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Age-Based Investment Options
Investing made simple.
Choosing an Age-Based Option means your account will be placed in a portfolio based on the child’s age. Each age-range portfolio has a different mix of and allocation to the different Underlying Investments, starting with more aggressive, growth oriented investments and moving to more conservative as the student nears college age. Your account will automatically move to the next age-range portfolio as the beneficiary gets older.
You may invest in more than one Age-Based Investment Option. You may also invest in both Age-Based Investment Options and Static/Individual Fund Investment Options.
Investment Options
Age-Based
Age-Based Investment Options are based on the age of the beneficiary. Younger beneficiaries will have more money invested in stocks. (Stocks historically have provided additional potential for growth, but they are also more volatile.) As the beneficiary gets older, the assets will automatically shift to portfolios with reduced stock exposure and increased bond and cash equivalent investments. Talk with your investment professional about your college savings objectives to see if an Age-Based Investment Option is right for your situation.
Stocks
Bonds
Cash
Aggressive
Stocks
Bonds
Cash
Moderate
Stocks
Bonds
Cash
Conservative
A word about risk: Keep in mind that you can lose money by investing in these options. Each of the Age-Based, Static, and Individual Fund Investment Options involves investment risks, which are described in the underlying mutual fund prospectuses and the Program Disclosure Statement and should be considered before investing. For example, international investing, especially in emerging markets, has additional risks such as currency fluctuation, economic and political risks, and market volatility. Investing in small, medium, and international companies may increase the risk of fluctuations in the value of your investment and involves greater risks than investing in more established companies. Investment Options that invest in specific industries or sectors, such as real estate, have industry concentration risk. As an example, the Investment Options that invest in real estate may perform poorly during a downturn in the real estate industry.
Investment Options that invest in bonds are subject to risks such as interest rate risk, credit risk, and inflation risk. In particular, as interest rates rise, the prices of bonds will generally fall, which can impact performance. It is important to note that the value of your account will fluctuate with market conditions. When you withdraw funds, you may have more or less than your actual investment. For more information on the Investment Options and the underlying funds in which they invest, see the underlying mutual fund prospectuses and Program Disclosure Statement.
