For the purposes of this calculator all expenses are assumed to be due at the end of the year.

Room and board

The current estimated cost of one-year room and board. Like tuition and books, this amount should be per child and specific to the school they may be interested in attending. For the purposes of this calculator, all expenses are assumed to be due at the end of the year.

Education cost inflation

This is the percentage that you expect educational costs to increase per year. Data provided by The College Board's "Trends in College Pricing 2011" put tuition, room and board increases at approximately 6.4% per year for the last ten years.

Current amount

The total amount you currently have saved for your children's education.

Monthly contributions

The dollar amount you plan to save per month toward your children's education. All amounts are assumed to be added to your account at the beginning of the month.

Rate of return

This is the annually compounded rate of return you expect from your investments. This will also be the rate used if you end up with a negative balance and need to borrow money to meet your goal. The actual rate of return is largely dependent on the type of investments you select. The S&P 500 for the ten years ending on December 31st, 2011 had an annual compounded rate of return of 2.92%, including reinvestment of dividends. From January 1970 through the end of 2011, the average annual compounded rate of return for the S&P 500, including reinvestment of dividends, was approximately 10.01% (source: www.standardandpoors.com). Since 1970, the highest 12-month return was 61% (June 1982 through June 1983). The lowest 12-month return was -43% (March 2008 to March 2009). Savings accounts at a bank may pay as little as 0.25% or less but carry significantly lower risk of loss of principal balances.

It is important to remember that these scenarios are hypothetical and that future rates of return can't be predicted with certainty and that investments that pay higher rates of return are generally subject to higher risk and volatility. The actual rate of return on investments can vary widely over time, especially for long-term investments. This includes the potential loss of principal on your investment. It is not possible to invest directly in an index and the compounded rate of return noted above does not reflect sales charges and other fees that funds and/or investment companies may charge.

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AIG Bank does not know your individual circumstances. These interactive calculators and information are made available to you as self-help tools for your independent use and are not intended to provide investment or financial advice. AIG Bank can not and does not guarantee the applicability or accuracy of these calculators and information in regards to your individual circumstances. All examples are hypothetical and are for illustrative purposes. AIG Bank encourages you to seek personalized advice from qualified professionals regarding all personal financial issues.

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