An uncle would like to invest for his nephew's college education. Which of the following factors is a benefit of a 529 plan?

A 529 plan is specifically designed to assist families in saving for future education expenses, and one of its notable benefits is that it allows for a change of beneficiaries. This feature provides flexibility, as if the original beneficiary does not need the funds—perhaps due to a decision not to pursue higher education, receiving a scholarship, or any other circumstance—the account owner can easily transfer the funds to another eligible family member. This ensures that the savings can still be effectively used for educational purposes, maximizing the utility of the investment.

The other factors listed do not offer the same advantages related to the purpose of the 529 plan. For instance, while some states may have uniform tax treatment, this is not universally applicable across all 529 plans. Pretax contributions are typically associated with retirement accounts rather than education savings. Additionally, while there may be contribution limits based on the state's rules or federal gift tax implications, the 529 plan is generally structured to allow significant amounts to be contributed, though not without certain regulatory parameters.