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Saving for Education: Plans and Products

Smart planning and saving for education expenses

Saving to fund your children or grandchildren's education can be challenging, yet very rewarding. Designing an education savings plan to accumulate the right amount of assets at the right time is critical. Following the plan in a disciplined way, while adjusting it periodically to account for the rising cost of a college education, is also important. Please consider this information for educational purposes only. Please schedule a review with a financial professional to receive recommendations on strategies that may be suitable for you or in your best interest based on various personalized factors.

529 College Savings Plans1

With a 529 plan, all contributions are made post-tax for federal income tax purposes. Some states also offer tax-deductible contributions for residents2. The benefit to you is that your contribution will grow on a tax-deferred basis, and your distribution to pay for college can also be made tax-free.

Investors should be mindful that 529 College Savings Plans are municipal securities and may be subject to market volatility and fluctuation.

Another great benefit is that you, as the account owner, will have control over the funds. Many plans may even allow you to reclaim the funds for yourself if your needs change.

Evaluating education savings vehicles

Parents and grandparents can choose among a handful of investment programs, some of which offer tax advantages while saving for education expenses. In addition to 529 College Savings Plans, other plans are available and have been detailed in the comparison chart below. Speak with a Financial Professional3 from HSBC Securities (USA) Inc.:

Call 800.662.3343 or call collect 847.876.1574

Mon - Fri (8am - 6pm ET)

 

  529 College Savings Plans
Coverdell Education Savings Accounts (ESAs)
Custodial Accounts (UGMA/UTMA)
What's the core plan structure?
Tax-advantaged investment account selected by owner with state-provided choices available
Tax-advantaged investment account in which parents can choose to invest in stocks4, bonds5, mutual funds6, and more
Irrevocable gift to a minor, managed by an adult custodian
What can the funds be used for?
Qualifying college expenses
Qualifying elementary, secondary, and college expenses
Any purpose benefitting the minor
Who may open an account?
Generally any adult, though details may vary by state
Anyone whose modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) is less than $110,000 for single filers and $220,000 for married/joint filers 

Beneficiary must be under age 18 or is an individual with special needs
Any adult
May friends and family contribute to the plan?
Yes, in most cases
Yes provided their MAGI does not exceed amounts noted above
No
Maximum contributions
Annual contribution limit for 2019 is $15,000 per beneficiary ($30,000 for married couple filing joint return).  Individual taxpayer accelerated gift limit is $75,000 per beneficiary ($150,000 for married couple filing joint return).*
$2,000 for all beneficiaries, regardless of how many separate Coverdell ESAs the beneficiary may have
$15,000 a year in 2019*
Forms of acceptable funding
Cash
Cash
Cash, securities, real estate, art, patents, royalties, and more
Tax implications - Contributions Federal: not deductible
State: varies by state
Federal: not deductible
State: not deductible
Federal: not deductible
State: not deductible
Tax implications-Earnings Tax-free when used for qualifying expenses
Tax-free when used for qualifying expenses
Taxed
Expiration age and transfer flexibility
Funds may be disbursed for qualifying expenses for a beneficiary of any age. Transfers to other family members are allowed
Funds must be transferred to another eligible family member or disbursed for qualifying expenses before the beneficiary turns 30, unless the beneficiary is an individual with special needs, in order to avoid penalties
Custodial supervision ends when minor reaches age of majority which varies by state. No transfers – a gift is irrevocable

Please consult your tax advisor before contributing to any plan or gifting.  Limits subject to change.

Before you invest in a Section 529 plan, request the plan's official statement from your HSBC Securities (USA) Inc. financial professional and read it carefully. The official statement contains more complete information, including investment objectives, charges, expenses and risks of investing in the 529 plan, which you should consider carefully before investing. You should also consider whether your home state or your beneficiary's home state offers any state tax or other state benefits such as financial aid, scholarship funds and protection against creditors that are only available for investments in such state's 529 plan. Section 529 plans are not guaranteed by any state or federal agency. Broker-sold plans often contain sales loads and higher fees and expenses than direct-sold plans.  For tax advice, consult your tax professional.

HSBC's The Value of Education report

See how parents are preparing for the cost of their child’s education

Call 800.662.3343. If you’re calling outside the U.S. or Canada, call 847.876.1574.

Mon - Fri (8am - 6pm ET)

Investment, annuities, and variable life insurance products are offered by HSBC Securities (USA) Inc. (HSI), member NYSE/FINRA/SIPC. In California, HSI conducts insurance business as HSBC Securities Insurance Services. License #: OE67746. HSI is an affiliate of HSBC Bank USA, N.A. Whole life, universal life, term life, and other types of insurance are offered by HSBC Insurance Agency (USA) Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of HSBC Bank USA, N.A. Products and services may vary by state and are not available in all states. California license #: OD36843.

