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Bright Start Direct-Sold College Savings Program

Union Bank & Trust Company succeeded Oppenheimer Funds, Inc. as program manager of the Bright Start College Savings Program in July 2017. The Illinois direct-sold Plan features three age-based options using either a multi-firm or index-based strategy, three target portfolios, three index target portfolios and individual fund portfolios from a number of fund families.

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  • Program typeSavings
  • Inception2000, but substantially changed in July 2007 and again in July 2017.
  • State agency
    Illinois State Treasurer
  • Tax deduction
  • Program Manager
    Union Bank & Trust Company
  • Program distributor
    Union Bank & Trust Company
  • Manager contract termUNLOCK PRO
Plan Details
Investment Options

Investors in Bright Start Direct-Sold College Savings Program can select from the following investment options. Click on a portfolio name for more information.

Use the form below to filter through the investment options in this plan

Child age


Max Expense Ratio:2.5%

Age Based Investment Options

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.

PortfolioE.R.x% Equity1YR PerformanceRank
Multi-Firm Aggressive Age Based 0-2 Years Portfolio0.45%100%-9.43%43 of 55
Multi-Firm Aggressive Age Based 3-5 Years Portfolio0.44%90%-8.3%25 of 35
Multi-Firm Aggressive Age Based 6-8 Years Portfolio0.44%80%-7.14%36 of 53
Multi-Firm Aggressive Age Based 9-10 Years Portfolio0.44%70%-6.47%79 of 92
Multi-Firm Aggressive Age Based 11-12 Years Portfolio0.44%60%-5.19%29 of 46
Multi-Firm Aggressive Age Based 13-14 Years Portfolio0.44%50%-4.19%94 of 120
Multi-Firm Aggressive Age Based 15-16 Years Portfolio0.42%40%-3.36%69 of 78
Multi-Firm Aggressive Age Based 17-18 Years Portfolio0.4%30%-2.23%41 of 78
Multi-Firm Aggressive Age Based 19 and over Years Portfolio0.37%20%-1.06%73 of 122
Index Aggressive Age Based 0-2 Years Portfolio0.12%100%-8.55%26 of 55
Index Aggressive Age Based 3-5 Years Portfolio0.12%90%-7.32%15 of 35
Index Aggressive Age Based 6-8 Years Portfolio0.12%80%-6.52%16 of 53
Index Aggressive Age Based 9-10 Years Portfolio0.13%70%-5.74%55 of 92
Index Aggressive Age Based 11-12 Years Portfolio0.13%60%-4.65%14 of 46
Index Aggressive Age Based 13-14 Years Portfolio0.12%50%-3.71%64 of 120
Index Aggressive Age Based 15-16 Years Portfolio0.13%40%-2.88%56 of 78
Index Aggressive Age Based 17-18 Years Portfolio0.12%30%-1.84%22 of 78
Index Aggressive Age Based 19 and over Years Portfolio0.13%20%-0.88%59 of 122
Multi-Firm Moderate Age Based 0-2 Years Portfolio0.44%90%-8.3%24 of 35
Multi-Firm Moderate Age Based 3-5 Years Portfolio0.44%80%-7.14%63 of 72
Multi-Firm Moderate Age Based 6-8 Years Portfolio0.44%70%-6.47%78 of 92
Multi-Firm Moderate Age Based 9-10 Years Portfolio0.44%60%-5.19%32 of 92
Multi-Firm Moderate Age Based 11-12 Years Portfolio0.44%50%-4.19%93 of 120
Multi-Firm Moderate Age Based 13-14 Years Portfolio0.42%40%-3.36%48 of 120
Multi-Firm Moderate Age Based 15-16 Years Portfolio0.4%30%-2.23%40 of 78
Multi-Firm Moderate Age Based 17-18 Years Portfolio0.37%20%-1.06%72 of 122
Multi-Firm Moderate Age Based 19 and over Years Portfolio0.31%10%-0.1%16 of 122
Index Moderate Age Based 0-2 Years Portfolio0.12%90%-7.32%14 of 35
Index Moderate Age Based 3-5 Years Portfolio0.12%80%-6.52%50 of 72
Index Moderate Age Based 6-8 Years Portfolio0.13%70%-5.74%54 of 92
Index Moderate Age Based 9-10 Years Portfolio0.13%60%-4.65%16 of 92
Index Moderate Age Based 11-12 Years Portfolio0.12%50%-3.71%63 of 120
Index Moderate Age Based 13-14 Years Portfolio0.13%40%-2.88%29 of 120
Index Moderate Age Based 15-16 Years Portfolio0.12%30%-1.84%21 of 78
Index Moderate Age Based 17-18 Years Portfolio0.13%20%-0.88%58 of 122
Index Moderate Age Based 19 and over Years Portfolio0.13%10%0.1%7 of 122
Multi-Firm Conservative Age Based 0-2 Years Portfolio0.44%80%-7.14%62 of 72
Multi-Firm Conservative Age Based 3-5 Years Portfolio0.44%70%-6.47%46 of 72
Multi-Firm Conservative Age Based 6-8 Years Portfolio0.44%60%-5.19%31 of 92
Multi-Firm Conservative Age Based 9-10 Years Portfolio0.44%50%-4.19%53 of 70
Multi-Firm Conservative Age Based 11-12 Years Portfolio0.42%40%-3.36%47 of 120
Multi-Firm Conservative Age Based 13-14 Years Portfolio0.4%30%-2.23%62 of 78
Multi-Firm Conservative Age Based 15-16 Years Portfolio0.37%20%-1.06%71 of 122
Multi-Firm Conservative Age Based 17-18 Years Portfolio0.31%10%-0.1%15 of 122
Multi-Firm Conservative Age Based 19 and over Years Portfolio0.26%0%1.19%29 of 80
Index Conservative Age Based 0-2 Years Portfolio0.12%80%-6.52%49 of 72
Index Conservative Age Based 3-5 Years Portfolio0.13%70%-5.74%31 of 72
Index Conservative Age Based 6-8 Years Portfolio0.13%60%-4.65%15 of 92
Index Conservative Age Based 9-10 Years Portfolio0.12%50%-3.71%30 of 70
Index Conservative Age Based 11-12 Years Portfolio0.13%40%-2.88%28 of 120
Index Conservative Age Based 13-14 Years Portfolio0.12%30%-1.84%45 of 78
Index Conservative Age Based 15-16 Years Portfolio0.13%20%-0.88%57 of 122
Index Conservative Age Based 17-18 Years Portfolio0.13%10%0.1%6 of 122
Index Conservative Age Based 19 and over Years Portfolio0.15%0%1.09%34 of 80

