DES MOINES, IA (10/02/2012)(readMedia)-- State Treasurer Michael L. Fitzgerald announced today that College Savings Iowa has reached $3 billion in assets. "Families are taking advantage of the benefits of saving with College Savings Iowa," Fitzgerald said. "We are thrilled the Plan has continued to grow at such an exciting pace. More and more families are aware that saving early for their children's higher education is of the utmost importance."

As a way to encourage families to continue saving early, College Savings Iowa is giving away a $5,290 College Savings Iowa account - its largest giveaway to date. For more information about the program and to enter the giveaway, please visit www.collegesavingsiowa.com any time before November 30, 2012.

College Savings Iowa, created in 1998, is a budget-friendly 529 plan that offers multiple investment choices, as well as significant federal and state tax benefits to help families grow their savings even more. An account can be started with as little as $25 and the assets can be 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. Iowa state taxpayers can deduct up to $2,975 in contributions per beneficiary account from their 2012 adjusted gross income.*

*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 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.

DES MOINES, IA (09/20/2012)(readMedia)-- For families already busy juggling the demands of work and home, college planning might seem like the last thing to worry about. However, with the cost of a higher education rising faster than inflation, nearly every family will face the problem 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.

In the past 35 years the cost of obtaining a college education has increased by 1,120 percent, which is four times faster than the consumer price index.* With continuing increases in the price of a college education, it is as important as ever to start saving early. Any amount, saved on a regular basis can grow into a substantial amount, which may help reduce the need to borrow to cover educational expenses.

College Savings Iowa, administered by the State Treasurer's Office, is a budget-friendly 529 plan that offers multiple investment choices, as well as significant federal and state tax benefits to help families grown their savings even more. An account can be started with as little as $25 and the assets can be 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. Iowa state taxpayers can deduct up to $2,975 in contributions per beneficiary account from their 2012 adjusted gross income.**

As a way to help families start saving, we are celebrating College Savings Month throughout September and giving away a $5,290 College Savings Iowa account - our largest giveaway to date. For more information and to enter the giveaway, please visit www.my529iowaplan.com any time before November 30.

Don't forget...saving for college is an investment for a lifetime - opening the door to a world of opportunity for the children in your life. Start saving today and help make college a reality for them - you'll be glad you did! For more information about College Savings Iowa, visit www.my529iowaplan.com or call 888-672.9116.

*From Bloomberg.com. Cost of College Degree in U.S. Soars 12 Fold: Chart of the Day. August 15, 2012. Michelle Jamrisko and Ilan Kolet.

**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 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.

DES MOINES, IA (08/15/2012)(readMedia)-- State Treasurer Michael Fitzgerald announced today that 95% of the children that participated in College Savings Iowa's annual State Fair survey show getting a college education is a necessary step to achieving their dreams and career aspirations. "Iowa children are already thinking about their futures," stated Fitzgerald. "This survey demonstrates how important it is for families to start planning and saving early to help make college a reality for their children."

"Every year we ask children visiting the fair what they want to be when they grow up and if they will need to go to college to achieve these goals," Fitzgerald said. "Needless to say, we are always amazed by the responses they offer." Fifteen percent are planning on becoming veterinarians, with another 13% hoping to become teachers. Doctor came in third this year with 7% of the responses, and police officer ranked fourth with 5%. "According to one child, it will cost him $5 to go to college to become Batman."

"Families that save and invest for their children's college education will be better prepared to meet the challenge of paying for it when the time arrives, and College Savings Iowa is here to help," added Fitzgerald. Anyone - parents, grandparents, friends and relatives - can invest in College Savings Iowa on behalf of a child. This year Iowa taxpayers can deduct up to $2,975 in contributions per beneficiary account from their adjusted gross income.* Investment returns are not guaranteed and you could lose money by investing in the plan. To learn more about College Savings Iowa, visit www.collegesavingsiowa.com or call 1-888-672-9116.

*Adjusted annually for inflation. If withdrawals are not qualified, the deductions must be added back to Iowa taxable income. The availability of tax or other benefits may be contingent on meeting other requirements.

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DES MOINES, IA (05/21/2012)(readMedia)-- State Treasurer Michael L. Fitzgerald is looking for over one million people who are owed over $239 million. The spring publication of the Great Iowa Treasure Hunt is scheduled to begin soon and includes thousands of names that have been received in the last year. Fitzgerald wants Iowans to know they do not have to wait much longer to see if they have extra funds coming to them in the form of unclaimed property.

"We look forward to the spring publication every year," said Treasurer Fitzgerald. "Our goal is to locate the rightful owners of the unclaimed property. I'm sure that when we publish the new list, a lot of individuals will be pleasantly surprised." Treasurer Fitzgerald would also like to remind individuals that they do not have to wait for publication to begin to see if they have unclaimed property. "Individuals can go to www.greatiowatreasurehunt.com and search the entire Great Iowa Treasure Hunt list for their names anytime. It just makes sense to check."

The Great Iowa Treasure Hunt program has returned over $143 million in unclaimed property to more than 359,000 individuals since Fitzgerald started 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 and deliver unclaimed property to the State Treasurer's Office, where it is 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.

Everyone is encouraged to keep watch for the upcoming publication coming soon to papers across the state. In the meantime, all Iowans are urged to visit www.greatiowatreasurehunt.com and check to see if they have unclaimed property. Individuals may also send an email to foundit@iowa.gov. For those who prefer corresponding by mail, please write to: State Treasurer Michael L. Fitzgerald, Great Iowa Treasure Hunt, Lucas State Office Building, Des Moines, IA 50319. Please make sure to provide current name, previous names and addresses.

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