2. By Feng Shen, Ph.D., MBA December, 2003 Tel: 626-396-2818feng_shen@ml.com Q&A on Education Savings Plans and Other Financial Planning Issues

3. College Education Is Costly

4. College Savings Alternatives 1.529 Plans 2.Coverdell IRA 3.UTMA/UGMA 4.Prepaid Tuition Plan

5. 529 Plans 1.Do not Over-fund 529 Plan 2.Not all plans are created equal 3.Difficult to judge by performance 4.Key is fees

6. Best 529 Plans

7. Where to Invest Now 1.Diversification and rebalance 2.Cheapest Way to diversify: Using Vanguard Index Funds or ETFs (eg. SPDRs, QQQ) 3.Active managers could outperform in a range bound market 4.Best and cheapest active managers: Dodge and Cox 5.Diversify into non-traditional asset classes: eg. emerging market bonds (PEMDX) and equities (ODMAX), high yield bonds and convertibles, commodities (PCRDX), real estates (CGMRX) and hedge funds

8. A Model Portfolio