529 Dash, Required Reading for Your 529 Education: 
The 529 Dash e‑newsletter helps institutions, financial professionals, employers, and families navigate education financial planning by sharing timely industry news, product insights, market data, and best practices while promoting awareness of 529 plans and ABLE accounts.

Please Read, Engage and Share.

Paul Curley, CFA
Executive Director
ISS Market Intelligence
paul.curley@issmarketintelligence.com

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

• College Board, “Education Pays 2026.” Editor’s Take: This report outlines the wide-ranging benefits of higher education for both individuals and society, with detailed sections and data tables highlighting higher earnings, reduced income volatility due to unemployment or underemployment, greater access to retirement benefits and health insurance, higher rates of voting and civic engagement, and generally improved health outcomes. Given the depth and breadth of the findings, the College Board has also provided clear, concise bullet points summarizing the value of education for families. Be sure to bookmark this report as a resource for data-driven proof points on the long-term value of education.
• Linkedin Pulse Blog by Satovsky Asset Management, “Saving for education: Understanding your options in 2026.” Editor’s Take: Thank you to Satovsky Asset Management for reinforcing why education financial planning matters, why 529s continue to be the leading savings vehicle of choice, and how the expanded capabilities of 529 plans can better support families throughout the education and career training journey. Read, learn, and share.
• Movement Mortgage, “How can your home help build wealth.” Editor’s Take: The article highlights how many families use home equity loans to fund higher education as part of a broader wealth-building strategy. For the 529 Dash audience, this underscores a meaningful opportunity: when families rely on home equity to pay for education, it often reflects the absence of a purpose-built, tax-advantaged savings strategy. This is where 529 plans can play a stronger role—offering a more efficient, flexible, and education-focused financial product to save and pay for college. More importantly, proactive education financial planning can help families make better-informed decisions earlier, reduce reliance on debt later, and improve long-term financial outcomes for families.
• 529 Insiders, “4Q 2025 529 & ABLE market sizing highlights.” Editor’s Take: 529 plans continue to show strong growth across assets, accounts, and gross sales. As qualified expenses expand to reach a broader target market, this growth is reinforced by greater scale—fueling ease‑of‑use enhancements that further accelerate adoption and drive the next cycle of momentum. Click the link to learn more about 529 and ABLE market sizing as of December 31, 2025.

• Date: May 29, 2026
• Time: 12pm-1pm EST
• Register: Here
• Title: 529 Day 2026: Top Trends in 529 Plans
• Description:

Hosted by Paul Curley, CFA, Executive Director at ISS Market Intelligence, and Trisha Good, Executive Director of Ohio’s 529 Plan, CollegeAdvantage, ISS MI’s 529 webinar celebrates 30 years of 529s and builds awareness and understanding of 529s through:

• • 529 reminders, tips and best practices
  • New themes and updates on education financial planning for families
  • Key developments impacting the 529 landscape in 2026 
  • 529 market sizing, trends and insights in 2026
  • New industry intelligence from ISS MI’s annual surveys of parents, advisors, and employers
  • 529 & ABLE industry announcements and product enhancements

Whether you’re supporting families (including your own), working with employee benefit solutions, advising clients, or shaping the industry, this webinar provides practical product training, actionable best practices, and data‑driven insight into where the 529 market has been—and where it’s heading next.

• Dates: September 23–25, 2026
• Location: JW Marriott Nashville
• Hotel Room: Book in room block here
• Event Website: Link
• Registration: Now open here