College Savings by the Numbers

"Happy 529 Day!" This may not be a greeting you've heard before, but for families actively saving for college, it may be one worth recognizing this year. 529 Day is an excellent annual reminder of the importance of saving for college, and the unique benefits of a 529 college savings plan. This May 29th, I challenge you to think about how much you want to save for college, the strategies you're using to do so, and any extra steps you can take to boost your efforts ï ¿ ½ even by a small amount. To help you think this through, and in honor of 5/29, I've compiled a few of my favorite facts and tricks of the trade. 5 Reasons to Take a Fresh Look at College Savings More parents than ever are saving for college, but are they saving enough? Fidelity's latest research finds that on average, parents are aiming to cover roughly two thirds of their children's anticipated college costs. But they're currently on track to reach just 27% of that goal.i That's a big disconnect. Make time to take a look at your own goals for college, and how on track you are to meet them. With so many day-to-day priorities, we all recognize that saving for college is a challenge. Make sure you're using all the tools in your arsenal to save as effectively as possible. A tax-advantaged 529 plan is a great way for families to save. These plans ï ¿ ½ sponsored by a state or a state agency ï ¿ ½ can be used for education related expenses like books and on-campus housing. Earnings in 529 accounts grow federal income tax deferred and may also qualify for state deductions. Seventy-four percent of familiesii who take advantage of these accounts say that doing so helps keep them on track with their college saving efforts. Another vote for saving in a 529 college savings account: parents saving in a 529 plan tend to save more. Parents with 529 plans for their children save a median of nearly 40% more each year toward college.iii We can learn a thing or two from Millennials. Likely driven by their own experiences with student loan debt, parents born between 1981 and 1997 are adopting smart saving habits at a higher rate than their older counterparts. Of all age demographics, Millennials are most likely to be saving in a 529 college savings account, save monthly and have raised the percentage they save each month over the past year.iv Believe it: The more you save now, the more options you'll have when it comes time to make college decisions. Do your homework, and don't be deterred or distracted by the many myths about saving for college. I've debunked some of the most common misconceptions in my article, "Don't Let These Myths Muddle College Savings." RELATED: Are parents getting savvier about saving for college? 2 Important Conversations about College With your kids. You may think you have all the time in the world before your kids are headed to college, but it's important to bring them into the college conversation earlier rather than later when it comes to planning. Include them in discussions about college savings expectations and how you can reach your goals as a family; open conversation is instrumental in setting goals and guidelines. Some topics to consider: How much do you plan on covering? How much do you expect your child to contribute? What expectations do you have once your son or daughter begins school? Do you expect them to work part-time while taking classes? Attend a state school? Maintain a certain GPA? Do they understand how college choices may impact how much they take on in student loans and what that means following graduation? With family and friends. Fidelity research found that 90% of grandparents said they would be happy to contribute to college savings if asked.v But less than a third of families report that they have asked friends and family to consider gifting to college savings. Contributions at birthdays or other holidays are often welcome suggestions for family and friends, in lieu of (or in addition to!) another toy or video game. RELATED: The biggest college planning mistake parents make 9 Ways to Boost Your Savings and Tackle Your College Goal There are some great online calculators (like Fidelity's College Savings Calculator) that can help you determine whether or not you're on track with your savings goals. Find out where you stand today, and what you should be aiming to save moving forward. Think of contributions to a college fund like a monthly bill that needs to be paid. Automatically deducting money from your paycheck or from a checking account into college savings can turn contributions from a chore into a routine. Aim for a $50 per month savings increase. Just how much could this add up? If a family saved $350 a month instead of $300, this would equal up to $4,200 a year. Over 18 years, they'd contribute $75,600. If they received a 6% rate of return, they'd earn $59,974 in interest over 18 years. So their combined contributions, coupled with earned interest would amount to about $135,574. Over the course of 19 years, that $50 increase would amount to an additional $19,368 to put towards the cost of college.vi Not sure where that $50 could come from? How about a recent tax return? According to the IRS, the average tax return in 2015 was $3,120.vii This year, consider allocating