Explore stories, resources and updates about Illinois 529 college savings programs that help families save for education with tax advantages.
In my last note, I wrote to you about running track, and some people asked if I did the “field” part of track and field. The short answer: Yes, but there was room for improvement. I think I was the tallest fifth grader when I went out for the track team. I had long arms. My dad was tall, and his dad was tall. Coach knew this and decided I should throw discus. Sure, I was skinny, but his logic…
When I was a kid, the sign outside my hometown read “Gifford 800.” My eighth-grade class at Gifford Grade School was about 24 kids. And we were a big class. So it’s no surprise I didn’t have a lot of choices of sports to play. In the fall, the only option was baseball. In the winter, basketball. In the spring, track and field. I wasn’t that good at baseball, but I enjoyed being part of a team with my friends.…
Illinois had one of the snowiest Decembers in some time. It also was very cold, which meant Max and Theo didn’t get to spend as much time outdoors as usual. This resulted in a little bit of cabin fever for both of them and their parents. They have a lot of toddler energy. In better weather, we spend as much time as possible outside to help them get some of that energy out. When they are stuck inside, it can…
Families Can Decorate and Take Home Piggy Banks as Part of Bright Start 529 Promotion CHICAGO — Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs and the Chicago Children’s Museum (CCM) are once again partnering to host a $5.29 Family Day on Sunday, January 25. As part of the special event sponsored by Bright Start 529 College Savings, general admission to the museum will be discounted to $5.29 per person. Tickets are now available through the museum’s website and are expected to sell…
College Savings Phone App Offers an Easy Way to Give to a Loved One’s Bright Start 529 Account Struggling to find the right holiday gift for a child? Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs has one. Invest in a young person’s future by contributing to their Bright Start 529 college savings account. “Every time you make a Bright Start contribution, that kid sees that you believe in them. That’s a powerful message to hear from a loved one – you know…
Bright Directions Receives Sole Morningstar Upgrade Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs announced today that Illinois’ Bright Start 529 College Savings Plan has earned its 7th Gold rating from independent analyst Morningstar, firmly placing the plan among the best in the nation. “To be touted as one of the nation’s best by Morningstar for the seventh time under my watch confirms from an independent source that Illinois’ 529 College Savings plans are a great investment for Illinois families,” Frerichs said. “Since…
As Bright Start 529 turns 25, Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs is announcing record asset growth to more than $14 billion for Illinois’s flagship 529 college savings plan. The news comes as the Illinois State Treasurer’s Office kicks off College Savings Month, which falls in September. Sponsored and launched by the State of Illinois in the year 2000, the Bright Start 529 College Savings Plan is designed for higher education savings. Treasurer Frerichs also sponsors Bright Directions, a 529 plan…
