Saving for college is possible and starting as early as you can makes all the difference.

NEWS & INFO

Saving for college, VSAC's free guide, is available by e-mailing info at www.vsac.org. It provides information on planning for the costs of college, methods available to invest and save for college, finding the right products for your family, and other tools to assist you with paying for college.

VERMONT HIGHER EDUCATION INVESTMENT PLAN (VHEIP)

Money magazine rates Vermont's plan.

VHEIP Web site

VHEIP is designed to encourage Vermonters to invest for college or other post-high school programs. You can contribute even small amounts. Favorable tax treatment boosts growth of your contributions and earnings.

Call 800-637-5860 Monday through Friday, 8:00 am-8:00 pm and ask how to open a Vermont Higher Education Investment Plan account. You'll receive more detailed information about the plan and its three investment options.

GETTING STARTED

• VHEIP disclosure and privacy statement
• Gift of education
• Why invest
• Investment options
• VHEIP frequently asked questions
• Apply today

AT YOUR SERVICE

• Account service forms
• VHEIP investment performance
• Contact VHEIP
• Account access

529 College Savings Plans Keep Getting Better – Federal income tax-free treatment of qualified withdrawals and other federal tax benefits are now permanently in place for 529 plans through the passage of the Pension Protection Act of 2006. When you contribute to VHEIP, your account earnings have the opportunity to grow federal and Vermont income tax-deferred until withdrawn. Earnings that are a portion of any distributions used to pay for qualified higher education expenses are free of federal and Vermont income taxes.

Give the Gift of Education – Contributors, let your student know you support his or her education plans. Commemorate your gift with a VHEIP Gift of Education Certificate (Low Res PDF) or VHEIP Gift of Education Certificate (High Res PDF). Print the certificate, add a personal message, and present it to your loved one for any special occasion.

Gift Tax Exclusion and Deadline Extension – Find out about an increase in the annual federal gift tax exclusion.

Vermont offers a state tax credit for VHEIP contributions.

COLLEGE SAVINGS PLAN ESTIMATOR

Develop a savings plan - Provides a step-by-step description to help you meet your college financing goals.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

LIBRARY PICKS

• Plan to Meet College Costs (From Spring 2002 Start Now! newsletter)

• Investing for the Long Haul (From Spring 2002 Start Now! newsletter)

• Investment Strategy: Dollar Cost Averaging (From Fall 2001 Start Now! newsletter)

• Tax Breaks for College (chart)

WEB PICKS

• Managing the Price of College – U.S. Department of Education.

• College Cost Projector – Estimate how much it will cost to attend college.

• TIAA-CREF - Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association College Retirement Equities Fund.

• Identity Theft - The Federal Trade Commission's site on how to avoid, detect, and deter identity theft.