Although I do not have children, I am considering starting to save for college. With the cost of tuition rising well above levels of inflation, the sooner I get started, even before any children exist, the higher the chance my child or children will be able to go to school without an insurmountable pile of debt. Unfortunately, most college savings plans are complicated. They are tax efficient, but only if some conditions are met. If you need to withdraw money from the funds for purposes other than education, you can face penalties. There are a number of variables to consider, least of all is the idea that I may not have children at all.
Kiplinger’s Personal Finance has named its top five 529 college-savings plans to help parents or possible future parents like me decide which options to pursue. None of these options sound perfect, however. I do not like the sound of any of these top five, either due to flexibility or fees. In addition to fees by the dollar, all plans charge a management expense, fees as a percentage of assets, in addition to the underlying funds’ management expense.
Illinois Bright Start College Savings Program. Pros: Low fees. Cons: Low fees only apply to actively-managed funds (poor performers). If you choose Vanguard funds you must pay $10 per fund.
Alaska’s T. Rowe Price College Savings Plan. Pros: Good investment options. Cons: $25 yearly fee for some accounts.
Michigan Education Savings Program. Pros: Plan includes a guaranteed return option. Cons: The plan is run by TIAA-Cref.
College Savings Plan of Nebraska. Pros: Investors can choose from a wide variety of mutual funds. Cons: Every account has a $20 annual maintenance fee.
Virginia CollegeAmerica. Pros: Kiplinger’s counts the fact that this plan is sold by financial advisers as a pro. Cons: The plan includes only funds from American Funds, which are expensive and underperform.
Kiplinger’s also includes a state-by-state guide to 529 plans. Use this guide to determine whether your state offers its own plan with tax benefits. The benefits may compensate for the other drawbacks of the plan. I live in New Jersey, which does not offer any 529 plans with tax benefits, but I could invest with another state’s plan. While I live in New Jersey, I would not be able to benefit in the other state’s tax advantages.
Best 529 College-Savings Plans, Thomas M. Anderson, Kiplinger’s Personal Finance, June 26, 2009
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Kiplinger’s Best 529 College Savings Plans
