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:

• Texas College Savings Plan, “Saving Strategies.” Editor’s Take: Three savings strategies are highlighted on this page including starting early, saving regularly and leveraging scholarships and age. In particular, I find the visual in the “an early start can make a difference” section compelling as a means to explain why families should start early. While one color indicates the initial contribution among, another color represents subsequent contributions and a third color shows the earnings portion. A second chart shows the impact of increasing ongoing month contributions. Check out the page, learn and share, and thank you to the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts team for creating and sharing.
• Vanguard, “Building wealth using 529s for K–12 education.” Editor’s Take: Congrats to Amanda Kane, Jonathan Kahler and Bryan Hassett for creating and sharing this white paper on the impact of expansion of qualified expenses on 529s and the continued long-term perspective and priority investors should have when saving for education. Also, the bottom of the page includes links to other whitepapers by the team, which I highly recommend. Read, bookmark and share. 
• Financial Samurai, “When to stop contributing to a 529 Plan to fully fund college.” Editor’s Take: An increasing number of financial bloggers are covering 529s, which will help to raise awareness, understanding and utilization of 529s. This article in particular combines the concept of Coast FI from the financial independence retire early (FIRE) movement to 529s and education financial planning. Along those lines, this provides another example of the close connection of retirement and education financial planning, and the potential value of applying perspectives and philosophies from one field of research to another. Are there certain experiences, processes or frameworks in your organization that you can repurpose to new areas? Or are there cutting room floor resources that can be applied to experimental or new areas of growth? Think about it, go into action and drive growth in 2024 and beyond.
• ISS Status Boards: K-12, Student Loans & Apprenticeships, and 529 to Roth Distributions
• Market Data: 529 Insiders, “1Q 2024 529 & ABLE market sizing highlights.” Editor’s Take: What was the 529 and ABLE market sizing as of 1Q 2024 (March 31, 2024)? Click the link to learn more.

• Registration: Register here 
• Dates: September 30, 2024 – October 2, 2024
• Location: Ritz-Carlton Orlando, Grande Lakes, Florida; Book Hotel Room here
• Welcome Reception: Sunday, September 29, 2024
• 529 Essentials Seminar: Monday, September 30, 2024
• Agenda Updates: 
  • Polina Tsybrovska, Multi-Asset Investment Specialist, Capital Group, has been confirmed as a speaker on the “Investment Line-Up Trends and Outlook” 529 Conference panel.
  • Shannon Salinas, Associate General Counsel, Investment Company Institute (ICI), has been confirmed as a speaker on the “529 & ABLE Outlook” 529 Conference panel.
  • William Thompson, Deputy Executive Director, Florida Prepaid College Board, has been confirmed as moderator of the “Consumer Behavior and Marketing Strategies” 529 Conference panel.
• Event Updates:
  • Thank you Orion Portfolio Solutions for the Breakfast Sponsorship