About NJBEST
Advantages of NJBEST
NJBEST scholarship
For parents
For grandparents
For you and others
Investment manager
Portfolio options
Automatic investing
Frequently asked questions




Portfolio Options

When you open an NJBEST plan, you have access to the experience and knowledge of Franklin Templeton Investments which offers a variety of investment options designed to help you pursue your college savings goals.2 You have 2 investment strategies to choose from:

1. Age-Based Strategy

If you select the age-based strategy, your investments will be placed in a portfolio based on the beneficiary's age, which will automatically reallocate a percentage of your savings out of equity-based funds (stocks) into more conservative, income-generating funds (such as bond and money market funds) as your beneficiary approaches college age.

How Your Investment Changes as Your Beneficiary Grows


Newborn-8 years
Percentage of assets/funds:


Age 9-12 years
Percentage of assets/funds:


Age 13-16 years
Percentage of assets/funds:


Age 17+ years
Percentage of assets/funds:

2. Customize Your Own Strategy

If you decide you'd like to take an active role in creating your NJBEST plan's investment mix, you may customize your own investment strategy using one or a combination of the following static portfolios. These portfolios allow you to invest your assets according to the amount of investment risk you're comfortable taking and the potential return characteristics you prefer.

Franklin Templeton Corefolio® Portfolio

This allocation is designed for investors with a longer time horizon and/or a higher tolerance for risk. The Corefolio Portfolio invests equally in 4 Franklin Templeton funds. Together, these funds typically invest in over 376 equity securities representing a minimum 24 industries4—offering shareholders significant diversification.

Growth Portfolio

This growth allocation is designed for investors with a longer time horizon and/or a higher tolerance for risk.


Growth & Income Portfolio

This moderate allocation is designed for investors with a long to medium time horizon and/or who can tolerate a moderate amount of risk.



Income Portfolio

This more conservative allocation is designed for investors with a shorter to medium time horizon and/or can tolerate a lower amount of risk.

S&P 500 Index 529 Portfolio5

This allocation is for investors looking for a portfolio that seeks to replicate the Standard & Poor's 500 Index's total return before plan and fund fees and expenses.
Franklin Templeton Stable Value 529 Portfolio

This allocation portfolio is designed for conservative investors wishing to invest in a portfolio that seeks a stable, competitive rate of interest that, over time, may generally exceed the returns of a money market mutual fund.


Although the Franklin Templeton Stable Value 529 Portfolio seeks to preserve the value of investments, it is possible to lose money by investing in the portfolio.

Investors should carefully consider plan investment goals, risks, charges and expenses before investing. To obtain the Investor Handbook, which contains this and other information, call Franklin Templeton Distributors, Inc., the manager and underwriter for the plan, at 1-877/4NJBEST or click here. You should read the Investor Handbook carefully before investing and consider whether your or the beneficiary's home state offers any state tax or other benefits that are available for investments only in its qualified tuition program.
Footnote
1. Offered and administered by the New Jersey Higher Education Student Assistance Authority (HESAA); managed and distributed by Franklin Templeton Distributors, Inc., an affiliate of Franklin Resources, Inc., which operates as Franklin Templeton Investments. No federal or state guarantee. Principal value may be lost, and investing in the plan does not guarantee admission to college or sufficient funds for college. Please refer to the Investor Handbook for more complete information.
2. This is not a recommendation of any particular security, is not based on any particular financial situation or needs, and is not intended to replace the advice of a qualified financial advisor. Before making any financial commitment regarding a Section 529 college savings plan, consult with an appropriate financial advisor.
3. The plan is managed by Franklin Advisers, Inc., an affiliate of Franklin Templeton Distributors, Inc. Plan portfolios generally invest in mutual funds managed by affiliates of Franklin Advisers, Inc. An investment in NJBEST 529 College Savings Plan is an investment in a municipal security that may invest in one or more underlying mutual funds. It is not an investment in shares of the underlying mutual fund(s).
4. As of 6/30/06.
5. Performance will be reduced by fund and plan fees and expenses. Indexes do not have fees and expenses; one cannot invest directly in an index.