Utah’s educational savings plan celebrates 30-year anniversary, nets Gold rating
SALT LAKE CITY — my529, Utah’s official nonprofit 529 educational savings plan, has once again earned a Morningstar Analyst Rating™ of Gold, extending the longest consecutive streak of top ratings among 529 plans nationwide. The distinction comes as my529 celebrates 30 years of helping families invest for future education expenses.
In its annual 529 industry report, released November 9, Morningstar named my529 as one of nine plans to receive a Gold rating. Morningstar Research Services LLC, a leading provider of independent investment research, is a subsidiary of Morningstar Inc.
Morningstar assessed 60 plans for the underlying investment quality and selection process, asset allocation methodology, investment team, state oversight and low fees. Analysts indicated that Gold-rated plans like my529 distinguish themselves from other plans through their investment option design, plan oversight and experienced investment teams.
Read Morningstar’s 529 industry report.
Morningstar released a separate, Utah-focused analysis — available to subscribers only — that complimented my529’s robust, diversified investment offerings: 12 Target Enrollment Date investment option portfolios; 10 Static investment options; and two Customized investment options that allow investment-savvy account owners or their advisors to construct their own individualized approach.
Analysts praised the accomplished investment team, which, though small, competes well against larger peers. The team’s consistent efforts to evaluate and enhance the investment offerings continue to be lauded. The well-rounded background of the Utah Education Savings Board of Trustees provides measured, informed oversight, in addition to the expertise of advisors and consultants. Morningstar also noted my529’s recent fee reduction as another way of looking out for account owners.
“We are proud to once again see my529’s work recognized nationally,” said Amanda Covington, Utah Board of Higher Education Chair. “The Utah Board of Higher Education is dedicated to creating bright futures, strong communities and a vibrant economy. my529 helps to make those futures affordable and more accessible for students.”
Established by the Utah Legislature in 1996, my529 ended its first year with 157 accounts and $154,000 in assets under management. In 2026, the plan marked its 30th anniversary and surpassed $32 billion in assets under management and 684,000 accounts, reflecting decades of participation by families investing for education. Data as of November 9, 2026.
Together, these milestones reflect my529’s continued commitment to helping families start early, save consistently and prepare for their children’s educational journeys.
“Families count on us to help them prepare for some of the most important investments they’ll make in their children’s futures,” said Mark M. Cain, my529 executive director. “This recognition reflects our team’s commitment to offering a thoughtfully managed, low-cost plan that gives account owners the tools and investment choices to save in a way that works for them.”
For more information about my529, visit my529.org
About my529
my529 is Utah’s official nonprofit 529 educational savings plan.
Accounts are free to open, and my529 requires no minimum contribution or account balance. my529’s user-friendly website, my529.org, makes it easy to open, manage and contribute to an account online.
To learn more, visit my529.org, call toll-free at 800.418.2551, or email info@my529.org.
About the Utah Board of Higher Education
The Utah Board of Higher Education governs the Utah System of Higher Education and appoints the Utah Education Savings Board of Trustees. For more information, visit ushe.edu.
Important Legal Notice
Investing is an important decision. The investments in your account may vary with market conditions and could lose value. Carefully read the Program Description in its entirety for more information and consider all investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses before investing. For a copy of the Program Description, call 800.418.2551 or visit my529.org
Investments in my529 are not insured or guaranteed by my529, the Utah Board of Higher Education, the Utah Education Savings Board of Trustees, any other state or federal agency, or any third party. However, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) insurance is provided for the FDIC-Insured investment option. In addition, my529 offers investment options that are partially insured for the portion of the respective investment option that includes FDIC-insured accounts as an underlying investment.
The state in which you or your beneficiary pay taxes or live may offer a 529 plan that provides state tax or other benefits, such as financial aid, scholarship funds and protection from creditors, not otherwise available to you by investing in my529. You should consider such benefits, if any, before investing in my529.
my529 does not provide legal, financial, investment or tax advice. You should consult your own tax or legal advisor to determine the effect of federal and state tax laws on your particular situation.
A Morningstar Analyst RatingTM for a 529 college savings plan is not a credit or risk rating.
Analyst ratings are subjective in nature and should not be used as the sole basis for investment decisions. Analyst ratings are based on Morningstar analysts’ current expectations about future events and therefore involve unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause Morningstar’s expectations not to occur or to differ significantly from what was expected. Morningstar does not represent its analyst ratings to be guarantees.
Please visit Morningstar.com for more information about the analyst ratings, as well as other Morningstar ratings and fund rankings.
