California's ScholarShare 529 is available to residents of any state. It offers a variety of investment options from TIAA-CREF, T. Rowe Price, Vanguard and others. While California does not offer a state tax deduction for contributions to the plan, Scholarshare allows contributions of any dollar amount, making it easy to get started.
- Program typeSavings
- Inception1999
- State agencyThe ScholarShare Investment Board (SIB) chaired by the State Treasurer
- Tax deduction
- Program ManagerTIAA-CREF Tuition Financing, Inc. (TFI)
- Program distributorTIAA-CREF Tuition Financing, Inc. (TFI)
Investment Options
Investors in ScholarShare 529 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.