your return, or a portion of your return, into a college savings account. Bonuses, raises, or even foregoing a couple of lunches out each month can also free up extra savings. One of my favorites ï ¿ ½ cash back rewards credit cards. You're already spending, why not earn at the same time? From gas fill-ups and groceries to vacations and day-care, families have another opportunity to add to their college savings. Earmark rewards dollars for college and commit to contributing them to your 529 savings account. As part of that important conversation with your kids about the cost of college, consider asking them to put aside a percentage of money they earn from summer or after-school jobs toward college. For younger children, consider the same for monetary gifts they receive at birthdays or other holidays. Connect with friends and family members on similar savings journeys. Creating an impromptu "college savings support group" may open the door to new savings tips and strategies that you haven't yet considered. Use your network of friends and family to exchange ideas ï ¿ ½ and perhaps do it while enjoying your favorite meal or drink! College planning doesn't have to be boring. Revisit how your savings is invested. If you have a 529 college savings account, or other investments dedicated to college savings, make sure to check in regularly on your investment strategy to make sure you are properly allocated, factoring in your risk tolerance and how long you have to save. Talk to a professional. There are so many great resources out there to help you put a plan in place and make saving for college more manageable. School guidance offices, college planning professionals and financial specialists like our team at Fidelity are here to help. You don't have to go it alone. RELATED: The price of procrastination: 7 reasons to start saving today # # # Keep in mind that investing involves risk. The value of your investment will fluctuate over time and you may gain or lose money. Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC, Member NYSE, SIPC, 900 Salem Street, Smithfield, RI 02917 736529.1.0 ï ¿ ½2016 FMR LLC. All rights reserved. iFidelity Investments, "2015 College Savings Indicator," September 2015 iiFidelity Investments, "2015 College Savings Indicator," September 2015 iiiFidelity Investments, "2015 College Savings Indicator," September 2015 ivFidelity Investments, "2015 College Savings Indicator," September 2015 vFidelity Investments, "Grandparents and College Savings Study," June 2014 viFidelity Investments, "Viewpoints: Are you saving enough for college?," April 2016 viiIR-2015-34, Feb. 26, 2015 "Happy 529 Day!" This may not be a greeting you've heard before, but for families actively saving for college, it may be one worth recognizing this year. 529 Day is an excellent annual reminder of the importance of saving for college, and the unique benefits of a 529 college savings plan. This May 29th, I challenge you to think about how much you want to save for college, the strategies you're using to do so, and any extra steps you can take to boost your efforts ï ¿ ½ even by a small amount. To help you think this through, and in honor of 5/29, I've compiled a few of my favorite facts and tricks of the trade. 5 Reasons to Take a Fresh Look at College Savings More parents than ever are saving for college, but are they saving enough? Fidelity's latest research finds that on average, parents are aiming to cover roughly two thirds of their children's anticipated college costs. But they're currently on track to reach just 27% of that goal.i That's a big disconnect. Make time to take a look at your own goals for college, and how on track you are to meet them. With so many day-to-day priorities, we all recognize that saving for college is a challenge. Make sure you're using all the tools in your arsenal to save as effectively as possible. A tax-advantaged 529 plan is a great way for families to save. These plans ï ¿ ½ sponsored by a state or a state agency ï ¿ ½ can be used for education related expenses like books and on-campus housing. Earnings in 529 accounts grow federal income tax deferred and may also qualify for state deductions. Seventy-four percent of familiesii who take advantage of these accounts say that doing so helps keep them on track with their college saving efforts. Another vote for saving in a 529 college savings account: parents saving in a 529 plan tend to save more. Parents with 529 plans for their children save a median of nearly 40% more each year toward college.iii We can learn a thing or two from Millennials. Likely driven by their own experiences with student loan debt, parents born between 1981 and 1997 are adopting smart saving habits at a higher rate than their older counterparts. Of all age demographics, Millennials are most likely to be saving in a 529 college savings account, save monthly and have raised the percentage they save each month over the past year.iv Believe it: The more you save now, the more options you'll have when it comes time to make college decisions. Do your homework, and don't be deterred or distracted by the many myths about saving for college. I've debunked some of the most common misconceptions in my article, "Don't Let These Myths Muddle College Savings." RELATED: Are parents getting savvier about saving for college? 