Investments, Annuity and Insurance Products:

ARE NOT A DEPOSIT OR OTHER OBLIGATION OF THE BANK OR ANY OF ITS AFFILIATES
ARE NOT FDIC INSURED
ARE NOT INSURED BY ANY FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AGENCY
ARE NOT GUARANTEED BY THE BANK OR ANY OF ITS AFFILIATES
MAY LOSE VALUE

All decisions regarding the tax implications of your investment(s) should be made in consultation with your independent tax advisor.

Research backgrounds of brokers and firms for free by visiting FINRA's BrokerCheck website

Environmental, Social and Governance (“ESG”) Customer Disclosure

At this time in the United States, there is no standard definition of, or measurement criteria for, environmental, social and governance (“ESG”) factors or impact.  ESG-related measurement criteria is highly subjective and may vary significantly across and within different sectors.  There is no guarantee that: (a) the nature of the ESG investment, or the ESG impact or measurement criteria of an investment, will be aligned with any particular investor’s ESG goals; (b) the stated or targeted ESG level will be achieved; or (c) an investment approach that considers ESG factors will produce returns similar to those that don’t, or that they won’t diverge from traditional market benchmarks.

HSBC Securities (USA) Inc. and HSBC Insurance Agency (USA) Inc. (collectively “HSBC”) may rely on metrics or measurement criteria devised and/or reported by third party providers or issuers.  HSBC does not always conduct its own specific due diligence in relation to ESG metrics or measurement criteria.

ESG investing is an evolving area and new regulations may come into effect which may affect how an investment is categorized or labeled. An investment that is considered to fulfil ESG criteria today may not meet those criteria at some point in the future.

Please consider the investment’s specific ESG impact measurement criteria in the prospectus or other offering documents prior to investing.

United States persons (including U.S. citizens and residents) are subject to U.S. taxation on their worldwide income and may be subject to tax and other filing obligations with respect to their U.S. and non-U.S. accounts - including, for example, Form TD F 90-22.1 (Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts ("FBAR")). U.S. persons should consult a tax adviser for more information.

1 A single 529 Plan can have multiple share classes with different fee structures. When investing in a 529 Plan, it is important to consider the beneficiary’s age, intended holding period and purchase amounts, as these are all factors that will assist in determining which share class is most advantageous for you.  For example, 529 Plan A shares are often more advantageous than 529 Plan C shares when the beneficiary is under the age of 12 at the time of purchase and the 529 Plan is established for the purpose of paying for college.   Your Financial Professional can assist you in evaluating which 529 Plan share class is most appropriate for you.

Tax treatment of 529 Plans varies from state to state and can be a major factor in deciding which plan to select. Broker-sold plans often contain sales loads and higher fees and expenses than direct-sold plans. If your state offers a 529 plan you may want to consider what, if any, potential state income tax or other benefits it offers, before investing. State tax or other benefits should be one of many factors to be considered prior to making an investment decision. The prospectus, which contains this and other information, can be obtained by calling your HSBC Securities (USA) Inc. Financial Consultant (FC). Read it carefully before you invest. For tax advice, consult your tax professional.

2 Tax treatment of 529 Plans varies from state to state and can be a major factor in deciding which plan to select. Broker-sold plans often contain sales loads and higher fees and expenses than direct-sold plans. If your state offers a 529 plan you may want to consider what, if any, potential state income tax or other benefits it offers, before investing. State tax or other benefits should be one of many factors to be considered prior to making an investment decision. The prospectus, which contains this and other information, can be obtained by calling your HSBC Securities (USA) Inc. Financial Consultant (FC). Read it carefully before you invest. For tax advice, consult your tax professional.

3 Financial professional refers to Financial Consultants (FCs), Investment Counselors (ICs), and High Net Worth Relationship Managers (HNWRMs). All offer bank products through HSBC Bank (USA) N.A, investments, annuities, and variable life insurance products through HSBC Securities (USA) Inc. and traditional insurance products through HSBC Insurance Agency (USA) Inc.

4 Equity securities include common stocks, preferred stocks, convertible securities and mutual funds that invest in these securities. Equity markets can be volatile. Stock prices rise and fall based on changes in an individual company's financial condition and overall market conditions. Stock prices can decline significantly in response to adverse market conditions, company-specific events, and other domestic and international political and economic developments.

5 Bond Funds - Investors should be aware that the fund's yield and the value of its portfolio fluctuate and can be affected by changes in interest rates, general market conditions and other political, social and economic developments.

6 Mutual funds, money market funds, and Exchange Traded Funds are sold by prospectus. Please consider the investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses carefully before investing. The prospectus, which contains this and other information, can be obtained by calling your HSBC Securities (USA) Inc. Financial Consultant (FC) or call 866.586.4722. Read it carefully before you invest.

An investment in a money market fund is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) or any other government agency. Although a money market fund seeks to preserve the value of your investment at $1.00 per share, it is possible to lose money by investing in a money market fund.

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