CollegeInvest Leadership

Angela Baier

Under Angela’s leadership since 2009, CollegeInvest has become one of the fastest growing 529 college savings plans in the country, growing at a rate of 7 times the industry average.

With Angela at the helm, CollegeInvest launched the nation’s first FDIC insured 529 option and was the first to eliminate the barrier to entry for lower-income families by creating accounts with no minimum deposit. In 2017, Angela launched Colorado ABLE, a program offering tax-advantaged savings plans for people living with disabilities. She also developed a scholarship program to help middle class families avoid large student loan debt, and has more than tripled the number of matching grants given to lower-income families.

She was also instrumental in passing legislation giving Colorado employers a tax incentive to contribute to their employees’ CollegeInvest accounts, which helps businesses attract and retain talent, and helps working families pay for college. In 2020, First Step was created to give every child born or adopted in Colorado a free $100 college savings starter account. A child is seven times more likely to attend college and graduate if they have a college savings account.

Angela has impacted profit, nonprofit and government sectors during her career, spanning from the Denver Zoo, to her appointment as Denver’s first Marketing Director by Mayor John Hickenlooper.

Angela currently serves on the College Savings Plan Network (CPSN) and National Council for Higher Education Resources national boards. She is also committed to community improvement through board and committee roles with Colorado Succeeds, Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce Higher Education Committee, and World Denver.