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
Director of 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:

• Federal Reserve Bank of New York, “Household debt balances continue steady Increase; Delinquency transition rates remain elevated for auto and credit cards.” Editor’s Take: Student loans grew by $9 billion in the fourth quarter to a reported total of $1.62 trillion as of the end of 2024. Missed federal student loan payments were not reported this quarter, but will start to be included going forward beginning in the first quarter of 2025. Review this quarter’s report, and bookmark as a reference going forward as it provides a trend of debt balances, delinquencies and more by category which impacts the ability of families to save overall and for education specifically. 
• Future Scholar, “529 flexibility for trade and vocational schools.” Editor’s Take: 529 qualified expenses continue to expand, and this article by South Carolina Treasurer Loftis covers the flexibility to cover vocational, technical, and trades schools. Read, learn, and share to broaden your understanding of the expanded functionality. 
• ABLE National Resource Center (ABLE NRC), “Webinar: ABLE tax time tips.” Editor’s Take: Thank you ABLE NRC for creating and sharing this timely webinar, and click the link to watch the reply, download the presentation slides, read the transcript, learn tax facts, and checkout the quick reference guide.
• 529 Insiders, “4Q 2024 529 & ABLE market sizing highlights.” Editor’s Take: Click the link to learn more about 529 and ABLE market sizing as of December 31, 2024.
• ISS Status Boards: K-12, Student Loans & Apprenticeships, and 529 to Roth Distributions

Please Save the Dates for 529 Conference 2025 by ISS Market Intelligence:

• Dates: September 29 – October 1, 2025
• Location: Ritz-Carlton Orlando, Grande Lakes, Florida, USA
• Sunday, September 28: Welcome Reception
• Monday, September 29: Day 1 – 529 Essentials Seminar
• Tuesday, September 30: Day 2 – 529 Conference Panels, Presentations & Roundtables
• Wednesday, October 1: Day 3 – 529 Conference Final Day of Panels, Presentations & Roundtables
• Updates:
  • Thank you Ascensus for the Branded Reusable Water Bottle Sponsorship
  • Thank you T.Rowe Price for the Tuesday Breakfast Sponsorship
  • Thank you Fidelity for the Branding Sponsorship
  • Thank you SS&C for the Event Bag & Lanyard Sponsorship

Please forward it over to a friend to subscribe using the link here, or click “reply” anytime to connect to share feedback, thoughts, and ideas on the newsletter or industry trends. In the meantime, hope your 2025 is off to a happy, healthy and successful start.