Ways to Save

With college costs on the rise, you should begin planning for the future as early as possible. Tuition rates have been increasing at more than twice the rate of inflation for over twenty years and could continue to rise.1 Saving now, even just a few dollars each month, can help make a college education affordable for any child. To help you maximize your savings, we’ve outlined some options that may help.

Start Early – 529 Savings Add Up
To better ensure you’ll provide your child with the tools to get the education he or she deserves, remember to start early. By making contributions early to your account, you maximize the potential benefits associated with your investment.

2


Give the Gift of Education
There is no better way to contribute to a child's future than to give the gift of education. When your family, friends, and neighbors ask what your child wants for his or her birthday or for the holidays, ask them to contribute to his or her education. Instead of another t-shirt or toy, they might prefer to give something that will provide assistance year after year. Your friends and family can simply give a check payable to Utah Educational Savings Plan directly to you or your child. They can also send a check payable to the Utah Educational Savings Plan directly to us. Be sure to have them include the beneficiary's name and account number on the check.3

To simplify your gift giving, click here to download the UESP Gift Notice. Complete the Gift Notice and give your beneficiary the bottom portion to let him or her know you made the contribution. Complete and send the top portion with your contribution to UESP.

One-Time Contributions
You can contribute to your account according to your own schedule whether that means once a month or once a year. One-time ACH requests may be completed by clicking here. Once you logon to your account you will be asked to provide your bank account information and can choose any business day within the next 30 days for the withdrawal to occur.

Make Regular Payments
You may find it easier to reach your education savings goal by establishing a plan that allows you to make automatic payments according to your financial goals - when you save consistently from your paycheck or bank account, your savings add up. To access the forms to allow you to set up a contribution method that is right for you, click here.

1 US Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2004. Inflation as measured by the consumer price index (1983-2003).

2 Graph compares the approximate amount of savings that may be earned investing different amounts over different time periods. This graph is only an example of the type of affects compounding may have on money. The graph assumes a 5% annual rate of return compounded monthly. Neither the State of Utah nor UESP offer any guarantees concerning any rate of return and performance of any UESP accounts. UESP accounts are not backed by the full faith and credit of the State of Utah or UESP. Contributions are not insured by the FDIC or any other governmental entity. This graph does not consider the impact of any potential state or federal taxes on any portion of the investments, earnings, or redemptions. This graph does not consider the impact of any applicable fees.

3 Anyone can contribute to a UESP account; however, once the funds are contributed, they are under the control of the account owner, not the contributor.

 

© UESP 2008
The terms Utah Educational Savings Plan and UESP are registered trademarks.

Investors should read the Program Description and consider all investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses before investing. The Program Description is available for download on the Web or a hard copy can be mailed to you by requesting it online from this Web site.

Investments are not guaranteed by UESP, the Utah State Board of Regents, the UHEAA, the FDIC, or any other state or federal government agency. Your investment may lose value.

Investors who are not Utah taxpayers should determine whether the state in which they or their beneficiary reside or pay taxes offers a 529 plan, and if so, whether that plan offers state tax or other benefits not available through UESP.

 

"About the only thing more expensive than going to college is not going to college."

— Thomas G. Mortensen (Publisher) Postsecondary Education Opportunity