A jumpy stock market has made some parents wonder if they'll ever be able to save enough to send their kids to college. But by taking advantage of tax-favored accounts that let you save tax-free for college expenses, you can put yourself back into the driver's seat and get your kids the education they'll need to succeed in the dog-eat-dog job market of the future.
When you look at the choices you have for saving for college, 529 college savings plans give you a lot of advantages over the competition. But to make the most of the opportunity that 529s give you, you need to pick the best plan you can find. The right choice can put thousands more into your pocket over the years. Below, we'll take a look at the 529 plans that Morningstar chose as industry leaders, but first, here's some background on why these accounts are worth looking at.
Why 529 is a number you should remember
529 plans look a lot like retirement accounts. As long as the money you contribute stays inside the plan, you enjoy tax-deferred growth on your investments. Moreover, just as Roth IRAs let you reap the gains on your money tax-free if you wait long enough before taking it out, 529 plans give you tax-free treatment of your investment income if you use the money to pay college-related expenses including tuition, books, and even room and board.
The complicated thing about 529 plans is that there are a huge number of them. Each of the 50 states has at least one 529 plan, and each offers different menus of investment choices -- as well as associated investing costs and other fees. Because you're not required to use the 529 plan that your own state offers, deciding which plans give you the best deal can take a lot of research.
Boiling down the choices
That's where Morningstar's annual look at 529 plans can save you some legwork. In this year's edition, Morningstar noted several favorable trends among college savings plans. Not only have expenses started to come down, but plans are also working to expand and improve their investment offerings, giving parents better choices for how to invest their college savings.
But Morningstar's broad look at the industry still reveals some plans that stand out from the crowd. In particular, 529 plans from Ohio, Nevada, Utah, Virginia, and Maryland topped the list. You can see the full details here.
Less important than the plan specifics, though, are the overall trends that those top plans share. For instance, four of the five plans offer low-cost, high-quality mutual fund choices from providers including Vanguard and T. Rowe Price
But plans don't always make it easy for parents to separate the good choices from the bad. Many 529 plans offer greater varieties of higher-cost options that aren't necessarily your best bet. For instance, the Ohio plan offers not only Vanguard funds but also fund options managed by OppenheimerFunds, General Electric
More broadly, plans have started giving savers ways to invest outside traditional mutual funds. A separate Virginia plan lets savers put money into FDIC-insured accounts at BB&T
Watch out
Not all plans are so beneficial, though. Morningstar cites Maine's NextGen College Investing Plan as below average, in part because program manager Merrill Lynch, now a subsidiary of Bank of America
In general, though, 529 plans can give you a lot of help in saving for college. By paying attention to which plans get top ratings, you'll be better positioned to make the most of your 529 opportunity.
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