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Tips for Choosing my Investments

Understanding

Risk

An important part of deciding which investment to choose is to understand your comfort level with risk. Risk is the measure of volatility in an investment’s performance. When you make an investment, there is potential that you will have gains or losses due to the rise and fall of the financial markets. If you invest in stocks, they tend to have a higher risk profile. While bonds – also called fixed income – tend to have a lower risk profile. And, capital (or cash) preservation investments tend to have the lowest risk profile. 

If the ups and downs that come from investing in stocks makes you uncomfortable, no matter how long your investment time horizon, then your risk tolerance is probably more conservative. Bonds and short-term investments may be better for you than stocks because they’re typically less volatile. For a more conservative investor, the risk of losing money outweighs the potential for higher returns.

If some market fluctuations are ok for you, then your risk tolerance is probably more moderate. A mix of stocks and bonds might be your best bet. 

If you won’t worry about the ups and downs that come from investing in the stock market, then your risk tolerance is probably more aggressive. The potential for higher returns outweighs the risk of losing money. A portfolio that holds more stocks than bonds could be okay for you.

Choose Your Investment Type

Once you’ve determined the level of risk that you are comfortable with and have chosen your investment type, it’s time to select your Achieve Montana investment options.

You can select as many Investment Options per Account as long as at least 5% of each contribution is allocated to each Investment Option. The easiest way to get started is to head to our pages that describe the Year of Enrollment Portfolios, the Asset Allocation Portfolios, and Individual Portfolios.

When you’re ready to open your account, the fastest way to do it is to enroll online.

Year of Enrollment Portfolios

A kind of “set it and forget it choice” – investments automatically become more conservative as your beneficiary gets closer to college age.

Learn More

Asset Allocation Portfolios

The mix of investments in these options do not change over time so you may need to monitor these investments over time and reallocate funds to more conservative investment as you get closer to your beneficiary’s college enrollment.

Learn More

Individual Portfolios

These Portfolio each invest in a single underlying investment – including an equity option from iShares, a fixed income option from Vanguard and a capital preservation option from New York Life.

Learn More

Choose Your Investments

Once you’ve determined the level of risk that you are comfortable with and have chosen your investment type, it’s time to select your Achieve Montana investment options. 

You can select multiple investment options per account and the easiest way to get started is to head to our pages that describe the Year of Enrollment Portfolios, the Asset Allocation Portfolios, and Individual Portfolios. 

When you’re ready to open your account, the fastest way to do it is to enroll online.

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 minimum amount. Go to upromise.com to learn more about Upromise. 
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