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You Can Pay For Your Child's Tuition
Now At LESS Than Today's Tuition Prices.
by Suzon Walton
Publisher of Connected Now
 Yes, you
can beat the high cost of inflation by purchasing your
children's education today...at less than today's prices.
You read correctly. The Independent 529 Plan is a prepaid
tuition plan that enables you to lock in future tuition
costs at less than today's prices. Through the Plan,
you purchase certificates that can be used to pay future
tuition costs. When the student (your child or relative)
is later accepted at a member college, the certificate
can be used to pay the percentage of tuition you pre-purchased.
Independent 529 Plan is the first 529 plan sponsored
by private ("independent") colleges, and Program certificates
can be redeemed for tuition at a broad array of independent
colleges nationwide. It's a guaranteed plan that offers:
- Freedom from investment risk
- Freedom from tuition inflation
- Freedom from federal taxes
With mutual funds and other college savings options, you invest your money in stocks or other securities in the hope that your returns, minus any taxes you might have to pay, will enable you to meet your goals.
You may worry that the market will turn, just when you need the funds for college. Because Independent 529 Plan guarantees a distinct tuition benefit at each member college when you buy, you don't have to risk your money in volatile investment markets to keep up with rising college costs. And the plan charges no sales, application or maintenance fees.
You can use Independent 529 Plan certificates to pay for undergraduate tuition and mandatory fees. (Room and board and graduate school tuition are not covered at this time.)
In addition to protection from tuition inflation, Independent 529 Plan provides a certificate discount that enables you to purchase future tuition at less than current prices. The certificate discount varies by institution but is never less than 0.5% per year.
Generally, any adult U.S. resident may open a Program account and purchase Independent 529 Plan certificates. There are no income limitations for purchase, ownership or use of a certificate.
An individual owner must name a designated beneficiary. There are no age or other restrictions for beneficiaries, although the purchaser must provide a social security number or U.S. taxpayer ID number for the designated beneficiary. Non-U.S. citizens may purchase tuition certificates if they maintain a U.S. residence and provide a U.S. tax payer I.D.
Entity ownership of a certificate will also be permitted for a 501(c)(3) organization, trust, estate, partnership, association, company or corporation. Entity accounts will be permitted either for a named designated beneficiary or using a scholarship structure where no beneficiary is named at the time of purchase.
Participating colleges will provide guaranteed future tuition, in proportion to the percentage purchased, to beneficiaries at a price below today's tuition.
For more information, visit www.independent529plan.org
Independent 529 Plan Members in California
Lutheran University
Claremont McKenna College
Harvey Mudd College
Mills College
Occidental College
Pepperdine University
Pitzer College
Point Loma Nazarene University
Pomona College
Saint Mary's College of California
University of LaVerne
Redlands, University of
San Diego, University of
University of the Pacific
Westmont College
Whittier College
You may contact Suzon Walton at
suzon@connectednow.com
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