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2017 plan performance rankings Q2

Savingforcollege.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.

2017 one-year top performing direct plans Q2

Savingforcollege.com ranks the one-year investment performance of direct-sold 529 plans as of June 30, 2017.

2017 three-year top performing direct plans Q2

Savingforcollege.com ranks the three-year investment performance of direct-sold 529 plans as of June 30, 2017.

2017 five-year top performing direct plans Q2

Savingforcollege.com ranks the five-year investment performance of direct-sold 529 plans as of June 30, 2017.

2017 ten-year top performing direct plans Q2

Savingforcollege.com ranks the ten-year investment performance of direct-sold 529 plans as of June 30, 2017.

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.

How to determine the ROI on a college education

Factors 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.

2016 plan performance rankings Q2

Savingforcollege.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.

New tool helps you pick the best investments for college

Just 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.

How to select investments in a 529 plan

When 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.

2016 plan performance rankings Q1

Savingforcollege.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.

Student loan debt vs. investments: What to prioritize

Eliminating debt is always beneficial, could focusing too much on paying back those college loans actually be bad?

Investing trends of 529 college savers

Find 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.

Five simple steps to enrolling in a 529 plan

Wondering 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!

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.

Eight reasons why grandparents love 529 plans

If 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.

75% of college savers don't know how to invest their 529 savings

When it comes to selecting investment options, many clients would benefit from the guidance of a financial advisor, read more:

How Dollar-Cost Averaging can protect your 529 savings during a stock market slump

If you find that your 529 plan is performing poorly, you generally have a few different options, learn more.

College Savings Timeline: Time to get in gear

Even 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.

Five questions to ask yourself when choosing a college savings strategy

College 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.

How to get socially responsible with 529 plans

Happy 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.

[PODCAST] Selecting your 529 plan investment options

In 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.

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.

[PODCAST] Getting started with a 529 plan - Step 2: Opening your account

Tune 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.

12 states offering FDIC-Insured 529 plan options

Families 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.

A top college savings resource for grandparents

There 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.

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.

10 investing terms every college saver should understand

In 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.

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:

The anti-529ers

Financial 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.