WA529 Invest, formerly DreamAhead, is now even better.
WA529 Invest, formerly DreamAhead College Investment Plan, continually works to implement program enhancements to make it easier for families to save for higher education.
Effective February 10, 2025, DreamAhead relaunched as WA529 Invest and program management transitioned from Vestwell State Savings, LLC (Vestwell) to TIAA-CREF Tuition Financing, Inc. (TFI), a wholly owned subsidiary of financial services firm TIAA.
With the program management transition, account owners and perspective account owners will experience:
- A refreshed award-winning website design with improved navigation, streamlined content and robust tools.
- A new mobile app available for download now!
- Enhanced gifting through our new Ugift® gifting platform
Account Owners: Don't forget to establish your online account access by creating a new user name and password to continue to access and manage your account online. Find instructions here.
Emails sent directly to account owners from The Washington Student Achievement Council (WSAC).
Email sent January 6, 2025 by WSAC
Email sent January 14, 2025 by WSAC
Payroll email sent January 27, 2025 by WSAC
Email sent January 30, 2025 by WSAC
Additional enhancements
Lower Fees
Reduced plan fees so more of your hard-earned investment dollars can be applied directly to future education expenses.
Investment Menu Enhancements
Investment menu enhancements offering a low-cost menu of investment portfolios to meet the needs of the widest possible set of investors.
New Account Management System
Modern account management platform providing an exceptional user experience.
WA529 Invest (formerly DreamAhead) Enhancements
More information
Who is TIAA-CREF Tuition Financing, Inc. (TFI)?
A Leader in the 529 Space
TIAA is a Fortune 500 financial services organization founded in 1918 and one of the first program managers to enter the 529 college savings plan market.
Serving millions of families
Since 1998, TIAA-CREF Tuition Financing, Inc. (TFI) has become one of the largest program managers in the 529 space, helping more than 2 million families save over $62 billion for college (as of 12/3/2024).
Offers a wide array of 529 investment options
Committed to providing portfolios to fit savers' preferences—aligning with your risk tolerance, preferred level of involvement and desired results.
Frequently Asked Questions Regarding the Program Manager Change
I see an account number on the payroll direct deposit update form that I don’t recognize. What is that number?
The account number listed on the payroll direct deposit form is your new WA529 Invest account number. It is a 9-digit, alphanumeric number beginning with B4 and serves as your master account number. For more details about your new account number(s), please refer to the Transition Guide.
I have multiple accounts for different beneficiaries. Why is there only one account number listed on the payroll direct deposit form? Do I need to submit multiple forms to update payroll instructions for all my beneficiaries?
The account number on the form is your master account number. During the transition, your payroll direct deposit instructions will be transferred with your account, and we will use these instructions to process payroll direct deposit contributions for all your beneficiaries. You only need to complete one form using your master account number.
The letter mentions that payroll contributions received after February 7, 2025, will be rejected if I haven’t updated my account information with my employer. If I get paid on Friday, February 7, should I update my account information before February 7 or wait until after February 10?
Since it may take your employer more than one pay period to make the necessary updates, please contact them as soon as possible to confirm their required timeframe. To ensure your contributions to WA529 Invest are processed correctly, your employer must update your payroll instructions by 1 p.m. PT on February 7, 2025. If your information is not updated by that time, your contribution will be rejected and returned to your employer.
How do I update my payroll direct deposit information with my employer?
Instructions for updating your payroll direct deposit information were included in the personalized letter mailed to you.
In November 2023, the Washington Student Achievement Council issued a Request for Proposals for the program management services for DreamAhead. After a competitive bidding process, TIAA-CREF Tuition Financing, Inc. (TFI) was selected to enhance the overall investor experience, reduce fees, and make saving for higher education easier and more accessible to all savers. TFI is one of the largest and longest serving program managers for 529 plans and is a wholly-owned subsidiary of TIAA, a Fortune 500 financial services organization.
Alternative options will be available for you to access your client’s account data. On or after Monday, February 10, 2025, please call the WA529Invest Plan number at 1-844-529-5845 for instructions on how to make updates related to this process.