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Savings and investment options

Choosing your investment option

We know everyone’s approach to choosing investments may not be the same. Your investment decisions can differ from other program savers or throughout your lifetime based on your unique circumstances, financial constraints, timelines, and overall savings goals. Some examples of investment goals and selections are listed below.*

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Goal: Save money for the long term

Investment option: You might consider any of the available options

Why: There are portfolios designed for a variety of goals and risk tolerance levels

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Goal: Use funds to pay for qualified expenses throughout the year

Investment option: FDIC-Insured Portfolio

Why: This option is like cash and limits worry about short-term market changes when making frequent withdrawals

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Goal: Saving for both long-term and paying for qualified expenses 

Investment option: Spread savings among several  portfolios

Why: Account owners can select how much money they contribute to each portfolio, making sure there are enough funds available for frequent withdrawals as well as put toward achieving your future savings goals

You may change the way in which future contributions are invested at any time. However, you may only change your investment choices twice per calendar year once the money is in your account.

Please note: Before investing, carefully consider the Plan's investment objectives, risks, fees, and expenses. This information and more about the Plan may be found in the CalABLE Account Plan Disclosure Booklet, which should be read fully and carefully before investing. The investment option descriptions contained on this website are provided for informational purposes only and do not constitute financial, investment, or other advice. Beneficiaries or their Authorized Legal Representatives are solely responsible for deciding which investment options to use.

CalABLE offers a total of eight savings and investment options

Income portfolio bar graph

Income Portfolio 

The Income Portfolio seeks to provide investors limited capital appreciation with minimal risk to principal. The Portfolio is designed for investors with a very low tolerance for short-term market fluctuations who want low risk to principal and have a high desire for current income with limited capital appreciation. The Portfolio investments include a mix of fixed income investments with a significant cash (Money Market Fund) position.

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Conservative Portfolio

The Portfolios included in the Conservative Investment Option are designed for investors with a low tolerance for short-term market fluctuations who expect modest capital appreciation with limited risk to principal.

Income and growth portfolio bar graph

Income and Growth Portfolio

The Income and Growth Portfolio seeks to conservatively grow the Portfolio with modest income at higher risk. The Portfolio is designed for investors with a moderate tolerance for short-term market fluctuations who expect moderate capital appreciation and have a modest desire for income. The Portfolio investments include exposure to a mix of bonds with a blend of globally diversified equity securities.

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Balanced Portfolio 

The Balanced Portfolio seeks to provide a balanced mix of steady return and growth but comes with additional risk. The Portfolio is designed for investors with a modest tolerance for short-term market fluctuations and a desire for income and moderate capital appreciation. The Portfolio investments include a balanced mix of bonds and globally diversified equity securities.

Conservative growth portfolio bar graph

Conservative Growth Portfolio

The Conservative Growth Portfolio seeks to grow the Portfolio moderately with low income but comes with increasing degree of risk. The Portfolio is designed for investors with a moderately high tolerance for short-term market fluctuations who expect significant capital appreciation and have a minimal desire for current income. The Portfolio investments include a blend of globally diversified equity securities with exposure to a mix of bonds.

Moderate growth portfolio bar graph

Moderate Growth Portfolio

The Moderate Growth Portfolio seeks capital appreciation but comes with a high degree of risk. The Portfolio is designed for investors with a high tolerance for short-term equity market fluctuations who expect capital appreciation and have low desire for income. The Portfolio investments are generally a blend of globally diversified equity securities.

Growth portfolio bar graph

Growth Portfolio

The Growth Portfolio seeks to maximize growth but comes with the highest degree of risk. The Portfolio is designed for investors with a very high tolerance for short-term equity market fluctuations who expect maximum capital appreciation and have no desire for income. The Portfolio investments are generally a blend of globally diversified equity securities.

FDIC-insured portfolio bar graph

FDIC Account Portfolio

The FDIC account offers insurance protection for amounts contributed to the Cash Option, up to FDIC-permitted limits. The Cash Option allocates 100% of its assets to a demand deposit account established by the Trust at the Bank (the “Bank Account”).

