– News & Research
– ABLE Act Column
– Events

529 Dash, Required Reading for Your 529 Education: The goal of the 529 Dash is to address the specific needs and concerns of advisers and institutions who sell and service families and employers in the education financial planning process by creating and sharing industry relevant news, product training and best practices, while also building awareness and understanding of the importance of 529s, ABLE accounts and education financial planning.

Please Read, Engage and Share.

Paul Curley, CFA
Director of Savings Research
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:

• ISS Market Intelligence, April 30th Webinar. Editor's Take: Paul Curley will present an update on the 529 & ABLE industry and legislative landscape. Also, I will highlight 529 and ABLE industry announcements, legislative updates, data and research updates, and host a Q&A session. Click the link to register for April's webinar, and email me if you have an announcement that you would like highlighted in this session. Thank you for the support.
• Virginia529, “Can I put my college refund back into my 529 plan?” Editor's Take: Thank you Virginia529 for your quick response to new IRS language on refunds by including the line of, “Generally 529 funds must be redeposited from higher education institutions within 60 days of the refund date. However, under temporary IRS guidance, if that 60-day period ends on or after April 1, 2020 and before July 15, 2020, then the redeposit can be made any time before the later of July 15, 2020 or 60 days after the refund date.” Typically investors have 60 days to recontribute refunds, but the IRS is allowing up to the longer of July 15, 2020 or 60 days after the refund date to align with the COVID-19 response. Read the article to learn more.
• Ascensus, “Ascensus appoints Kevin Cox as Head of Retirement and Peg Creonte as Head of Government Savings.” Editor's Take: Congrats Kevin Cox and Peg Creonte, and thank you for all you do for the 529 and ABLE community. And Kevin, Go BC Eagles!
• Mangan Holcomb Partners, “April is financial literacy month.” Editor's Take: Thank you Emma Willis for your insight on communication strategies and tactics for 529 product providers and distributors in this article, and read to learn more.
• 529 Insiders, “Special Section: Round-Up on Market Volatility & Coronavirus.” Editor's Take: This article was updated this week to include new blog posts by NextGen 529 and MSRB. This article will be updated as additional messages are published by 529 providers and distributors, and included here in the 529 Dash e-newsletter going forward. Read the article to learn more.
• YouTube Video, “ISS MI: 529 Primer and Industry Landscape Webinar” by Paul Curley. Editor's Take: Paul Curley, Director of Savings Research at ISS Market Intelligence, hosted a 529 Primer & Industry Landscape Update webinar on March 31, as part of the 529 & ABLE Solutions 2020 Webinar Series. The session covered college financial planning landscape trends, product training on the fundamentals of 529s, and drivers, themes and opportunities going forward. The presentation also highlighted proprietary data and quotes from our annual survey of parents and financial advisers, as well as insights and best practices learned from the product training sessions, interviews and industry engagement.

ABLE accounts are tax-advantaged savings accounts for certain individuals with disabilities and their families.

News, Research, Data & Resources:

• ISS Market Intelligence, April 30th Webinar. Editor's Take: Paul Curley will present an update on the 529 & ABLE industry and legislative landscape. Also, I will highlight 529 and ABLE industry announcements, legislative updates, data and research updates, and host a Q&A session. Click the link to register for April's webinar, and email me if you have an announcement that you would like highlighted in this session. Thank you for the support.
• ABLE Summit Agenda Update: Chris McGee, General Counsel, Virginia529 | ABLEnow, and Vice Chair, College Savings Foundation, and Alisa Ferguson, Associate General Counsel, Virginia529 | ABLEnow, have been confirmed as presenters of the “ABLE Essentials Product Training Seminar” ABLE Summit session. (LinkedIn, LinkedIn)
• The Guardian, “Covid lockdown opening up world for people with disabilities.” Editor's Take: Timely article, and thank you ABLE WA for initially sharing this article on your Twitter feed to bring it to my attention. Much appreciated, and thank you for building awareness and understanding of ABLE accounts.

Save the Date: 529 Conference 2020 will be held from September 24-26, 2020, at the Ritz-Carlton Orlando, Grande Lakes.

Updates:

• 529 Conference Agenda Update: Richard Polimeni, Head of Education Savings Programs, Bank of America Merrill, and Past Chair, College Savings Foundation, has been confirmed as presenter on the “National Broker-Dealer’s View on Product, Marketing and Distribution Strategies” panel.

“Save and save efficiently. It is important to spend less than we earn, and save the rest efficiently for important long-term goals such as college and education.”
– Paul Curley in “Childhood Money Memories with Paul Curley” by Sammy Rabbit

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