– 529 Insiders Article of the Week
– News & Research
– Data
– ABLE Act Column
– Events
– Quote of the Week

529 Dash, Required Reading for Your 529 Education: The goal of the 529 Dash is to address the specific needs and concerns of advisers, accountants and estate planners who sell and service families and institutions in the college financial planning process by providing industry relevant news, product training and best practices.

Please Read, Engage and Share.

Paul Curley, CFA
Editor-in-Chief of 529 Dash
Director of College Savings Research
paul.curley@strategic-i.com
Twitter: @PaulCurleyBC

Reader’s Perspective: Question and Answer with Jodie Gunzberg, CFA, Managing Director, Head of U.S Equities, S&P Dow Jones Indices

• How did this financial firm launch the first college tuition inflation index, and how can it help you?

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

• Strategic Insight Research Blog, “529 product development implications of tax reform”
• Estrella Consulting, “Why choosing a college is like buying Girl Scout cookies.” Editor's Take: It's that time of year again, and this write-up provides a timely article on the parallels between selection of college and Girl Scout cookies. While less focused on the college financial planning perspective, choosing the wrong college in the selection process could result in higher costs in the long-run. Therefore, hope you enjoy reading the creatively written article.
• 66% of employees blame their moderate to extreme levels of stress on personal finance issues. Editor's Take: Planadvisors should include college financial planning in their discussions with plansponsors in order to reduce stress and therefore increase productivity in the workplace.
• Capstone College Partners, “Choosing a college: The financial aid award letter.” Editor's Take: Despite the perception that financial aid does not need to be paid back, the vast majority of financial aid is student loans that need to be repaid with interest. In the meantime, thank you Joe Messinger for your leadership in helping to reign in the issue of student loan debt.
• CNBC, “Santelli Exchange: Student loan debt surges 170% to $1.4 trillion” (video). Editor's Take: Higher levels of awareness on the importance of college financial planning will increase client demand for the conversation.

Here is the latest 529 and ABLE market data by Strategic Insight that can be used by the media and other organizations.

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

News, Research, Data & Resources: – News Bulletin, “ABLE New Mexico to help those with disabilities.” Editor's Take: Strategic Insight has updated the list of Open ABLE Programs here.
– Accessible Insights Blog, “Everything you need to know about ABLE Accounts: A must-hear show on ACB Radio.” Editor's Take: The article provides an overview of an upcoming radio show on ABLE accounts and how ABLE accounts can help those that are eligible.
– 529 Insiders, “529 & ABLE 3Q 2017 529 Data Highlights”
Events: Strategic Insight ABLE Summit 2018 will be held on September 26, 2018, at the JW Marriott Orlando, Grande Lakes.

When: September 24-26, 2018
Where: JW Marriott Orlando, Grande Lakes
What: A highly interactive and educational industry gathering with the entire college financial planning ecosystem.

“The stock market has smashed one record after another, gaining $8 trillion dollars and more in value in just this short period of time. The great news for Americans – 401k, retirement, pension and (529) college savings accounts have gone through the roof.”
– President Donald Trump, State of the Union Address, January 30, 2018

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