Comments on: Marketing, Lies, and Scary 529 Investment Options http://www.mymoneyblog.com/marketing-lies-and-scary-529-investment-options.html Personal Finance and Investing Blog Sun, 12 Feb 2012 01:43:13 +0000 hourly 1 By: Andy http://www.mymoneyblog.com/marketing-lies-and-scary-529-investment-options.html#comment-145910 Andy Sat, 27 Feb 2010 21:35:44 +0000 http://www.mymoneyblog.com/?p=6254#comment-145910 529s can be really confusing because we-parents have 50 states, 100 plans and about 2,700 investment choice. One of the really crazy happenings is that you can end up buying the exact same fund for highly variable expense ratios. Take the Total Stock Market Index 529 Portfolio. Oregon - 21 basis points Nebraska - 91 basis points That's the same fund, but a 70 basis point spread. You might ask why the difference? Vanguard charges 6 points. Nebraska adds on another 85 basis points. Oregon only adds on 21 basis point. AND.. some parent's don't know that you can invest other state's plan. There's a tool we developed called the 529 Comparison Tool that is the only one on the web to highlight these differences for free. www.cloudfi.com/app/529 529s can be really confusing because we-parents have 50 states, 100 plans and about 2,700 investment choice.

One of the really crazy happenings is that you can end up buying the exact same fund for highly variable expense ratios. Take the Total Stock Market Index 529 Portfolio.

Oregon – 21 basis points
Nebraska – 91 basis points

That’s the same fund, but a 70 basis point spread. You might ask why the difference? Vanguard charges 6 points. Nebraska adds on another 85 basis points. Oregon only adds on 21 basis point. AND.. some parent’s don’t know that you can invest other state’s plan.

There’s a tool we developed called the 529 Comparison Tool that is the only one on the web to highlight these differences for free. http://www.cloudfi.com/app/529

]]> By: Nick http://www.mymoneyblog.com/marketing-lies-and-scary-529-investment-options.html#comment-144811 Nick Sat, 06 Feb 2010 00:00:05 +0000 http://www.mymoneyblog.com/?p=6254#comment-144811 Wasn't there a second option on money savings for education, other then 529's? I think I read somewhere about it. The plus was that money can be spend for education (any, even yours) vs. 529 for your kids college, only. Wasn’t there a second option on money savings for education, other then 529′s? I think I read somewhere about it. The plus was that money can be spend for education (any, even yours) vs. 529 for your kids college, only.

]]> By: Weekend Reading: Christmas is Over :< Edition | HighYields.com http://www.mymoneyblog.com/marketing-lies-and-scary-529-investment-options.html#comment-142627 Weekend Reading: Christmas is Over :< Edition | HighYields.com Sun, 27 Dec 2009 05:21:00 +0000 http://www.mymoneyblog.com/?p=6254#comment-142627 [...] Money Blog shares some disturbing details on how 529 plans promised excess returns in conservative options, yet lost over 40% compared to [...] [...] Money Blog shares some disturbing details on how 529 plans promised excess returns in conservative options, yet lost over 40% compared to [...]

]]> By: gs http://www.mymoneyblog.com/marketing-lies-and-scary-529-investment-options.html#comment-142586 gs Fri, 25 Dec 2009 22:11:10 +0000 http://www.mymoneyblog.com/?p=6254#comment-142586 Thanks for bringing this to light. The worst part of this is Oregon still uses Oppenheimer funds for their 529 and doesn't allow tax deductions from any other 529 plans. You really need to do your research and chose lost-cost index funds. Vanguard & Fidelity both offer some great ones. Thanks for bringing this to light. The worst part of this is Oregon still uses Oppenheimer funds for their 529 and doesn’t allow tax deductions from any other 529 plans.

You really need to do your research and chose lost-cost index funds. Vanguard & Fidelity both offer some great ones.

]]> By: Warren http://www.mymoneyblog.com/marketing-lies-and-scary-529-investment-options.html#comment-142552 Warren Thu, 24 Dec 2009 19:07:17 +0000 http://www.mymoneyblog.com/?p=6254#comment-142552 Jonathan, thanks for bringing this to our attention. Gotta love index funds. Thanks, Vanguard! Jonathan, thanks for bringing this to our attention. Gotta love index funds. Thanks, Vanguard!

]]> By: JC http://www.mymoneyblog.com/marketing-lies-and-scary-529-investment-options.html#comment-142550 JC Thu, 24 Dec 2009 17:52:54 +0000 http://www.mymoneyblog.com/?p=6254#comment-142550 Colorado's is also administered by Vanguard and invested in their index funds. Colorado’s is also administered by Vanguard and invested in their index funds.

]]> By: Chuck http://www.mymoneyblog.com/marketing-lies-and-scary-529-investment-options.html#comment-142547 Chuck Thu, 24 Dec 2009 15:40:50 +0000 http://www.mymoneyblog.com/?p=6254#comment-142547 The NY 529 plan is administered by Vanguard. Yes, one thing that NY didn't screw up. The NY 529 plan is administered by Vanguard. Yes, one thing that NY didn’t screw up.

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