The Best Valentine’s Day Gift

 

The Best Valentine’s Day Gift

 
 

- min read

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Unknown to many, Valentine’s Day has a dark and mysterious history – one full of martyrs, secret weddings, young love, prison, and Popes. Even though no one knows its precise origin, by the early 20th century, people began exchanging the traditional gifts of cards, chocolate, and flowers on this holiday. Since then, the types of gifts have evolved to include wine, customized jewelry, spa treatments, and romantic get-aways. Today, people spend more than $18.9 million on Valentine’s Day gifts each year.

Why not do something different and give a gift that never gets broken, outgrown, or forgotten? Contribute to your children’s or grandchildren’s 529 college savings plans. Investing in your loved ones’ future is much better than giving them chocolate and candy hearts. It’s an excellent way to create an educational legacy.

Benefits

Not only are contributions to a 529 college savings plan a gift for your children, they are also a gift for you. With a 529 college savings plan, as long as your contributions are used for qualified higher education expenses, you do not have to pay federal taxes on your earnings and withdrawals. Qualified expenses include tuition, room and board, textbooks, computers – most college essentials. New Mexico residents have an additional tax advantage: New Mexico is one of only four states that allows you to claim a state tax deduction every year on all contributions to your 529 plan. Plus, your contributions are compounded, meaning that your assets are re-invested, so your earnings grow over time.

Simplicity

Don’t have a 529 college savings plan for your children? You can set one up with The Education Plan® with as little as $1. No matter how old your child is, saving for future college expenses should be a top priority, and 529 contributions can be a go-to gift for every holiday, or for any day at all. The Education Plan makes gift-giving easy with Ugift. Ugift generates a unique code that you can share with loved ones and friends so they can contribute, too. The Education Plan also offers a new mobile savings app that makes giving even easier.

Grandparents

As a grandparent, you most likely enjoy doting on your grandchildren and spoiling them with gifts. Giving the gift of education is a smart way to distribute your assets and an excellent legacy planning opportunity. Opening a 529 account or contributing to one is a great way to teach your grandchildren about the importance of higher education. You are supporting their dreams and aspirations and, by minimizing their future student loan debt, you are helping to create a secure future. If you prefer to give a tangible gift, with The Education Plan and Ugift you can choose from a variety of downloadable gift certificates.

Valentine’s Day is a holiday known for giving gifts to loved ones and friends. This year, make it even more meaningful by contributing to your children’s or grandchildren’s 529 college savings plans.

Studies show that kids are four times more likely to graduate college if they have just $500 saved. Help make that happen. Contribute as much as you can, whenever you can, including holidays like Valentine’s Day. They may not appreciate it now, but they will thank you for it later. Set up your account with The Education Plan or make a Valentine’s Day contribution today.

 

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For more information about The Education Plan, call 1.877.337.5268 or view the Plan Description and Participation Agreement, which includes investment objectives, risks, charges, expenses, and other important information; read and consider it carefully before investing.

Please Note: Before you invest, consider whether your or the beneficiary’s home state offers any state tax or other state benefits such as financial aid, scholarship funds, and protection from creditors that are only available for investments in that state’s qualified tuition program. You also should consult a financial, tax, or other advisor to learn more about how state-based benefits (or any limitations) would apply to your specific circumstances. You also may wish to contact directly your home state’s 529 plan(s), or any other 529 plan, to learn more about those plan’s features, benefits and limitations. Keep in mind that state-based benefits should be one of many appropriately weighted factors to be considered when making an investment decision.

The Education Plan is administered by The Education Trust Board of New Mexico. Ascensus College Savings Recordkeeping Services, LLC, the Program Manager, and its affiliates, have overall responsibility for the day-today operations, including investment advisory, recordkeeping and administrative services. The Education Plan’s portfolios invest in: (i) mutual funds; (ii) exchange traded funds; and/or (iii) a funding agreement issued by New York Life. Investments in The Education Plan are not insured by the FDIC. Units of the portfolios are municipal securities and the value of units will vary with market conditions.

Investment returns will vary depending upon the performance of the portfolios you choose. You could lose all or a portion of your money by investing in The Education Plan depending on market conditions. Account owners assume all investment risks as well as responsibility for any federal and state tax consequences.

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