Ohio's 529 Plan logo on chalkboard next to a little girl in a pink tutu reading a book while sitting on a yellow stool

CollegeAdvantage is launching a new logo, which reflects that CollegeAdvantage is Ohio’s 529 Plan and is the best choice to save for higher education costs nationwide and especially for Ohioans.

After eighteen years of CollegeAdvantage, research showed that Ohioans were faster to act and begin saving for their children’s future college costs when they recognized CollegeAdvantage as “Ohio’s 529 Plan.” A study also showed that the new logo helped a vast majority of participants to correctly associate Ohio’s 529 Plan as a college savings organization. Effective today, CollegeAdvantage’s brand has been officially changed to “Ohio’s 529 Plan, CollegeAdvantage.”

“We’re still the same trusted tax-advantaged college savings plan which over the last seven years has received silver rating and best-in-class honors from Morningstar as well as a Five (5)-Cap Rating from Saving for College.com. Just as 401(k) is readily associated with retirement savings, we want everyone to have similar recognition of 529 and specifically Ohio’s 529 Plan, as the best way to save for whatever education or training comes after high school,” said Tim Gorrell, executive director. 

Named after Section 529 of the Internal Revenue Code, Ohio’s 529 Plan offers a tax-advantaged way to save for future college costs. Funds saved in Ohio’s 529 Plan are tax-free when used to pay higher education expenses such as: tuition, general fees, books, computers, and room and board. Ohio’s 529 Plan (like all other 529 plans) was created to help families save for higher education costs and reduce the need for student loans.

In Ohio, any Ohio taxpayer including parents, grandparents, family members and friends who contribute to an Ohio 529 account can claim a deduction of up to $4,000 in contributions per beneficiary, per year on their state of Ohio taxable income. The yearly maximum allowable deduction is $4,000, but contributors can invest even more. Ohio allows contributions in excess of $4,000 per beneficiary, per year, to be carried forward to future tax years until fully deducted. Funds saved in Ohio’s 529 Plan can be used to pay higher education expenses at any accredited college, university, or degree program in the country. 

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529 Short Course: New Parents

5 things every new parent needs to know about saving for education

  1. Why Ohio 529?
    529s are specifically created for higher education savings. Unlike a traditional banking account, a 529 account benefits from tax-free earnings and tax-free withdrawals. For Ohio residents, there is also a state income tax deduction for those contributions.
  2. It’s simple to start.
    You can open your 529 account online in minutes with as little as $25. With ready-made portfolio options, you don’t have to be a financial expert to feel confident in your savings plan choices.
  3. Set it and forget it with automatic deposits.
    The sooner you start saving, the longer your account benefits from the Ohio 529 tax advantages as well as compound interest. Many new parents take their 529 contributions off their to-do list by setting up small automatic deposits from either their banking accounts or paycheck. Also, with our ReadySave 529 app, it’s also easy to track and adjust your account right on your mobile device.
  4. Save for college, career training, and more.
    Ohio 529 can be used at over 30,000 schools of all kinds, nationwide, including universities; community colleges; trade, technical, and vocational schools; certificate programs; and apprenticeships. Your Ohio 529 account can also pay for K-12 tuition at a public, private, or religious school. And, if it’s not needed for educational expenses, you can now roll over your 529 to a Roth IRA.
  5. Others can help.
    It’s easy for family and friends to contribute to your child’s account and receive tax benefits for themselves. You can share your account’s unique Ugift number with others to contribute online without creating their own 529 accounts. Those who live in Ohio will also receive a state income tax deduction for their contributions. Also, you can sign up to have reminder emails sent to you and loved ones for the big milestones in your child’s life.

Hoping to find gold at the end of the rainbow? If you are saving with Ohio 529 CollegeAdvantage, you have the benefit of Ugift with your account, which is savings gold.

Ugift makes it easy for others to give to your Ohio 529 account. With Ugift, you generate a unique code which allows loved ones to contribute to your Ohio 529 savings plan without needing the actual account number. Once they have the Ugift code, your friends and family can visit Ugift529.com to make their online gifts directly to your 529.

When friends and family ask for gift ideas, share that you are saving for your child’s future education with Ohio 529. Then invite them to join in with gift contributions to your Ohio 529 account with Ugift. After all, a gift for your child’s education will truly last a lifetime.

The quickest and easiest way to pass along your child’s Ugift code is with the ReadySave 529 app, which you can access as an Ohio 529 CollegeAdvantage account owner. At the bottom of every page is an Ugift icon. Click on the gift symbol to view your Ugift code which you can send immediately as an invitation via texts, emails, and Facebook/Instagram chats from your phone.

Or log into your account online to view your child’s Ugift code to send to family and friends who would like to give the gift of education.

The Ugift code doesn’t expire. Which means whenever there is an occasion to celebrate­ like baby showers, holidays, birthdays, graduations, and special achievements, your family and friends can give to your Ohio 529 account. And they can choose to contribute as much as they want whenever they want. It can be a one-time gift or recurring gift; all they need is that Ugift code. Your loved ones’ contributions - whether big or small – will add up over the years. Added to the power of compound interest, these gifts will power your 529 savings to cover even more college and career training costs.

An added bonus for gift givers who live in Ohio: They are also eligible to receive a state income tax deduction for their Ohio 529 gift contributions, up to $4,000 per year, per beneficiary.

To learn more about all of the gifting options with Ohio 529 and order cards for special occasions, visit  529 Gift Central.

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