Net Gains: Save Money for College, Tax Free

April 23, 2008 — -- Nebraska just can't seem to get its act straight.

For the third consecutive year, the Nebraska AIM College Savings Plan was named one of the worst 529 college savings plans by Morningstar, the Chicago-based investment research provider.

On the other hand, the Maryland College Investment Plan, Virginia College America and Colorado Scholars Choice programs made return appearances on the top of Morningstar's annual Best and Worst 529 College Savings Plans list released last week.

A 529 college savings plan is a state-sponsored program used to accumulate funds to pay future higher education expenses. Thanks to significant tax advantages, the 529 plan has become the preferred investment vehicle for college savings.

Funds in a 529 plan accumulate tax free and then if used to pay higher education expenses, incur no income taxes on withdrawal. No income limit exists on those wishing to contribute. There is no federal deduction for 529 contributions, but more than 30 states offer some type of state tax break on contributions.

The popularity of 529 plans has soared in the last two years after Congress approved a tax change that made permanent the tax advantages of 529 plans. Before the 2006 change, tax free withdrawals from 529 plans had been scheduled to expire in 2010.

In its annual ranking of the best and worst 529 plans, Morningstar evaluates the plans for diversification, fees, flexibility and quality of the underlying mutual funds.

In the five years it has been doing its annual study, Morningstar said 529 costs have come down, weaker plans have improved the mutual funds they offer and ineffective plan administrators have exited the 529 plan business.

Typically, individual states decide to sponsor one or more plans and then select investment firms to operate them on their behalf.

The Nebraska AIM College Savings Plan appears on the worst list for the third consecutive year because it remains too expensive compared to its peers despite changes made last year, according to Morningstar.