CollegeAdvantage Renews 529 Contract with BlackRock, Reduces Customer Fees and Adds Investment Options

COLUMBUS, Ohio, July 21, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- The Ohio Tuition Trust Authority has signed a 7-year contract with BlackRock Advisors, LLC to continue to provide program management of the CollegeAdvantage Advisor 529 Savings Plan, offered and marketed by BlackRock and sold through financial advisors.

As a result of the contract renewal, several changes to the BlackRock CollegeAdvantage 529 Plan were implemented and are reflected in the updated Program Description and Participation Agreement, dated July 16, 2014. These changes include:

-   Reduction in certain customer fees: The annual program management fee has been reduced from 0.20% to 0.19% (with further reductions at specified asset thresholds) and the Class A initial sales charge has been reduced from 5.75% to 5.25% for certain investment options. Additionally, the state fee was previously reduced from 0.10% to 0.04%.

-   New investment options to further diversify client portfolios: BlackRock Multi-Asset Income and BlackRock Strategic Income Opportunities options have been added to the investment menu, offering clients the ability to invest in flexible multi-asset and fixed income strategies.

"We're pleased to extend our partnership with BlackRock, the world's largest investment manager," said Paul Paeglis, Executive Director of the Ohio Tuition Trust Authority. "We believe continuity of the program manager enhances customer confidence in the plan and the fee reduction illustrates BlackRock's commitment to the CollegeAdvantage Advisor Plan."

Since 2009, BlackRock has served as the program manager for the CollegeAdvantage Advisor Plan which has $4.7 billion in assets as of June 30, 2014. CollegeAdvantage holds $9.1 billion in total assets in all three of its plans including the CollegeAdvantage Direct 529 Plan ($4.0 billion) and the CollegeAdvantage Guaranteed 529 Plan ($0.4 billion). According to industry research firm Strategic Insight, Ohio is the fifth largest state plan sponsor in the country and the BlackRock CollegeAdvantage 529 Plan is the fourth largest advisor plan.

"We are excited to continue our partnership with the Ohio Tuition Trust Authority," said Tom Morgan, Director, BlackRock 529 College Savings. "BlackRock is committed to helping advisors work with families to meet their college savings needs. Saving for a college education is a significant financial goal, and we look forward to continuing to help families achieve this important objective."

Families can learn more about the CollegeAdvantage 529 plans and enroll online at www.CollegeAdvantage.com or through a financial advisor. Accounts can be opened with as little as a $25 starting contribution. For information about the BlackRock CollegeAdvantage Advisor Plan, families should ask their financial advisor or go to www.blackrock.com/CollegeAdvantage.  For a full description of the CollegeAdvantage Advisor Plan (including recent changes), please read the updated Program Description and Participation Agreement, dated July 16, 2014. 

About CollegeAdvantage:
CollegeAdvantage is Ohio's 529 college savings program, offered and administered by the Ohio Tuition Trust Authority, a state agency under the Office of the Chancellor of the Ohio Board of Regents. CollegeAdvantage is offered as the CollegeAdvantage Direct 529 Savings Plan and the CollegeAdvantage Advisor 529 Saving Plan offered and marketed through BlackRock. The CollegeAdvantage Guaranteed 529 Savings Plan remains closed since the end of 2003 to contributions and new enrollments. To learn more, visit www.CollegeAdvantage.com.

About BlackRock
BlackRock is a leader in investment management, risk management and advisory services for institutional and retail clients worldwide. At June 30, 2014, BlackRock's AUM was $4.594 trillion. BlackRock helps clients meet their goals and overcome challenges with a range of products that include separate accounts, mutual funds, iShares® (exchange-traded funds), and other pooled investment vehicles. BlackRock also offers risk management, advisory and enterprise investment system services to a broad base of institutional investors through BlackRock Solutions®. Headquartered in New York City, as of June 30, 2014, the firm had approximately 11,600 employees in more than 30 countries and a major presence in key global markets, including North and South America, Europe, Asia, Australia and the Middle East and Africa. 

For additional information about the BlackRock CollegeAdvantage 529 Plan, please call (866) 529-8582 or visit www.blackrock.com/CollegeAdvantage.

© 2014 Ohio Tuition Trust Authority. All rights reserved. CollegeAdvantage and the Ohio Tuition Trust Authority/CollegeAdvantage logo are registered trademarks of the Ohio Tuition Trust Authority.

© 2014 BlackRock, Inc. All Rights reserved. BLACKROCK, BLACKROCK strategies, iSHARES, SO WHAT DO I DO WITH MY MONEY, INVESTING FOR A NEW WORLD, and BUILT FOR THESE TIMES are registered and unregistered trademarks of BlackRock, Inc. or its subsidiaries in the United States and elsewhere. All other trademarks are those of their respective owners.

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SOURCE Ohio Tuition Trust Authority