U.S. and International Equity Option

Overview

Unit value as of  
Day change
Total annual asset-based fees  
Inception Date   10/1/2001

Investment Objective

This Investment Option seeks to provide a favorable long-term total return, mainly from capital appreciation.


Investment strategy

This Investment Option invests in mutual funds that mainly invest in equity securities, including:

  • Domestic equity securities across all capitalization ranges;
  • Foreign equity securities across all capitalization ranges, including issuers located in developed countries and emerging-markets countries; and
  • Equity securities of issuers that are principally engaged in the real estate industry, including real estate investment trusts (REITs).

Risk level

Conservative

Moderate

Aggressive

Learn more about how risk potential could affect your investment by completing our Risk Tolerance Questionnaire.


Historical performance

Average annual total returns as of 10/31/2024

Category U.S. and International Equity Option Benchmark
Year to date 15.30% 15.50%
1 year 32.90% 33.43%
3 years 5.27% 5.45%
5 years 10.97% 11.01%
10 years 9.66% 9.68%
Since inception 7.94% 8.59%

Average annual total returns as of 9/30/2024

Category U.S. and International Equity Option Benchmark
Year to date 18.01% 18.21%
1 year 32.17% 32.14%
3 years 8.02% 8.20%
5 years 12.03% 12.09%
10 years 10.19% 10.20%
Since inception 8.08% 8.73%

The performance data quoted represent past performance and are net of all fees and expenses. Past performance is not a guarantee of future results. Your returns and the principal value of your account will fluctuate, so your investment may be worth more or less than the original value when you withdraw your money. Current performance may be lower or higher than the performance quoted above. Investors cannot invest directly in a benchmark.

All performance figures in the table, with the exception of the performance figures in the year-to-date column, represent the average annual compound rate of the total return. All figures in the year-to-date column represent cumulative, nonannualized returns.

Asset allocation

  • 60.00% U.S. Equity
  • 30.00% International Equity
  • 10.00% Real Estate

Underlying funds

Ticker Underlying fund Allocation
TIEIX Nuveen Equity Index Fund 60.00%
TCIEX Nuveen International Equity Index Fund 24.00%
VEMIX Vanguard Emerging Markets Stock Index 6.00%
DFREX DFA Real Estate Securities Fund 10.00%

The above table lists the underlying investments in which this investment option invests and the percentage of the investment option’s assets allocated to each of its investments. Please keep in mind that if you invest in this investment option, you will own this investment option; you will not own shares in any of the above mutual funds. For more information on investment options, fees and expenses, including cost examples, please read the Plan Description.

529 Investment Lead

Jeremy Thiessen

Jeremy Thiessen

Head of Investment Strategies

To learn more about the Minnesota College Savings Plan, its investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses please see the Plan Description at mnsaves.org. Read it carefully. Investments in the Plan are neither insured nor guaranteed and there is the risk of investment loss.

Check with your home state to learn if it offers tax or other benefits such as financial aid, scholarship funds or protection from creditors for investing in its own 529 plan.

The material contained on this website is not intended to be a recommendation or investment advice, does not constitute a solicitation to buy, sell or hold a security or investment strategy and is not provided in a fiduciary capacity. The information provided does not take into account the specific objectives or circumstances of any particular investor or suggest any specific course of action. Investment decisions should be based on an investor’s objectives and circumstances.

TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC, Member FINRA, is the distributor and underwriter for the Minnesota College Savings Plan.