2 Important Conversations about College With your kids. You may think you have all the time in the world before your kids are headed to college, but it's important to bring them into the college conversation earlier rather than later when it comes to planning. Include them in discussions about college savings expectations and how you can reach your goals as a family; open conversation is instrumental in setting goals and guidelines. Some topics to consider: How much do you plan on covering? How much do you expect your child to contribute? What expectations do you have once your son or daughter begins school? Do you expect them to work part-time while taking classes? Attend a state school? Maintain a certain GPA? Do they understand how college choices may impact how much they take on in student loans and what that means following graduation? With family and friends. Fidelity research found that 90% of grandparents said they would be happy to contribute to college savings if asked.v But less than a third of families report that they have asked friends and family to consider gifting to college savings. Contributions at birthdays or other holidays are often welcome suggestions for family and friends, in lieu of (or in addition to!) another toy or video game. RELATED: The biggest college planning mistake parents make 9 Ways to Boost Your Savings and Tackle Your College Goal There are some great online calculators (like Fidelity's College Savings Calculator) that can help you determine whether or not you're on track with your savings goals. Find out where you stand today, and what you should be aiming to save moving forward. Think of contributions to a college fund like a monthly bill that needs to be paid. Automatically deducting money from your paycheck or from a checking account into college savings can turn contributions from a chore into a routine. Aim for a $50 per month savings increase. Just how much could this add up? If a family saved $350 a month instead of $300, this would equal up to $4,200 a year. Over 18 years, they'd contribute $75,600. If they received a 6% rate of return, they'd earn $59,974 in interest over 18 years. So their combined contributions, coupled with earned interest would amount to about $135,574. Over the course of 19 years, that $50 increase would amount to an additional $19,368 to put towards the cost of college.vi Not sure where that $50 could come from? How about a recent tax return? According to the IRS, the average tax return in 2015 was $3,120.vii This year, consider allocating your return, or a portion of your return, into a college savings account. Bonuses, raises, or even foregoing a couple of lunches out each month can also free up extra savings. One of my favorites ï ¿ ½ cash back rewards credit cards. You're already spending, why not earn at the same time? From gas fill-ups and groceries to vacations and day-care, families have another opportunity to add to their college savings. Earmark rewards dollars for college and commit to contributing them to your 529 savings account. As part of that important conversation with your kids about the cost of college, consider asking them to put aside a percentage of money they earn from summer or after-school jobs toward college. For younger children, consider the same for monetary gifts they receive at birthdays or other holidays. Connect with friends and family members on similar savings journeys. Creating an impromptu "college savings support group" may open the door to new savings tips and strategies that you haven't yet considered. Use your network of friends and family to exchange ideas ï ¿ ½ and perhaps do it while enjoying your favorite meal or drink! College planning doesn't have to be boring. Revisit how your savings is invested. If you have a 529 college savings account, or other investments dedicated to college savings, make sure to check in regularly on your investment strategy to make sure you are properly allocated, factoring in your risk tolerance and how long you have to save. Talk to a professional. There are so many great resources out there to help you put a plan in place and make saving for college more manageable. School guidance offices, college planning professionals and financial specialists like our team at Fidelity are here to help. You don't have to go it alone. RELATED: The price of procrastination: 7 reasons to start saving today # # # Keep in mind that investing involves risk. The value of your investment will fluctuate over time and you may gain or lose money. Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC, Member NYSE, SIPC, 900 Salem Street, Smithfield, RI 02917 736529.1.0 ï ¿ ½2016 FMR LLC. All rights reserved. iFidelity Investments, "2015 College Savings Indicator," September 2015 iiFidelity Investments, "2015 College Savings Indicator," September 2015 iiiFidelity Investments, "2015 College Savings Indicator," September 2015 ivFidelity Investments, "2015 College Savings Indicator," September 2015 vFidelity Investments, "Grandparents and College Savings Study," June 2014 viFidelity Investments, "Viewpoints: Are you saving enough for college?," April 2016 viiIR-2015-34, Feb. 26, 2015

Suge Being Responsible for Tupacs Death and is Tupac...

