Home → 529 Plans → Alabama → CollegeCounts 529 Fund Advisor Plan

CollegeCounts 529 Fund Advisor Plan

The manager for Alabama CollegeCounts 529 Fund Advisor Plan changed from Van Kampen to Union Bank and Trust Company in August 2010. It features age-based, static and individual fund portfolio options using mutual funds from multiple fund firms. To find a financial advisor in your area, use the Directory of Financial Professionals.

Fee Score

3.5 / 5

Performance

3 / 5
  • Program type
    Savings
  • Inception
    2002, but substantially changed in August 2010.
  • State agency
    Board of Trustees of College Counts 529 Fund, chaired by the State Treasurer
  • Tax deduction
  • Program Manager
    UBT 529 Services, a division of Union Bank & Trust Company
  • Program distributor
    Northern Trust Securities, Inc.

Ratings & Rankings

Our overall rating for AL residents

This is an excellent program with many benefits for the participant and positive investment attributes. If it has any significant weaknesses then it also has some particularly good things to recommend it.

Our overall rating for non-residents

This is an excellent program with many benefits for the participant and positive investment attributes. If it has any significant weaknesses then it also has some particularly good things to recommend it.

SAVING FOR COLLEGE’S 5-Cap Ratings provides an evaluation and comparison of 529 plans, utilizing a formula that examines dozens of factors grouped into the following categories.

Eligibility

State residency requirements:

Who can be a participant/owner in the program?

Significant time or age restrictions imposed by the program:

Contributions

Maximum contributions:

Minimum contributions:

Does the program offer an e-gifting platform for receiving gift contributions?

Investment Options

Age-based/Enrollment Year investment options:

View more age-based investment options

Static investment options:

View more static investment options

Underlying fund allocations:

Portfolio Fees & Performance Lookup

Free Book Download

Get your free copy of Growing your practice with 529 plans.

A practical guide with tips and tools to help financial advisors leverage 529 plans in their practice.

GET MY FREE COPY
Download family guide

See the best 529 plans, personalized for you

A good place to start

GET STARTED

Fees & Expenses

Enrollment or application fee:

Account maintenance fee:

Program management fees:

Expenses of the underlying investments:

Total asset-based expense ratio:

Broker loads and commissions:

Breakpoint pricing:

Taxes and other Benefits

  • Tax deduction for single filers
    $5,000/yr
  • Tax deduction for joint filers
    $10,000/yr

Example

Married filing jointly residents contributing $100/month can expect an additional $0 a year in tax savings.

Program match on contributions:

State tax deduction or credit for contributions:

State tax recapture provisions:

State definition of qualified expenses

State tax treatment of qualified distributions:

State tax treatment of rollovers:

Does the sponsoring state exclude the value of an account for state financial aid purposes?

Does participation in the program provide beneficiaries with any advantages in qualifying for resident tuition status at state institutions?

Is there a rewards program or outside scholarship program that works with this program?

Upromise Helps Families Save for College

Statutory protection of an account from creditors:

Distributions & Terminations

To whom are distributions made payable:

Account Changes

Policy regarding participant/owner changes:

Documents, Access & Reporting

Does participant have online password-protected access to account?

Can the complete enrollment process including funding be done online?

Documents and other services accessible or downloadable on the program's public Web site:

Contact

Website:

Telephone:

Facebook

Get expert help finding the right 529 plan

Connect with a financial advisor in your local area

A good place to start:
A good place to start:
See the best 529 plans, personalized for you
See the best 529 plans, personalized for you
Get Started