College

  • Is a Prepaid Tuition Plan right for my family?

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    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.

  • Saving For College Doesn’t Have To Be Scary

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    By Michael Parker
    Executive Director, Oregon 529 College Savings Network

    Ghosts and ghouls may scare you when they come knocking at your door for Halloween treats. But college savings isn’t as scary as some people think. One of the common pieces of feedback that 529 plans hear is that “I’m too late,” or “I don’t want to bother, because I won’t save enough.” That is scary.

  • The Truth about Prepaid Tuition Plans

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    By Mary G. Morris
    CEO, Virginia529
    October 1, 2013

    “Why should I save for college with a prepaid tuition plan? My financial advisor said I should invest in a 529 plan instead.” Many of us in the 529 world frequently hear this from families who are exploring their college savings options. Our response is always the same, “A prepaid tuition plan IS a 529 plan, and there are some important benefits to saving for college with one.”

  • Aspirational Value of College Savings

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    By Patricia Roberts
    Managing Director & Senior 529 Product Manager, AllianceBernstein L.P.
    September 26, 2013

    Back to school season is a gentle reminder that the children in our lives are one year closer to college. Whether you’ve just recently walked hand in hand with your toddler into the first day of preschool, waved as your little one boarded a school bus for the very first time or offered an encouraging high five as an older child more independently headed off to middle school, there’s no time like now to develop a plan for what lies ahead. With a blink of an eye, not only will the children in your life have grown, but what they envision for their future will likely have evolved as well.

  • September is College Savings Month

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    By Hon. Michael L. Fitzgerald
    State Treasurer,State of Iowa
    August 29, 2013

    College planning may be the last thing on the minds of families already busy juggling the demands of work and home. However, with the cost of higher education rising faster than inflation, nearly every family will face the question of how to pay for it when the time comes. The answer is quite simple – start saving today. By starting early, saving regularly and making smart investment choices, families can make their savings work for them.

  • Just How Easy is it to Get Started Saving for College with a 529 Account?

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    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.

  • Summer Reading: An Important Investment For College

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    By Michael Parker
    Executive Director, Oregon 529 College Savings Network
    August 1, 2013

    When the school year ends and summer arrives, it’s human nature to think about “shutting it down” a little and relax over the break. As parents, the constant hum of activity makes way for those lazier days. But those lazy days could result in complacency, especially as it relates to education and reading.

  • The Summer of Endless Learning

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    By Lucas Minor
    Marketing & Communications Coordinator, Guaranteed Education Tuition
    July 18, 2013
    Part I

    “School’s out for summer!” This magical phrase is one your child likely spends the whole school year dreaming about – three carefree months to kick back, forget homework and just be a kid.

  • Student Loan Interest Rate’s Looming Rise and the Growing Need to Save for College

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    By Hon. Michael L. Fitzgerald
    State Treasurer, State of Iowa
    June 27, 2013

    Recent Congressional action seems to indicate that the Senate will be unable to reach a compromise that will keep student loan interest rates from doubling before the July 1 deadline. “If I were a betting person, I’d say that’s something we’ll come back and attempt to fix retroactively,” Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., told ABC News.