529 plans indexed options

Introduction
This post provides information on 529 plans utilizing Index Funds.

The following states have 529 plans but do not offer any tax deductions or matching on contributions. Therefore, it is advisable to select the lowest cost plan (for age-based plans, currently the Illinois 529; for individual portfolios, currently Ohio) for these states:


 * Alabama
 * Alaska
 * California
 * Delaware
 * Florida
 * Hawaii
 * Kentucky
 * Massachusetts
 * Nevada
 * New Hampshire
 * New Jersey
 * South Dakota
 * Tennessee
 * Texas
 * Wyoming

Special Case:
These states offer the same deduction in and out of state, so investors should choose the lowest cost plan (currently the Illinois 529 and Ohio 529 plans) but they need to be sure to claim their deduction.


 * Kansas provides a deduction for both in-state and out-of-state 529's.
 * Maine provides a deduction for both in-state and out-of-state 529's.
 * Pennsylvania provides a deduction for both in-state and out-of-state 529's.

One can determine the breakeven point where using the Illinois or Ohio 529 option becomes cheaper than a state plan providing tax deductible and/or matched 529 contributions by using the following factors.


 * The tax savings amount (Deductible contribution x marginal state tax rate) + match.
 * The cost differential between the plan and the Illinois/Ohio 529 plan.
 * Dividing (1) by (2) provides the capital accumulation point where the lower cost plan subsequently overtakes the tax benefit.

The following states offer Vanguard Portfolios in their 529 plans.

 * Arkansas 529 Plan
 * Colorado 529 Plan
 * Hawaii 529 Plan
 * Idaho 529 Plan
 * Illinois 529 Plan
 * Iowa 529 Plan
 * Kansas 529 Plan
 * Louisiana 529 Plan
 * Missouri 529 Plan
 * Nebraska 529 Plan
 * Nevada 529 Plan
 * New York 529 Plan
 * North Carolina 529 Plan
 * North Dakota 529 Plan
 * Ohio 529 Plan
 * Oregon 529 Plan
 * Pennsylvania 529 Plan
 * Rhode Island 529 Plan
 * Utah 529 Plan
 * Virginia 529 Plan
 * West Virginia 529 Plan
 * Wisconsin 529 Plan
 * Wyoming 529 Plan

The following states offer 529 plans run by TIAA-CREF:

 * Connecticut 529 Plan
 * Georgia 529 Plan
 * Kentucky
 * Michigan
 * Minnesota
 * Mississippi
 * Oklahoma
 * Vermont

Additional states offering indexed portfolios

 * Arizona (Fidelity)
 * Massachusetts (Fidelity)
 * South Carolina (Columbia)
 * West Virginia (DFA)

Collegesure 529 Tuition Indexed Programs

 * Collegesure 529 Tuition Indexed Programs

Additional Links

 * College Tuition: Historical Cost Inflation
 * College Savings Bank
 * Saving for College
 * College Savings Plan Network
 * Vanguard College Savings Center
 * College Board
 * Information for Financial Aid Professonals (IFAP) Library

Academic Papers

 * Kaplan, Richard L., "Back to School: The New Parameters of Funding a Grandchild's College Education" . Journal of Retirement Planning, pp. 25-36, January-February 2008 Available at SSRN: http://ssrn.com/abstract=1092230