Total 529 savings plans assets topped $144 billion at the end of 2011,a 7.3% increase from the third quarter, according to Financial Research Corp. The researchers at FRC compiled a list, released Monday, of the top 10 529 savings plans by fourth-quarter 2011 assets, asset growth and market share.
10. Fidelity's U.Fund College Investing Plan:
$3.45 billion, Q4 2011
State: Massachusetts
Distributor: Fidelity
Program manager: Fidelity
Q4 2010 AUM: $3.38 billion
Percent Change (One Year): 2.1%
Q3 2011 AUM: $3.27 billion
Percent Change (Quarter): 5.6%
Market Share: 2.4%
9. BlackRock CollegeAdvantage:
$3.48 billion, Q4 2011
State: Ohio
Distributor: BlackRock
Program Manager: BlackRock
Q4 2010 AUM: $3.60 billion
Percent Change (One Year): -3.3%
Q3 2011 AUM: $3.31 billion
Percent Change (Quarter): 5.3%
Market Share: 2.4%
8. TIAA-CREF's ScholarShare College Savings:
$3.95 billion Q4 2011
(Adjusted for California's fourth-quarter transition from Fidelity to TIAA-CREF.)
State: California
Distributor: TIAA-CREF
Program Manager: TIAA-CREF
Q4 2010 AUM: $3.80 billion
Percent Change (One Year): 4.1%
Q3 2011 AUM: $3.81 billion
Percent Change (Quarter): 3.8%
Market Share: 2.7%
7. Utah Ed. Savings Plan Trust (UESP):
$4.2 billion, Q4 2011
State: Utah
Distributor: State of Utah
Program Manager: State of Utah
Q4 2010 AUM: $3.79 billion
Percent Change (One Year): 10.8%
Q3 2011 AUM: $3.81 billion
Percent Change (Quarter): 10.4%
Market Share: 2.9%
6. Merrill Lynch's NextGen–Advisor:
$5.58 billion, Q4 2011
State: Maine
Distributor: Merrill Lynch
Program Manager: Merrill Lynch
Q4 2010 AUM: $5.49 billion
Percent Change (One Year): 1.7%
Q3 2011 AUM: $5.25 billion
Percent Change (Quarter): 6.4%
Market Share: 3.9%
5. The Vanguard 529 Savings Plan:
$5.90 billion, Q4 2011
4. Fidelity's UNIQUE College Investing Plan:
3. AllianceBernstein's CollegeBound Fund: 
1. American Funds' College America: 
