The team of Ascensus College Savings and The Vanguard Group manages the Arkansas Brighter Future Direct Plan, featuring target enrollment portfolio and static portfolio options utilizing Vanguard mutual funds, and an FDIC-insured savings option. Accounts can be linked to the Upromise rewards service.
- Program typeSavings
- Inception1999, but substantially changed in February 2005
- State agencyThe Arkansas 529 Plan Review Committee, composed of the Director of the Department of Higher Education, the Executive Director of the Arkansas Teacher Retirement System, and the Arkansas State Treasurer
- Tax deduction
- Program ManagerAscensus College Savings, with The Vanguard Group as investment manager
- Program distributorAscensus College Savings
Investment Options
Investors in Arkansas Brighter Future Direct Plan can select from the following investment options. Click on a portfolio name for more information.
Sometimes referred to as the enrollment-based option, this is an investment approach where your asset allocation is programmed to change over time. Accounts for young beneficiaries are invested aggressively and accounts for beneficiaries with college right around the corner are invested much more conservatively. In some 529 plans, the age-based option operates by automatically transferring your investment from one static portfolio to another at certain points in time. Others utilize lifecycle funds or employ lifecycle-type tactics within the portfolio containing your investment so that it is not necessary to transfer your investment between portfolios.
| Portfolio | E.R. | % Equity | 1YR Performance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Target Enrollment 2040/2041 Portfolio | 0.53% | 95% | 20.47% |
| Target Enrollment 2038/2039 Portfolio | 0.53% | 89% | 19.69% |
| Target Enrollment 2036/2037 Portfolio | 0.53% | 80% | 18.56% |
| Target Enrollment 2034/2035 Portfolio | 0.53% | 68% | 16.73% |
| Target Enrollment 2032/2033 Portfolio | 0.53% | 57% | 14.8% |
| Target Enrollment 2030/2031 Portfolio | 0.53% | 49% | 13.66% |
| Target Enrollment 2028/2029 Portfolio | 0.53% | 34.29% | 11.38% |
| Target Enrollment 2026/2027 Portfolio | 0.53% | 23.43% | 9.21% |
| Target Enrollment 2024/2025 Portfolio | 0.53% | 18.36% | 8% |
| Target Enrollment 2022/2023 Portfolio | 0.53% | 14.5% | 7% |
| Commencement Portfolio | 0.53% | 11.6% | 6.08% |
| Target Enrollment 2042/2043 Portfolio | 0.53% | 95% | N/A |
