Your affiliation with AMS suggests you value the importance of a quality education.

And, like you, we understand the difference education — especially college — can make in a person’s life. That’s why PIMCO Advisors has designed the CollegeAccess 529 Plan to help make the cost of sending a child to college more affordable. And, that's why the folks at American Montessori Society have made special arrangements to enable you, as a member, to access the CollegeAccess 529 Plan at a significant savings.


Benefits of 529 College Savings Plans: How They Work

  • Earnings Are Free From Federal Income Tax1, 2
  • No State Residency Requirements to Participate6
  • Student Can Attend Any Accredited School in Any State
  • Money Can Be Used for Tuition — PLUS Fees, Room & Board, Books and Other Supplies7
  • No Income Restrictions
  • High Contribution Limits; No Annual Limits4, 5
  • Can Name Anyone Beneficiary — Including Self; Can Change Beneficiary Anytime (to relative of current beneficiary)3
  • Completed Gift for Estate Tax Purposes
  • Can Take "Non-qualified" Distribution at Anytime (NOTE: withdrawals NOT used for qualified college expenses, subject to ordinary income tax + 10% penalty on earnings.2)
  • Impacts Chances for Financial Aid Less Than Custodial Accounts (e.g., UGMA/UTMA)
CollegeAccess 529 Plan Features

  • Multi-manager Program — including PIMCO, MFS, Franklin-Templeton, American Funds and seven others
  • High Balance Limit: $305,000 — no other state has a higher limit.4
  • Highly Ranked by Morningstar: - more underlying funds with 5-star ratings than any other plan
    - 69% of the Plan's underlying Funds have a 4- or 5-star rating (v. 33% industry avg.)10
  • Three Investment Options — including: - 5 "Age-Based" Portfolios, which migrate automatically from aggressive growth to capital preservation as the child ages)
    - 5 "Customized" Portfolios, two of which invest in stock mutual funds, two in bond funds, one in cash equivalent funds
    - 16 "Select" Portfolios, which each invest in a single mutual fund.
Advantage for AMS Members

AMS members pay NO sales charge — a savings of up to 5.5% (example: the sales charge on a $10,000 investment is normally 5.5%; AMS member savings: $550.00).


To Invest

Click here, to download the enrollment materials, including the Plan Disclosure Statement, Participation Agreement and Application. Please read the current CollegeAccess 529 Plan Disclosure Statement before investing.


For More Information

There are many other benefits available to you through this program, and we're excited to share them with you. We invite you to browse the CollegeAccess 529 Plan Web site. If you still have questions, call your PIMCO Investor Services Representative, toll-free, at 1-866-529-PIMCO (866-529-7462), Monday – Friday, 8:00am – 8:00pm Eastern Time.

 

 
     
 

1. The earnings portion of "qualified" withdrawals are free from federal income tax. State taxes may apply for residents of states other than South Dakota. Consult your financial or tax advisor regarding state taxes, and other tax-advantaged college savings options. Excludability from income for Federal income tax purposes is scheduled to expire 12/31/10, unless renewed by Act of Congress.

2. "Qualified" expenses include tuition and fees for accredited colleges, room and board (at most schools; for half-time/full-time students), books and other supplies. Non-qualified withdrawals are subject to federal income tax and a 10% penalty on earnings, and will typically be subject to state tax.

3. Certain restrictions apply. May trigger gift tax or generation-skipping tax consequences. See Plan Disclosure Statement for details.

4. Contributions may be made until the aggregate balance for all accounts for a single beneficiary (regardless of account owner) reaches $305,000.00.

5. Gift taxes may apply to annual contributions in excess of $11,000. Speak to your financial or tax advisor for details.

6. Residents of South Dakota are entitled to certain fee waivers.

7. Room and board is deemed a qualified expense for half-time/full-time students.

8. Certain restrictions apply. See Plan Disclosure Statement for details.

9. Source: SavingforCollege.com, 2003.

10. As of 6/30/03. Source: Morningstar.com. Not all plans received an overall percentage by Morningstar.

Please read the current CollegeAccess 529 Plan Disclosure Statement before investing. CollegeAccess 529 Plan is a Section 529 college savings plan sponsored by the State of South Dakota, and managed and distributed by PIMCO Advisors Distributors LLC.

NOTICE: The account is not insured by any state, and neither the principal deposited nor any investment return is guaranteed by the any state. Furthermore, the account is not insured, nor the principal or any investment return guaranteed, by the federal government or any federal agency.