Suge Being Responsible for Tupacs Death and is Tupac Really Dead The world has always been filled with certain unknowns and conspiracies that keep people debating between whether or not these unknowns are fact or fiction. History has proved that there are several occurrences that have sprouted questions within the mind. Did we really land on the moon in 1969? Did an alien spacecraft crash in New Mexico? What is going on at Area 51? There is one conspiracy that continually demands answers, especially amongst teenagers. It revolves around a man that affects most teenagers directly because of his influence through his music. The controversy in question is whether or not Tupac Amaru Shakur truly died from a shooting. Tupac Amaru†¦show more content†¦He is six feet three inches and 335 pounds and Tupac was five feet nine inches and closer to 150 pounds, how come he was only â€Å"Grazed† by one bullet? Could Suge have been apart of it? Could he have set Tupac up? Suge is the executive producer of Death Row Records. With Tupac dead, th e profits go to him. Is that reason enough for Suge to have Tupac shot? The suspicions behind Suge’s involvement are not the only things that seem bizarre. The entire situation during the night of Tupac’s shooting seemed odd. There were a couple cars filled with Tupac’s entourage directly behind the car that Tupac was riding in. The entourage was a group of Tupac’s friends. One would assume that they were friends that would be willing to protect Tupac, especially, Tupac’s bodyguard. So when the shooter in the white Cadillac finished shooting at Tupac, it is particularly speculative that no one sought to figure out who the murderer was shortly after the incident. The murder took place in Las Vegas, which is adjacent to a huge desert. Why was it so easy for the assailants to get away? There was only one witness to the shooting. His name was Yafeu Fula and he was found shot to death on November 10th in a hallway of an apartment building in East Orange , NJ. First, it is not likely that there would only be one witness to a drive by shooting in one of the busiest cities in the world, especially after a Mike Tyson fight that tens of thousands of people attended. One would thinkShow MoreRelatedEssay on Tupac is Alive, Not Dead2709 Words   |  11 Pagesdefined Rock ‘n’ Roll; Tupac Shakur defined the hip-hop music scene, as we know it today. What made Tupac (also known as 2Pac, or Makaveli) so special were his enormous talent, his on screen friendly looks, and the sense that he was â€Å"real† and talked the talk, while walking the walk. Tupac was born on June 16, 1971, Tupac Amaru Shakur. He was named after Tupac Amaru, the Inca Indian that was sentenced to death by the Spaniards. He was originally from Brooklyn, New York. Tupac spent a lot of time movingRead More Violence In Rap Music Essay2087 Words   |  9 Pagesmy search. Tupac Shakur is one of my favorite artists and when he was shot and killed I really s tarted to take notice of the violence. People were getting killed because of an image that was being set. What I really want to know, however, is why rappers feel compelled to graphically describe the violence. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;In my search I plan to find out reasons behind the deaths of Tupac and the Notorious B.I.G. Was there some kind of connection between both of their deaths? I believeRead MoreMusic Of The West Coast2270 Words   |  10 Pagesplayers of the group were its founder Eazy-E, Dr. Dre, and Ice Cube. N.W.A., often considered the God Father’s of rap and hip hop music, were often at the center of much controversy, they completely changed the landscape of America. They are responsible for artist that we have today as well, such as Kendrick Lamar, who is also from Compton, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, and countless others. N.W.A. also still represents all the issues that America still deals with, mainly in police brutality. The group

Incident Analysis Incident By Nathasha Trethwey - 929 Words

â€Å"It is easy to hate and it is difficult to love. This is how the whole scheme of things works. All good things are difficult to achieve; and bad things are very easy to get†- Confucius. In â€Å"Incident† written by Nathasha Trethwey the speaker conveys a frightening experience she has with the hate group the Ku Klux Klan into an anecdote that is able to cause change. Upon this reading this essay the reader doesn t feel that the speaker is encouraging hate or revenge for the injustices bestowed on her. Rather, she is promoting peace and not attempting to further fuel the flame. Trethewey uses persona, tone and irony to depict the effect racial discrimination during an age where hate crimes were a frequent occurrence. Trethewey demonstrates the speaker with a serene and courageous persona. The scene described by the speaker is actually quite disturbing, however the way the speaker conveys it does not portray it that way. As the speaker recalls that night â€Å"We tell the story each year†(1,21) the reader becomes more and more intrigued. With the repetition of this line during the first and the last line, the reader assumes that the speaker is telling her story to others. Trethewey relates to speaker in her story because they both are African American and know what it is like to be perceived as inferior. As we can recall from history, hate crimes that occurred during the civil rights era were monstrous and appalling. Horrible acts like lynching, church burning, and anti-black