Static Investment Options

This refers to an investment option that is not programmed to change over time. The individual fund portfolio and multi-fund portfolio described below are static options. So are many portfolios that do not use mutual funds, such as stable-value options, guaranteed options, CD options, etc.

PortfolioE.R.x% Equity1YR PerformanceRank
Index Equity Portfolio0.12%100%-8.55%120 of 235
Index Balanced Portfolio0.13%60%-4.65%26 of 52
Index Fixed Income Portfolio0.15%0%1.09%9 of 70
Equity Portfolio0.45%100%-9.43%147 of 235
Balanced Portfolio0.44%60%7.06%1 of 52
Fixed Income Portfolio0.26%0%1.19%6 of 70

Individual Investment Options

Sometimes called a single-fund option, this is a portfolio invested in a single mutual fund. Often the name of the 529 portfolio is very similar to the name of the underlying mutual fund. A large number of broker-sold 529s offer an extensive line-up of individual fund options, while a smaller number of direct-sold 529s offer them.

PortfolioE.R.x% Equity1YR PerformanceRank
Vanguard Federal Money Market Portfolio0.19%0%1.64%36 of 68
Baird Short-Term Bond 529 Portfolio0.41%0%1.3%5 of 18
Vanguard Short-Term Inflation-Protected Securities Index 529 Portfolio0.12%0%0.5%10 of 18
Vanguard Total Bond Market Index 529 Portfolio0.11%0%N/A14 of 70
Dodge & Cox Income 529 Portfolio0.54%0%-0.4%40 of 70
Vanguard Total International Bond Index Portfolio0.15%0%2.94%2 of 70
Vanguard REIT Index 529 Portfolio0.18%100%-5.92%75 of 235
Vanguard 500 Index 529 Portfolio0.1%100%-4.58%26 of 235
T. Rowe Price Large-Cap Growth 529 Portfolio0.48%100%3.8%4 of 235
Ariel 529 Portfolio0.83%100%-13.63%194 of 235
DFA U.S. Targeted Value 529 Portfolio0.48%100%-15.90%227 of 235
Vanguard Explorer 529 Portfolio0.44%100%-2.65%9 of 235
Vanguard Total International Stock Index 529 Portfolio0.15%100%-14.46%205 of 235
DFA International Small Company 529 Portfolio0.64%100%-19.63%235 of 235
Vanguard Total Stock Market Index 529 Portfolio0.1%100%N/AN/A
DFA U.S. Large Cap Value 529 Portfolio0.38%100%N/AN/A

Use the form below to filter through the investment options in this plan

Child age


Max Expense Ratio:2.5%