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Nebraska Education Savings Trust -- Direct College Savings Plan

3.5 / 5

Our rating

Best NE resident benefits

NE resident benefits

Nebraska Education Savings Trust -- Direct College Savings Plan switched program managers in December 2010 from Union Bank and Trust Company of Lincoln, Nebraska to First National Bank of Omaha. Management of the plan returned to Union Bank and Trust in 2020. Accounts can be linked to the Upromise rewards service.

Nebraska Education Savings Trust -- Direct College Savings Plan

KEY METRICS

OVERVIEW

Program type

Savings

Inception

2001, but substantially changed December 2010 and December 2020

State agency

Nebraska State Treasurer and Nebraska Investment Council

Tax deduction

For single filers: $10,000/yr per beneficiary

For joint filers: $10,000/yr per beneficiary

Program manager

Union Bank and Trust Company

Program distributor

Union Bank and Trust Company

Manager contract term

MORE INFORMATION

Eligibility

State residency requirements:

None

Who can be a participant/owner in the program?

U.S. resident individuals with a valid Social Security number or taxpayer ID number, UGMA/UTMA custodians, legal entities.

Significant time or age restrictions imposed by the program:

None

Contributions

Maximum contributions:

Accepts contributions until all account balances in Nebraska's 529 plans for the same beneficiary reach $550,000.

Minimum contributions:

No minimum.

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

This plan offers an online tool to share a gift contribution link with family and friends., For federal gift tax purposes, contributions to an account are considered a gift from the contributor to the Beneficiary that is eligible for the gift tax annual exclusion. For 2021, the annual exclusion was $15,000 per donee ($30,000 for a married couple that elects on a federal gift tax return to "split" gifts). Effective January 1, 2022, the annual exclusion is $16,000 per donee ($32,000 for a married couple that elects on a federal gift tax return to "split" gifts).

SPONSORED

Other great plans to consider

You are not limited to your own state's 529 plan, so compare the plan and tax benefits offered by your state to other options. Here are some plans that are available to residents of any state and have earned awards in our 529 Plan Ratings:

Investment Options

Investors in Nebraska Education Savings Trust -- Direct College Savings Plan can select from the following investment options. Click on a portfolio name for more information.

An index and multi-fund option age-based option is offered, each with a choice among 3 different risk levels (Aggressive, Moderate, and Conservative).
PortfolioE.R. % Equity1yr performance
Age-Based Index Aggressive 0-20.15%100%7.02%
Age-Based Index Aggressive 3-50.15%90%6.81%
Age-Based Index Aggressive 6-80.15%80%6.78%
Age-Based Index Aggressive 9-100.15%70%6.59%
Age-Based Index Aggressive 11-120.15%60%6.52%
Age-Based Index Aggressive 13-140.15%50%6.31%
Age-Based Index Aggressive 15-160.15%40%6.26%
Age-Based Index Aggressive 17-180.15%30%5.93%
Age-Based Index Aggressive 19+0.15%20%5.82%
Age-Based Index Moderate 0-20.15%90%6.81%
Age-Based Index Moderate 3-50.15%80%6.78%
Age-Based Index Moderate 6-80.15%70%6.57%
Age-Based Index Moderate 9-100.15%60%6.4%
Age-Based Index Moderate 11-120.15%50%6.38%
Age-Based Index Moderate 13-140.15%40%6.36%
Age-Based Index Moderate 15-160.15%30%6.12%
Age-Based Index Moderate 17-180.15%20%5.82%
Age-Based Index Moderate 19+0.15%10%5.73%
Age-Based Index Conservative 0-20.15%80%6.57%
Age-Based Index Conservative 3-50.15%70%6.72%
Age-Based Index Conservative 6-80.15%60%6.42%
Age-Based Index Conservative 9-100.15%50%6.33%
Age-Based Index Conservative 11-120.15%40%6.17%
Age-Based Index Conservative 13-140.15%30%6.13%
Age-Based Index Conservative 15-160.15%20%5.94%
Age-Based Index Conservative 17-180.15%10%5.7%
Age-Based Index Conservative 19+0.15%0%5.45%
Age-Based Multi-Firm Aggressive 0-20.29%100%6.37%
Age-Based Multi-Firm Aggressive 3-50.29%90%6.61%
Age-Based Multi-Firm Aggressive 6-80.29%80%6.36%
Age-Based Multi-Firm Aggressive 9-100.29%70%6.28%
Age-Based Multi-Firm Aggressive 11-120.28%60%6.14%
Age-Based Multi-Firm Aggressive 13-140.27%50%6.15%
Age-Based Multi-Firm Aggressive 15-160.26%40%6.05%
Age-Based Multi-Firm Aggressive 17-180.25%30%5.91%
Age-Based Multi-Firm Aggressive 19+0.23%20%5.91%
Age-Based Multi-Firm Moderate 0-20.29%90%6.56%
Age-Based Multi-Firm Moderate 3-50.29%80%6.37%
Age-Based Multi-Firm Moderate 6-80.29%70%6.31%
Age-Based Multi-Firm Moderate 9-100.28%60%6.23%
Age-Based Multi-Firm Moderate 11-120.27%50%6.17%
Age-Based Multi-Firm Moderate 13-140.26%40%6.16%
Age-Based Multi-Firm Moderate 15-160.25%30%5.94%
Age-Based Multi-Firm Moderate 17-180.23%20%6.03%
Age-Based Multi-Firm Moderate 19+0.2%10%5.74%
Age-Based Multi-Firm Conservative 0-20.29%80%6.39%
Age-Based Multi-Firm Conservative 3-50.29%70%6.28%
Age-Based Multi-Firm Conservative 6-80.28%60%6.2%
Age-Based Multi-Firm Conservative 9-100.27%50%6.08%
Age-Based Multi-Firm Conservative 11-120.26%40%6.22%
Age-Based Multi-Firm Conservative 13-140.25%30%5.92%
Age-Based Multi-Firm Conservative 15-160.23%20%6%
Age-Based Multi-Firm Conservative 17-180.2%10%5.68%
Age-Based Multi-Firm Conservative 19+0.17%0%5.42%

