Which investment portfolio is right for me?
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When it comes to investing in a 529 plan, we all have the same goal: to help pay for college. However, everyone’s investment strategy can look quite different.
To help determine the right strategy for you, answer the following questions as you are choosing your plan:
- How much do I want to save?
- How fast do I want to save?
- How comfortable am I with risk?
- How hands-on do I want to be?
Path2College 529 investment choices
Choose from multiple portfolios to fit your preferences—aligning with your risk tolerance, preferred level of involvement and desired results. The risk tolerance questions can help determine what’s best for you.
Enrollment Year Investment Portfolios
Consider this if:
You’re looking for an investment customized for your student’s expected enrollment year.
- Can be a good, all-in-one solution to manage your savings over the long term without any extra work on your part
- Risk level automatically becomes more conservative as the enrollment year approaches
Static Portfolios
Consider this if:
You’re an experienced investor and you want more control over your investment portfolio diversification and strategy.
- Select from a range of investment objectives
- Suitable for a variety of risk profiles and asset allocation blends
Principal Plus Interest Portfolio
Consider this if:
You’re in a position of having a short-term investment horizon or are looking for a low-risk investment.
- Seeks to preserve capital and provide a stable return
Wide range of investments. Simple steps.
Watch this short video to see how we make it easy to make investment choices that work for you.
Have any questions? Path2College 529 is here to help!
Yes. You can transfer funds from another 529 plan to your Path2College 529 Plan account for the same beneficiary once within a 12-month period without incurring tax penalties.
Consolidating education savings into a Path2College 529 Plan also gives you a single view of your savings and performance as well as single-step payments to colleges, universities, K-12 schools, etc.
Path2College 529 Plan expenses are currently the lowest in the country.1 You pay no sales charges, startup fees or maintenance fees.
Note that incoming rollover funds do not qualify as contributions for the Georgia state income tax deduction. The 529 plan from which you are transferring funds may be subject to different features, costs and surrender charges. It is recommended that you consult your tax advisor or the other 529 college savings plan prior to making any decisions. For more information, see How to manage an incoming rollover from another 529 saving plan account.
Footnotes
- 1Source: ISS Market Intelligence 529 College Savings Fee Analysis Q4 2023. Path2College 529 Plan’s average annual asset-based fee is 0.09% for all portfolios compared to 0.51% for all 529 plans.↩
How much you need to save will depend on what you plan to use the money for and when.
A few helpful tools:
- Check out the College Savings Calculator to estimate the cost of college.
- Use our Savings Plan Estimator to see how your savings could add up over time.
If your child ends up not needing the funds for college, you always have multiple options for your money:
- You can leave the funds in the account as there is no age limit or expiration date. For example, the choice to go to school might be a delayed decision for the intended child.
- You can transfer the funds to another eligible beneficiary, such as another child, a grandchild or even yourself.
- Up to $10,000 annually can be used toward K-12 tuition (per student).1
- Your 529 can be used for student loan repayment up a $10,000 lifetime limit per individual.1
- If you need to withdraw the funds for any reason, you can at any time. Earnings on funds withdrawn for a purpose other than qualified higher education expenses are subject to federal and state income tax and a 10% additional federal tax (known as the “Additional Tax”). See the Plan Description for more information and exceptions.
Footnotes
- 1Withdrawals for tuition expenses at a public, private or religious elementary, middle, or high school and student loans can be withdrawn free from federal and Georgia income tax. If you are not a Georgia taxpayer, these withdrawals may include recapture of tax deduction, state income tax as well as penalties. You should talk to a qualified professional about how tax provisions affect your circumstances.↩
Yes. Each time you make a contribution, you may select from any of the Path2College 529 Plan investment options. Once invested in a particular portfolio, contributions and earnings may be transferred to another investment option twice per calendar year or upon transfer of funds to a plan account for a different eligible beneficiary (see the Plan Description for more information).
To transfer funds between investment options, log in to your account, click “View Details” for your beneficiary, then choose “Change investment option.” You may also request and submit by mail the Change of Investment Form.
More resources to explore
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