CHET AMONG FIRST 529 COLLEGE SAVINGS PLANS TO LAUNCH E-GIFTING

In an age when online financial transactions have become the norm, the Connecticut Higher Education Trust (CHET), the state’s direct-sold 529 college savings plan, has made it easier to contribute to college savings accounts. CHET is among the first 529 college savings plans in the country to launch E-gifting, an option that allows account holders to invite friends and family to donate to a CHET account with a few simple clicks online. “When you think of all the occasions when parents are asked for gift ideas – birthdays, holidays, graduations – E-gifting provides a convenient way for family and friends to give a gift that truly lasts. Toys inevitably fall out of favor and children outgrow clothes all too quickly, yet a college education is a gift that helps a child’s dreams come true,” said State Treasurer Denise L. Nappier, Trustee for CHET. The CHET E-gifting option can be completed securely online without account or social security numbers. Gifts of $25 or more can be made, and if a gift giver is a Connecticut taxpayer, they may be eligible for a Connecticut income tax deduction. The process is initiated by an account owner, who e-mails a link to family and friends. A gift giver can then click on the link, enter a gift amount and their banking information, and the payment is made into a CHET account. The account owner receives notification of the deposit, and the gift giver has the option of downloading a “gift of education” certificate that can be wrapped, framed or inserted in a card and presented as a gift. For more information about E-gifting, visit www.aboutchet.com/egift. About CHET The CHET direct-sold 529 college savings plan was established in 1997 and as of March 30, 2013 has grown to more than $1.9 billion in assets and more than 86,300 individual accounts. Connecticut State Treasurer Denise L. Nappier serves as Trustee of CHET. The plan manager is TIAA-CREF Tuition Financing Inc. For more information about CHET, visit www.aboutchet.com or call the customer service center at (866) 314-3939. Find us on Facebook (facebook.com/CHETcollegesavings) or follow us on Twitter (@CHET529). Consider the investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses carefully before investing in the Connecticut Higher Education Trust (CHET) 529 College Savings Plan. Please visit www.aboutchet.com for a Disclosure Booklet containing this and other information. Read it carefully. *The tax information contained herein was neither written nor intended to be used, and cannot be used, by any taxpayer for the purpose of avoiding federal or state taxes or tax penalties. Taxpayers should seek tax advice from an independent tax advisor based on their own particular circumstances. Non-qualified withdrawals may be subject to federal and state taxes and the additional federal 10% tax.