Old Fidelity 529 MC now offers distributions to non-529 Fidelity accounts

This FIA/MBNA/BofA branded card is discussed here . New applications were discontinued in December 2006, but many FWF members still carry the card to this day, including its 2% cash reward.

In last month's statement, we received an insert explaining that we now could log on to our account at ibsnetaccess.com and change the target account for direct deposits to virtually any Fido account. Sure enough, we made the switch, and the direct deposit hit our taxable brokerage account like clockwork yesterday.

Related question. Unlike the new fido and schwab cards discussed here , these cards had a "rolling" rewards cap of $75,000 in spending / $1,500 in bonuses. I wonder if the cap it still in place now that other Fido 2% rewards card offer no cap? Reports from CSRs on this welcome of course, but I'd be especially interested if anyone holding this card has received rewards over that cap. TIA.

I called two months ago about making a large purchase (+20K) and asked about the spending / bonus limit and was told it was still 75K.

I had switched all my usage to the Schwab 2% card in order to get more control of the cash. So never received the insert. Interesting options now.

But, one stupid question. I found the webpage you referred to and can see the linkage to the existing 529 account, but I must be having a "Senior Moment" as I cannot see how to add another Fidelity account. (I do see how to edit the existing account)

What am I missing?

Hmmm. I have a Fidelity account that is my spouse's name and this card is in my name.

Perhaps I have to call them to see

Thanks for the helpful link and the scanning work ellory.

What benefits were you thinking of specifically? All these cards are administered by FIA. The 529 card has purchase protection, price protection, concierge, etc.

I wonder if FIA would entertain a "product trade" from one Fido/schwab card to another. Not that I'd advise requesting this given their heightened scrutiny of late...

Sure thing gp. I was happy to discover that you can do a partial or full transfer out from a fido 529 plan with no fee (which I did). So if you like their 529 plan OK, you forgo little by parking it there for now, then transferring when you see fit.

For those who don't know, you pay tax plus a 10% penalty on EARNINGS ONLY if the distributions are "non-qualified", that is, not used for higher ed expenses. But if you have no investments earnings (cc reward contributions don't count), then this worry is moot. Moreover, as with IRAs or HSAs, you can roll over indirect withdrawls to another 529 plan once a year and not pay the penalty.

DaveHanson said: Sure enough, we made the switch, and the direct deposit hit our taxable brokerage account like clockwork yesterday ... ellory, my understanding is that the tab only shows the elligible Fido accounts you already have openI did not see anything that lists eligible Fido destinations. I had to Edit, type in a destination account number, and Save.

DaveHanson said: Thanks for the helpful link and the scanning work ellory.

What benefits were you thinking of specifically? All these cards are administered by FIA. The 529 card has purchase protection, price protection, concierge, etc.

I wonder if FIA would entertain a "product trade" from one Fido/schwab card to another. Not that I'd advise requesting this given their heightened scrutiny of late...Of the benefits, the ones that are the most valuable to me are doubled warranty and Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver. Plus Schwab has no foreign exchange fee. And, I discovered the Schwab card is a signature card, so occasionally there are other benefits like buy 1 get 1 fee movie tickets - and free wine tastings in Napa valley.

Not sure about a product trade but I do know the CSRs have visibility and control of both cards. When I applied I called before they fully processed my application because I had a high CL on the 529 card - and I was concerned that could cause a rejection.

Covered all the numbers with the CSR and then he went away to talk with his manager. Sure enough he came back saying they were uncomfortable in adding to my credit limit but would I be willing to reallocate some. I was fine with that so we roughly split it. Which leaves me way more than I ever would spend in a month - so there were no issues

- Purchase Replacement for damaged lost or stolen items within   90 days
- Price Protection coverage                                      60 days
- Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver                            15 days US, 31 days international
- Warranty Manager                                               Doubles the warranty up to 1 year
- Lost luggage reimbursement                                     $3000 per trip maximum                                 
- Common Traveler Accident Insurance                             $1M (accidental loss of life/limb)
- Concierge Services                                             Locate tickets, flowers, etc
- Identity Theft Protection                                      Contacts the credit bureaus for you
- Travel and Emergency Assistance                                Assistance reboooking flights, getting meds, etc
- Roadside Dispatch                                              Calls tow truck, lock smith, etc
- Visa Signature Dining                                          Zagat ratings access, access to special Fine Wine and Food events

Dave, thanks, I don't recall my 529 having those provisions. I'll have to see what I can dig out

Moosy said: Don't all Platinum Plus Mastercard have these benefits?That's my understanding. (Or at least, they all did circa 2006)

This is pure awesomeness. Thanks Dave.

My distribution was reversed when set to deposit into a Fidelity NJ Money Market. When I spoke with the CSR she apologized but said this credit card can (529 College Rewards Card) can only be linked with 529 accounts. (I did not do the World Mastercard conversion - my card still says Platinum Plus)

ellory said: My distribution was reversed when set to deposit into a Fidelity NJ Money Market. That's very odd ellroy. Did you inquire why other accounts had been given this option, and yours had not?

Moosey, at least in my case, you have to call in and deal with a hold and questions if you want to move out of a 529 into a taxable account.

DaveHanson said: ellory said: My distribution was reversed when set to deposit into a Fidelity NJ Money Market. That's very odd ellroy. Did you inquire why other accounts had been given this option, and yours had not?
All the accounts got the option as they upgraded the system. And, if I had (as I used to) multiple 529 accounts, I could use the capability to choose which 529s I wanted to allocate to

All credit cards got the IT capability to change the Fidelity account that funds are deposited into. However, not all Fidelity deposit accounts are valid. Unfortunately, the validation happens at deposit, not at the time the Fidelity account is entered for the credit card.

So, if I had changed / added another 529 account, it would have taken it, and the deposit would have succeeded at Fidelity

Since I added a non529 account, Fidelity rejected the deposit - coming from this non WorldCard 529 card

Bump to see if anyone else has had problems switching their 529 to a taxable account...?

Anyone else having problems, or is it working OK for all who're trying now?

Wow, this is great news. Can't believe I missed it. Has anyone tried linking to a mySmartCash account? I don't see that explicitly listed as one of the eligible account types.

You can deduct losses on 529 accounts, but only if you close all of your accounts (withdraw the funds) and still show a loss. (This prevents you from having multiple accounts and only closing only those with losses).

Normally, few long term investors have losses in such accounts, so this feature is little known.

However, the way the market has been recently, many may have losses.

With the change in rules, some may want to close their Fidelity 529 plans and take a loss.

Next year you could reopen a plan, or open one in a preferred state. You might prefer to have your college saving in your home state due to a tax break (or prefer another 529 plan for some reason)and have your credit card earnings go to another Fidelity account. If you are changing where the funds go now, you might want to see if you have a loss in the 529 plan, and take it this year.

g10ny said: Worked just fine.
Last month i was too lazy to check the full account number and I only entered it with some "X" digits in it, as it shows up on Fidelity' webpage. The rewards bounced then, but now that I fixed this issue, all went smoothly.

Isn't the brokerage account number starting with "X" the one we're supposed to use? Surely we aren't to use the number listed on our checks because not all brokerage accounts have them.

I'm stilling waiting for my statement to hit after changing from my 529 account to my brokerage account.

I also just finished transferring the Fidelity 529 money to my home state for the tax deduction.

I am now planning to use the Schwab 2% card partially to avoid that hassle.