As Utah’s 529 educational savings plan, my529’s mission is to help families put aside
funds for future qualified education expenses. So, it’s with pride that we announce that my529 is again
one of the top 529 plans in the country, named Tuesday by Morningstar as one of five plans to receive
the Analyst Rating™ of Gold for 2024.
my529 has earned Morningstar’s top rating for 14 years in a row.
In their annual industry report, Morningstar evaluated 59 plans for their underlying investment
quality and selection process, asset allocation methodology, investment team and state oversight.
For Gold-rated plans like my529, distinguishing factors included investment option design, state
stewardship and low costs.
Morningstar Research Services LLC, a leading provider of independent investment research, is a subsidiary
of Morningstar Inc.
The Morningstar analysts praised the construction of my529’s investment offerings and the plan’s
low-priced options, including the Customized Age-Based option, which gives account owners the
flexibility to tailor a portfolio in line with their individual goals, risk appetite and time horizon.
The report highlighted my529’s knowledgeable investment team, effective state oversight and the
expertise of the plan’s board members, advisors and consultants as integral to plan success.
A state-specific breakdown also noted my529’s history of fee reductions – and that the plan’s low
costs overall made it an attractive investment vehicle to investors across the country. The state
report underscored the stability of my529’s investment team, which enables the plan to provide
continuity.
my529’s record of 14 top industry ratings is unmatched by any other 529 plan.
Here are some of my529’s key accomplishments over the same period:
- More than 168,900 my529 beneficiaries have used their funds for qualified education
expenses, including K-12 tuition expenses, since 2011, totaling over $7.3 billion in
withdrawals. - In 2024, 45% of higher education/K-12 withdrawals were from earnings, totaling $445
million ($998 million in total higher education/K-12 withdrawals) – which is why investing in
a 529 plan is advantageous. In a my529 account, earnings grow tax-deferred from federal and
Utah state income taxes, and withdrawals are tax-free if used for qualified education expenses
like tuition, fees, books, supplies and room and board. - my529 is the third-largest direct-sold 529 plan by assets in the country, with more
than 560,000 accounts and $25.1 billion in assets under management. Direct-sold means people
can open an account directly with my529 and do not require an advisor or broker to do so. - Finally, friends and family can also contribute to a my529 beneficiary’s savings journey
through my529’s Gift Program. More than $543 million in total gift contributions have
been given through my529’s Gift Program since the program’s launch in 2013. Learn more
at gift.my529.org.
Data as of October 29, 2024
“my529 delivers a high-quality, low-cost 529 plan so that families at every income level can invest
for their educational goals, whether that’s college, university, technical college, trade school,
a registered apprenticeship or K-12 tuition expenses,” said Richard Ellis, my529 executive director.
“We appreciate Morningstar’s acknowledgement of our team’s efforts this year.”
“We are proud to be a 529 plan that helps so many families across the country in their pursuit of
education,” Ellis said.
Read Morningstar’s 529 industry report.
About my529
my529, Utah’s official nonprofit 529 educational savings plan, is highly rated by Morningstar Inc.
Accounts are free to open, and my529 requires no minimum deposit 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.
