CollegeWell Strengthens Leadership Team with the Addition of Two Strategic Hires

The expansion points to continued growth in the college investment sector

BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Today, CollegeWell, a comprehensive college savings and financing advisory organization and the sponsor of the Private College 529 Plan (PC 529), announced the appointments of Connor Swan as its Manager of Partner Success and Kim Gavrilles as its Manager of Customer Engagement, furthering CollegeWell’s commitment to supporting its partner institutions and families as they seek innovative approaches to college financing.

With more families seeking investment options for their children’s higher education, these appointments align to strong trends in the college financing space. In a recent report, the combined assets of all 529 Plans were $508.3 billion, an increase of 7.87 percent since the end of 2023. Additionally, savings plans held $483.7 billion, while prepaid plans - such as Private College 529 - accounted for another $24.6 billion.

CollegeWell provides guidance to families on myriad financing options for all income-backgrounds, how to balance saving for college and saving for other milestones, such as retirement and estate planning. As sponsor of the Private College 529 plan, CollegeWell offers families the opportunity to secure a percentage of tuition at nearly 300 colleges and universities nationwide.

“We are excited for Connor Swan and Kim Gavrilles to further CollegeWell’s mission of helping families navigate how to pay for their children’s post-secondary education,” said Bob Cole, President and CEO of CollegeWell. “Connor and Kim will lend critical support to our member institutions and to the families we serve by adding new options to the plan, seeking innovation within college financing, and illustrating the importance of early and balanced college savings and planning.”

Swan joins CollegeWell with experience helping organizations achieve their goals by building and maintaining strategic partnerships. In his previous role as a gift officer with the Cure Alzheimer’s Fund, Swan oversaw the nonprofit’s fundraising program. In his role as Manager of Partner Success at CollegeWell, he will drive engagement with PC 529’s nearly 300 member colleges and recruit new universities, maximizing university options for students.

Kim Gavrilles joins CollegeWell with extensive experience in client engagement and relationship management, primarily working with educational products and services in the K-12 and higher education spaces. As CollegeWell’s Manager of Customer Engagement, Gavrilles will guide prospective and current PC 529 Plan customers through each phase of their journey by helping them understand the value of saving early and often for college.

“The Private College 529 plan is positioned for strong, strategic growth with these hires, ensuring our member institutions receive the support they need and families receive the detailed guidance they need to navigate the college experience. These additions will ensure CollegeWell continues to be a financial resource for families and a means to introduce them to private college options they may have otherwise overlooked,” said Audrey Smith, Board Chair of CollegeWell. “With their extensive experience in member and customer support, we know Connor and Kim will contribute significantly to CollegeWell’s success.”

To learn more about CollegeWell and the Private College 529 Plan, visit www.collegewell.com.

About CollegeWell and Private College 529 Plan

CollegeWell is a pioneering organization committed to transforming the landscape of college savings. Through education and financial tools, CollegeWell provides families with guidance and support to pursue the best higher education opportunities for their children. CollegeWell is the sponsor of Private College 529 Plan, a nationwide, prepaid tuition plan that allows families to lock in tuition rates at nearly 300 private colleges, giving families flexibility and choice while making private college more accessible. For more information, visit collegewell.com.

Purchasers should carefully consider the risks associated with purchases and refunds of Tuition Certificates. The Disclosure Statement contains this and other information about the Plan, and may be obtained by visiting privatecollege529.com or calling 1.888.718.7878. Purchasers should read these documents carefully before purchasing a Tuition Certificate.

CollegeWell and Private College 529 Plan (the Plan) are established and maintained by Tuition Plan Consortium, LLC (TPC), on behalf of the Plan’s member colleges. This material is provided for general and educational purposes only, and is not intended to provide legal, tax, or investment advice, or for use to avoid penalties that may be imposed under U.S federal tax laws. Catalis Regulatory & Compliance, LLC f/k/a Intuition College Savings Solutions, LLC (Catalis) is the Plan Administrator. Participation in the Plan does not guarantee admission to any college or university. Tuition Certificates are neither insured nor guaranteed by the FDIC, TPC, any government agency, Catalis or their respective subcontractors and affiliates. However, Tuition Certificates are guaranteed by member colleges solely for tuition and mandatory fee credits. Tuition Certificates must be held for at least 36 months from the issue date before they can be redeemed to pay for tuition at a participating school. The issue date of a Tuition Certificate is the first date during a plan year (July 1-June 30) that a purchase of a Tuition Certificate is made. Please read the Disclosure Statement and Enrollment Agreement carefully, and please consider your financial objectives and risks before purchasing a Tuition Certificate. TPC, Catalis and their respective subcontractors and affiliates do not provide financial, legal or tax advice. Please contact your attorney or other advisor regarding your specific legal, investment or tax situation.

The refund value of a Tuition Certificate is calculated as your total contributions adjusted for net investment returns up to a maximum increase of 2 percent per year compounded annually. If the refunded amount is not used to pay qualified higher education expenses, the earnings portion will be subject to federal income tax and an additional 10 percent tax penalty. See Disclosure Statement for details.

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