Evil in Women and its Effect on Macbeth Essay Example For Students

Evil in Women and its Effect on Macbeth Essay My thought, whose murder yet is but fantastical, Shakes so my single state of man that function Is smotherd in surmise, and nothing is But what is not. (1.3.140-143). Throughout Shakespeares play, we see that Macbeth is the victim of evil seduction by women. In the above quote the evil is perpetrated by the witches. Lady Macbeth also plays a strong role in his moral corruption. the influence of Lady Macbeth (though she too has an inarticulate angel struggling against her own evil), and the instigation of a supernatural power all combine to crush his better nature. (Boyce 391). Macbeth would not have even thought of killing Duncan, if it were not for the influence of the witches and his wife. Historically, man has been corrupted by woman. Going back to the story of Adam and Eve, we see such an example. .. she took of the fruit thereof, and she did eat it; and she gave it unto her husband (Genesis 3.6). Eve, out of fear, beguiled Adam. In Macbeth, Lady Macbeth and the witches, succumb ing to greed, corrupted Macbeth. Lady Macbeths actions parallel those of the witches. The witches planted the idea that Macbeth should become king. Lady Macbeth followed through with this idea by pushing Macbeth to kill Duncan. a very definition of the weird sisters calling on them to unsex her to cram her with cruelty from top to toe (Bloom 29). This quote illustrates the connection between Lady Macbeth and the witches, showing us that they both participated in Macbeths moral decline. Shakespeare, it seems, utilizes the symbol of the witches to portray the basic evil inherent in Lady Macbeth. One could not have worked without the other. If it were only the witches prophecies, then Macbeth would surely not have murdered Duncan. It was because Lady Macbeth constantly harassed her husband, that he was driven to commit all this evil. her blood thickened, her milk changed to gaul into the inhuman, the distortion of nature (Ludwyk 233). This illustrates the complete metamorphosis of Lady Macbeth from a loving, beauti ful, caring, kind wife to a ruthless, nasty, shrew of a woman. The women in this play distort Macbeths intuition so much that he thinks he is doing the right thing. his liberty of free choice is determined more and more by evil inclination and that he can not choose the better course (Bloom 55). Even after the deed is done, Lady Macbeth greets her husband and her greeting recalls the weird sisters. (Ludwyk 233). This teaches us that even after the murder is done she does not return to her former self. This evil tears them apart. In the beginning of the play Macbeth calls his wife, my dearest partner of greatness (1.5.11-12). At the end of the play, however, when Lady Macbeth kills herself, he shows no sympathy. she should have died here after (5.5.17). Lady Macbeth uses every weapon in her arsenal, moral or immoral, to corrupt Macbeth. Lady Macbeth makes a sex weapon in her efforts to spur Macbeths ambition. (Boyce 391). This shows that Lady Macbeth sexually enticed Macbeth in addition to her constant nagging. She succeeded in manipulating him. She calls him My Husband (2.2.13) when he has just killed the king . This the only time she calls him Husband suggests that she finds him sexually impressive in his gore. (Ibid). Lady Macbeth actually feeds off of Macbeths acts of violence. She is stimulated by his savagery. .ua5499c2b5c882e0724400b77f5d8edcc , .ua5499c2b5c882e0724400b77f5d8edcc .postImageUrl , .ua5499c2b5c882e0724400b77f5d8edcc .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .ua5499c2b5c882e0724400b77f5d8edcc , .ua5499c2b5c882e0724400b77f5d8edcc:hover , .ua5499c2b5c882e0724400b77f5d8edcc:visited , .ua5499c2b5c882e0724400b77f5d8edcc:active { border:0!important; } .ua5499c2b5c882e0724400b77f5d8edcc .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .ua5499c2b5c882e0724400b77f5d8edcc { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .ua5499c2b5c882e0724400b77f5d8edcc:active , .ua5499c2b5c882e0724400b77f5d8edcc:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .ua5499c2b5c882e0724400b77f5d8edcc .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .ua5499c2b5c882e0724400b77f5d8edcc .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .ua5499c2b5c882e0724400b77f5d8edcc .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .ua5499c2b5c882e0724400b77f5d8edcc .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .ua5499c2b5c882e0724400b77f5d8edcc:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .ua5499c2b5c882e0724400b77f5d8edcc .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .ua5499c2b5c882e0724400b77f5d8edcc .ua5499c2b5c882e0724400b77f5d8edcc-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .ua5499c2b5c882e0724400b77f5d8edcc:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Computer app EssayMacbeth is not so innocent. evil is a perversion of human values, and the fact that he persisted in his awareness demonstrates a profound moral disorder. (Boyce 391). The fact that Macbeth persisted shows that he knew that what he was doing was wrong. Yet, he continued to murder. Shakespeare opened his play with the scene of the witches to portray evil in the mind of the audience. The audience could understand the evil that the witches represented. Lady Macbeth, however, conjures up an image of royalty, loyalty and goodness. In order to help us overcome our initial opinion of Lady Macbeth, and allow us to accept her