Missouri Celebrates 5/29 as

529 College Savings Day

Treasurer Zweifel says small investments can make a big impact

JEFFERSON CITY - May 29 is "529 College Savings Day" in Missouri in recognition of the importance of setting aside money for children's higher education.

State Treasurer Clint Zweifel took the opportunity to highlight that MOST - Missouri's 529 College Savings Plan - is a valuable tool for all Missourians, no matter how much they have to save. For as little as $25 a month, the plan helps families and friends easily establish and contribute to a child's college savings, while offering tax advantages, a range of investment options and other benefits.

"Raising awareness of MOST 529 is important as families struggle with the rising costs of sending their kids to college," Treasurer Zweifel said. "Saving now can keep the cost of that education at a more manageable level. It takes only a small investment of $25 to get started in MOST 529. With compounding that small investment can have real results."

Compounding occurs when investment earnings are reinvested, thus earning more and more money as time passes. Compounding is a tool that is best if used as early as possible. Treasurer Zweifel provided an example.

"If you start investing $50 per month into the MOST 529 plan when a child is a newborn, you could accumulate $16,633 by the time the child turns 18*. This assumes a 5 percent annual return on a MOST account, but it underscores the importance of saving early," Treasurer Zweifel said. "These seemingly small investments add up over time and make a real impact on a child's education."

MOST 529 offers federal and state tax benefits**, low costs, a low minimum contribution of $25 ($15 if contributing through payroll direct deposit) and flexible ways to contribute.

The plan also offers a range of age-based and individual investment options from Vanguard and American Century Investments designed to meet a variety of investment preferences and risk tolerances. MOST ranked in the top 10 of Savingforcollege.com's best-performing 529 plans in the first quarter of 2009.

For more information about MOST 529 and 529-Day visit www.missourimost.org or www.treasurer.mo.gov.

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* This hypothetical illustration does not represent the return on any particular investment. The final account balance does not reflect any taxes or penalties that may be due upon distribution.

** The availability of tax or other benefits may be contingent on meeting other requirements.

Investment returns are not guaranteed, and you could lose money by investing in the Plan. Participants assume all investment risks, including the potential for loss of principal, as well as responsibility for any federal and state tax consequences.

For more information about MOST-Missouri's 529 College Savings Plan, call 1-888-414-MOST or visit www.missourimost.org to obtain a Program Description. Investment objectives, risks, charges, expenses, and other important information are included in the Program Description; read and consider it carefully before investing. Vanguard Marketing Corporation, Distributor and Underwriter.

If you are not a Missouri taxpayer, consider before investing whether your or the designated beneficiary's home state offers any state tax or other benefits that are only available for investments in such state's qualified tuition program.

The Missouri Higher Education Savings Program (the "Program Trust") is a trust created by the State of Missouri. When you invest in MOST-Missouri's 529 College Savings Plan (the "Plan"), you are purchasing portfolio units issued by the Program Trust. Portfolio units are municipal securities. The Plan has been implemented and is administered by the Missouri Higher Education Savings Program Board (the "Board"). Upromise Investments, Inc., and Upromise Investment Advisors, LLC, serve as the Program Manager and Recordkeeping and Servicing Agent, respectively, with overall responsibility for the day-to-day operations, including effecting transactions. The Vanguard Group, Inc., and American Century Investments serve as Investment Managers for the Plan. Vanguard Marketing Corporation, an affiliate of The Vanguard Group, Inc., markets and distributes the Plan. The Plan's portfolios, although they invest in mutual funds, are not mutual funds.

Upromise rewards is an optional online service offered by Upromise, Inc. and is separate from the MOST program. Specific terms and conditions apply. Participating companies, contribution levels, terms and conditions subject to change without notice. Transfers subject to $25 minimum.