Your Bright Start 529 College Savings Plan is now even better.
Bright Start 529, recognized by national outlets including Time, Forbes, and Business Insider as one of the best 529 plans in the country, continually works to implement program enhancements to make it easier for families to save for higher education.1
Effective September 30, 2024, Bright Start 529's Program Management services moved from Union Bank and Trust Company to TIAA-CREF Tuition Financing, Inc. (TFI), a wholly owned subsidiary of financial services firm TIAA.
With the program management transition, account owners and perspective account owners will experience:
- Reduced plan fees so more of your hard-earned investment dollars can be applied directly to future education expenses.
- Investment menu enhancements offering a low-cost menu of investment portfolios to meet the needs of the widest possible set of investors.
- Modern account management platform providing an exceptional user experience.
For over 24 years, Bright Start 529 has been helping families achieve their college savings goals. We continue to work tirelessly to help you build a better future for your loved one.
ACCOUNT OWNERS: Don't forget to establish your online account access by creating a new user name and password to continue to access and manage your account online. Find instructions here.
Additional enhancements
Award-winning website
- A refreshed award-winning website design with improved navigation, streamlined content, and robust tools.
- When accessing your account through the online portal, you will find an entirely new design to securely manage all aspects of your account.
New mobile app and gifting features
- Manage your account from the palm of your hand with the new ReadysaveTM 529 mobile app.
- Share polite gift requests through our new Ugift® gifting platform via text, email, printed invitation, Facebook and X (formerly Twitter).
Illinois First Steps improved claim process
- Illinois parents (and legal guardians) may now claim their one-time Illinois First Steps $50 seed deposit online when they open a Bright Start 529 account (for a child born or adopted on January 1, 2023 or later).
Bright Start 529 Enhancements
More information
Frequently Asked Questions Regarding the
Program Manager Change
What is the account number provided on the form? I don’t recognize it/it doesn’t tie to my current Bright Start 529 account number.
This is your new Bright Start 529 account number, the 9-alphanumeric beginning with A9 will be your master account number. Please refer to the Transition Guide for more information.
Why is only 1 account number provided on the form if I have multiple accounts for different children? Do I need multiple account numbers to update my payroll instructions?
Based upon your prior payroll contributions before the transition, we have housed your allocations on file, therefore only the master account number is required to make payroll contributions to your account, but all beneficiaries will receive the required payroll contribution.
Letter states that payroll contributions after the 25th will be rejected and to update with employers for payroll contributions after the 30th. What do I do if I get paid on the Friday the 27th – should I update with my employer prior to the 25th or wait until after the 30th?
Please update the payroll instructions with your employer, so that any payroll contributions received by Bright Start 529 after 3 p.m. CT on September 25th will be following the new instructions, otherwise it will be rejected back to your employer. It may take more than 1 pay period for your employer to make the necessary changes, so please consult with them immediately to determine their required timeframe.
What do I use to update payroll with my employer?
On the payroll letter you received, the second page has instructions for you to follow.
What changes need to take place to update payroll in our system?
With the transition of Bright Start 529, your employer, the State of Illinois, had to issue a new deduction code for the plan. You may have already or will receive a letter that will advise you to use your department’s Payroll Authorization form. On the form, you will need to provide the correct deduction code, which is included in the letter that was or will be sent to you:
- Bright Start 529 Payroll Contributions Agency Deduction Code is 25015
- Bright Directions Advisor-Guided 529 College Savings Program Payroll Agency Deduction Code is 25007
If you are also contributing to Bright Directions Advisor-Guided 529 College Savings Program, please ensure you also include that deduction code, but please specify the dollar amount to be contributed to each Plan (the dollar amount to be contributed to each deduction code).
What changes need to take place to update payroll in our system?
All employees have received letters to make the required changes. Payroll is submitted via Individual ACH Direct Deposit and the new ABA and new Account Number will have to be provided to you by your employee.
How will I be able to view/access my client’s accounts?
Alternative options will be available for you to access your client’s account data. On or after Monday, September 30, 2024, please call the Bright Start 529 Plan number at 1-877-432-7444 for instructions on how to make updates related to this process.