23, 2021 One common misconception about paying for college is that parental assets and savings will greatly hurt your child’s chances of receiving financial aid. Some parents hesitate to save for college, believing that colleges will expect most of their savings to go toward tuition, resulting in […]
By Patricia Roberts, Chief Operating Officer, Gift of College, Inc. February 9, 2021 As a parent of a college student, there’s a lot that I and my family have grown to love through the years about saving for college with a 529 plan account. Here are a few of my favorite examples: We loved the initial peace […]
By Heather Barthelmes, Michigan Education Trust February 2, 2021 If I have learned anything over the last year, it is that uncertainty is guaranteed. My 5-year-old son was sent home from kindergarten with an unknown return to school date. Now, we are doing first grade from home and are still uncertain when he will go […]
By Jørn Earl Otte, Hartford Funds’ Strategic Marketing Consultant, SMART529 January 28, 2021 The idea of saving for college or trade school can be scary, and the options available can seem overwhelming. With so much in the news about the rising cost of college, it can feel like saving for your child’s future is too […]
By: South Carolina State Treasurer Curtis Loftis, Administrator of Future Scholar College Savings Plan January 19, 2021 All parents want their kids to grow up to be financially independent and able to afford the important things in life without getting buried under mountains of debt. You can set your child on the right path by teaching […]
By Michael Roberts, Principal, Head of Retail Marketing, The Vanguard Group January 12, 2021 I can speak from experience about assumptions because I lived with a powerful one right from the start. My parents both assumed that my siblings and I would go to college—no ifs or buts. Embedded in that assumption was an interesting […]
By Hon. Michael L. Fitzgerald, State Treasurer, State of Iowa January 5, 2021 Many people are ready to close the calendar on 2020 and focus on 2021, and I don’t blame them. To say 2020 has been a tough year may be an understatement, but the New Year gives us the opportunity to learn from […]