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NextGen 529 -- Client Select Series

The Maine NextGen 529 -- Client Select Series advisor-sold 529 plan consists of age-based, static multi-fund, and individual-fund options from a number of money managers: American Century, BlackRock, Franklin Templeton, iShares, Lord Abbett, MainStay, MFS and Neuberger Berman. In addition, the Principal Plus Portfolio and NextGen Savings Portfolio are offered. For complete details, see a Merrill Lynch Financial Advisor or, for Maine residents, a participating Maine Distribution Agent. To find a financial advisor in your area, use the Directory of Financial Professionals.

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  • Program typeSavings
  • Inception1999
  • State agency
    Finance Authority of Maine (FAME)
  • Tax deduction
    Tax deduction for single filers None
    Tax deduction for joint filers None
  • Program Manager
    Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated
  • Program distributor
    Merrill Lynch
  • Manager contract termUNLOCK PRO
Plan Details
Investment Options

Investors in NextGen 529 -- Client Select Series 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% Equity1YR PerformanceRank
BlackRock Age-Based 4-7 Years Portfolio0.91%70%N/AN/A
iShares Age-Based 4-7 Years Portfolio0.66%70%N/AN/A
Franklin Templeton Age-Based 11-12 Years Portfolio1.03%62.5%N/AN/A
Franklin Templeton Age-Based 15-16 Years Portfolio0.98%37.5%N/AN/A
Franklin Templeton Age-Based 19-20 Years Portfolio0.92%12.5%N/AN/A
MFS Age-Based 17 Years Portfolio0.86%25%N/AN/A
Franklin Templeton Age-Based 0-8 Years Portfolio1.13%100%10.03%15 of 16
Franklin Templeton Age-Based 9-10 Years Portfolio (formerly 9-12 Years)1.06%75%7.39%16 of 16
Franklin Templeton Age-Based 13-14 Years Portfolio (formerly 13-16 Years)1.01%50%4.81%27 of 32
Franklin Templeton Age-Based 17-18 Years Portfolio (formerly 17-20 Years)0.96%25%2.04%25 of 26
Franklin Templeton Age-Based 21+ Years Portfolio0.89%0%-0.57%31 of 33
MFS Age-Based 0-5 Years Portfolio1.03%100%11.79%7 of 16
MFS Age-Based 6-10 Years Portfolio1%80%9.46%10 of 16
MFS Age-Based 11-13 Years Portfolio0.95%60%7.22%13 of 20
MFS Age-Based 14-15 Years Portfolio0.89%45%5.29%26 of 32
MFS Age-Based 16 Years Portfolio (formerly 16-17 Years)0.88%35%N/AN/A
MFS Age-Based 18+ Years Portfolio0.86%20%2.06%28 of 33
BlackRock Age-Based 0-3 Years Portfolio (formerly 0-7 Years)0.89%80%8.66%17 of 24
BlackRock Age-Based 8-10 Years Portfolio0.95%60%6.43%7 of 24
BlackRock Age-Based 11-13 Years Portfolio0.96%45%5.08%13 of 32
BlackRock Age-Based 14-16 Years Portfolio0.95%30%3.52%9 of 26
BlackRock Age-Based 17-19 Years Portfolio0.91%20%2.63%8 of 33
BlackRock Age-Based 20+ Years Portfolio0.82%5%1.46%8 of 33
iShares Age-Based 0-3 Years Portfolio (formerly 0-7 Years)0.66%80%7.82%22 of 24
iShares Age-Based 8-10 Years Portfolio0.66%60%5.76%10 of 24
iShares Age-Based 11-13 Years Portfolio0.63%45%4.54%22 of 32
iShares Age-Based 14-16 Years Portfolio0.66%30%2.98%15 of 26
iShares Age-Based 17-19 Years Portfolio0.69%20%1.98%21 of 33
iShares Age-Based 20+ Years Portfolio0.73%5%0.88%17 of 33

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% Equity1YR PerformanceRank
Franklin Templeton Growth Portfolio1.13%100%10.03%192 of 308
Franklin Templeton Growth & Income Portfolio1.06%75%7.35%23 of 34
Franklin Templeton Balanced Portfolio1.01%50%4.71%26 of 37
MFS Equity Portfolio1.03%100%11.79%147 of 308
MFS Fixed Income Portfolio0.96%0%-0.95%55 of 98
BlackRock 100% Equity Portfolio0.82%100%10.54%145 of 308
BlackRock 75% Equity Portfolio0.86%75%8.29%9 of 34
BlackRock Fixed Income Portfolio0.97%0%0.18%21 of 33
iShares Diversified Equity Portfolio0.67%100%9.87%161 of 308
iShares Diversified Fixed Income Portfolio0.77%0%-0.75%30 of 33
MFS Conservative Mixed Asset Portfolio0.86%20%2.01%12 of 33

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% Equity1YR PerformanceRank
BlackRock Global Allocation Portfolio1.21%65%2.1%31 of 34
BlackRock Advantage Large Cap Core Portfolio0.82%100%16.99%86 of 308
Franklin Templeton Mutual Shares Portfolio1.11%100%5.57%295 of 308
Franklin Templeton Small Cap Value Portfolio1.14%100%9.22%121 of 308
Franklin Templeton Small-Mid Cap Growth Portfolio1.04%100%19.40%74 of 308
MFS Research International Portfolio1.2%100%4.67%216 of 308
MFS Value Portfolio0.92%100%6.65%280 of 308
BlackRock Advantage Large Cap Growth Portfolio0.96%100%27.25%32 of 308
Franklin Templeton Global Bond Portfolio1.04%0%-2.38%94 of 98
MainStay Large Cap Growth Portfolio1.09%100%30.15%11 of 308
BlackRock Equity Dividend Portfolio1.06%100%11.05%199 of 308
iShares Core Conservative Allocation Portfolio0.84%40%1.56%18 of 19
iShares Core Moderate Allocation Portfolio0.84%50%2.71%33 of 37
iShares Core Growth Allocation Portfolio0.84%60%4.73%17 of 37
Lord Abbett Total Return Portfolio0.76%0%-1.32%63 of 98
Neuberger Berman International Equity Portfolio1.31%100%1.29%219 of 308
American Century Inflation-Adjusted Bond Portfolio0.80%0%-0.5%31 of 98

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

Child age


Max Expense Ratio:2.5%