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529 plans: Simply the best way to save for college - Monday, May 22, 2017

Every family with young children should have a 529 college savings plan, even if they can only save a small amount every month. Read more

How my daughter managed to finish college free of debt - Friday, April 28, 2017

Before deciding how to save for our daughter’s college education, we calculated how much we needed to invest on a monthly basis. Read more

The bogus reasons you're not saving enough for college - Tuesday, April 4, 2017

Dragging your feet on saving for your kid's college? Or worse, haven't even started? Read more

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Disclosure Statement

Please carefully read the Enrollment Kit which describes the investment objectives, risks, expenses, and other important information that you should consider before you invest in the Maryland 529 plans. The Enrollment Kit is available online or by calling 888.4MD.GRAD (463.4723). Also, if you or your beneficiary live outside of Maryland, you should consider before investing whether your state or your beneficiary's state offer state tax or other benefits for investing in its 529 plan.

*Morningstar analysts reviewed 63 plans for its 2016 ratings (10/25/16), of which 3 plans received a “Gold” rating and 10 plans received a “Silver” rating. Morningstar analysts reviewed 63 plans for its 2015 ratings (10/20/15), 64 plans for its 2014 ratings (10/21/14), 2013 ratings (10/22/13) and 2012 ratings (10/15/12), of which 4 plans received a "Gold" rating. To determine a plan's rating, Morningstar's analysts considered five factors: the plan's strategy and investment process; the plan's risk-adjusted performance; an assessment of the individuals managing the plan's investment options; the stewardship practices of the plan's administration and parent firm; and whether the plan's investment options are a good value proposition compared to its peers. Plans were then assigned forward-looking ratings of "Gold," "Silver," "Bronze," "Neutral," and "Negative." Each year, certain of the industry's smallest plans are not rated. Morningstar analysts reviewed 58 plans for its 2011 survey, of which 6 plans received a "Top" rating, and 52 plans for its 2010 survey, of which 5 plans received a "Top" rating. Ratings for each plan were based on five factors: the quality of the underlying investment options; performance of those options; the skill of the managers of those options; the costs associated with each plan; and the stewardship practices of each plan's program manager. Plans were then assigned ratings of "Top," "Above Average," "Average," "Below Average," and "Bottom." To earn a "Top" rating, a plan must be best-in-class across all five areas.

Analyst Ratings are subjective in nature and should not be used as the sole basis for investment decisions. Analyst Ratings are based on Morningstar analysts' current expectations about future events and therefore involve unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause Morningstar's expectations not to occur or to differ significantly from what was expected. Morningstar does not represent its Analyst Ratings to be guarantees.

Please carefully read the Enrollment Kit which describes the investment objectives, risks, expenses, and other important information that you should consider before you invest in the College Savings Plans of Maryland. The Enrollment Kit is available online or by calling 888.4MD.GRAD (463.4723). Also, if you or your beneficiary live outside of Maryland, you should consider before investing whether your state or your beneficiary's state offer state tax or other benefits for investing in its 529 plan.

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