COLLEGE SAVINGS 101
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2017 plan performance rankings Q2Savingforcollege.com's 529 performance rankings analyze one, three, five, and ten year investment performance as of June 30, 2017 and rank 529 savings plans from best to worst. | 529 RANK | | performance | | rankings | | 529 plans | | investment | |
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2017 one-year top performing direct plans Q2Savingforcollege.com ranks the one-year investment performance of direct-sold 529 plans as of June 30, 2017. | 529 RANK | | performance | | rankings | | 529 plans | | investment | |
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2017 three-year top performing direct plans Q2Savingforcollege.com ranks the three-year investment performance of direct-sold 529 plans as of June 30, 2017. | 529 rank | | morningstar | | performance | | rankings | | 529 plans | | investment | |
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2017 five-year top performing direct plans Q2Savingforcollege.com ranks the five-year investment performance of direct-sold 529 plans as of June 30, 2017. | 529 rank | | morningstar | | performance | | rankings | | 529 plans | | investment | |
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2017 ten-year top performing direct plans Q2Savingforcollege.com ranks the ten-year investment performance of direct-sold 529 plans as of June 30, 2017. | 529 rank | | morningstar | | performance | | rankings | | 529 plans | | investment | |
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The value of a college degree will depend on a number of things, including tuition costs and starting salary after graduation. Learn which degrees offer the best value for students in 2017. | College return on investment | | best college ROI | | highest paying jobs | |
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How to determine the ROI on a college educationFactors to consider when helping a child understand a college degree’s return on investment (ROI) that will help minimize the future burden of student loan debt. | ROI | | Return on investment | | college | | 529 | | loan | | debit | |
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2016 plan performance rankings Q2Savingforcollege.com's Q2 529 performance rankings analyze one, three, five, and ten year investment performance as of June 30, 2016 and rank 529 savings plans from best to worst. | 529 RANK | | performance | | rankings | | 529 plans | | investment | |
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New tool helps you pick the best investments for collegeJust like your 401k or IRA, your 529 plan’s performance will be based on its underlying investments, so it’s important to select the right combination of potential risk and reward to meet your needs. | investment | | 529s | | 529 plan | |
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How to select investments in a 529 planWhen setting up a 529 savings plan, you’ll need to choose an investment option. Learn about the three different types of options available and how they can help you meet your goals. | 529 | | enrollment | | investment | | college savings | |
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2016 plan performance rankings Q1Savingforcollege.com's Q1 529 performance rankings analyze one, three, five, and ten year investment performance as of March 31, 2016 and rank 529 savings plans from best to worst. | 529 RANK | | performance | | rankings | | 529 plans | | investment | |
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Student loan debt vs. investments: What to prioritizeEliminating debt is always beneficial, could focusing too much on paying back those college loans actually be bad? | student loan | | debit | | investing | |
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Investing trends of 529 college saversFind out how other 529 account owners are investing in their plans, and learn some best practices to help you make better choices for your own 529 plan investments. | 529 plan | | college savings plan | | saving for college | | Vanguard | | investments | | investing | | investment options | |
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Five simple steps to enrolling in a 529 planWondering just to how go about opening a 529 plan? You're not alone! According to our 2nd annual Annual College Savings Survey, 86 percent of those who intend to open a 529 plan don't know the steps involved. Don't worry - we're here to help! | 529 plan | | 529 plan enrollment | | investments | | age-based investments | | open a 529 plan | | saving for college | | college savings | | 529 contribution | | beneficiary | |
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When should you switch 529 plans?There are several good reasons for some 529 plan participants to consider doing a rollover. Here are the most common. | 529 plan | | saving for college | | choosing a 529 plan | | investment | |
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Eight reasons why grandparents love 529 plansIf you’re a grandparent there are a variety of different ways you can help pay for college. Here are eight reasons why we think saving with a 529 plan could be your best bet. | 529 plan | | grandparents | | saving for college | | college planning | | tax benefits | | estate planning | | financial planning | | investment | | | |
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75% of college savers don't know how to invest their 529 savingsWhen it comes to selecting investment options, many clients would benefit from the guidance of a financial advisor, read more: | investing | | Financial professionals | | performance | |
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How Dollar-Cost Averaging can protect your 529 savings during a stock market slumpIf you find that your 529 plan is performing poorly, you generally have a few different options, learn more. | invest | | 529 | | switch 529 | | Dollar-Cost Averaging | |
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College Savings Timeline: Time to get in gearEven if your child has less than 18 years until college, you still have plenty of time to grow significant savings. Here are five things to focus on if college is 10 years away. | college savings | | 10 years to college | | grade school | | scholarships | | 529 plans | | age-based investments | | asset allocation | | resume | | application | | 529 plan | | 529 plans | |
