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:

• AKF Consulting, “ABLE America 2024.” Editor’s Take: Congrats to Andrea Feirstein, Juliana Crist and Soohyang Lee on the launch of your annual ABLE Market Report titled “ABLE America 2024: Innovations and Improvement” with discussion on legislative, product, marketing and distribution trends. Read, bookmark and share, and congrats to the AKF Consulting team.
• Saving For College, “Survey: New Roth IRA Benefit Likely to Impact 529 Plan Usage and Contributions.” Editor’s Take: Thank you Martha Kortiak Mert for your coverage of 529 to Roth distributions, and for raising awareness and understanding of this expansion in qualified expenses. The article covers awareness of the functionality, drivers of plan adoption, knowledge gaps, concerns and barriers and more. Read, learn and share.
• CNBC, “Parents boost college savings to shield kids from ‘crushing burden’ of student loan debt.” Editor’s Take: In addition to the positive trend of parents saving more for future educational costs, CNBC also covered the growing topic of gifting in their article released on the same day here. 
• 529 Insiders, “2Q 2024 529 & ABLE market sizing highlights.” Editor’s Take: Click the link to learn more about 529 and ABLE market sizing as of June 30, 2024.
• ISS Status Boards: K-12, Student Loans & Apprenticeships, and 529 to Roth Distributions

• 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: 
  • Sunny Thakkar, Sr. Director Product Management, Worldpay, has been confirmed as a speaker on the “Alternative Payments for Contributions, Emerging Trends & Opportunities” 529 Conference panel.
  • Session descriptions were added to several sessions.