Your Investments. Your Way.
Understand your investment options.
When you open an account, you’ll be asked to choose investments. We can help you through this process in two easy steps.
Assess your comfort with risk.
Choose a strategy and select your investments.
Step One
Assess your comfort with risk.
The first step is determining what type of investor you are by gauging your risk tolerance. Use the chart below to see what best fits you.
If you think ...
- The ups and downs that come from investing in the stock market will keep you awake at night, no matter how long your investment time horizon.
- Bonds and short-term investments may be better for you than stocks because they’re typically less volatile.
Your risk tolerance is
Conservative
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If you think ...
- Some (but not too many) market fluctuations are tolerable.
- A mix of stocks and bonds could be the way to go because you plan on being invested for at least five years.
Your risk tolerance is
Moderate
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If you think ...
- You won’t worry about the ups and downs that come from investing in the stock market.
- The potential for higher returns outweighs the risk of losing money.
- A portfolio that holds more stocks than bonds is OK.
Your risk tolerance is
Aggressive
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Step Two
Choose a Strategy.
Next, you will determine the investment approach you want to take. See which of these quotes sounds most like you.
Target Enrollment Portfolios
Automatically adjusts your investments over time.
You can choose from Target Enrollment Portfolios that aim for a specific year, typically when your beneficiary will need to use the account. The portfolio automatically makes and adjusts investment allocations based on how close it is to that date—starting with more aggressive positions that get more conservative as the date approaches.
Learn more
Individual Portfolios
This is a do-it-yourself strategy.
You can choose from our lineup of 22 individual portfolios. You then manage that mix based on the strategy you put together. It’s good to periodically review your investments if your savings horizon changes, or if there are changes to your risk tolerance or personal situation.
Learn more
Price and Performance.
If you want to see detailed performance information for all available funds, check out our Price and Performance page.
Price and PerformanceInsights and information to guide your journey.
View All
Gifts to an NY 529 won’t lose their shine.
If you’re lucky enough to have family members who tend to write checks or send gift cards on holidays and special occasions, you may want to talk to them about how they can have an even bigger impact on your child’s future.
NY 529 Direct Plan can make saving for college easier - even when money is tight.
When the market is going up and down, and you’re wondering what that means for your budget, it is tempting to put off saving for college. Of course you want the best for your children, but it’s hard to save for future plans when current needs are so pressing.
What college really costs–and how much should you save?
There’s no getting around it. College is expensive. It may, however, cost less than you think.
Have questions? We’re here to help.
Whether you’re just getting started or need guidance on your existing plan, our education savings specialists are ready to help. Reach out by phone, email, or mail—we’re here to make saving simpler.
Email Us:
For New York employers:
Find out more about what NY’s 529 Direct Plan can offer you and your employees. Call us at 800-420-8580 on business days between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. Eastern time.
Email us: employer@nysaves.org
Event request: Complete the Event Request Form
Please note, we are unable to provide account-specific information or process monetary or clerical transactions via email. For assistance with these items, please log in to your account or call 877-NYSAVES (877-697-2837). For your protection, please do not include your account number or any personally identifiable information in your email, as this is not a secure channel. You may review other ways to safeguard your own information by clicking the Security link at the bottom of this page.
All investing is subject to risk, including the possible loss of the money you invest. Prices of mid- and small-cap stocks often fluctuate more than those of large-company stocks. Foreign investing involves additional risks including currency fluctuations and political uncertainty. Stocks of companies in emerging markets are generally more risky than stocks of companies in developed countries. Investments in bond portfolios are subject to interest rate, credit, and inflation risk.
Certain Target Enrollment Portfolios, the Conservative Income Portfolio and the Interest Accumulation Portfolio invest in the Vanguard Short-Term Reserves Account which, in turn, invests in Vanguard Federal Money Market Fund. The Vanguard Short-Term Reserves Account could lose money by investing in the Vanguard Federal Money Market Fund. Although the Fund seeks to preserve the value of your investment at $1.00 per share, it cannot guarantee it will do so. An investment in the Fund is not a bank account and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. The Fund’s sponsor is not required to reimburse the Fund for losses, and you should not expect that the sponsor will provide financial support to the Fund at any time, including during periods of market stress.