Minnesota College Savings Plan

Frequently Asked Questions - Investment Options and Performance
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What are my investment options?
The Minnesota College Savings Plan offers a choice of six investment options. You can invest new contributions in any one or combination of these six options: Managed Allocation Option, 100% Equity Option, Balanced Option, 100% Fixed-Income Option, Money Market Option and the Guaranteed Option. The Guaranteed Option provides a guarantee of principal and a minimum rate of interest to the Minnesota College Savings Plan, but not to account owners or beneficiaries. Effective November 1, 2007, transfers from the Guaranteed Option to the Money Market Option will not be permitted. (If this restriction changes, investors will be notified prior to the effective date of any such change.) These choices vary in their investment strategy and degree of risk, allowing you to select an option or options that may best fit your needs and investment philosophy. For a description of these investment options, please refer to the Investment Options section.

The investment approaches described are not recommendations and do not take into consideration personal goals or preferences. After evaluating information you consider important in making an investment choice, the ultimate decision is up to you. It is a good idea to revisit your investment strategy periodically as your goals, personal financial situation, and market conditions change.


Can I select the investments for my account?
You may choose among the six Minnesota College Savings Plan investment options, but not the underlying mutual funds or other investment vehicles to which funds in the investment option may be allocated. Under federal law, an account owner may not have direct or indirect control over the investments in a 529 Plan. See the list of underlying funds.


Can I see a list of the underlying funds?
Yes, go to the Investment Options page and click on the Underlying TIAA-CREF Institutional Mutual funds link for a list and description of the underlying funds.


Where do I get information on Minnesota College Savings Plan performance?
Minnesota College Savings Plan performance for the six investment options is available online. Go to Minnesota College Savings Plan Performance.


Can I change my investment selection?
Yes. Each time you make a contribution you may select any one of the six investment options. Once invested in a particular investment option, contributions and any earnings may be transferred to another investment option once per calendar year or upon a transfer of funds to a Minnesota College Savings Plan account for a different beneficiary (see the Minnesota College Savings Plan Disclosure Booklet and Participation Agreements (PDF, 773KB) for more information). Effective November 1, 2007, transfers (including transfers when there is a change of the Beneficiary) from the Guaranteed Option to the Money Market Option will not be permitted. (If this restriction changes, investors will be notified prior to the effective date of any such change.) Use the Annual Rebalancing of Funds Among Investment Options Form (PDF, 52KB).


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Have a question you don't see listed? Need clarification?

Call us toll-free at
1-877-338-4646

We're available 7:00 am to 7:00 pm Central Time, Monday - Friday.


Don't forget you can set up the Automatic Contribution Plan (PDF, 50KB) or use Payroll Deduction (PDF, 46KB) for your contributions (if offered by your employer).

PDF files require the free Adobe Acrobat Reader. Get it here.


Access our glossary for the meanings of terms used throughout this site.

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The tax information contained on the Minnesota College Savings Plan Web site is not intended to be used, and cannot be used by any taxpayer, for the purpose of avoiding tax penalties that may be imposed on the taxpayer. It was written to support the promotion of the products and services addressed in the Web site. Taxpayers should seek advice based on their own particular circumstances from an independent tax advisor.

Consider the investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses before investing in the Minnesota College Savings Plan. Please call toll-free 1(877) 338-4646 for a Disclosure Booklet containing this information. Read it carefully.

Before investing in a 529 plan, you should consider whether the state you or your designated beneficiary reside in or have taxable income in has a 529 plan that offers favorable state income tax or other benefits that are only available if you invest in that state’s 529 plan.

TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC, distributes Minnesota College Savings Plan. The State of Minnesota, its agencies, TIAA-CREF Tuition Financing, Inc., Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association of America and its affiliates do not insure any account or guarantee its principal or investment return except for TIAA-CREF Life Insurance Company’s guarantee to Minnesota College Savings Plan under the funding agreement for the Guaranteed Option. Account value will fluctuate based upon a number of factors, including general market conditions.

The Minnesota College Savings Plan Web site contains links to other Web sites. Neither Minnesota College Savings Plan nor TIAA-CREF Tuition Financing, Inc. and its affiliates are responsible for the content of those other Web sites. The accuracy of information on those sites cannot be confirmed.

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© 2007 TIAA-CREF Tuition Financing, Inc. TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC, distributes Minnesota College Savings Plan. 2008 TIAA-CREF Tuition Financing Inc.