September is College Savings Month

Listen to an interview with Tom Briese below about NEST and many other issues.

September marks the nationwide celebration of College Savings Month. Treasurer Tom Briese took the occasion to share with Nebraskans the value of a NEST529 college savings account.

“As the costs of higher education continue to rise, it’s more important than ever for families to take advantage of the tools available to plan for the future,” said Nebraska State Treasurer Tom Briese. “NEST 529 offers a tax-advantaged way to save for a child’s education — whether that’s college, trade school, or an apprenticeship — and helps turn academic dreams into reality. College Savings Month is the perfect time to start because every contribution, no matter how small, can grow into something meaningful over time.”

This College Savings Month, parents and guardians should take the opportunity to discuss how a NEST 529 Education Savings Plan can help their loved ones reach their goals.

Higher education costs continue to rise above the rate of inflation1 and extend beyond just tuition and board to include books, laptops, institution fees, and more. According to College Board, a nonprofit organization that helps students navigate the path to secondary education, in 2024-25, the average yearly costs2 of higher education tuition and fees for a full-time student are as follows:

Public, two-year institution: $4,050
Public, four-year, in-state institution: $11,610
Public, four-year, out-of-state institution: $30,780
Private, nonprofit, four-year institution: $43,350
Scholarships and grants can help, but they rarely cover the full cost of attendance, leaving families responsible for books, technology, lab fees, and other essentials. A NEST 529 Education Savings Plan can help with those financial pressures with tax-advantaged benefits.

With no minimum deposit required to open an account and contributions that can be managed online, families can start saving at any time with a NEST 529 account. Account owners in Nebraska may be eligible for an annual state income tax deduction of up to $10,000 for NEST 529 contributions, or $5,000 if married filing separately3. Plus, any earnings grow tax free, and qualified withdrawals may be free from federal and state income taxes4, providing even greater savings potential.

While the future may be uncertain, taking small steps to save can have a big impact on a child’s success. A NEST 529 account allows families to start investing in their children’s future, so they can soar toward their goals. Visit NEST529.com to read more about the benefits of the NEST 529 Education Savings Plans.

The Nebraska State Treasurer serves as the Program Trustee. All investments, including the portfolio structure offered through NEST 529 program, are vetted and approved by the Nebraska Investment Council. 

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About NEST 529

NEST 529 is a tax-advantaged 529 education savings plan and provides four plans to help make saving for college simple and affordable: NEST Direct College Savings Plan, NEST Advisor College Savings Plan, Bloomwell 529 Education Savings Plan, and State Farm 529 Savings Plan. The Nebraska State Treasurer serves as Program Trustee. Union Bank and Trust Company serves as Program Manager, and all investments are approved by the Nebraska Investment Council. Families nationwide are saving for college using Nebraska’s 529 Education Savings Plans, which have over 300,000 accounts. Visit NEST529.com and treasurer.nebraska.gov for more information.

About Union Bank and Trust Company

Founded in 1917 with over 50 years of family ownership, Union Bank and Trust Company offers complete banking, lending, investment, and trust services. The bank has 38 full-service and loan production offices in Nebraska and Kansas. It is the third largest privately owned bank in Nebraska, with bank assets of $8.7 billion and trust assets of $40 billion as of December 31, 2024. Voters have chosen Union Bank and Trust Company as Best Bank, Best Work Environment, and Best Financial Planner in Lincoln for fourteen years running.

Important Legal Information

An investor should consider the investment objectives, risks, and charges and expenses associated with municipal fund securities before investing. This and other important information is contained in the fund prospectuses and the NEST Direct College Savings Plan Program Disclosure Statement (issuer’s official statement), which can be obtained at NEST529.com and should be read carefully before investing. You can lose money by investing in an Investment Option. Each of the Investment Options involves investment risks, which are described in the Program Disclosure Statement.

An investor should consider, before investing, whether the investor’s or 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 such state’s 529 plan. Investors should consult their tax advisor, attorney, and/or other advisor regarding their specific legal, investment, or tax situation.

The NEST Direct College Savings Plan (the “Plan”) is sponsored by the State of Nebraska, administered by the Nebraska State Treasurer, and the Nebraska Investment Council provides investment oversight. Union Bank and Trust Company serves as Program Manager for the Plan. Union Bank and Trust Company is registered as a municipal advisor with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board (MSRB). The Plan offers a series of Investment Options within the Nebraska Educational Savings Plan Trust (the “Trust”), which offers other Investment Options not affiliated with the Plan. The Plan is intended to operate as a qualified tuition program.

Except for any investments made by a Plan participant in the Bank Savings Underlying Investment up to the limit provided by Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) insurance, neither the principal contributed to an account, nor earnings thereon, are guaranteed or insured by the State of Nebraska, the Nebraska State Treasurer, the Nebraska Investment Council, the Trust, the Plan, any other state, any agency or instrumentality thereof, Union Bank and Trust Company, the FDIC, or any other entity. Investment returns are not guaranteed. Account owners in the Plan assume all investment risk, including the potential loss of principal.

1 Source: Best Colleges "529 College Savings Plans Statistics" (January 2023).

2 Source: The College Board "Trends in College Pricing" (October 2024). Trends in College Pricing and Student Aid (2024)

3 Account owners may deduct for Nebraska income tax purposes contributions they make to their own account (and any other accounts they own in the Nebraska Educational Savings Plan Trust) up to an overall maximum of $10,000 ($5,000 if married, filing separately). Contributions in excess of $10,000 cannot be carried over to a future year. For a minor-owned or UGMA/UTMA 529 account, the minor is considered the account owner for Nebraska state income tax deduction purposes. The minor must file a Nebraska tax return for the year their contributions are made to be eligible for a tax deduction for their own contributions. In the case of a UGMA/UTMA 529 account, contributions by the parent/guardian listed as the Custodian on the UGMA/UTMA Plan account are also eligible for a Nebraska state tax deduction.

4 Withdrawals used to pay for qualified higher education expenses are free from federal and Nebraska state income tax. Qualified higher education expenses include tuition, fees, books, supplies, and equipment required for enrollment or attendance; certain room and board expenses incurred by students who are enrolled at least half-time; the purchase of computer or peripheral equipment, computer software, or Internet access and related services, if used primarily by the beneficiary during any of the years the beneficiary is enrolled at an eligible educational institution; certain expenses for special needs services needed by a special needs beneficiary; apprenticeship program expenses; and payment of principal or interest on any qualified education loan of the Beneficiary or a sibling of the Beneficiary (up to an aggregate lifetime limit of $10,000 per individual). However, earnings on all other types of withdrawals are generally subject to federal and Nebraska state income taxes, and an additional 10% federal tax.

Nebraska law does not treat the following Federal Qualified Higher Education Expenses as Nebraska Qualified Expenses: K–12 Expenses and Qualified Post-Secondary Credentialing Expenses. If a withdrawal is made for such purposes, although it is a Federal Qualified Withdrawal, it will be treated as a Nebraska Non-Qualified Withdrawal and may result in the recapture of a previously claimed Nebraska state income tax deduction, and the earnings portion will be subject to Nebraska state income tax. Please consult your tax professional about your particular situation.

NOT FDIC INSURED*| NO BANK GUARANTEE | MAY LOSE VALUE

(*Except the Bank Savings Underlying Investment)