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529 College Savings Plan

Save for education expenses with a 529 plan

Save for future education expenses for your child, grandchild or even yourself with a state-sponsored, tax-advantaged 529 plan.Footnote 1

529 Plan Benefits

Maintain control of the account as the owner

Enjoy tax-deferred growth on your contributionsFootnote 1

Make tax-free withdrawals for qualified expensesFootnote 1,2

Contribute funds without age or income restrictionsFootnote 3

Question:
What is a 529 plan?
 
Answer:
A 529 plan is a state-sponsored, tax-advantaged plan that offers a way to invest for education expenses.

529 portfolio options available through Merrill

Year of Enrollment Portfolios

These portfolios' allocations change to become more conservative over time until reaching the enrolled designation, or the year when the funds are anticipated to be withdrawn for education expenses.

Diversified Portfolios

These portfolios have a specific investment objective like growth or income. Their allocation does not automatically change over time.

Single Fund Portfolios

These portfolios invest in one underlying investment, allowing you to customize your allocations based on the range of underlying investments.

Stable Principal Portfolios

These portfolios seek to retain your principal, and offer Principal Plus and NextGen Savings as available portfolio options.

What are the tax advantages when you invest with a 529 plan?

In addition to tax-free growth on contributions, some states offer state income tax benefits if you contribute to a 529 college savings plan. Find out if you're eligible, along with your potential savings.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Please remember there's always the potential of losing money when you invest in securities.

Before you invest in a Section 529 plan, request the plan's official statement from your Merrill Financial Solutions Advisor and read it carefully. The official statement contains more complete information, including investment objectives, charges, expenses and risks of investing in the plan, which you should carefully consider before investing. You should also consider whether your home state or your designated beneficiary's home state offers any state tax or other state benefits such as financial aid, scholarship funds and protection from creditors that are available only for investments in such state's 529 plan. Section 529 plans are not guaranteed by any state or federal agency.
Any tax statements contained herein were not intended or written to be used, and cannot be used for the purpose of avoiding U.S. federal, state or local tax penalties. Neither Merrill Lynch nor any of its affiliates or financial advisors provide legal, tax or accounting advice. You should consult your legal and/or tax advisors before making any financial decisions.

Footnote 
To be eligible for favorable tax treatment afforded to the earnings portion of a withdrawal from a Section 529 account, such withdrawal must be used for "qualified higher education expenses," as defined in the Internal Revenue Code. The earnings portion of a withdrawal that is not used for such expenses is subject to federal income tax and may be subject to a 10% additional federal tax, as well as applicable state and local income taxes. The additional tax is waived under certain circumstances. The beneficiary must be attending an eligible educational institution at least half time for room and board to be considered a qualified higher education expense, subject to limitations. Institutions must be eligible to participate in federal student financial aid programs. Some foreign institutions are eligible. You can also take a federal income tax-free distribution from a 529 account of up to $10,000 per calendar year per beneficiary from all 529 accounts to help pay for tuition at an elementary or secondary public, private or religious school. Qualified higher education expenses now include expenses for fees, books, supplies and equipment required for the participation of a designated beneficiary in an apprenticeship program registered and certified with the Secretary of Labor under the National Apprenticeship Act and amounts paid as principal or interest on any qualified education loans of the designated beneficiary or sibling of the designated beneficiary, up to a lifetime maximum of $10,000 per individual. Distributions with respect to the loans of a sibling of the designated beneficiary will count towards the lifetime limit of the sibling, not the designated beneficiary. Such repayments may impact student loan interest deductibility. State tax treatment may vary for distributions to pay for tuition in connection with enrollment or attendance at an elementary or secondary public, private or religious school, apprenticeship expenses and payment of qualified education loans.
Footnote 2 Section 529 plans are established by various states and are offered to residents of all states. Depending on the laws of the customer's home state, favorable tax treatment for investing in a Section 529 plan may be limited to investments made in a Section 529 plan offered by the customer's home state. Neither Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated nor any of its subsidiaries are tax or legal advisors. We suggest you consult your personal tax or legal advisor before making tax or legal-related investment decisions.

Footnote 3 For 2023, individuals can gift up to $85,000 ($170,000 for married couples electing to split gifts) per beneficiary in a single year without incurring gift tax. Contributions between $17,000 and $85,000 ($34,000 and $170,000 for married couples electing to split gifts) made in one year can be prorated over a five-year period without subjecting you to gift tax or reducing your federal unified estate and gift tax credit. If you contribute less than the $85,000 ($170,000 for married couples electing to split gifts) maximum, additional contributions can be made without you being subject to federal gift tax, up to a prorated level of $17,000 ($34,000 for married couples electing to split gifts) per year. Gift taxation may result if a contribution exceeds the available annual gift tax exclusion amount remaining for a given beneficiary in the year of contribution. For contributions between $17,000 and $85,000 ($34,000 and $170,000 for married couples electing to split gifts) made in one year, if the account owner dies before the end of the five-year period, a prorated portion of the contribution may be included in his or her estate for estate tax purposes.

Footnote 
Certain banking and brokerage accounts may be ineligible for real-time money movement, including but not limited to transfers to/from bank IRAs (CD, Money Market), 529s, Bank of America Advantage SafeBalance Banking™, Credit Cards and transfers from IRAs, Loans (HELOC, LOC, Mortgage) and accounts held in the military bank. Accounts eligible for real-time transfers will be displayed online in the to/from drop down menu on the transfer screen.
Footnote 5 The account owner can change the beneficiary to another member of the family of the original beneficiary, without penalty. Please refer to the Internal Revenue Code definition of "member of the family." If assets are contributed from an UGMA/UTMA account, the custodian may not change the designated minor, except as permitted by applicable law.

Footnote 6 The 10% additional tax does not apply to withdrawals as a result of the designated beneficiary receiving a scholarship or the designated beneficiary's attendance at a U.S. military academy provided the withdrawals do not exceed the amount of the scholarship or value of attendance at the academy. The 10% additional tax also does not apply as a result of withdrawals made due to the death or disability of the designated beneficiary.

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Investing in securities involves risks, and there is always the potential of losing money when you invest in securities.

Asset allocation, diversification, and rebalancing do not ensure a profit or protect against loss in declining markets.
Merrill, its affiliates, and financial advisors do not provide legal, tax, or accounting advice. You should consult your legal and/or tax advisors before making any financial decisions.

This material is not intended as a recommendation, offer or solicitation for the purchase or sale of any security or investment strategy. Merrill offers a broad range of brokerage, investment advisory (including financial planning) and other services. Additional information is available in our Client Relationship Summary (PDF).

Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated (also referred to as "MLPF&S" or "Merrill") makes available certain investment products sponsored, managed, distributed or provided by companies that are affiliates of Bank of America Corporation ("BofA Corp."). MLPF&S is a registered broker-dealer, registered investment adviser, Member Securities Investor Protection (SIPC) popup and a wholly owned subsidiary of Bank of America Corporation ("BofA Corp").
Merrill Lynch Life Agency Inc. (MLLA) is a licensed insurance agency and wholly owned subsidiary of BofA Corp.

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Investment products offered through MLPF&S and insurance and annuity products offered through MLLA:
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