Understanding NextGen 529 College Savings & Market Volatility

Maine’s 529 Plan – A Quick Recap

While a saver can choose any state’s 529 college savings plan, Maine has its own plan called NextGen 529, which offers a range of investment options and tax benefits for parents who want to invest in their child’s future. NextGen 529 also offers grants for Maine residents that can only be taken advantage of when you open and contribute to a NextGen 529 account. Starting in 2023, Maine residents can also receive a state income tax deduction on contributions to a 529 account, up to $1,000 per beneficiary.

A 529 account can be used to pay for costs associated with early education, including K-12 (up to $10,000 per year), or post high school education, including qualified apprenticeship programs, 2-or 4-year college, and student loan repayments (up to $10,000 for a designated beneficiary or their siblings).

All you need to start with NextGen 529 is to open an account and add $25. There are different contribution options for every family’s unique financial situation. Families can choose to automate contributions at weekly, bi-weekly, monthly, or quarterly periods. Or, you can contribute when it fits your budget, tied to an event, like a tax refund or a bonus at work, or through gifts from family and friends to celebrate a special occasion. The bottom line is that you control when contributions are made.

Despite all the good reasons to open and contribute to a 529 account, many families have other priorities in their household budgets, and inflation or market volatility may be giving them pause.

Let’s Break It Down: NextGen 529 College Savings & Market Volatility

Balancing Risk and Return

In many cases, a 529 account provides opportunities that can help weather market volatility. Year of Enrollment Portfolios, offered by NextGen 529 and other 529 plans, are an investment option that varies based upon the year the student is expected to need the assets for higher education expenses. Funds are invested most aggressively when the student is young and are automatically shifted to more conservative investments as the child gets closer to using the funds.

Most 529 plans, including NextGen 529, also offer stable value options designed to retain principal. Altogether, the NextGen 529 Direct Series offers 33 investment options and the Select Series offers 80 investment options to help account owners balance risk and return.

Only YOU Control Your Investments

We know you don’t have the power to predict or control the markets and economy. However, you do have the power to control how much you save and the diversification of your investments. While a rocky market can be intimidating and may cause you to second guess your investment decisions, it’s important to stay calm and focus on your long-term savings strategy.

To maximize the potential of your investment, it’s important to periodically assess your investment choices with your time horizon, risk tolerance, and investment objectives in mind. Speaking with a financial advisor is also a great option to assess if and when you should be making investment adjustments. Once you have contributed to an account, you may move any or all of your account balance to one or more different options twice each calendar year.

The Bottom Line: Focus On Long-Term Strategy 

History indicates that parents and grandparents who focus on their child’s long-term education savings goals and are able to stay the course have the greatest potential to benefit from market recovery after a downturn or turbulent market. Although we can not predict what will happen, remember to focus on the big picture so your child has the best chance for a life with decreased student loan debt.

Investing in a NextGen 529 college savings plan and setting up regular contributions – even in small amounts – can potentially add up to big savings down the road.

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