And which one is right for my family?

Our plan gives families access to the earning potential of stock, bond, and money market* mutual funds, starting with as little as $50 a month. Since any earnings in the Plan are tax-deferred, your account can grow more quickly. And keep in mind: There is no enrollment fee, and overall, our fees and expenses are lower than many comparable 529 plans. Allowing more of your money to work for you.

The Plan features three different investment approaches, with multiple portfolios to choose from. A portfolio is simply a group of mutual funds that invest in stocks, bonds, or money markets*. These portfolios provide a more diverse range of investments than individual stocks and bonds and can minimize your risk. All portfolios in the Plan are professionally managed by T. Rowe Price.

Remember that all portfolios are subject to market risk, including possible loss of principal.

These three investment approaches were designed with diverse families in mind, so you can choose what's best for your unique situation and comfort level.

Remember, you can also use your PFD, and/or your childrens' PFDs, to help realize their dreams. Just check the box on your PFD application to have half automatically invested in a UA College Savings Plan Account. You can also contribute the second half of your PFD when you receive it. You can even arrange to have it deducted automatically from your checking account. Just remember, you have to make the election every year to take advantage of this benefit.

The Enrollment-Based Portfolios start out more aggressively, then automatically shift toward more conservative investments as your child gets closer to college age.

The Static Portfolios invest in a predetermined mix of stock, bond, and money market* funds, and regardless of the beneficiary's age, the asset allocation remains consistent over time.

The ACT Portfolio is a low cost, balanced portfolio that offers you the chance to lock in the tuition value at the University of Alaska through the UA Tuition-Value Guarantee. Remember, however, that the ACT Portfolio can be used at almost any educational institution. The ACT Portfolio also features the lowest underlying fees of any investment option in the Plan. The $20 Annual Account Fee and the .20% Program Manager fee are automatically waived when you invest in the ACT Portfolio.

*An investment in a money market fund is not insured or guaranteed by the FDIC or any other government agency. Although the money market fund seeks to preserve the value of your investment at $1.00 per share, it is possible to lose money in the fund.