Issue 235:
– News & Research

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

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

• PLANADVISER, “2021 Practice Progress Series: 529 plans, Student Loans and Financial Wellness.” Editor’s Take: Sources say the aggregate amount of student loan debt carried by workers in the U.S. has now exceeded the amount of credit card debt. Though for some, student loans represent “good debt,” others are being financially drained by unattainable monthly payments, making the goal of saving for retirement or a home purchase seem like a pipedream. This hour-long, editorial webinar will focus on employee financial wellness, and specifically on planning for education expenses through 529 college savings plans. Budgeting and debt management will also be considered, as will the “hierarchy of savings.”
• Virginia529 Press Release, “Virginia529 launches the new Tuition Track Portfolio.” Editor’s Take: Virginia Residents can now invest in a new Tuition Track Portfolio that provides returns that align with the average tuition inflation at Virginia public 4-year universities. Read the release, investment option webpage or Tuition Track calculator to learn more, and to scare away the Virginia529 Tuition Monster.
• Mercer Advisors, “529 plan benefits you may not know about.” Editor’s Take: Quick quiz for 529 insiders on top-5 most commonly asked 529 questions. Always good to get a refresh, and so have a look.
• Ascensus, “Ascensus launches READYSAVE 529 mobile app.” Editor’s Take: Congrats to Ascensus for launching the mobile app, and take a look at the app in Apple and Google Play app stores. The app includes a number of features, and provides families with an easy way to save and save efficiently for education. Have a look today.
• ISS Market Intelligence, “Education Planning with 529 Plans” Webinar Replay from January 27, 2021. Editor’s Take: Watch the replay of January’s monthly educational webinar on tax and inter-generational wealth planning. Joseph Friedman, CFP, and Rob Tirrell, 529 Specialists at Principal for the Scholar’s Edge 529 Plan provided education and product training on 529 plans, shared best practices and debunked common savings myths. Watch, learn and grow.

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