DES MOINES, IA (11/14/2013)(readMedia)-- During the annual Thanksgiving Day festivities, State Treasurer Michael L. Fitzgerald knows his office has a bounty of its own and the Great Iowa Treasure Hunt could provide one more reason to give thanks. "I encourage all past and present Iowans to check for their names in the Great Iowa Treasure Hunt," said Fitzgerald, "A quick search on our website can reunite people with their unclaimed property."

The Great Iowa Treasure Hunt program has returned over $170 million in unclaimed property to more than 414,000 people since Fitzgerald created it in 1983. Unclaimed property refers to money and other assets held by financial institutions or companies that have lost contact with the property's owner for a specific period of time. State law requires these institutions and companies to annually report unclaimed property to the state treasurer's office. The assets are then held until the owner or heir of the property is found. Common forms of unclaimed property include savings or checking accounts, stocks, uncashed checks, life insurance policies, utility security deposits, and safe deposit box contents.

to begin your search. Be sure to like the Great Iowa Treasure Hunt on Facebook and follow us on Twitter @GreatIATreasure.

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Treasurer Fitzgerald reminds Iowans the deadline is November 30th

DES MOINES, IA (10/31/2013)(readMedia)-- State Treasurer Michael Fitzgerald wants to remind Iowans it is their last chance to register their children to win a $5,290 College Savings Iowa account. "I encourage everyone to register for the giveaway and explore the benefits of using a 529 plan, such as College Savings Iowa, to save for their loved ones future higher education expenses," stated Fitzgerald. "Don't miss out on this great opportunity to jumpstart your child's college savings." For more information and to register for the giveaway, please visit www.collegesavingsiowa.com before November 30.

College Savings Iowa is an affordable, tax-advantaged option for families who are saving for their children's higher education. It takes just $25 to open a College Savings Iowa account, and anyone - parents, grandparents, friends and relatives - can invest on behalf of a child. Participants who are Iowa taxpayers can deduct contributions up to $3,045 per beneficiary account from their adjusted gross income in 2013 and there are no income or residency restrictions.*

. Also Like College Savings Iowa on Facebook and Follow the Plan on Twitter (@Iowa529Plan) to stay up to date on all current news and giveaways.

*Adjusted annually for inflation if withdrawals are not qualified, the deductions must be added back to Iowa taxable income. The earnings portion of nonqualified withdrawals may be subject to federal income tax and a 10% federal penalty tax, as well as state and local income taxes. The availability of tax or other benefits may be contingent on meeting other requirements.

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Investment returns are not guaranteed and you could lose money by investing in the plan. Participants assume all investment risks as well as the responsibility for any federal and state tax consequences. If you are not an Iowa 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.

For more information about the College Savings Iowa 529 Plan, call 1-888-332-7545, or visit www.my529iowaplan.com 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.

College Savings Iowa is an Iowa trust sponsored by the Iowa State Treasurer's Office. The Treasurer of the State of Iowa sponsors and is responsible for overseeing the administration of the College Savings Iowa 529 Plan. The Vanguard Group, Inc., serves as Investment Manager and Vanguard Marketing Corporation, an affiliate of The Vanguard Group, Inc., assists the Treasurer with marketing and distributing the Plan. Upromise Investment Advisors, LLC, provides records administration services. The Plan's portfolios, although they invest in Vanguard mutual funds, are not mutual funds.

DES MOINES, IA (09/18/2013)(readMedia)-- State Treasurer Michael L. Fitzgerald met with the family of a Mason City child yesterday to present a $1,000 College Savings Iowa account. Hannah Dixon, age one, was randomly chosen to receive the award after her mother, Michelle, entered her for the giveaway as part of College Savings Iowa's Summer Giveaway.

"With college tuition rising faster than inflation, saving for college is not an easy task these days," stated Fitzgerald. "Saving ahead of time is one of the most significant things a family can do to help make college a reality for their child. It can reduce a parent's need to borrow to cover educational expenses, which can help them-and their child-get through college with less debt."

College Savings Iowa offers a convenient, affordable, tax-advantaged way for families to start saving for their children's education. It takes just $25 to open a College Savings Iowa account, and anyone - parents, grandparents, friends and relatives - can invest on behalf of a child. Participants who are Iowa taxpayers can deduct contributions up to $3,045 per beneficiary account from their adjusted gross income in 2013 and there are no income or residency restrictions.*

Investors do not need to be a state resident and can withdraw their investment federally tax-free to pay for qualified higher education expenses including tuition, books, supplies and certain room and board costs at any eligible college, university, community college or technical training school in the United States or abroad. To learn more about College Savings Iowa, go to www.collegesavingsiowa.com or call 1-888-672-9116. You can also like College Savings Iowa on Facebook by going to www.facebook.com/CollegeSavingsIowa529Plan to keep up to date on other giveaway opportunities.

