How to enroll in BlackRock CollegeAdvantage 529 plan

Before you begin completing the application, you should have read through our Enrollment Kit, including the Program Description and Frequently Asked Questions portion. You should also have met (or spoken) with your financial professional to discuss how a 529 plan fits into your overall investment strategy.

Completing a new account application

Complete each section of the New Account Application, paying special attention to the sections marked as "Required". Incomplete applications may not be processed. See the below list for detailed information as to what needs to be completed within each section.

• Section 1
  Provide us with information on the Account Owner. All sections must be completed here in order for us to establish the account. If you are funding the Account with a rollover from a UTMA/UGMA account, the custodian of the UTMA/UGMA must be named as the Account Owner. Please see the Program Description for more details.
  Tired of all the paper? You can sign up for electronic delivery of your Account documents.
• Section 2
  Provide us with information on the Beneficiary of the Account. All sections must be completed here in order for us to establish the account.
• Section 3
  Your Financial Advisor should complete the "Investment Dealer" section with their information. All Accounts must have a Dealer listed on them in order to be established.
• Section 4
  You can not only how you will fund it, but you can also create your account allocation by selecting which Investment Options to contribute to.
  
  • If you are funding the Account with a rollover, please complete and attach the Incoming Rollover Form.
  • If you are funding the Account with payroll deduction, please complete and attach the Payroll Deduction Authorization Form (your employer must offer this option).
  • There are two options you may use to reduce your sales charges – Rights of Accumulation and a Letter of Intent. Each are described in this section of the application, however, more information is available in the Program Description or through your Financial Advisor.
• Section 5
  By providing us with your Bank Information, you can make it easier to contribute to your account, set up an Automatic Investment Plan, or even direct withdrawals directly to your checking or savings account.
• Section 6
  Your signature is required in order to establish the account. Please read this section carefully before signing.

How to roll over assets

Now that your application is completed, let’s cover how to move funds from another Qualified Tuition Program, a Coverdell Education Savings Account or qualified U.S. savings bond to your new BlackRock CollegeAdvantage 529 Plan Account.

Requesting a rollover or direct transfer:

• Complete the Incoming Rollover/Direct Transfer Form paying special attention to Section 2, information about the type of rollover or transfer you are selecting. Here you can select a direct transfer from within the CollegeAdvantage Plan or a Rollover from another Qualified Tuition Program, Coverdell Education Savings Account or qualified U.S. savings bond. There are directions right on the form to take you step-by-step.
• Mail the completed New Account Application and Rollover/Direct Transfer Form to BlackRock at the address on the application.
• We will establish your Account and request the assets from your current custodian (unless you indicated a rollover check is included).

You may request a "Direct Rollover" from another Qualified Tuition Program or a Coverdell Education Savings Account (Section 2A of the form). In a Direct Rollover, funds are transferred directly from the other Qualified Tuition Program to BlackRock CollegeAdvantage.

You may also roll assets over from another Qualified Tuition Program, UTMA/UGMA, Coverdell Education Savings Account or qualified U.S. savings bond into your BlackRock CollegeAdvantage 529 Plan Account:

If you are already a participant in the CollegeAdvantage Plan and wish to move your assets over to the BlackRock CollegeAdvantage advisor-sold 529 Plan, you would request a "Direct Transfer" (Section 2C of the form). Please be aware: a transfer will be treated as a nontaxable (for federal income tax purposes) investment reallocation of Account assets, which is allowable only twice per calendar year.

Alternatively, you may use the proceeds from a distribution or redemption from another Qualified Tuition Program, a Coverdell Education Savings Account, qualified U.S. savings bond or a UTMA/UGMA account to fund your Plan Account. This is referred to as an "Indirect Rollover". If you take possession of the distribution proceeds from a Qualified Tuition Program, you must contribute them to the Plan within 60 days in order to avoid federal income taxes and a possible penalty on the distribution.

A rollover between Qualified Tuition Programs (Direct or Indirect) can only be made once in a 12 month period without changing the designated beneficiary (unless the transfer is to a member of the Family of the original Beneficiary).

If you are in receipt of a check from any of the above reference plans, and wish to make Indirect Rollover of these assets to the BlackRock CollegeAdvantage 529 Plan, you would complete Section 2B of the form.

Questions? Call us at 866-529-8582 and we'll help you through the process.