When it comes to your financial well-being, it’s never too early (or too late) to begin planning. Understanding your financial needs and goals is the first step in achieving a sound financial future. The Treasurer’s Office supports programs that will help Connecticut families plan for important financial goals.
CHET - Connecticut‘s 529 College Savings Program
The Connecticut Higher Education Trust (CHET) is Connecticut’s only state-sponsored 529 college savings program. The Connecticut State Treasurer is the trustee of CHET. CHET accounts help families plan and save for college in a tax-advantaged investment vehicle. CHET features state and federal tax free earnings and withdrawals on qualified higher education expenses. Connecticut families can take an income tax deduction (up to $5,000 for single filers, $10,000 for joint filers) on contributions to CHET accounts. CHET has among the lowest fees in the industry, offers a choice of investment options, and can be used at thousands of higher education institutions in the United States and abroad. CHET is for all income levels, and accounts can be opened with as little as $25 (or $15 per pay period if your employer offers this service).
CHET Direct-Sold is professionally managed by TIAA-CREF Tuition
Financing Inc., a financial services organization with more than 100 years of investment experience.
It has 14
investment options. For information or materials call 1-888-799-CHET (2438) or visit www.aboutchet.com
(haga
clic aquí para español).
In 2010, the Treasurer established
an agreement with the Hartford Financial Services company to be the program
manager for CHET Advisor, the advisor-sold 529 program for Connecticut. The
CHET Advisor plan has
17 investment options. For information or materials, call 877-407-2828 or
visit www.chetadvisor.com.
College Savings Planning Seminars & Forums
The Treasurer’s Office partners with TIAA-CREF Tuition Financing Inc., a program manager for CHET, to offer college savings planning programs at schools, companies, libraries and other forums on the benefits of saving for college through CHET. For information or to make arrangements, please call (888) 799-CHET (888-799-2438) or visit the website at www.aboutchet.com.
CHESLA - The Connecticut Higher Education Supplemental Loan
Authority
The Connecticut Higher Education Supplemental Loan Authority (CHESLA) is a
quasi-public state authority created to help students and their families
finance the cost of higher education. It serves as an alternative source
of loan funds for students and families. Visit
www.chesla.org for details.
Individual Development Accounts
The goal of Individual Development Accounts is to provide Connecticut's
working families with new opportunities to build assets and improve their
knowledge of personal finance on the road to economic self-sufficiency.
Individual Development Accounts (IDAs) are savings accounts that
provide public and private matching funds for people with modest
incomes to save for first-time home purchases, job training and
education, business start-ups, automobiles to secure employment,
lease deposits and education for a dependent child. Eligible
families receive extensive financial education and training so they
can achieve their identified goals.
Account owners are required to participate in the financial
education component. Under the program, account holders must
maintain regular bank account deposits over the program savings
period. Matching funds are not released to the account owner until
savings goals are met.
State Treasurer Denise L. Nappier started this program in
2000 after chairing a statewide task force that included financial
institutions, community organizers, and representatives from state
and local government. The task force produced an in-depth report on
how to help low-income families become economically
self-sufficient.The report led to a 2000 law, a summary of which can
be vieweed here:
Connecticut IDA Act.
The Connecticut Department of Labor operates the IDA program. It
has a website with useful information for program operators,
financial institutions, funders, policymakers, community agencies
and everyone interested in IDAs. It can be accessed here:
http://www.ctdol.state.ct.us/ida/idahome.htm. For further
information, contact Lisa Arends,
(860) 263-6794.
SmartAboutMoney.org
This National Endowment for Financial Education (NEFE) website offers practical articles, worksheet, tips, and valuable services from the web to help with the financial implications of major life events, major purchases and investing for the future. Visit www.smartaboutmoney.org.
Annuity.org
This website offers advice about personal finance, money management,
budgeting, saving, debt, student loans, real estate, business finance and
retirement. Visit
www.annuity.org/financial-literacy.
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