*Adjusted annually for inflation if withdrawals are not qualified, the deductions must be added back to Iowa taxable income. The earnings portion of nonqualified withdrawals may be subject to federal income tax and a 10% federal penalty tax, as well as state and local income taxes. The availability of tax or other benefits may be contingent on meeting other requirements.

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Investment returns are not guaranteed and you could lose money by investing in the plan. Participants assume all investment risks as well as the responsibility for any federal and state tax consequences. If you are not an Iowa 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.

For more information about the College Savings Iowa 529 Plan, call 1-888-332-7545, or visit www.my529iowaplan.com 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.

College Savings Iowa is an Iowa trust sponsored by the Iowa State Treasurer's Office. The Treasurer of the State of Iowa sponsors and is responsible for overseeing the administration of the College Savings Iowa 529 Plan. The Vanguard Group, Inc., serves as Investment Manager and Vanguard Marketing Corporation, an affiliate of The Vanguard Group, Inc., assists the Treasurer with marketing and distributing the Plan. Upromise Investment Advisors, LLC, provides records administration services. The Plan's portfolios, although they invest in Vanguard mutual funds, are not mutual funds.

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DES MOINES, IA (09/17/2013)(readMedia)-- For families already busy juggling the demands of work and home, college planning may be the last thing on your mind. However, with the cost of a higher education rising faster than inflation, nearly every family will face the question of how to pay for it when the time comes. Thankfully, the answer is quite simple - start saving today. By starting early, saving regularly and making smart investment choices, families can make their savings work for them and College Savings Iowa is here to help.

To get a jump start on helping your loved ones start saving for college, celebrate College Savings Month with us. College Savings Month is a national campaign to help bring attention to the fact that saving for college is one of the most significant things families can do for their children. As a way to help families start saving, we are celebrating by giving away a $5,290 College Savings Iowa account. For more information and to enter the giveaway, please visit collegesavingsiowa.com any time before November 30.

While any form of saving for college is better than not saving at all, there are additional benefits to using a 529 plan like College Savings Iowa. Administered by the state treasurer's office, College Savings Iowa offers multiple investment choices, including four age-based options that take into account the child's age and the account owner's tolerance for risk. As the beneficiary nears college age, the assets are automatically shifted to more conservative portfolios. This allows you to reduce the market risk before you begin making withdrawals for college expenses.

In addition, 529 plans offer significant federal and state tax benefits to help grow your savings even more. Contributions and earnings grow free of federal and Iowa state income taxes while invested and remain tax-free when used to pay for qualified higher education expenses at any eligible college, university, community college or accredited technical training school in the United States or abroad.* College Savings Iowa sweetens the deal by allowing Iowa tax payers to deduct up to $3,045 in contributions per beneficiary account from their 2013 adjusted gross income.**

By starting early, saving a little at a time and making smart investment choices, families can make their savings work for them. Start saving today and help make college a reality for a child in your life - you'll be glad you did! To learn more about College Savings Iowa, visit collegesavingsiowa.com or call 888-672-9116.

Michael L. Fitzgerald, State Treasurer

*The earnings portion of nonqualified withdrawals may be subject to federal income tax and a 10% federal penalty tax, as well as state and local income taxes. The availability of tax or other benefits may be contingent on meeting other requirements.

**Adjusted annually for inflation. If withdrawals are not qualified, the deductions must be added back to Iowa taxable income.

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Investment returns are not guaranteed and you could lose money by investing in the plan. Participants assume all investment risks as well as responsibility for any federal and state tax consequences. If you are not an Iowa 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.

For more information about the College Savings Iowa 529 Plan, call 888-672-9116 or visit www.collegesavingsiowa.com 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.

College Savings Iowa is an Iowa trust sponsored by the Iowa State Treasurer's Office. The Treasurer of the State of Iowa sponsors and is responsible for overseeing the administration of the College Savings Iowa 529 Plan. The Vanguard Group, Inc., serves as Investment Manager and Vanguard Marketing Corporation, an affiliate of The Vanguard Group, Inc., assists the Treasurer with marketing and distributing the Plan. Upromise Investment Advisors, LLC, provides records administration services. The Plan's portfolios, although they invest in Vanguard mutual funds, are not mutual funds.