Percent Allocation of Investment Option
Income Portfolio
Conservative Portfolio
Income and Growth Portfolio
Balanced Portfolio
Conservative Growth Portfolio
Moderate Growth Portfolio
Growth Portfolio
Fund Name Ticker
Fidelity® Total Market Index FundFSKAX 0%7%13%17%20%26%33%
Schwab Total Stock Market Index Fund®SWTSX 0%6%13%16%19%26%32%
Fidelity® International Index FundFSPSX 0%5%10%12%15%20%25%
Fidelity® Emerging Markets Index FundFPADX 0%2%4%5%6%8%10%
Fidelity® U.S. Bond Index FundFXNAX 30%30%25%22%17%9%0%
Schwab U.S. Aggregate Bond Index FundSWAGX 30%30%25%20%17%8%0%
Fidelity® Long-Term Treasury Bond Index FundFNBGX 5%5%4%4%4%3%0%
Schwab Treasury Inflation Protected Securities Index FundSWRSX 3%3%2%2%2%0%0%
Vanguard Emerging Markets Bond Fund Admiral SharesVEGBX 6%6%2%1%0%0%0%
Vanguard High-Yield Corporate Fund Admiral SharesVWEAX 6%6%2%1%0%0%0%
Vanguard Cash Reserves Federal Money Market Fund Admiral SharesVMRXX 20%0%0%0%0%0%0%

View Historical Performance

Fees and expenses

There’s a low annual fee of $30 for each CalABLE account to cover the program’s operating expenses. There are also low fees on the underlying mutual funds, which are part of each of the investment options, and a state administrative fee. These fees will generally total between 0.28% and 0.45% of the account’s balance per year. Additional fees are applied to your account if you opt out of electronic statements or request a withdrawal check, instead of doing everything online. You can learn more about the program fees in the Program Disclosure Booklet or our Fees FAQ.

Program Disclosure Booklet

Fees FAQs

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Sign up and start saving

Once you are ready to enroll, you can set up your account here online. When opening a CalABLE account, make sure you have ready identifying information about the beneficiary, the qualifying disability, and how the CalABLE account will be funded.

Create your account

Events

Find out about the upcoming events for CalABLE.

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Still have questions?

You can contact us online, give us a call Monday through Friday, at 1-833-225-2253 from 6am–5pm PT, or you can browse frequently asked questions.

Individuals with speech or hearing disabilities may dial 711 to access Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS) from a telephone or TTY.

Go to FAQs

Consider the investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses before investing in the California 529A Qualified ABLE Program (CalABLE Program). Please call toll-free 833-Cal-ABLE (833-225-2253) or read our Program Disclosure Statement (PDF) containing this and other information. Read it carefully.

Before investing in any ABLE program, you should consider whether your home state provides its taxpayers with favorable state tax or other benefits that are only available through investment in the home state's ABLE program. You also should consult your financial, tax, or other adviser to learn more about how state-based benefits (or any limitations) would apply to your specific circumstances. You also may wish to directly contact your home state's ABLE program, or any other ABLE program, to learn more about those plans' features, benefits and limitations. State-based benefits should be one of many appropriately weighted factors to be considered when making an investment decision.

The CalABLE Program is offered by the State of California. Vestwell State Savings LLC is the program manager. Vestwell Advisors LLC is the investment advisor registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

None of the State of California, its agencies, Vestwell State Savings LLC or Vestwell Advisors LLC nor any of their applicable affiliates insures accounts or guarantees the principal deposited therein or any investment returns on any account or investment option, and you may lose the principal amount invested. They also do not provide legal, financial, tax, or investment advice to any individual. The FDIC-Insured Portfolio is FDIC-insured up to $250,000, subject to certain restrictions. Interests in the CalABLE Program are not registered with or in any way approved by the Securities and Exchange Commission or by any state securities commission.

The Plan Web site is for informational purposes only, and does not constitute an offer to sell or solicitation of an offer to buy any security that may be referenced on the site. Such offer or solicitation can be made only through the Disclosure Statement.

The Plan Web site contains links to other Web sites. Neither the Plan nor Vestwell State Savings LLC and its affiliates are responsible for the content of those other Web sites. The accuracy of information on those sites cannot be confirmed.

The Prepaid Card is issued by Sunrise Banks N.A., St. Paul, MN 55103, Member FDIC, pursuant to license from Visa U.S.A., Inc. This card can be used everywhere Visa debit cards are accepted. Use of this card constitutes acceptance of the terms and conditions stated in the Cardholder Agreement.

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