<p>Especially Independent 529 plan. Thanks (where to look)</p>
<p><a href="http://www.savingforcollege.com/%5B/url%5D">http://www.savingforcollege.com/</a></p>
<p>and that seems like an attractive option given that your market risk is gone and your only risk is attending a non plan school and losing 3% a year from what you might have earned otherwise.</p>
<p>In my view, if you beleive that you may be eligible for nedd-based aid, you should be very wary of 529 plans. All money that is in such a plan is viewed as belonging to the child--the worst thing possible as far as the FAFSA is concerned.</p>
<p>You might try getting copy of the book, The Standard and Poor's Guide to Saving and Investing for College. It has a very complete listing of 529 plans.</p>
<p>Are you looking for this website?</p>
<p><a href="http://www.independent529plan.org/%5B/url%5D">http://www.independent529plan.org/</a></p>
<p>My understanding is that money in a 529 plan is considered parental assets, not assets of the child. Money in an UGMA account is considered the child's assets.</p>
<p>We use a John Hancock 529. My understanding is same as dadx3, though I have to admit I've never checked it out. But since the 529 money belongs to the parent and can be used for other things (give up the tax benefits) if the money is not used towards education--it makes sense that it would be considered parental assests.</p>
<p>dadx & mkm are correct - 529 accounts are reported as parent assets on FAFSA not student assets. I think it was a change made for the 2007-2008 FAFSA.</p>
<p>Have you looked at that? It seems to have eliminated the possibility of the "sorry we lost 30% of your money" letter the August before school starts in return for the slight penalty in terms of return if a non 529 Ind school is chosen.</p>
<p>Money in a 529 is considered a parental asset--just did both the CSS and FAFSA and the instructions were explicit.</p>