Age-based/Enrollment Year investment options:

An index and multi-fund option age-based option is offered, each with a choice among 3 different risk levels (Aggressive, Moderate, and Conservative).

Static investment options:

Select among 6 static options (All Equity, Growth, Balanced, Conservative and Bank Savings), and 15 individual-fund portfolios including a money market option.

Underlying investments:

Vanguard, T. Rowe Price, DFA, MetWest and State Street. The Bank Savings option invests in an FDIC-insured savings account held in trust at Union Bank and Trust Company and/or Nelnet Bank.

Underlying fund allocations:

Portfolio Fees & Performance Lookup

Fees & Expenses

Enrollment or application fee:

None.

Account maintenance fee:

None

Program management fees:

0.08% manager fee and a 0.02% fee to the state

Expenses of the underlying investments:

Ranges from 0.05% to 0.19% (portfolio weighted average) in the age-based and static multi-fund portfolios, and from 0.02% to 0.55% in the individual-fund portfolios. None for the Bank Savings option.

Total asset-based expense ratio:

0.10% - 0.65%

Taxes and other Benefits

Tax deduction for single filers:

$10,000/yr per beneficiary

Tax deduction for joint filers:

$10,000/yr per beneficiary

Program match on contributions:

The Meadowlark Savings Pledge provides eligible Nebraska newborns with a NEST savings account for education expenses. Any baby born on or after January 1, 2020, who is a resident of Nebraska at the time of birth is eligible to receive a Meadowlark seed contribution of $50. Babies are enrolled in the program in the spring following their year of birth.

State tax deduction or credit for contributions:

Contributions by an account owner who files a Nebraska state income tax return, including the principal and earnings portions of rollovers from another qualified college savings plan not issued by the State of Nebraska, are deductible in computing the account owner's Nebraska taxable income for Nebraska income tax purposes in an amount not to exceed $10,000 ($5,000 for married taxpayers filing separate returns) in the aggregate for all contributions to all accounts within the Trust in any taxable year. Contributions by a custodian of an UGMA or UTMA account who is also the parent or guardian of the Beneficiary of an UGMA or UTMA account may claim this deduction. Contribution deadline is December 31 postmark.

Calculate your Nebraska 529 tax benefit

Find out how much you can save on state taxes this year by contributing to a Nebraska 529 plan.

Your tax savings per year
$0

Household income

$100,000

Monthly Contribution

$100

State tax recapture provisions:

Nebraska state tax deductions are subject to recapture if the account owner cancels a Participation Agreement, makes a partial or complete Nebraska Non-Qualified Withdrawal or rolls assets to an out-of-state 529 qualified tuition program or ABLE program.

State definition of qualified expenses

The state's definition of qualified education expenses currently includes expenses for attendance at an institution of higher education as defined by the Internal Revenue Code and its regulations addressing qualified state tuition programs or participation in an apprenticeship program, and interest and/or principal on qualified education loans up to a $10,000 lifetime cap. This does not include tuition for elementary or secondary education. Distributions from a 529 account directly to a Roth IRA are considered a qualified expense for state income tax purposes.

State tax treatment of qualified distributions:

Qualified distributions from Nebraska and non-Nebraska 529 plans are exempt.

State tax treatment of rollovers:

Nebraska follows federal tax-free treatment except that outbound rollovers are subject to the recapture of prior state tax deductions.

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

Yes

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

No

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

Yes, the Upromise Rewards program can be linked to any 529 college savings plan. Upromise Rewards is free to join and offers members cash back for college.

Statutory protection of an account from creditors:

Distributions & Terminations

To whom are distributions made payable:

Eligible educational institution, beneficiary, or account owner, as directed by the account owner

Account Changes

Policy regarding participant/owner changes:

Accepts requests to transfer account ownership.

Documents, Access & Reporting

Does participant have online password-protected access to account?

Yes

Can the complete enrollment process including funding be done online?

Yes

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

Contact

Website:

https://nest529.com/

Telephone:

888-993-3746

Social Media

https://www.facebook.com/NEST529CollegeSavings/

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