7 out of 10 Americans Don't Know What a 529 Plan is, According to Edward Jones Study

College Costs Continue to Rise, Yet Awareness for Savings Plans Declines for Third Year

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May 14, 2014, 08:53 ET

ST. LOUIS, May 14, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Nearly three-quarters (70 percent) of Americans do not know that a 529 plan is a college savings tool, according to the annual 529 Plan Awareness Survey from financial services firm Edward Jones. In its third year monitoring college savings awareness, the survey found that only 30 percent of Americans could correctly identify a 529 plan as a college savings tool from among four potential options, down from 37 percent during the inaugural 2012 survey.

"Despite the fact that the average cost of an in-state public college totaled $22,828 in the 2013-2014 academic year, we have seen a downward trend in 529 plan awareness over the past three years," said Greg Dosmann, principal with Edward Jones. "It seems counterintuitive that the costs of higher education continue to rise while awareness for a vehicle than can make this cost more manageable continues to decline. We like to remind our clients that starting a 529 plan savings program as early as possible will help ease the burden as children near college age."

Significant dips in awareness occurred regionally, especially in the Northeast (39 percent in 2014, down from 45 percent in 2013) and the Midwest (30 percent in 2014, down from 36 percent in 2013). A notable decline in 529 plan awareness also occurred when looking at household income. Among those respondents with a household income between $50,000 and $75,000, awareness dropped from 42 percent in 2013 to 32 percent today.

And while age plays a significant role in awareness level, with those between 35 and 54 expressing the highest levels, it also represents a major opportunity. Respondents 65 and over showed the lowest levels of awareness, with just 18 percent noting they knew what 529 plans were. 529 plans are designed so that grandparents and other interested parties can contribute as well, so finding ways to increase awareness among the elderly can pay off for future students.

"Grandparents represent an opportunity when it comes to managing the cost of college," continued Dosmann. "We recommend that parents look at tackling college savings as a larger family goal, when possible. Talking to grandparents about participating in 529 plans is an excellent way to build assets in a portfolio – and for the grandparents, it's fulfilling and there may be tax advantages as well."

As part of its ongoing effort to raise awareness for 529 plans and college savings techniques, Edward Jones branches across the country are recognizing May 29 as "Save for Education Day," a firm-wide holiday derived from the name of the popular college savings tool. Branches will be hosting events in their communities to remind families about the importance of setting education savings goals. Families are encouraged to visit their local branches to learn more about planning for their children's educational future. For more information about specific events in your community, contact Regina Deluca-Imral at 314-515-3050.

About Edward Jones

Edward Jones provides financial services for individual investors in the United States and, through its affiliate, in Canada. Every aspect of the firm's business, from the types of investment options offered to the location of branch offices, is designed to cater to individual investors in the communities in which they live and work. The firm's 12,000 financial advisors work directly with nearly 7 million clients to understand their personal goals – from college savings to retirement – and create long-term investment solutions that emphasize a well-balanced portfolio and a buy-and-hold strategy. Edward Jones embraces the importance of building long-term, face-to-face relationships with clients, helping them to understand and make sense of the investment options available today. Edward Jones, which ranked No. 4 on FORTUNE magazine's "100 Best Companies to Work For 2014," is headquartered in St. Louis. The Edward Jones website is located at www.edwardjones.com, and its recruiting website is www.careers.edwardjones.com. Member SIPC.

Editor's Note

Survey was conducted by ORC International's CARAVAN Omnibus Services and was based on 1,006 landline and cell phone interviews of U.S. adults conducted May 1-4, 2014. The margin of error was +/-3%.

SOURCE Edward Jones