529 Dash, Required Reading for Your 529 Education: 
The goal of the 529 Dash e-newsletter is to help institutions, financial professionals, employers, and families 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
Executive Director
ISS Market Intelligence
paul.curley@issmarketintelligence.com

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

• 529 Insiders, “4Q 2025 529 & ABLE market sizing highlights.” Editor’s Take: Click the link to learn more about 529 and ABLE market sizing as of December 31, 2025.
• Ohio 529 CollegeAdvantage, “Grandparent 529s not included in financial aid.” Editor’s Take: Thank you Ohio Tuition Trust Authority for raising awareness and understanding of the update the 529 assets owned by grandparents will no longer affect the student’s financial aid calculation. Learn more about the removal of this mental hurdle and more by reading and bookmarking the article, as the question frequently comes up. 
• Invite Education, “529 or Trump savings accounts: Which is the best for you?” Editor’s Take: Thank you John Hupalo and Invite Education for creating and sharing this comparison between 529 and Trump Savings Accounts with pros and cons for several categories. This is one of the most common questions received recently, and so I suggest that you read, bookmark and share this article as the question is expected to continue to get asked by families and stakeholders alike.
• The Backpack Bulletin, “Hidden cost of accepting paper check payments.” Editor’s Take: As the market size of 529s continues to grow, so does the ability of the 529 industry to leverage fintech enhancements to improve ease of use for all stakeholders. Click the article to learn more about the ease of use enhancements underway, and thank you Callum Bedos for creating and sharing this article.
• planadviser, “Trump ‘not a huge fan’ of homebuyers using 401(k), 529 savings without penalties.” Editor’s Take: While there was discussion about the potential for allowing qualified distributions from 401ks and 529s to purchase a home, the discussion appears to have subsided. Thank you planadviser for sourcing ISS Market Intelligence and quoting Paul Curley, and read the article to learn more.

529 Conference 2026 – Save the Date:

• Dates: September 23–25, 2026
• Location: JW Marriott Nashville
• Information: Please contact Paul Curley if you have any questions about the event such as registration, sponsorships, agenda, format, and more.
• Event Updates: 
  • 529 Conference website has been refreshed with 2026 information
  • 529 Conference 2026 sponsorship guide is now available upon request
  • 529 Conference 2026 registration via order form is now available upon request

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