<p>Here’s a link to a site that compares the various state 529 plans:</p>
<p>[Compare</a> 529 Savings Plans](<a href=“http://www.archimedes.com/fmr/comp529.phtml?refpr=colSchsh15]Compare”>http://www.archimedes.com/fmr/comp529.phtml?refpr=colSchsh15)</p>
<p>And here’s the site that acts as a portal to California’s 529 plans (called Scholarshare and run by Fidelity):</p>
<p>[California</a> 529 Plan (Scholarshare)](<a href=“http://www.scholarshare.com/]California”>http://www.scholarshare.com/)</p>
<p>There’s a link at the bottom to set up the 529 online.</p>
<p>You’ll have a choice between managed (more expensive) and index (the equity portion of the portfolio tracks a stock index), and also an opportunity, at least in the case of the CA 529’s, to select a portfolio based on risk and expected time until funds are needed.</p>