529 Dash, Required Reading for Your 529 Education: 
The goal of the 529 Dash is to help institutions and financial professionals who help families and employers in the education financial planning process by creating and sharing industry relevant news, product training, market data and best practices, while also building awareness and understanding of the importance of 529 plans and ABLE accounts.

Please Read, Engage and Share.

Paul Curley, CFA
Associate Director
529 & ABLE Solutions, ISS Market Intelligence
paul.curley@issmarketintelligence.com
Twitter: @PaulCurleyBC

Here is what you need to know from stories, research, and data released this week:

• Vanguard, “It’s elementary: Using 529s to pay for K–12 education.” Editor’s Take: Congrats and thank you Vanguard for creating and sharing this white paper on the factors impacting the usage of 529s for K-12 tuition. Several new elements are included and very interesting to review. In particular, the charts and tables provide additional layers of context, and is well structured with actionable takeaways in the Conclusion section. In the interim, usage of 529s is an important driver in the wealth creation process, and therefore an important component to present, cover and instill as part of the wealth creation mindset. To this end, the whitepaper provides a proactive response to those still on the fence on whether or not to use a 529 plan. The evidence and arguments are clear, and click the link to read the analysis to learn more. Thank you Amanda Kane, CFA, Jonathan Kahler, CFP, Bryan Hassett, CFA, and the Vanguard team. Solid work and well done. 
• Worldpay, “Worldpay Makes Giving the Gift of Education Even Easier.” Editor’s Take: There continues to be an opportunity to improve the process of providing friends and extended family with the ability to contribute to 529 accounts of those they love. While over $6.5 billion in gift contributions to 529 accounts have been made over the past 10 years, the ability to give a gift using a credit card will remove hurdles and modernize the experience, thereby, increasing contributions and improving outcomes for millions of students. Click the link to learn more about the new collaboration.
• Ohio Tuition Trust Authority, “Grand Slam For Your College Savings With The Cincinnati Reds and Ohio 529.” Editor’s Take: Enter the sweepstakes to win a $10,000 contribution to a new or current Ohio CollegeAdvantage Direct 529 Plan account. New entry allowed every 24 hours through September 2, 2024. Enter today. In the meantime, check out an article by Ohio’s 529 Plan, CollegeAdvantage, on starting your scholarship search early here. Enter the sweepstakes, and learn more about education financial planning today.
• Tribune Content Agency by Steve Rosen, “Kids and Money: Is a 529 transfer a good idea?” Editor’s Take: Congrats to College Savings Foundation (CSF) for raising awareness and understanding of 529s, and the newest expansion of qualified expenses. Click the link to learn more about the latest conversation of 529 distributions to Roth IRAs, and thank you CSF for all that you do.
• Planadviser, “Vanguard: Roth 401(k) savings show steady growth.” Editor’s Take: New research analysis by Vanguard on How America Saves 2024 confirms the importance of automatic contributions in achieving savings goals and the rise in awareness of savings vehicles. Read the report to learn about macro savings trends and investor awareness of savings goals and vehicles.
• 529 Insiders, “Status Board: K-12 State Updates.” Editor’s Take: Hawaii was updated in the status board from “Not Allow K-12 Withdrawals State Tax Free” to “Allow K-12 Withdrawals State Tax Free” to align with information from the plan disclosure. This status board will continue to be updated as more information become available.
• 529 Insiders, “Status Board: SECURE Act 529 State Updates.” Editor’s Take: Which states have passed, have not passed and will or will not pass enabling legislation to include student loans and apprenticeships as 529 qualified expenses for state tax purposes? This status board will continue to be updated as more information become available.
• 529 Insiders, “Status Board: State Income Tax Treatment on 529 Distributions to Roth IRAs.” Editor’s Take: This status board will continue to be updated as more information become available.

• Registration: Now open here 
• Dates: September 30, 2024 – October 2, 2024
• Location: Ritz-Carlton Orlando, Grande Lakes, Florida; Hotel Room Block available here
• Welcome Reception: Sunday, September 29, 2024
• 529 Essentials Seminar: Monday, September 30, 2024
• Agenda Updates: 
  • Abha Mohla, Senior Associate Director, Market Regulation, Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board, has been confirmed as a speaker on the “Municipal Rulemaking & Advertising Regulation Overview” 529 Essentials session.
  • Bri Joiner, Senior Director, Regulatory Compliance, Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board, has been confirmed as a speaker on the “Municipal Rulemaking & Advertising Regulation Overview” 529 Essentials session.
  • Lindsay Tobin, Marketing Manager, Ascensus, has been confirmed as a speaker on the “Consumer Behavior and Marketing Strategies” 529 Conference panel.
  • Jori Horn, Head of 529 Marketing and Relationship Management, Principal Asset Management^SM, has been confirmed as a speaker on the “Consumer Behavior and Marketing Strategies” 529 Conference panel.
  • Derek DeLorenzo, Senior Director, Business Development | Education Savings, TIAA, has been confirmed as a speaker on the “Product Strategy, Trends and Outlook” 529 Conference panel.
  • Mary Morris, Chief Executive Officer, Virginia529 and Chair of College Savings Plans Network (CSPN), has been confirmed as a panelist on the “529 & ABLE Outlook” 529 Conference panel.
  • Chris McGee, General Counsel & Head of Policy, Virginia529 and Chair of College Savings Foundation (CSF), has been confirmed as moderator of the “529 & ABLE Outlook” 529 Conference panel.
  • Trisha Good, Executive Director, Ohio Tuition Trust Authority (OTTA), has been confirmed as moderator of the “Product Strategy Trends and Outlook” 529 Conference panel.
  • Kay Ceserani, Managing Principal, Consultant, Meketa Investment Group, has been confirmed as moderator of the “Investment Line-Up Trends and Outlook” 529 Conference panel.
  • Rachel Biar, Assistant State Treasurer, NEST 529 Education Savings Program Director, Nebraska State Treasurer’s Office, has been confirmed as moderator of the “Alternative Payments, Emerging Trends and Opportunities” 529 Conference panel.
  • Event Updates:
    • Thank you Worldpay for the Party on the Lawn and Notepads & Pens Sponsorship
    • Thank you Principal Asset Management for the Evening in Amalfi Sponsorship