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Five questions to ask yourself when choosing a college savings strategyCollege can be one of the largest expenses a family will ever face. There are a number of different options available to help you reach your goal, and here are a few things to consider before choosing the one that’s right for you. | 529 plan | | college | | college savings | | college savings options | | investment option | | age-based | | fees and expenses | | tax benefits | |
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How to get socially responsible with 529 plansHappy Earth Day! Did you know that you can help preserve the environment by saving for college? Here are four investment managers that offer Socially Responsible Investment options through 529 college savings plans. | Earth Day | | 529 plan | | 529 plans | | college savings plans | | socially responsible | | socially responsible investing | | SRI | | Vanguard | | TIAA-CREF | | Parnassus | | Calvert | |
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[PODCAST] Selecting your 529 plan investment optionsIn this podcast episode, Joe Hurley and Kathryn Flynn discuss the investment options typically offered in a 529 plan and how to choose the best investment portfolio to achieve your savings target. | podcast | | saving for college | | 529 plan | | choosing a 529 plan | | investment options | | age-based investments | | Joe Hurley | |
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Does this 529 plan rule leave you scratching your head?Investing in your home state's 529 plan can have some great benefits, but you should still explore the 529 options in other states as well. | 529 plan | | saving for college | | fees and expenses | | choosing a 529 plan | | investment | | | |
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[PODCAST] Getting started with a 529 plan - Step 2: Opening your accountTune in to the next episode in our podcast series and listen to Joe Hurley and Kathryn Flynn's discussion on what you need to do to set up your 529 college savings account. | 529 plan | | college savings | | podcast | | college planning | | investment | |
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12 states offering FDIC-Insured 529 plan optionsFamilies who wish to save for college with 529 plans but are seeking more conservative investment options may find them with plans that offer FDIC-insured options. Here are 12 states that offer this type of investment. | 529 plan | | fdic | | investment | | investment options | | savings accounts | |
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A top college savings resource for grandparentsThere are a number of different ways for grandparents to help save for college, yet for many the process can seem overwhelming. Here's an overview of the college savings resources we have available to help grandparents ensure their grandchildren have the best chance for success. | grandparents | | saving for college | | 529 plans | | tax benefits | | gift tax | | investment | | | |
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Do 529 plans beat their benchmark?A recent analysis conducted by Joe Hurley finds that historically when their unique benefits are taken into account, 529 plans can be a very lucrative choice when saving for college. | college savings | | 529 plan | | 529 plans | | mutual funds | | college | | college investing | | saving for college | | tax benefits | | benchmarks | | investment strategies | |
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10 investing terms every college saver should understandIn honor of Financial Literacy Month, here’s a quick rundown of ten often-misunderstood investing terms that you’re likely to come across when choosing a saving strategy. | college savings | | financial literacy month | | investing | | 529 plans | | investment terms | | investment | |
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Annual College Savings Survey results: Direct- or advisor-sold 529 plan?Our survey results indicate many of our readers feel comfortable selecting their own investments, but there may be situations in which an advisor-sold 529 plan could be a better fit. Here are a few key questions to ask yourself: | 529 plan | | 529 plans | | college savings | | direct-sold 529 | | advisor-sold 529 | | fees | | financial advisor | | financial planner | | investment options | | active management | | index funds | |
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The anti-529ersFinancial advisers who do not like 529 plans may have their reasons, and I respect their opinions, but I suspect that many of their anti-529 comments come more from a lack of knowledge and experience than from objective data. | 529 plan | | tax-advantaged investment | | registered investment advisers | |
Financial Professionals
Top 529 College Savings Plans
One-year rankings are based on a plan's average investment returns over the last 12 months.
State | Plan Name | |
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1 | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania 529 Investment Plan |
2 | Louisiana | START Saving Program |
3 | Ohio | Ohio's 529 Plan, CollegeAdvantage |
Three-year rankings are based on a plan's average annual investment returns over the last three years.
State | Plan Name | |
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1 | West Virginia | SMART529 WV Direct College Savings Plan |
2 | Ohio | Ohio's 529 Plan, CollegeAdvantage |
3 | Delaware | Delaware College Investment Plan |
Five-year rankings are based on a plan's average annual investment returns over the last five years
State | Plan Name | |
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1 | Ohio | Ohio's 529 Plan, CollegeAdvantage |
2 | New York | New York's 529 College Savings Program -- Direct Plan |
3 | South Carolina | Future Scholar 529 College Savings Plan (Direct-sold) |
10-year rankings are based on a plan's average annual investment returns over the last ten years.
State | Plan Name | |
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1 | Ohio | Ohio's 529 Plan, CollegeAdvantage |
2 | South Carolina | Future Scholar 529 College Savings Plan (Direct-sold) |
3 | New York | New York's 529 College Savings Program -- Direct Plan |