529 assets may have a relatively small effect on federal financial aid eligibility because they are considered assets of the parent in the Expected Family Contribution (EFC). Conversely, accounts that are considered assets of the child, such as an UGMA/UTMA account, tend to have a greater effect on federal financial aid eligibility in the EFC calculation. A 529 account owned by a grandparent or another person who is not the parent of the beneficiary could have more of an effect on financial aid.
Generally, retirement accounts do not impact financial aid, unless there is a distribution which counts as income. Consult with a tax advisor on your specific situation.
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Zero account minimums and zero account fees apply to retail brokerage accounts only. Expenses charged by investments (e.g., funds, managed accounts, and certain HSAs) and commissions, interest charges, or other expenses for transactions may still apply. See Fidelity.com/commissions for further details.
2. Gift tax exclusion limits apply to gifts. Consult with a tax advisor. An accelerated gift transfer to a 529 plan (for a given beneficiary) of $85,000 (or $170,000 combined for spouses who gift split) will not result in federal transfer tax or use of any portion of the applicable federal transfer tax exemption and/or credit amounts if no further annual exclusion gifts and/or generation-skipping transfers to the same beneficiary are made over the five-year period and if the transfer is reported as a series of five equal annual transfers on Form 709, United States Gift (and Generation-Skipping Transfer) Tax Return. If the donor dies within the five-year period, a portion of the transferred amount will be included in the donor's estate for estate tax purposes.
3. Per Federal law, the PSA must be an individual within the following ordering hierarchy: (1) the Designated Beneficiary, (2) a person selected by the Designated Beneficiary with legal capacity, (3) if the Designated Beneficiary is unable to establish his or her own account, (a) the Designated Beneficiary's agent under a power of attorney (POA), (b) a conservator or legal guardian, (c) spouse, (d) parent, (e) sibling, (f) grandparent, or (g) a representative payee appointed for the EI by the Social Security Administration ("PSA Hierarchy Order"). The regulations require that PSA certify under penalties of perjury that the PSA is authorized to establish an Account for the benefit of the Designated Beneficiary and that there is no other willing or able persons to do so with a higher priority in accordance with the PSA Hierarchy Order. The PSA must neither have nor acquire any beneficial interest in the account and must administer the account for the benefit of the account owner.
Fidelity does not provide legal or tax advice. The information herein is general and educational in nature and should not be considered legal or tax advice. Tax laws and regulations are complex and subject to change, which can materially impact investment results. Fidelity cannot guarantee that the information herein is accurate, complete, or timely. Fidelity makes no warranties with regard to such information or results obtained by its use, and disclaims any liability arising out of your use of, or any tax position taken in reliance on, such information. Consult an attorney or tax professional regarding your specific situation.
Options trading entails significant risk and is not appropriate for all investors. Certain complex options strategies carry additional risk. Before trading options, please read Characteristics and Risks of Standardized Options. Supporting documentation for any claims, if applicable, will be furnished upon request.
The Attainable Savings Plan is offered by the Massachusetts Educational Financing Authority and managed by Fidelity Investments. Qualified ABLE programs offered by other states may provide their residents or taxpayers with state tax benefits that are not available through the Attainable Savings Plan. If you are not a resident of Massachusetts, you should consider whether your home state offers its residents or taxpayers state tax advantages or benefits for investing in its qualified ABLE program before making an investment in the Attainable Savings Plan.
The UNIQUE College Investing Plan, U.Fund College Investing Plan, DE529 Education Savings Plan, AZ529, Arizona's Education Savings Plan, and the Connecticut Higher Education Trust (CHET) 529 College Savings Plan - Direct Plan are offered by the state of New Hampshire, MEFA, the state of Delaware, and the state of Arizona with the Arizona State Treasurer's Office as the Plan Administrator and the Arizona State Board of Investment as Plan Trustee, and the Treasurer of the state of Connecticut respectively, and managed by Fidelity Investments.
If you or the designated beneficiary is not a New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Delaware, Arizona or Connecticutresident, you may want to consider, before investing, whether your state or the beneficiary's home state offers its residents a plan with alternate state tax advantages or other state benefits such as financial aid, scholarship funds and protection from creditors.
Units of the portfolios are municipal securities and may be subject to market volatility and fluctuation.
Before investing, consider the investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses of the mutual fund, exchange-traded fund, 529 plan, Attainable Savings Plan, or annuity and its investment options. Contact Fidelity for a prospectus, offering circular, Fact Kit, disclosure document, or, if available, a summary prospectus containing this information. Read it carefully.
