This state's adviser-sold 529 plan rates highest once again

This state's adviser-sold 529 plan rates highest once again
A Colorado college savings plan gets top mark for 2010; rated No.1 for the past five quarters
MAY 19, 2011
The Colorado college savings plan that Legg Mason Inc. sells through financial advisers topped the most recent one-year performance chart. The three-month period ending Dec. 31 marked the fifth consecutive quarter that the Legg Mason Scholars Choice College Savings Program ranked first among adviser-sold plans based on investment performance including fees, said Laura Zimmerman, the firm's head of marketing. The $2.9 billion plan was created in 1999. The ranking was done by Savingforcollege.com, which tracks the universe of 529 plans. The website issues a quarterly ranking based on a complicated analysis of investment performance across portfolios offered in the plan. It separates adviser-sold plans from direct plans and ranks each over three investment periods. The rankings “give financial advisers important information to help them guide their clients through the college savings process,” said Joseph Hurley, founder and chief executive of Savingforcollege.com. “Plans that are performing well tend to stay towards the top for consecutive periods,” he said. The Legg Mason plan ranked 12th out of 26 plans for its three-year performance and 20th out of 21 plans for its five-year performance, according to the Savingforcollege.com listings. Wells Fargo & Co.'s college savings plan for Wisconsin and Columbia Management Investment Advisers LLC's South Carolina 529 plan ranked second and third, respectively, among the 36 adviser-sold plans with one-year performance data, according to Savingforcollege.com. The top adviser-sold performer over three years was MFS Investment Management's Oregon plan. Over five years, Waddell & Reed Inc.'s Arizona InvestEd plan topped the list.

Latest News

LPL, Raymond James score fresh recruits in advisor recruiting battle
LPL, Raymond James score fresh recruits in advisor recruiting battle

Two firms land teams managing more than $1.1 billion in combined assets from Kestra and Edward Jones.

Edward Jones facing more race bias claims in new lawsuit
Edward Jones facing more race bias claims in new lawsuit

A private partnership, Edward Jones is a giant in the retail brokerage industry with more than 20,000 financial advisors.

Advisor moves: LPL recruitment momentum continues with $815M Northwestern Mutual team
Advisor moves: LPL recruitment momentum continues with $815M Northwestern Mutual team

Meanwhile, Raymond James and Tritonpoint Partners separately welcomed father-son teams, including a breakaway from UBS in Missouri.

SEC chief Atkins signals caution on prediction market ETFs amid broader rethink of novel fund structures
SEC chief Atkins signals caution on prediction market ETFs amid broader rethink of novel fund structures

Paul Atkins has asked staff to solicit public comment on novel ETFs, pausing the clock on as many as 24 filings linked to the booming event contracts market.

Private capital's $1 trillion bet on the American retirement account
Private capital's $1 trillion bet on the American retirement account

From 401(k)s to retail funds, Deloitte sees private equity and credit crossing into mainstream investing on two fronts at once.

SPONSORED Are hedge funds the missing ingredient?

Wellington explores how multi strategy hedge funds may enhance diversification

SPONSORED Beyond wealth management: Why the future of advice is becoming more human

As technical expertise becomes increasingly commoditized, advisors who can integrate strategy, relationships, and specialized expertise into a cohesive client experience will define the next era of wealth management