College Savings

Explore stories, resources and updates about Illinois 529 college savings programs that help families save for education with tax advantages.

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You Can’t Predict Their Path. You Can Prepare For It.

Our twins have always loved going to the park: playing on the jungle gym, swinging, or swishing down slides. Recently, they have found an open path where they love running races.     They will race each other, Mom, or Dad. Although they are identical twins, they have very different running styles. Max will pump his arms and legs in a way that makes me think he very well could be a sprinter someday. Theo has a more free-spirited way  of running. After completing a 25-yard dash, Max is ready…

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Treasurer Frerichs and a construction worker, both wearing hard hats and yellow vests, looking at the Chicago skyline. Overlaying text says: Investing in Illinois workers. A map of Illinois also is visible.

A Lifetime of Work Deserves a Better Retirement

Last weekend, I marched in a couple of Labor Day parades. It’s important to celebrate the accomplishments of working people. Maybe you gathered with friends and family to grill and eat outdoors. Maybe you took the chance to get on the water one last time this summer. Or maybe you watched your favorite team play a game. Those are also worthwhile ways to mark the holiday. Not everyone should live to work. We work so that we can live better. And we have those options because people fought for things like…

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Treasurer Frerichs facing the camera as a blurred image of cash is visible behind him. Overlaying text reads: Making Saving for College Simple

Relieving the Pains of College Planning

My daughter will be a high school senior, which means we have been visiting a lot of colleges this summer as she prepares to apply to universities in the fall. This has given us a lot of quality, dad-daughter time together. It’s sad to think about the day I will drop her off at college, but I prefer to focus on and enjoy the time I have with her now. I have really enjoyed our campus visits because of great conversations about what she is looking for in a college…

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Treasurer Frerichs marches down a street at the Illinois State Fairgrounds during the twilight parade as crowds line the street.

A Few of My Favorite Fair Memories

As a kid, I always looked forward to the Champaign County Fair in late July. I loved the rides: the bumper cars, the tilt-a-whirl, and the potato sack slide. I loved the food: the corn dogs, the elephant ears, and all things fried. I loved the grandstand shows: the tractor pulls where my family would sometimes compete, the motorcycle races, and the demolition derby. And I also loved the games where you could win a prize: the ring toss, shooting baskets, and knocking down milk bottles with a baseball. I…

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Treasurer Frerichs as a boy, around age 8, climbing the stairs to exit a swimming pool

Helping You Build Good Money Habits

The 1980s seemed to be peak suntanning culture in America. In movies, the cool kids had a deep, dark tan. The ads for sunscreen focused on getting a nice even brown. In the summer, it seemed like everyone was grabbing some rays, and in the winter, tanning beds were a thing. I got caught up in the craze. I never visited a tanning salon, but I also rarely used sunscreen. I don’t think the sun’s harmful effects were clear to me until one particularly long suntanning session on our deck. Sure,…

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