Issue 230:
– Monthly Webinar Series
– 529 Distribution Analysis Report 2020
– News & Research
– A Note From the MSRB

529 Dash, Required Reading for Your 529 Education: The goal of the 529 Dash is to address the specific needs and concerns of institutions, advisers and financial professionals 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

529 Year-End Planning & Recap (from December 9th): 

• Watch the replay of the 529 Year-End Planning & Recap Webinar, sponsored by Ohio’s 529 Plan, CollegeAdvantage. Hosted by Tim Gorrell, Executive Director of Ohio’s 529 CollegeAdvantage, and Paul Curley, Director of Savings Research at ISS Market Intelligence, December’s webinar closed out the 2020 calendar by providing year-end reminders, tips and best practices, a round-up of the Top 5 trends in 2020, and a discussion on the outlook for 2021 and beyond. 
• The session highlighted 529 and ABLE industry announcements, market data updates, preview the 529 Distribution Analysis 2020 based on a new proprietary survey of advisers, and include Q&A with Tim and Paul.

Watch Here

Insight Series Research | ISS Market Intelligence

• The annual 529 Distribution Analysis Report provides subscribers with actionable guidance on how to increase usage of 529 products and college financial planning in the adviser-sold, employer-sold and direct-sold channels. This report sheds light on education savings distribution by incorporating data from a new deep, proprietary survey of financial advisers fielded in November 2020.

Learn More

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

• InvestmentNews, “How advisers are helping clients rethink their kids’ college experience.” Editor’s Take: Thank you Mark Schoeff, Jr., for providing a landscape overview of college and education financial planning, and how some advisers are approaching the topic with their clients. Also, thank you Mark and InvestmentNews for quoting me and sourcing ISS Market Intelligence. Read to learn more.
• Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts, “Texas Comptroller’s Office announces prepaid debt card for Texas ABLE Program.” Editor’s Take: Congrats to Texas for making ABLE accounts more user friendly, and click the link to learn more.

• The Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board (MSRB) is currently seeking volunteers to serve on its Municipal Fund Securities Advisory Group (MFSAG). MFSAG was established for purposes of informing the MSRB on issues top of mind to the 529 savings plans community and Stephen Beck, Jr., Achieving a Better Life Experience Act of 2014 (ABLE) programs. The invaluable information sharing and engagement has served to advance MSRB initiatives and inform rulemaking. The MSRB expects to host the advisory group in January with ongoing meetings held via conference call on a periodic basis through September 31, 2021.
• The MSRB encourages all interested persons to submit an application by sending your name and resume or biography to Nikki Faucette at nfaucette@msrb.org by Tuesday, December 15, 2020. Please note, the MSRB recognizes we are in the midst of the holiday season, so for anyone who is interested in volunteering, but can’t meet the deadline to submit information, please contact the MSRB immediately.
• Advisory groups are among the ways that the MSRB’s Board of Directors engage with stakeholders to benefit from diverse perspectives and expertise, so all are encouraged to apply.

Read MSRB Notice 2020-16 For More Information

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