NEW HAMPSHIRE

New Hampshire UNIQUE College Investing Plan

Type: Savings

Phone: 800-544-1722

State tax deduction for residents: No state income tax

Open to nonresidents: Yes

Refund provisions: Penalty of 10% of earnings

Minimum/maximum contributions: $1,000 or $50 per month / $250,000

This Fidelity plan has been one of the nation's most popular, with more than $2.3 billion in assets. Returns in its age-based portfolios have been just average, though. The Unique plan invests your money in an age-based portfolio of Fidelity funds that's 86% to 88% in stocks for preschoolers; bonds don't overtake stocks until a child is about 15. Investors also can invest in any or all of the three static options: a 100% equity fund, a 70% equity fund or a conservative fund.

Expenses range from 0.9% to 1.1%, plus a $30 annual fee (which can be waived). Without automatic contributions, the minimum investment is $1,000.

Fidelity Advisor 529 Plan
This plan is available through brokers only. The one age-based and two fixed portfolios have produced average returns over the past one and three years. But the ten individual mutual funds available include some good choices, such as the institutional versions of Fidelity Advisor Small Cap and Fidelity Advisor Value Strategies.

Expenses range from about 1% to 2%, depending on the share class and investments the participant chooses, plus a $30 annual fee, which can be waived. Without automatic contributions, the minimum investment is $1,000.

State College Savings Plans