Download MOST Missouri`s 529 Plan (Advisor)

Data through 10-22-2010 | For Financial Professionals Only
MOST Missouri's 529 Plan (Advisor)
Plan Options
Age-Based Tracks: 0
100%
Morningstar Analyst Rating
Top
Above Average
Average
Below Average
Bottom
Analysis by Kailin Liu 10-22-2010
Missouri's MOST 529 Advisor Plan is serviceable, but there
are better deals elsewhere.
The plan features a broad range of asset classes and investment strategies. There is no age-based option, but advisors can choose among 20+ static-allocation and individualfund options spanning most major asset classes. Many of
these options are well-regarded by Morningstar analysts, including American Funds American Mutual and PIMCO Total
Return. The plan also has a few distinctive offerings, like
three static-allocation options composed of iShares ETFs, as
well as a clone of Scout International Fund that includes an
anti-terror screen. A handful of the plan's options, such as
Legg Mason Value and Hartford Growth Opportunities, have
been relatively volatile and turned in huge losses in 2008. A
well-informed advisor can help investors navigate the wide
ranges of performance and investment styles available in
this plan.
Plan fees are neither egregious nor the most competitive. The A shares range from 0.69% to 1.45%, placing them
in the low to middle range of their broker-sold peers. The
money market option, which runs at 1.02% for A shares and
1.77% for C shares, is especially steep. Advisors can access
comparably well-regarded, and sometimes identical, strategies for less in other states. Virginia's broker-sold CollegeAmerica plan, for example, features the full American Funds
lineup at lower prices. An investor can buy A shares of American Funds American Mutual for 0.74% in the Virginia plan,
compared with 1.18% here. Those who prefer passive investments can access the same iShares allocation options
through the cheaper Arkansas iShares plan.
Cost is important here because Missouri allows its residents to deduct 529 investments even if they go out of
state. Residents can deduct up to $8,000 ($16,000 if filing
jointly) of contributions to any 529 plan. And families with
more than $25,000 invested in the plan are subject to a lower sales charge, a change implemented in October 2009.
Investors have a fine set of investments to choose from
here, but until Missouri drops this plan's fees below the competition's, it pays to shop around.
Web Address
Program Manager
Trustee
Advisor Sold
Direct Sold
Fee Range (Age-based)
Minimum Initial Investment
Annual State Tax Deduction
(per Household)
www.most529advisor.com
Upromise Investments, Inc.
Missouri Higher Education
Savings Board
Resident and non-resident
—
—
$500
Single filing up to $8,000
Joint filing up to $16,000
Issuing State
Missouri
Static Portfolios/Funds: 21
Equity Allocation %
for Age-Based Tracks
75
50
25
0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18
80 80 80 80 78 77 68 67 64 58 57 49 44 40 39 33 25 22 15
Plan Option Overview 09-30-2010
Option Name
Overall
Star Rating
MO Adv The Hartford Sm Co A
MO Adv T. Rowe Price Gr Stk A
MO Adv Amercn Century Infl-Adj Bond A
MO Adv Amercn Century Equity Gr A
MO Adv PIMCO Total Return A
MO Adv Columbia Md-Cap Idx A
MO Adv Amercn Century Lg Co Val A
MO Adv Amercn Century Premium MMkt A
MO Adv Amercn Funds Amercn Mutual A
MO Adv The Hartford Growth Opps A
MO Adv Templeton Growth A
MO Adv Van Kampen Comstock A
MO Adv Moderate ETF A
MO Adv Aggressive ETF A
MO Adv Legg Mason Val A
MO Adv UMB Intl Anti-Terror A
MO Adv Columbia Sm-Cap Idx A
MO Adv T. Rowe Price Intl Gr and Inc A
MO Adv Van Kampen Eq & Inc A
MO Adv Amercn Century Govt Bond A
MO Adv Conservative ETF A
QQ
QQQ
QQQQ
QQQ
QQQQQ
QQQQ
QQ
—
QQQQ
Q
QQQ
QQQQ
—
—
Q
QQQQ
QQQ
QQ
QQQ
—
—
Current Underlying
Equity % Fund Fees %
97.74
98.90
0.00
99.20
0.00
99.15
95.79
0.00
84.27
95.10
98.49
99.44
53.64
85.66
99.88
0.00
97.70
97.95
60.27
0.00
14.88
0.91
0.67
0.29
0.47
0.75
0.14
0.63
0.47
0.63
0.79
1.01
0.53
0.28
0.28
0.69
0.90
0.20
0.88
0.51
0.49
0.28
Total
Fees %
1.46
1.22
0.84
1.02
1.30
0.69
1.18
1.02
1.18
1.34
1.31
1.08
0.83
0.83
1.24
1.45
0.75
1.43
1.06
1.04
0.83
Child's Age
Industry Average
19
10
YTD
3-Year
5-Year
Total
Cat
Rtn % Rank %
Total
Cat
Rtn % Rank %
Total
Cat
Rtn % Rank %
12.41
13.98
8.42
8.14
10.07
16.89
5.39
0.00
11.21
9.65
3.66
8.63
9.29
10.64
2.70
11.79
13.35
4.49
6.14
6.15
7.49
53 -6.80
8 -5.76
49
6.45
72 -8.31
43
9.94
41 -2.40
63 -10.79
51
1.20
12 -4.96
54 -9.87
65 -10.63
30 -7.13
47
—
20
—
98 -16.99
13 -3.65
36 -4.66
57 -9.94
98 -2.34
84
—
67
—
88
46
26
69
2
12
75
56
10
90
61
26
—
—
99
9
64
57
46
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
Current Equity % is as-of the most recent portfolio date available. For Category Rank %, 1 = highest rank, 100 = lowest rank.
Highlights 09-30-2010
MO Adv The Hartford Sm Co A
Asset Allocation 09-30-2010
Stocks
Bonds
Cash
Other
Top Asset Managers
Hartford Mutual Funds
MO Adv T. Rowe Price Gr Stk A
%
Asset Allocation 09-30-2010
97.74
0.00
2.04
0.10
%
100.00
Stocks
Bonds
Cash
Other
Top Asset Managers
T. Rowe Price
529 Category
529 Category
Static Small-Cap Equity
Static Large Growth
Return vs Category
Risk vs Category
Low
Below Average
Return vs Category
Risk vs Category
©2010 Morningstar. All Rights Reserved. The information contained herein: (1) is proprietary to Morningstar and/or its content providers; (2) may not be copied or distributed; and (3) is not warranted to be accurate, complete,
or timely. Neither Morningstar nor its content providers are responsible for any damages or losses arising from any use of this information. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. “Morningstar,” and the
Morningstar logo are registered marks of Morningstar, Inc.
MO Adv Conservative ETF A
%
Asset Allocation 09-30-2010
98.90
0.00
1.10
0.00
%
100.00
%
Stocks
Bonds
Cash
Other
Top Asset Managers
14.88
69.64
15.38
0.10
%
iShares
100.00
529 Category
Static Conservative Allocation
Average
Above Average
—
—
Return vs Category
Risk vs Category
529