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As Grandparents, Your Investment Matters

You’ve worked hard, you’ve raised a family, you’ve lived a lot of life along the way. And just when you thought you had experienced it all, you become a grandparent – one of the greatest privileges and titles of all. Suddenly, weekend trips down to the local fishing hole with your grandson – trips you remember once taking with your own grandfather – start to feel meaningful again. Early-morning baking sessions, the messy ones with flour on every surface and little giggles echoing off the kitchen walls, become the best part of your weekly routine. And cheering them on from the sidelines, watching on as they score their first goal (even if it is for the other team), feels like a victory far greater than any of your own. Before you know it, their favorite activities have become yours and your favorite activities have become theirs – not just because of a shared interest, but because of all the shared moments in between. You see, for a grandchild, there is no greater treasure than a grandparent. And for a grandparent, there is no greater legacy than a grandchild. That is the beauty of generations. It’s also why your investment as grandparents, today, matters for their tomorrow.  

Right now, it’s all about the little things – the midday snacks, the “Nana, I need you’s,” the bedtime stories, the toys laying around. But if there’s anything that life has taught us with age, it’s that it all goes by far too fast. With Achieve Montana, Montana’s 529 college savings plan, we help you savor the moments of today, while investing in their future dreams of tomorrow. On the surface, it’s college savings (with additional tax benefits). But behind every gift, every contribution, and every investment choice is your affirming and resounding voice saying, “I believe in you.” And, that voice – your voice – can be the strongest investment of all. 

Choose a Beneficiary 

Whether you have one grandchild or five, Achieve Montana makes it easy for grandparents to open an account for as many beneficiaries of their choosing. As long as the individual has a social security or tax identification number (which is most), they can be named a beneficiary of an Achieve Montana account – despite their age or state of residence. What if your grandchild decides not to pursue a secondary education? No worries! As the account owner, you can transfer the account to another beneficiary in the same family, including parents and siblings.

Open an Account 

For just $25, you can open an Achieve Montana account and start saving today (it only takes 10 minutes to enroll online). Not only do all earnings grow tax deferred, but Montana taxpayers are also eligible for special tax benefits at the end of the year. Though, you don’t have to be a Montanan to open an account! With low minimums and flexible investment options, Achieve Montana is the easy, one-step way to save for your grandchild’s future. 

Start Saving

Once you open an account, you and others (think friends and family) can make both regular and one-time contributions at any time. Hello, birthday gifts! And while savings can certainly go toward college tuition, that’s not the only thing they can be used toward! Eligible expenses also include trade schools, apprenticeships, K-12 tuition, loan repayment, and other college expenses like textbooks and room & board. Whatever their dream, Achieve Montana can help make it happen. And, it can start with you. 

Not quite ready to open an account of your own? Or does your grandchild already have an Achieve Montana account? With free tools like Ugift® and Upromise®, grandparents can make meaningful gifts and earn cash back rewards toward their grandchild’s education. Learn more and start contributing at achievemontana.com.   

For more information about Achieve Montana, download an Enrollment Kit at achievemontana.com or call 877.486.9271. The Enrollment Kit includes a Program Description that discusses investment objectives, risks, charges, expenses, and other important information; read and consider it carefully before investing. 

If you are not a Montana taxpayer, consider before investing whether your or the beneficiary’s home state offers any state tax or other benefits such as financial aid, scholarship funds, and protection from creditors that are only available for investments in that state’s qualified tuition program. 

Achieve Montana is sponsored by the State of Montana and administered by the Montana Board of Regents of Higher Education, as sole trustee of the Montana Family Education Savings Trust. Ascensus College Savings Recordkeeping Services, LLC provides program management, recordkeeping and administrative support services for Achieve Montana. Blackrock Fund Advisors, Dimensional Fund Advisors LP, Charles Schwab Investment Management, Inc., New York Life Insurance Company and the Vanguard Group, Inc. each provide investment management services for the underlying investments comprising Achieve Montana’s portfolios. 

Except to the extent of the New York Life Insurance Company guarantee that is available for the Capital Preservation Portfolio and certain Year of Enrollment Portfolios, investment returns are not guaranteed, and you could lose money by investing in Achieve Montana. 

Upromise is an optional service offered by Upromise, Inc., is separate from Achieve Montana, and is not affiliated with the State of Montana. Terms and conditions apply to the Upromise service. Participating companies, contribution levels, and terms and conditions are subject to change at any time without notice. Transfers from Upromise to an Achieve Montana account are subject to a minimum amount. Go to upromise.com to learn more about Upromise.

 

© 2022 Achieve Montana. All rights reserved. Upromise and the Upromise logo are registered service marks of Upromise, Inc. Ugift is a registered service mark.  All other trademarks, service marks or registered trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Used with permission. 
A picture of a diploma and mortarboard next to stacked coins.

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For more information about Achieve Montana, call 877.486.9271 or download an Enrollment Kit. The Enrollment Kit includes a Program Description that discusses investment objectives, risks, charges, expenses, and other important information; read and consider it carefully before investing.
If you are not a Montana taxpayer, before investing in Achieve Montana, you should consider the benefits of your home state’s qualified tuition program. It may provide taxpayers with state tax and other benefits such as financial aid, scholarship funds and protection from creditors, that are only available through your home state’s qualified tuition program. You should also consult your financial, tax, or other advisor to learn how state-based benefits (or limitations) would apply to your specific circumstances. Tax and other penalties may apply to non-qualified withdrawals.
Keep in mind that state-based benefits should be one of many appropriately weighted factors to be considered when making an investment decision. In addition, you should periodically assess, and if appropriate, adjust your Section 529 Plan investment choices with your time horizon, risk tolerance and investment objectives in mind.
Achieve Montana is sponsored by the State of Montana and administered by the Montana Board of Regents of Higher Education, as sole trustee of the Montana Family Education Savings Trust (Trust). Ascensus College Savings Recordkeeping Services, LLC serves as program manager and provides recordkeeping and administrative support services for Achieve Montana. Blackrock Fund Advisors, Dimensional Fund Advisors LP, Charles Schwab Investment Management, Inc., New York Life Insurance Company and the Vanguard Group, Inc. each provide investment management services for the underlying investments comprising Achieve Montana’s portfolios. Although some of the portfolios invest in mutual funds, they are not mutual funds. When you invest in Achieve Montana, you are purchasing portfolio units issued by the Trust. Except to the extent of the New York Life Insurance Company guarantee that is available for the Capital Preservation Portfolio and certain Year of Enrollment Portfolios, investment returns are not guaranteed, and you could lose money by investing in Achieve Montana.
Account owners assume all investment risks as well as responsibility for any federal and state tax consequences.
Upromise is an optional service offered by Upromise, Inc., is separate from Achieve Montana, and is not affiliated with the State of Montana. Terms and conditions apply to the Upromise service. Participating companies, contribution levels, and terms and conditions are subject to change at any time without notice. Transfers from Upromise to an Achieve Montana account are subject to a $25 minimum. Go to upromise.com to learn more about Upromise.
Upromise and the Upromise logo are registered service marks of Upromise, Inc. Ugift is a registered service mark of Ascensus Broker Dealer Services, Inc., an affiliate of Ascensus College Savings Recordkeeping Services, LLC.
Vanguard is a registered mark of The Vanguard Group, Inc. All other trademarks, service marks or registered trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Used with permission.