As a New Jersey family, NJBEST has an investment strategy designed to meet your college savings needs.
Choose the option that works best for you.
MOST USED
Select Portfolios that Automatically Adjust
Designed for college savings, these portfolios simplify your investing decisions. Investing in funds actively managed by Franklin Templeton Investments, age-based asset allocations move into more conservative portfolios as college nears. Nearly 2/3 of NJBEST investors choose the age-based portfolios.
Build Your Own Portfolio
For those looking to take a more active role in their investment selection, NJBEST offers both allocation portfolios and individual portfolios that allow you to customize an investment strategy to match your individual preferences.
Select Portfolios that Automatically Adjust
How does it work?
Provide the child’s age
Choose the asset allocation that matches your needs
Select portfolios that automatically adjust
Helpful Hint
If you are using your NJBEST account to save for K-12, consider Building Your Own Portfolio. The age-based portfolios may not be appropriate for K–12 time horizons.2
Find the right portfolio option for you
How old is the beneficiary?
What level of risk are you comfortable with?
You can choose from three age-based asset allocation options – conservative, moderate or growth – depending on what track best addresses your individual situation.
Helpful Hint
If you aren’t comfortable with the results above, adjust your asset allocation to help you make your final decision. But remember, you can always modify you investment strategy up to two times per year.
In these easy steps, you can open an account and start saving now.
Build Your Own Portfolio
How does it work?
Choose one or more portfolios that best meet your college savings needs
Determine how much you want to invest in each
Manage your portfolio and adjust as needed3
Helpful Hint
With NJBEST, you can mix and match all of the Investment Options. Don’t worry, you can change your investment options up to two times per year.
Our Range of Portfolios
When building your own portfolio, you have access to all of the NJBEST Investment Options – objective-based portfolios, individual portfolios, and the age-based portfolios. You can choose one, two or all three.
And remember, you can change your selections up to two times per year.
Objective-Based 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. The portfolios are periodically rebalanced to maintain allocation percentages.
Franklin Growth Allocation 529 Portfolio
This growth allocation is designed for investors with a longer investment time horizon and/or a higher tolerance for risk.
| Domestic Equity | |
|---|---|
| International Equity |
Franklin Growth & Income Allocation 529 Portfolio
This moderate allocation is designed for investors with a medium to longer investment time horizon and/or a moderate tolerance for risk.
| Domestic Equity | |
|---|---|
| International Equity | |
| Income | |
| Cash |
Franklin Income Allocation 529 Portfolio
This more conservative allocation is designed for investors with a shorter to medium investment time horizon and/or a lower tolerance for risk.
| Income | |
|---|---|
| Cash |
Franklin Corefolio® 529 Portfolio3
This portfolio invests in a combination of four underlying equity funds with distinct investment strategies. The allocation provides significant diversification across multiple industries, which may help reduce overall risk, and offers potential for long-term growth.
| Franklin Growth Opportunities Fund | |
|---|---|
| Franklin Growth Fund | |
| Templeton Growth Fund | |
| Franklin Mutual Shares |
Individual Portfolios
You also have the option to assemble your own portfolio, creating an asset allocation mix to suit your education investing needs.
S&P 500 Index 529 Portfolio
This allocation is for investors looking for a portfolio that seeks to replicate the performance of holdings of the Standard & Poor's 500 Index before expenses.
| Domestic Equity |
|---|
Franklin U.S. Government Money 529 Portfolio
This portfolio is designed for conservative investors seeking a high level of current cash that is consistent with the preservation of shareholder's capital and liquidity.
| Cash |
|---|
Age-Based Portfolios
Growth Risk Level
| Domestic Equity | |
|---|---|
| International Equity | |
| Income | |
| Cash |
Moderate Risk Level
| Domestic Equity | |
|---|---|
| International Equity | |
| Income | |
| Cash |
Conservative Risk Level
| Domestic Equity | |
|---|---|
| International Equity | |
| Income | |
| Cash |
In these easy steps, you can open an account and start saving now.
Next Steps
Interested in our Underlying Funds?
See the latest quarterly allocation by asset class for each portfolio.
Nonqualified withdrawals are subject to federal income tax, a 10% federal tax penalty, state income taxes and possible penalties.
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 (877) 4NJ-BEST. You should read the Investor Handbook carefully before investing and consider whether your or the account beneficiary's home state offers any state tax or other state benefits such as financial aid, scholarship funds, and protection from creditors that are only available for investments in its qualified tuition program.
- The plan is managed by Franklin Mutual Advisers, LLC., an affiliate of Franklin Templeton Distributors, Inc. Plan portfolios generally invest in mutual funds managed by affiliates of Franklin Mutual Advisers, LLC. An investment in the 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).
- The Age-Based Asset Allocations have been designed for savings intended for qualified higher education (i.e. college) expenses, not for elementary or secondary education tuition expenses.
- You can change your investment options up to two times per year.
- Effective at the close of market on August 26, 2016, Franklin Flex Cap Growth Fund was closed and was reorganized into Franklin Growth Opportunities Fund. For more information on these changes, please contact your financial advisor or call Franklin Templeton Investor Services at (800) 632-2301.
This material is not a recommendation of any particular security, is not based on any particular financial situation or need, and is not intended to replace the advice of a qualified attorney, tax advisor, investment professional or insurance agent. Before making any financial commitment regarding a Section 529 college savings plan, consult with the appropriate financial advisor.
NJBEST New Jersey’s 529 College Savings Plan is 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 any particular primary or secondary school or to college or sufficient funds for primary or secondary school or for college. Please refer to the Investor Handbook for more complete information.
See the Investor Handbook for more information on NJBEST 529 College Savings Plan, including sales charges, expenses, general risks of the Plan, general investment risks and specific risks of investing in Plan portfolios, which can include risks of convertible securities; country, sector, region or industry focus; credit; derivative securities; foreign securities, including currency exchange rates, political and economic developments, trading practices, availability of information, limited markets and heightened risk in emerging markets; growth or value style investing; income; interest rate; lower-rated and unrated securities; mortgages, asset-backed and credit-linked securities; life settlement investments; restructuring and distressed companies; securities lending; smaller and midsize companies; and stocks.
